Practice for xp or not?

[newcastlebronco]

I'm currently doing a connected franchise with the rams, does anyone know if I should be doing practice mode so my back-ups can gain xp?

Would it make the league uneven or does the computer get some xp outside of games too? I think in madden 13 the cpu didn't get any practice xp?

[kpkpkp]

Quote: Originally Posted by newcastlebronco

I'm currently doing a connected franchise with the rams, does anyone know if I should be doing practice mode so my back-ups can gain xp? Would it make the league uneven or does the computer get some xp outside of games too? I think in madden 13 the cpu didn't get any practice xp?

Unfortunately the CPU teams do not utilize their practices. So no; outside of games or season goals CPU players do not earn XP. This means their backups do not progress at all, unless they become a starter for some reason. (injury or release/trade or retirement of starter)

What stinks bout all of this, is that as a Human controlled team you can practice each week and get tons of extra XP for your starters and backups which CPU teams never get. This stunts the growth of CPU teams and gives your Human controlled team a huge advantage.

It's been this way in both Madden 13 and madden 25, but for whatever reason, EA leaves it this way.

Many gamers here will tell you to skip practice entirely to be "fair" to the CPU. I personally, do 5. I do all 4 preseason practices and 1 during my bye week.

[LowerWolf]

They need to make it optional.

I have no desire to practice, I just want to play the games. So the way they have it now, works for me. But obviously it doesn't work for those who want to practice and gain XP for practicing. They need to make it where you're not penalized nor is the CPU penalized.

[newcastlebronco]

Quote: Originally Posted by kpkpkp

Unfortunately the CPU teams do not utilize their practices. So no; outside of games or season goals CPU players do not earn XP. This means their backups do not progress at all, unless they become a starter for some reason. (injury or release/trade or retirement of starter) What stinks bout all of this, is that as a Human controlled team you can practice each week and get tons of extra XP for your starters and backups which CPU teams never get. This stunts the growth of CPU teams and gives your Human controlled team a huge advantage. It's been this way in both Madden 13 and madden 25, but for whatever reason, EA leaves it this way. Many gamers here will tell you to skip practice entirely to be "fair" to the CPU. I personally, do 5. I do all 4 preseason practices and 1 during my bye week.

KP thanks your strategy seems pretty good, do you find your younger back-ups can develop a bit from doing those 5 practices?

Im not completely bothered about being "fair" to the computer so would doing 5 practices from 20 weeks give a good balance?

[kpkpkp]

Quote: Originally Posted by newcastlebronco

KP thanks your strategy seems pretty good, do you find your younger back-ups can develop a bit from doing those 5 practices? Im not completely bothered about being "fair" to the computer so would doing 5 practices from 20 weeks give a good balance?

It gives me enough XP to fix glaring issues with young rookies, like if they have low AWR, Pursuit, or Tackle or something.

But generally rookies don't make any major developments unless I make them starters.

Like recently I drafted a rookie CB in my franchise. He barely got any XP his first season, and only filled in for 1 game. In his 2nd season he was CB#3 and got on the field a bit more. However it wasn't until his 3rd season that he took off ratings wise since he became a full time starter and started to finally get lots of XP.

This is essentially what the CPU does, since it does not use practices. Only their starters progress.

Sure; I could have done all those practices for my rookie CBs first 2 seasons and beefed him up sooner... But if I do that than ALL of my backups become so much more highly rated VS backups on CPU teams in 2 or 3 seasons.

Hence why I skip all but 5. At least until EA fixes this. (Which they won't)

I bet next year there will be the same problem. EA can never seem to get CPU AI right.

[newcastlebronco]

Quote: Originally Posted by kpkpkp

It gives me enough XP to fix glaring issues with young rookies, like if they have low AWR, Pursuit, or Tackle or something. But generally rookies don't make any major developments unless I make them starters. Like recently I drafted a rookie CB in my franchise. He barely got any XP his first season, and only filled in for 1 game. In his 2nd season he was CB#3 and got on the field a bit more. However it wasn't until his 3rd season that he took off ratings wise since he became a full time starter and started to finally get lots of XP. This is essentially what the CPU does, since it does not use practices. Only their starters progress. Sure; I could have done all those practices for my rookie CBs first 2 seasons and beefed him up sooner... But if I do that than ALL of my backups become so much more highly rated VS backups on CPU teams in 2 or 3 seasons. Hence why I skip all but 5. At least until EA fixes this. (Which they won't) I bet next year there will be the same problem. EA can never seem to get CPU AI right.

Yeah that progression seems realistic enough for me, I'll give it a try, thanks KP!

It's just so frustrating as I'm really starting to enjoy madden on this generation and these legacy issues seem to hold it back!

[jmaj315]

I say yes, you should practice... The CPU also plays 15 min quarters in sims... I'm sure you're playing 8-10 minutes or maybe even less than that. This way the CPU players are more likely to meet their "very hard" goals and get a lot of XP. Although it isn't equal to the 34k that the user gets.... at least its better than nothing.

They should fix this soon tho

[Mhurricane266]

I say just go ahead and practice. If I feel like getting extra x.p I just go ahead and do it and don't worry about it. Like someone has said the cpu plays full games and hits most of their goals anyway. Their linebackers can crack 150 tackles and the highest guy on my team is at 50 or so.. And by making the game fair you can rarely hit the weekly goal which is usually like hold the CPU to 150 passing yards or less. It's possible but with equal sliders for cpu offense it probably won't happen.If it doesn't ruin the balance in your cfm just do it IMO.