Player Ability Bans - ECL '25 Season Discussion

[Kenu]

Hey everyone,

As we gear up for the upcoming NHL 25 season, it's time to revisit the topic of player ability bans that we implemented for NHL 24. In the previous season, we took action based on community feedback and decided to ban several player abilities that were considered overpowered.

However, as we transition into NHL 25, we find ourselves in a different scenario. The game dynamics and balance have evolved, and we don't yet have a clear understanding of how these player abilities will impact gameplay. Given this uncertainty, our initial thought is to refrain from imposing any ability bans for the first season of NHL 25.

We believe it's crucial to gauge the new game's balance and understand how these abilities function in the current context before making any decisions. Therefore, the idea is that the upcoming season will serve as a testing ground. We'll closely monitor gameplay, gather feedback from all of you, and assess whether any Abilities are causing issues or significantly skewing the competitive landscape.

This forum thread is the perfect place to share your thoughts, observations, and experiences from the ECL '24: Winter and Spring, during which we played both with and without these banned traits. Did you notice any significant changes in gameplay? Did the absence of these abilities make the game more balanced and enjoyable for you? We value your input and encourage you to contribute to this discussion.

Ultimately, we want to make informed decisions that enhance the competitive experience while preserving the integrity of the game. So, let's have an open and constructive dialogue about our approach for the first season of NHL 25. Your feedback will play a vital role in shaping our league's future.

Of course, before we actually get to play the game, this is just pure speculation, but we want to get the discussion started early.

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!

[markalla2]

The bans have been proven to work towards a more balanced gameplay experience. IMO unless EA states these op abilities are either heavily nerfed (doubt) or removed from the game (more doubt) it's not that likely the gameplay updates in 25 balance those out. We've been here before.

[l-Furyan-l]

All I ask is that, whichever way this goes, there is a definitive, non-reversible decision from League Administration (on bans/no bans) at least a few weeks out from when the first official tournament is set to begin.

Give us a fair chance to practice for a reasonable amount of time under game-like conditions.

[saaggssy]

i dont think goalie will change so drasticaly o tips gonna be overpowered anyway. seems even one timers is deadlier and faster and more smooth, so if you go like golden one timer its gonna be deadlier then ever, i looking on this one timer gameplay videos, im pretty not sure, how we gonna be able to stop that, if they dont change goalies drasticaly. but i think the same - first season need to go without bans so we know what is what.

Edited September 15 by saaggssy

[Mikka]

Dunno about ability bans yet, but Grudge Match^TM should probably be turned off for ECL

[l-Furyan-l]

På 2024-09-29 på 01:25, Mikka säger:

Dunno about ability bans yet, but Grudge Match^TM should probably be turned off for ECL

Agreed.

But maybe "On" for playoffs? Could be interesting, perhaps 🤔

Edited September 30 by l-Furyan-l

[Janikka]

The golden tipper is at least as OP as last year, I saw some pretty crazy tip-ins when our center used the trait last night. Not sure about the silver tipper yet.

[l-Furyan-l]

På 2024-09-06 på 22:11, l-Furyan-l säger:

All I ask is that, whichever way this goes, there is a definitive, non-reversible decision from League Administration (on bans/no bans) at least a few weeks out from when the first official tournament is set to begin.

Give us a fair chance to practice for a reasonable amount of time under game-like conditions.

We are rapidly getting to that point now.  About two weeks until qualifiers and four weeks until ECL. Is there an update? @Kenu 

As I understand it, the preseason tournament will have no bans. On the one hand, I understand this decision, but it does make me wonder: will the preseason tournament be used as a testing ground, with a decision on bans/no bans to be made once that tournament is over? If so, it is my understanding that tournament is over on November 11th, less than a week before the season is set to start and AFTER the qualifiers begin.

That's... quite a tight deadline. And exactly what I, and those who agreed with my post, requested to not have happen. With the various qualifiers set to begin soon, we as a community really could use a definitive decision on bans/no bans before then. 

