Mike Lowe NHL '18 Sliders

[Mike Lowe]

Overview

Sliders Version 1.9
Game Version 1.05
Accurate number of penalties called
More faceoffs
Less accurate AI passing %
Focus on limiting takeaways and giveaways which are inflated on default

Line Changes: Auto
Shot Aim: Manual

If you're familiar with my slider sets for MLB the Show and other games, you know that my focus lies in getting played game stats to match simulated and real life game stats in an authentic manner. I aim for my sliders to be a challenge, yet not impossible; where good teams should win more than a bad team. I am also not afraid to tweak sliders DURING a season, as we're always improving our game, and the sliders should adjust dynamically along with us.

You'll notice this set doesn't veer far from default sim, and there's not much need to. There are issues within gameplay in NHL, yes, but they exist more so in the game design and are not necessarily anything a slider can adjust. The game plays quite well out of the box, and this set looks to tackle some legacy issues that need correcting.

Your feedback not only helps me, but also the community, so I appreciate your input!

Rules

Post Whistle Rules: Authentic

Fighting: 1/2

Icing: Hybrid Icing

Injuries: On

Offsides: Delayed

Penalties: 4/4

Trapezoid Rule: On

Period Length: 8 Minutes

Difficulty: Pro (patch has made this necessary)

Asst. Coach Edit Lines: No

Auto Rotate Goalies: On

Game Style: Custom (Hardcore)

Penalty Time Scaling: 1/6

Trade Difficulty: Hard

Trade Offer Notifications: On

Waivers: On

Coincidental Penalty Time Scale: 1/6

(Other settings are user preference)

Gameplay Settings

General

Gameplay Version: Latest

Attribute Effects: 5/10

Broken Stick Frequency: 33/100

Game Speed: 3/6

Fatigue Effect CPU: 70/100

Fatigue Effect Human: 70/100

Fatigue Recovery CPU: 33/100

Fatigue Recovery Human: 33/100

Injury Occurrence CPU: 50/100

Injury Occurrence Human: 50/100

Skating

Back Skating: 50/100

Hustle Type: Authentic

Puck Carrier Agility: 50/100

Puck Carrier Speed: 50/100

Player Acceleration CPU: 50/100

Player Acceleration Human: 47/100

Skating Speed CPU: 50/100

Skating Speed Human: 47/100

Skating Agility CPU: 50/100

Skating Agility Human: 50/100

Shooting

One Timer Accuracy CPU: 45/100

One Timer Accuracy Human: 45/100

Shot Accuracy CPU: 45/100

Shot Accuracy Human: 45/100

Shot Power CPU: 50/100

Shot Power Human: 50/100

Slap Shot Accuracy CPU: 45/100

Slap Shot Accuracy Human: 45/100

Slap Shot Power CPU: 50/100

Slap Shot Power Human: 50/100

Passing

Manual Passing: On

Pass Assist: 30/100

Min Pass Speed: 35/100

Max Pass Speed: 65/100

Saucer Pass Speed: 50/100

Pass Accuracy CPU: 4/100 (not a typo)

Pass Accuracy Human: 50/100

Pass Interceptions CPU: 77/100

Pass Interceptions Human: 77/100

Pass Reception Ease CPU: 24/100

Pass Reception Ease Human: 24/100

Reception Reaction Time CPU: 20/100

Reception Reaction Time Human: 20/100

Puck Control Rating Effect CPU: 50/100

Puck Control Rating Effect Human: 50/100

Puck Speed Reception Effect CPU: 53/100

Puck Speed Reception Effect Human: 53/100

Pickup Type Effect CPU: 60/100

Pickup Type Effect Human: 60/100

Bouncing Puck Receptions CPU: 55/100

Bouncing Puck Receptions Human: 55/100

Puck Control

Incidental Contact Puck Loss: Sticks, Legs and Body

Incidental Stick Contact Immunity: 0/100

Puck Control CPU: 27/100

Puck Control Human: 27/100

Deking Impact CPU: 40/100

Deking Impact Human: 45/100

Spin Deke Impact CPU: 50/100

Spin Deke Impact Human: 50/100

Skating Impact CPU: 42/100

Skating Impact Human: 42/100

Goalies

Goalie Cover Frequency: 100/100

Goalie Passing: 70/100

Goalie Cross Crease Reaction Time CPU: 50/100

Goalie Cross Crease Reaction Time Human: 50/100

Goalie Save Reaction Time CPU: 65/100 (anywhere between 60-65 will work, based on your skill level)

