Game Engine Changes!

[Kermmy803]

I wake up this morning, login to HT and see these TWO announcements under My Hattrick:

9/12/2005 Upcoming changes
We want to flag for upcoming changes to forwards and wingers after week 7 this season.

* Ordinary forwards will contribute less to wing attacks.

* Wingers (all except towards-middle) will contribute a tiny bit more to wing attacks.

* Introduce a new individual order for forwards; forward towards wing. These players will use scoring and winger ability to increase wing attacks. We'll also include a new training type for these kind of players.

9/12/2005 New tactic type
You can now tell your team to play more creatively. This means that they'll go more for special events than normally. If both teams in a match decide to play creatively, the chance for special events will increase even more. The chance for both negative and positive special events to happen will increase. Also, when playing creatively the team will be less focused on the defense. Playing creatively will probably be good for well SE-optimized teams.

This tactic type can be used immediately.

Wing Trainers REJOICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D

Wish they would have implemented the 1st one NOW instead of halfway through the new season.

The second I'm not too sure about. Seems to be a waste to me as you give up Defense for more SE chances.

What are your opinions?

[Kevin in Louisiana]

Well, I guess this'll mean I could put my world class forward's solid winger skill to use if I wanted to.

I like all the changes. Another tactic is always nice--out of the four current ones, two were defensive minded and the other two really only work if you either have two wingers or three forwards (I've used neither this season). And anything that creates more demand for players skilled in a number of areas is a good thing.

[Andy P]

I like the winger change :D I'm switching to winger training in a couple of weeks - hopefully this wont make the change more expensive.

[Kermmy803]

I like the winger change :D I'm switching to winger training in a couple of weeks - hopefully this wont make the change more expensive.

As a current Wing trainer, I hope the sale prices jump immediately, but have a sense that they will not until the new changes have been implemented (after week 7). Mgrs will want to actually see what the changes will do to their teams setup before deciding how much more they will seek out Wingers and pay a premium for them.

Can only be good news for Wing trainers IMO. :cool:

[kuhnscoot]

I like the first one, cause now my wingers that get 50% training still contribute to the midfield, even though I play them offensive. Second one I like it could be interesting to try, with people that have plenty of Specialty players. It means though you have to watch the weather more to make sure your team is not negitively affected.

[johno]

winger change is interesting... meaning you can now utilize winger spots or half spots for forwards during friendlies rather than wingbacks which will further boost attack ratings if they are played toward the wings...

the biggest change I think however will be that teams without 2 great wingers will now be able to have better wing attacks if they've got a versatile forward. It will also help if you want to overload a wing and make the most of an opponent's weakness....


eg...

wingback played offensive, winger played offensive and forward towards wing on the same side would create a very powerful wing attack that could seriously damage a team not playing a fullback on that side.

[kuhnscoot]

wingback played offensive, winger played offensive and forward towards wing on the same side would create a very powerful wing attack that could seriously damage a team not playing a fullback on that side.

Agree, could be big trouble for people that play two CD's with 3 defenders.


One other change I just noticed, is that when you look at a players best match, and go to the lineup, they now have that player highlighted for you. Not a big change, but something that I just noticed.

[Stogey23]

One thing it does not specify if if you need to play your forwards FTW (new acronym) for them to contribute more to the wing attacks. Will the winger skill of forwards now affect the wing attacks if they are positioned 'normal'?

Also, it doesn't say whether playing a forward FTW will reduce the central attack - but I imagine it does.

[phillips10]

I'm curious what you scoring trainers here think, I'm reading mixed things in the scorers training fed.

I think it hurts us, you just cant load up with your 3 strikers and have it help the wing ratings anymore.

I do have 5/6 of my strikers with a specialty, so perhaps I'll dabble with the play creatively setting a bit. I dont have any forwards with good wing skill (sold one of those last season) so playing FTW wont be an option. Very curious to see the new training option.

[Kermmy803]

One thing it does not specify if if you need to play your forwards FTW (new acronym) for them to contribute more to the wing attacks. Will the winger skill of forwards now affect the wing attacks if they are positioned 'normal'?

Also, it doesn't say whether playing a forward FTW will reduce the central attack - but I imagine it does.

The 3rd bullet on the announcement seems to say that a FTW will contribute to flank with both Scoring AND Wing skills that he may have, so yes FTW would boost the flanks only and Normal will have less effect. If any wing skill from a Normal forward is used, I would think it would be very minimal if at all. The biggest change there is less scoring influence on flank attack ratings with an increase from Wing influence for all Winger orders except WTM.

I think your second point assumption is correct. Less central attack on FTW.

[Kermmy803]

I think it hurts us, you just cant load up with your 3 strikers and have it help the wing ratings anymore.

I agree, scoring trainers are definitely taking a hit here. Especially with prices down already for trained forwards.

But honestly, scoring is/was contributing way too much to flank ratings, which in turn was suppressing Wing prices. Definitely a trade-off happening here.

[Helghallen]

I like the winger change. Both my starting wingers are offensive, so this is good news for me.

[Deuteriumoxide]

Bah, scoring trainers don't need wing attacks. Just thump the ball over the top and let the speedy ones run on to it.

Beautiful Game my ass!

we play caveman football at Heavy Water. :D

[BrianJames]

Seems, depending on the weight of the changes, those that play offensive wingers and dont use the new FTW option might not see much difference overall. Which would be nice, as you could use the new tactic if you wish but won't be forced into making adjustments for the changes if you don't.

[AAGunner3]

Vewy interesting...

[Craig P]

It seems to me that the new TTW option for forwards could also be used to augment an AOW strategy, with a team playing a couple of TTW winger-heavy forwards.

[Stogey23]

It seems to me that the new TTW option for forwards could also be used to augment an AOW strategy, with a team playing a couple of TTW winger-heavy forwards.
Titty-Twisting Wingers?

[johno]

HT is becoming a helluva lot more tactical... I'll raise my hand and admit to having played normal wingers in the past (but not anymore, thanx kermmy) but understanding how things work is going to be a bigger part of HT rather than just plain ol TSI battles. Imagine the waste of playing wingers Normal... now its all going to be offensive or WTM for the smarter players. I predict that wingbacks will become en vogue. The value of someone who has enough wing and def. to play normal wingback and still help defensively and offensively. balance is now more important because you'll probably see (after some time) more teams playing a symetrical 352 rather than one minus a wingback due to the danger of bigger wing attacks and the greater potential for wing attacks thus causing that player and probably his opponents to play more wingers offesively.

[GROVESHSCOACH]

Titty-Twisting Wingers?


"Tongue-Tornado" Wingers :D

[johno]

Titty-Twisting Wingers?

TOWARDS THE WING... but i guess u knew that already