TLDR, a direct question: Can we expect "No Bans" to be the decision for ECL '25 Winter?

 

Edited October 15 by l-Furyan-l

[Kenu]

50 minutes ago, l-Furyan-l said:

We are rapidly getting to that point now.  About two weeks until qualifiers and four weeks until ECL. Is there an update? @Kenu 

As I understand it, the preseason tournament will have no bans. On the one hand, I understand this decision, but it does make me wonder: will the preseason tournament be used as a testing ground, with a decision on bans/no bans to be made once that tournament is over? If so, it is my understanding that tournament is over on November 11th, less than a week before the season is set to start and AFTER the qualifiers begin.

That's... quite a tight deadline. And exactly what I, and those who agreed with my post, requested to not have happen. With the various qualifiers set to begin soon, we as a community really could use a definitive decision on bans/no bans before then. 

TLDR, a direct question: Can we expect "No Bans" to be the decision for ECL '25 Winter?

 

Thanks for flagging this @l-Furyan-l!

After deliberating, and weighing the pros and cons of instituting X-factor bans, the League Administration has decided to NOT ban any traits or abilities for the upcoming season. We appreciate the desire for some traits like Big Tipper to be axed, but we first want to see how the meta develops and what teams end up favoring.

As such, we will monitor your feedback and the Pre-season tournament, the first ECL season of the year, as well as any changes that EA makes by adjusting tuners and/or in patches. Last year especially they were making changes quite frequently - so we believe tying ourselves to a blanket ban would be a misstep at this point.

[l-Furyan-l]

30 minuter sedan, Kenu säger:

Thanks for flagging this @l-Furyan-l!

After deliberating, and weighing the pros and cons of instituting X-factor bans, the League Administration has decided to NOT ban any traits or abilities for the upcoming season. We appreciate the desire for some traits like Big Tipper to be axed, but we first want to see how the meta develops and what teams end up favoring.

As such, we will monitor your feedback and the Pre-season tournament, the first ECL season of the year, as well as any changes that EA makes by adjusting tuners and/or in patches. Last year especially they were making changes quite frequently - so we believe tying ourselves to a blanket ban would be a misstep at this point.

Thanks for the clarification, appreciate it!

Does this mean the "unique" loadouts ( = Deepfreeze etc) will also be allowed? Obviously not appearance-wise, but loadout-wise?

[Beniittto]

49 minuuttia sitten, Kenu kirjoitti:

Thanks for flagging this @l-Furyan-l!

After deliberating, and weighing the pros and cons of instituting X-factor bans, the League Administration has decided to NOT ban any traits or abilities for the upcoming season. We appreciate the desire for some traits like Big Tipper to be axed, but we first want to see how the meta develops and what teams end up favoring.

As such, we will monitor your feedback and the Pre-season tournament, the first ECL season of the year, as well as any changes that EA makes by adjusting tuners and/or in patches. Last year especially they were making changes quite frequently - so we believe tying ourselves to a blanket ban would be a misstep at this point.

🤡🤡🤡

[tomboo-_-]

This cant be real

[Lxndstrom]

Why we dont listen best players in this game?? I really really hope this year every elite team can do agreement that we dont use trucu x tipper….

[iSvamp]

[MartindalexC]

42 minutes ago, l-Furyan-l said:

Thanks for the clarification, appreciate it!

Does this mean the "unique" loadouts ( = Deepfreeze etc) will also be allowed? Obviously not appearance-wise, but loadout-wise?

Correct. If it becomes apparent that a 'unique' loadout is vastly unbalanced to the rest then we reserve the ability to specifically ban that one, while keeping the others as still playable. 

[pappeen-]

Why not make a poll for each division and let the players decide? Thats fair for everyone imo

[xAaro89x]

why the f*** neo players decide for everyone  LETS MAKE POLL for each division!!!!!!

