How to adjust tactical settings?

[Alpha Zwo]

Sorry but I cannot figure out how to adjust tactical settings. I am playing as GM and Head Coach. Whenever I make changes, let's say switch from Offensive to Balanced during a game, the settings are always switching back to Offensive. A bug?

[KnightAttack]

When is it reset? During the game or after?

[Alpha Zwo]

During the game.

[KnightAttack]

There's likely an issue there. We will look into it. Thank you.

[Alpha Zwo]

The game has been updated to 5.2.36 today. Do I have any possibilities to adjust tactics during a game while playing as GM+Head Coach or will always the AI decide whether to play offensively, defensively, when to pull the goalie? Sorry, it may be a dumb question but I am totally new to this game and feel a bit helpless. Thanks in advance!

[JeffR]

The offensive and physical orientation don't have a direct effect on the way the team plays - the only thing that those are used for are guiding the AI's own tactical choices. If you're coaching, changing them doesn't do anything, and when they revert back to another setting, it won't change anything you've set in the other tactical settings or tendencies.

The timing of pulling the goalie can be adjusted, but the actual decision for the golaie to head to the bench is always made automatically, depending on the game situation (puck location and possession) at the time.

[Gerd]

OK but that's confusing. Why are there if they don't do anything?

[Alpha Zwo]

I am confused too. It seems there is nothing to do as head coach during a game. Is the head coach good for anything? Or can I let the assistants make all decisions, even between games? Does it make any difference if I sim a game or watch it?

[Gerd]

I admit that i preferred the old sistem, now i'm not sure what i'm supposed to do to change tactics during a game. Seems like the game play by itself

[JeffR]

During the game, aside from the things that are the same as in previous versions like choosing the next line and adjusting zone start and line matching preferences, you can change all the tactical settings and tactical tendencies, either for the entire team or for specific lines or players - that lets you have control down to the level of individual player instructions. It's a slightly different approach than last year, you've got more fine control over exactly what you want specific players to do, but can also adjust everything quickly if you want. I think Adam and I will be spending some time on tactics in our twitch stream next week and demonstrating how it all works (Wednesday 7 PM Pacific Time on www.twitch.tv/ootpdevelopments, and then up on our youtube channel later in the week.)

[Alpha Zwo]

I am currently playing as the LAK's GM+Head Coach. Just had a game where the Kings lead vs Maple Leafs 6-4. With 2 minutes left in the 3rd period goalie Campbell was replaced by Quick. How can I avoid this? I have the impression that playing as Head Coach is totally useless because the assistant is always overruling my decisions.

[KnightAttack]

Originally posted by Alpha Zwo:

I am currently playing as the LAK's GM+Head Coach. Just had a game where the Kings lead vs Maple Leafs 6-4. With 2 minutes left in the 3rd period goalie Campbell was replaced by Quick. How can I avoid this? I have the impression that playing as Head Coach is totally useless because the assistant is always overruling my decisions.

There's an option for how easily you switch goalies. Leaving a goalie in for too many though regardless of the time can cause him to become unhappy.

[Alpha Zwo]

Originally posted by JeffOOTP:

During the game, aside from the things that are the same as in previous versions like choosing the next line and adjusting zone start and line matching preferences, you can change all the tactical settings and tactical tendencies, either for the entire team or for specific lines or players - that lets you have control down to the level of individual player instructions. It's a slightly different approach than last year, you've got more fine control over exactly what you want specific players to do, but can also adjust everything quickly if you want. I think Adam and I will be spending some time on tactics in our twitch stream next week and demonstrating how it all works (Wednesday 7 PM Pacific Time on www.twitch.tv/ootpdevelopments, and then up on our youtube channel later in the week.)

Thanks for your reply but this does not work for me. For example I have set tactical settings (Kings - Tactics - Global) to Offensive Orientation: Defensive and Physical Orientation: Balanced from the main screen. When it is game day and I click on Play Game and before the first puck has been dropped the global Offensive Orientation is Offensive and Physical Orientation is Physical again. And whenever I clicked Tactics again I have never seen any other orientations. So for me it seems I have absolutely no influence on tactics.

[JeffR]

The Offensive and Physical orientation are informational only - they're how the AI thinks you should be playing in that situation. They don't have any effect on how the team is playing or any of the tactical settings or tactical tendencies you set yourself, they just tell you, in general terms, which types of settings the AI would be using if it was in control.

[Gerd]

Originally posted by JeffOOTP:

The Offensive and Physical orientation are informational only - they're how the AI thinks you should be playing in that situation. They don't have any effect on how the team is playing or any of the tactical settings or tactical tendencies you set yourself, they just tell you, in general terms, which types of settings the AI would be using if it was in control.

Ok but let's say that i'm vinning 4-0 and there are 4 minutes left. I want my team playing defensive untill the end of the game, how can i do that?

[JeffR]

Originally posted by Gerd:

Ok but let's say that i'm vinning 4-0 and there are 4 minutes left. I want my team playing defensive untill the end of the game, how can i do that?

On the tactical tendencies, Attacking back to mild to take fewer offensive risks, Backchecking to often to make sure the forwards come all the way back, Tempo to low to stall for time. Pressure and hitting possibly decreased to avoid mistakes. Tactical settings to more conservative options, like a trap or lock when defending the neutral zone and dumping the puck in when on offense (and we do need to add a little more information to those options to make it clearer what the effects of each one are.)