Subject: Questions & Answers

When I took over my team, I got great help on this forum. Now that I am about to finish my first full season, I have another batch of nearly-noob questions.
1. I am not sure of the relationship between experience and chemistry. I have been using my youngest players in friendlies, but they seem to be gaining little in either category. Is this poor strategy? Should I be using my best players in friendlies as well as league games?
2. I have spent a lot of time on the forums to develop a rubric for game tactics. I have a strong defensive team. Does that trump "forum knowledge" in choosing game tactics? Should I play defensive every game, or should I stick with the recommended countertactics?
3. I have been building my facilities in a 2:1 ratio for the "big four" vs. the "little three." Is that too drastic? Should my "little three" be keeping closer pace with my "big four?"
4. I started adding staff when i reached level 8 on my facilities. Most of my staff are younger and average only about 20 on their attributes, yet command big salaries. Are they worth it? Do staff make that big of a difference?
5. I have signed some forwards with poor aggressiveness ratings, but pretty good everywhere else. If I convert them to centers, will they become good centers? Is aggressiveness of much importance for centers?
6. I have read that injuries are random, yet my players who see the most ice time seem to get injured more often. Is there a relationship between ice time and injuries?
7. I have put a lot of time into scheduling friendlies in order to fill my puck gallery. Is it worth the effort? Has anyone ever filled their puck gallery and gotten the 50 credits?
Thanks in advance for your answers. Eventually I hope to be able to be the one lending a helping hand to a new coach.

regarding 1. you get less experience/chemistry for friendlies. I usually use my normal lineup in friendlies and just make sure to play very low

7. I don't think it's worth the effort, but that's probably because I just purchase the credits for my pro pack

check the pm I am about to send you

4. Staff do make a difference and I don't think you realize how high the salaries get. They can be 100k+ per day.
5. I feel aggressiveness doesn't add anything to centers.
6. Injuries are completely random from what I can tell.

Vlady why there is no more prediction pool in English Premier League and US Open?

1. Like tc said, chem/exp is hard enough to gain in league games. It's even harder in friendlies. If you have really good young players, and you're not in danger of relegating, put the young guys in your everyday lineup. Experience is hugely important. Start earning it asap.
2. Yes, it can be important to play to your team's strengths. But an equal or better team who counters your strength will probably beat you. So you need to be a bit tricky about it.
3. That's not a bad idea. Close enough to what I do until the big four start costing 35 & 56 million to build. Then I usually build up the 'little three' to level 8/9/10. Starting with Med Center, then EC and then Maintenance.
4. If your staff only have around 20OR for their best attribute, then they aren't costing too much I've kept my staff in check and some of them are still making 60K per day. Are they worth it? I honestly have no idea, but I don't want to take the chance so I keep them around.
5. Correct. Centers do not need aggressiveness.
6. Injuries are random as far as we know.
7. No idea. I don't collect pucks.

no one has completed the gallery yet - a group of people are around the 110 out of 140 range in 'top collector's'

Do you happen to write for the Indians? Any thoughts on the death of the Tigers long time beat writer?

1. I agree with tujague - if you think they'll play a lot in the future, get them in young. The lumps you take early will smooth out and give you an awesome player later. Don't expect to "win" early - the games as much a chess match as it is a financial sim.

2. Tactics are the chess match I mentioned - if I believe I am stronger I will pick a random strategy, or moreso a strategy I believe my opponent will not counter instead of playing my "strength" if I see someone who does that in important games and I can find a pattern them I jump all over it. With that in mind I also like to make fake patterns for myself to set others up - it's all chess over and over.

3. Facilities are all personal preference, I think the big 4 approach is tried and true but the ratio that you choose to build with is up to you. I would let my arena size dictate my build (and I have)

4. Staff makes a big difference but they max out at 100 - once you reach that plateau they cost a fortune. I like to take a balanced approach early on. Coaches and marketing seem to "pay" off, the trainers who train your staff are a good bonus as well but the rest are hit and miss in my opinion.

5. Agg doesn't seem to matter for centers - many people have proofed out the stats but converting someone to a center if they have poor qualities is a poor decision, that said if you found a player trained poorly as a winger who has good center q's at a great price - well you're winning the game

6. I haven't seen that trend but it may be due to your physio's I've seen youth who've never touched the ice get injured a ton.

7. Puck gallery is a time passer, the dev's like to reward people for certain things but you're a bit behind to be first in collecting all the pokemon. Como si como sa.

Good questions, I hope you stick around!

Does an injured player (DTD) play worse than he normally would?

Yes but it's hard to say how much worse. You gotta find out that yourself.