 

[Sokkelo__]

I’m a bit curious how are these decision made? And why there cant be different rules for different divisions? Also, has big tipper for example ever been a trait someone considers balanced, how would that be different now? 

Edited October 15 by Sokkelo__

[xDoumi]

Fun and enjoyable games ahead, lets gooo!!

52 minuuttia sitten, tomboo-_- kirjoitti:

This cant be real

nhlgamer mafia behind this decision..

[wobfighter]

Hello,

hasn't it always been the case that pro and elite teams largely self-regulate, with an unspoken rule or name it  a gentlemen's agreement to have that in place to not use it?

looking at the current loadouts used by pro and elite teams, it’s much like last year: classic meta builds like speed/agility, tape-to-tape, and close quarters are preferred. hardly anyone is using tipper, truculence, or other loadouts at the moment, as they don’t seem as strong as they were in the previous version.

it has already been stated that if, during the pre-season, a perk proves to be unfair or if patches introduce significant changes, there will be a closer review and a ban may be considered.

therefore, it's questionable whether each division even needs its own set of rules for loadouts, since pro and elite teams are already playing almost exclusively with the meta builds.

the experience from previous nhl titles has shown that meta builds always prevail in the competitive scene and are therefore primarily used.

 

 

[Eken45jr]

There’s clearly abilities that’s still gamebreaking. Allowing unstoppable force, truculence, big tipper etc for competitive tournaments is ridiculous.

From a competitive standpoint it would be the best to play tournaments without abilities. But that will never happen so it would make the most sense to remove the ones that’s ruining the experience for the majority of the players (elite atleast).

 Big tipper, truculence and unstoppable force - should atleast be obvious bans.

 

Edited October 15 by Eken45jr

[antoniomannen004]

Why were something like this not thrown to a poll??? How can this decision be made without taking into account what the players think of it

After all we are the ones playing with this shitty truculence big tipper meta...

Also who has complained in the first place about truculence,big tipper,uforce being banned? Last year was horrific gameplay wise since the game sucked but those 2 seasons were much more enjoyable than the 23 winter season when we had truculence on minimum 4 skaters per team...

 

Gör om gör rätt 🤪

[Beniittto]

6 minuuttia sitten, wobfighter kirjoitti:

Hello,

hasn't it always been the case that pro and elite teams largely self-regulate, with an unspoken rule or name it  a gentlemen's agreement to have that in place to not use it?

looking at the current loadouts used by pro and elite teams, it’s much like last year: classic meta builds like speed/agility, tape-to-tape, and close quarters are preferred. hardly anyone is using tipper, truculence, or other loadouts at the moment, as they don’t seem as strong as they were in the previous version.

it has already been stated that if, during the pre-season, a perk proves to be unfair or if patches introduce significant changes, there will be a closer review and a ban may be considered.

therefore, it's questionable whether each division even needs its own set of rules for loadouts, since pro and elite teams are already playing almost exclusively with the meta builds.

the experience from previous nhl titles has shown that meta builds always prevail in the competitive scene and are therefore primarily used.

 

 

There has never been any gentlemen's agreements in ecl, people haven't been using tipper or truculence because people expected them to not be allowed in ecl, not because they are not good.

[Kenu]

For those criticizing the decision, this conversation has been available for over a month and five people have weighed in on the bans. Perhaps the question didn’t reach a big enough portion of the players, but it was communicated from the start that the starting point is that there will be no bans and that this thread on the forums is the right place to argument for what and why it should be banned.

A poll is a good idea on paper, but we want to make sure we are making decisions based on constructive conversations and analysis rather than an opinion might just be echoed by people who haven’t even tried the traits they are voting against.

I’m glad this conversation has now got some more activity, so please keep the discussion active and constructive!

[XD_Jacke]

Just saying from a goalies perspective, I think tipper ( gold or silver) is just too op, and I think that unstoppable force has been nerfed (this perspective is from me playing hut). For me is safe to say that tipper is just too op