Goalie Save Reaction Time Human: 65/100

Goalie Deflection Reaction Time CPU: 50/100

Goalie Deflection Reaction Time Human: 50/100

Goalie Screen Effect CPU: 60/100

Goalie Screen Effect Human: 60/100

Goalie Screen Persistence CPU: 60/100

Goalie Screen Persistence Human: 60/100

Checking

Board Effect Non-Puck Carrier: 35/100

Board Effect Puck Carrier: 35/100

Hitting Assistance: 10/100

Stumble Threshold: 50/100

Aggression CPU: 50/100

Aggression Human: 50/100

Hitting Power CPU: 50/100

Hitting Power Human: 50/100

Size Effect CPU: 25/100

Size Effect Human: 25/100

Speed Effect CPU: 33/100

Speed Effect Human: 33/100

Check/Balance Rating Effect CPU: 83/100

Check/Balance Rating Effect Human: 83/100

Preparedness Effectiveness CPU: 51/100

Preparedness Effectiveness: Human: 51/100

Incidental Contact Effect CPU: 20/100

Incidental Contact Effect Human: 20/100

Poke Checking Range CPU: 0/100

Poke Checking Range Human: 0/100

Poke Checking Accuracy CPU: 27/100

Poke Checking Accuracy Human: 27/100

Poke Checking Power CPU: 50/100

Poke Checking Power Human: 50/100

Stick Lift Effectiveness CPU: 33/100

Stick Life Effectiveness Human: 33/100

Penalties

CPU Penalties: 76/100

CPU Teammate Penalties: 76/100

Tripping CPU: 50/100

Tripping Human: 50/100

Slashing CPU: 50/100

Slashing Human: 50/100

Elbowing CPU: 20/100

Elbowing Human: 20/100

High Sticking CPU: 50/100

High Sticking Human: 50/100

Cross Checking CPU: 50/100

Cross Checking Human: 50/100

Boarding CPU: 50/100

Boarding Human: 50/100

Charging CPU: 50/100

Charging Human: 50/100

Delay of Game CPU: 50/100

Delay of Game Human: 50/100

Holding CPU: 50/100

Holding Human: 50/100

Hooking CPU: 50/100

Hooking Human: 50/100

Interference CPU: 85/100

Interference Human: 85/100

AI

AI Learning: 6/6

CPU Difficulty Adjustment: 0/6

CPU Faceoff Difficulty: 63/100

Fight Difficulty: 50/100

CPU Strategy Adjustment: 3/6

User Strategy Adjustment: 3/6

[davidb69]

Re: Mike Lowe NHL '18 Sliders

Funny I'm streaming stuff on my road to NHL 18 where I have been posting all of my NHL games from Ice Hockey till my live stream 9:30 tomorrow night on YouTube.com/davidb69 broadcasting my franchise


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[Mike Lowe]

Re: Mike Lowe NHL '18 Sliders

I'm writing a the reviews (a series of them) for NHL '18, so I'll be keeping a close eye on gameplay to start diving into these sliders.

Stay tuned for more info!

[Mike Lowe]

Re: Mike Lowe NHL '18 Sliders

Version 1.0 has been updated on first post.

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[mikeymayhem]

Re: Mike Lowe NHL '18 Sliders

The amount of time and detail that you through into the MLB sliders was nothing short of amazing. The game played so damn well! Here is hoping your just as hardcore of a hockey fan.

[Mike Lowe]

Re: Mike Lowe NHL '18 Sliders

The amount of time and detail that you through into the MLB sliders was nothing short of amazing. The game played so damn well! Here is hoping your just as hardcore of a hockey fan.

Thanks, man. NHL plays pretty well this year, albeit with a few legacy issues. Tinkering away, and I may have some more updates later tonight, but just some minor tweaks.

So far my Houston Hogs expansion team are 1-1. We lost 4-1 at home against Vegas, and then we won in OT on the road against the Islanders, 3-2.

[Mike Lowe]

Re: Mike Lowe NHL '18 Sliders

V1.1 now on first post. I notated changes in (x).

[mikeymayhem]

Re: Mike Lowe NHL '18 Sliders

I Just finally got the game installed, Holy cow did it take forever. I'm actually really impressed with the rosters this year. All though they aren't perfect and missing some of the guys they can't put in yet they are right on with all other roster moves. I seen that Kelly was already put on the Oilers since his PTO

[gp005]

Re: Mike Lowe NHL '18 Sliders

Mike,
i saw your video on youtube.. i noticed the same about GV and TK and how thers way too many , i really wish they tossed that statistic out completely... Also, when you have time can you check out shots on goal preferably by superstars, for year 2 and beyond in franchise mode ,in '17 there was a significant decrease ( like 230 for Ovi, 200 for Seguin..... )

[Mike Lowe]

Re: Mike Lowe NHL '18 Sliders

Mike,
i saw your video on youtube.. i noticed the same about GV and TK and how thers way too many , i really wish they tossed that statistic out completely... Also, when you have time can you check out shots on goal preferably by superstars, for year 2 and beyond in franchise mode ,in '17 there was a significant decrease ( like 230 for Ovi, 200 for Seguin..... )

Playing some more last night, I was able to keep GV and TA in line w simmed games. First time ever in this series. You have to be wise w the puck yourself though, and be willing to concede a dump sometimes.

So far the Houston Hogs are 3-2, 10th in the Western Conference. Vegas is 3rd in the West, currently at 2-0-2-2.

Our scores have been:
4-1 L
3-2 OTW
3-2 W
1-0 OTW
5-3 L

Some early team stats:
GFPG 2.20 (24th)
GAPG 2.60 (16th)
TPP 12 (tied for 25th, but rising w sliders)
PP 16.7% (16th)
TSH 9 (2nd, but rising w sliders)
PK 77.8% (22nd)
1 SHGF (an OT winner)

Some player stats:
G Grubauer 2-1-0, 1 SO, 93.2%, 1.95 GAA
G Ward 1-1-0, 0 SO, 91.8%, 2.95%
Burakovsky tied for lead w 2 PPG
Berglund tied for 2nd in shots w 22. Next closest hog is ranked 22nd
Vatanen leads Hogs w avg 22:25 ice time, 35th in NHL. 3 other hogs 20+
Dzingel leads Hogs in faceoff % with 57.1, 14th best in league w at least 40 taken. Our other guys are 52.9, 50.0, 47.2, 45.7.
2 Hogs tied for 10th in blocked shots (Ellis, de Haan)
4 Hogs in top 10 for giveaways, but trending downwards as I improve my possession
4 Hogs in top 10 for takeaways including top 2, although this is now trending down as well with less successful stick lifting.

Only stat I can't get to match is faceoffs taken, which would require longer periods and would mess up lots of other stats.

I'll update the sliders later on today after work.

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[Mike Lowe]

Re: Mike Lowe NHL '18 Sliders

Going to stream here in a bit on YouTube. Stop on in if you're around!

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[Mike Lowe]

Re: Mike Lowe NHL '18 Sliders

First post updated to v 1.2.

Stream will be up in about 3 minutes...

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpdXqBT7b76C4zHn5j_HajQ

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[Mike Lowe]

Re: Mike Lowe NHL '18 Sliders

Houston Hogs now at 4-3 after coming back being down 2-0 on the road against New Jersey to win 4-2. Smith-Pelly, 4th line RW and former Devil, gets the hat trick scoring 2 of our 3 goals in the 3rd.

Going to lower AI passing -5 to 5.

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[mikeymayhem]

Re: Mike Lowe NHL '18 Sliders

Well I've managed to play about 10 games and I'm really frustrated already.
I've noticed that most of your settings are vanilla, is this cause your taking the one issue at a time approach?

The community seems dried up, it's been dieing off for a few years now so it's really hard to get on top these sliders with minimal people working on them to help each other out. Damn this must be what the NHL 18 dev team feels:P

- I feel my teammates have no idea where the hell they should be on the ice? While attacking I have a hard time setting any plays up cause the CPU almost always interferes or my player just has really awkward body positioning after he receives the pass.

- Same issue with teammates just in the defensive zone. When the cpu comes in they can cycle and pass with ease but my guys just sit back and do nothing.

- If battling for a loose puck I almost never come away with the puck on my stick.

- The hits are still a little to high for me. Guys are getting flattened all over the place.

[Mike Lowe]

Re: Mike Lowe NHL '18 Sliders

Well I've managed to play about 10 games and I'm really frustrated already.
I've noticed that most of your settings are vanilla, is this cause your taking the one issue at a time approach?

The community seems dried up, it's been dieing off for a few years now so it's really hard to get on top these sliders with minimal people working on them to help each other out. Damn this must be what the NHL 18 dev team feels:P

- I feel my teammates have no idea where the hell they should be on the ice? While attacking I have a hard time setting any plays up cause the CPU almost always interferes or my player just has really awkward body positioning after he receives the pass.

- Same issue with teammates just in the defensive zone. When the cpu comes in they can cycle and pass with ease but my guys just sit back and do nothing.

- If battling for a loose puck I almost never come away with the puck on my stick.

- The hits are still a little to high for me. Guys are getting flattened all over the place.

I'm confident that not much needs changing this year. A slider set does not need to have everything changed to be affective, quite the opposite if we understand that their dev team understands more about their game than we do, and they absolutely do. Instead compare stats to the simulated games around the league, and I'll offer some suggestions.

I'm getting realistic results across the board, and if anything, for me, I may look to make things more difficult as I'm actually finding offense to come a bit too easy, at least for an expansion team.

For now I'm liking it, but will continue to evaluate. Thanks for being here as yes, this community is not as big as the others.

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