Warrior General Games

I'm no good at intros.






Let's start with the easy and obvious ones and work our way back across to elusive.

--


Power is pretty straight forward. If you are looking to break a lot of tackles with power running and want power running skills to activate a lot, this is your setting. It's got decent pathfinding, runs well on the outside, and overall doesn't require much investment in footwork or quickness to run - though the quickness helps a lot - especially after breaking a tackle.

The drawbacks of power are also straightforward, you won't utilize elusive running skill well and the style has a 'hidden' penalty in that quickness is lowered, or at least acceleration is. Your back refuses to give up and run out of bounds most of the time and doing so can normally help to preserve energy and morale. Also, since you take people on head-on, you are more likely to fumble if they clean your clock.


--

North/South is one of the least used styles, and it's with good reason. For most, slippery is just a better version of it. For a Power runner with high footwork though, this is not the case. North/South is excellent at utilizing footwork and angles like slippery while maintaining a high activation level of power skills. The style also allows for a little elusive running to be effective at throwing off pursuit, but it's a lot to ask for a build to be power first and then also be elusive. It's better overall for a speedy back than Power running if you have the moderately high footwork required to run the style well. It's a good idea to have surefooted in the build plans for this run style as well - not at all required, but North/South utilizes surefooted very well.

It's major downfalls are a tendency to want to drift inside too much, while not being as good at breaking tackles as power running style. It's kinda wishy-washy in its role and doesn't utilize quickness well as it has a penalty to acceleration and doesn't like to slow down anyhow, the footwork needed is best utilized when moving toward the outside and the back just refuses to go there.

--

Combo is the run style anyone can use. It's very good at, well everything. Backs have full range of motion so they can react to defenders entirely based upon the situation instead of relying on where the style 'wants' to go. Power wants to go upfield and cut inside, elusive always wants the edge, combo only wants to advance the ball the best way possible for whichever situation it is provided. This is why running awareness is so much more noticeable on backs who run combo. The style also prioritizes balance, which means you still break a lot of tackles no matter if you are a power runner or elusive. It's overall a versatile style that has a plethora of upsides and only a couple... very major downsides.

The downsides are equally as bad as the rest of the info is good... all things balanced and all that... Because it prioritizes balance, it's mobility/acceleration ends up closer to north/south than it is slippery. So while it has no penalty like north/south does, the gap between it and slippery feels massive in comparison. That alone makes it hard to justify running as an elusive type or a speedster, but the largest problem lies in that the style has the least amount of skill activation. So if you're a power runner, you may get some benefit from the balance and extra mobility in comparison to power - but the lower skill activation and relative similarity to N/S in mobility makes running it a difficult choice. It's also poor at getting into situations for stiff arm to activate. Higher awareness can help to negate some of the problems - but that awareness would also make activation rates even higher on other styles. Combo also 'starts slower' than other styles and can be hard to get momentum rolling if the team relies on you to do so.

--

Slippery is a personal favorite at the moment, despite it's massive - painful downsides. Slippery is almost as good as elusive at avoiding fumbles, while being much better for someone with high footwork to utilize it. The acceleration gain from slippery is extremely noticeable over combo, and the back takes better angles to maximize space. It's not as open to improvization as combo is, but the combination of fast decision making and fast acceleration gives your back the ability to create room better than any other style. The style can be run with a decent amount of footwork and doesn't require a massive investment in quickness as the back tries to prioritize not slowing down.

The major downsides of slippery are that it breaks the least amount of tackles. Your back is always struggling to keep balance, so surefooted is a necessity with the run style. It's also a bit of a liability in returns for some reason, seems to fumble more often in that setting.

--

Elusive is... well it's a mess, but a lot of fun. It fumbles the least. You break the most tackles with elusive running vs other styles and break the most diving tackles overall (though missed diving tackles don't count as broken tackles :/). It requires a heavy investment into quickness, and just like with slippery you're constantly struggling to keep balance with the moves you make - but the bonus to acceleration makes the style throw others balance off more than your own. It doesn't require a high footwork, but it can help. Activation rates for elusive style abilities and even power styles to some extent are quite good, and path-finding for inside runs/congested running lanes on high quickness players is unparalleled. Mobility rates and elusive skill activation rates being the main bonus here. With surefooted and a high balance a quickness-oriented back can get a lot of work done. And the style 'starts the hottest' so a superstar that the team relies on for getting momentum rolling can really shine with this style... but...

It runs out of bounds way too early, and since the rework to pursuit it is actually the worst running style for outside runs. The insistence on getting the edge and reluctance to cut upfield can be a hinderance at times, but is the main reason the style does so well running up the gut and off tackle - it is always looking for the opportunity to break to the sidelines if the defense loses contain. This style also has a problem of ignoring blockers and not utilizing them to the fullest. Where slippery, combo, Power and N/S all try to 'lead' defenders to blocks - elusive just won't. Elusive is too worried about getting that edge, always swinging for the fences and yet maddeningly giving up and running out of bounds super early. It's downright frustrating sometimes watching a back on elusive - but the impact a well built back can have with it can make the option tempting.

Power also forces you to fumble a lot early

Originally posted by vipermaw82
Power also forces you to fumble a lot early

Early in the build?

I tend to tell power guys not to invest in power until sophomore/journeyman as they can make more headway starting their investments into conditioning and sprinting. Just being fast and not running out of breath can be plenty for a HB at lower levels, just a little footwork and you’ve got a speed back on your hands that can transition seamlessly to a power back once you start investing in power. You can also run him on slippery to avoid a lot of fumbles while leveling power running up to the point you can feel comfortable flipping over to power or N/S running.

Originally posted by Raid
North/South is one of the least used styles, and it's with good reason. For most, slippery is just a better version of it. For a Power runner with high footwork though, this is not the case. North/South is excellent at utilizing footwork and angles like slippery while maintaining a high activation level of power skills. The style also allows for a little elusive running to be effective at throwing off pursuit, but it's a lot to ask for a build to be power first and then also be elusive. It's better overall for a speedy back than Power running if you have the moderately high footwork required to run the style well. It's a good idea to have surefooted in the build plans for this run style as well - not at all required, but North/South utilizes surefooted very well.

It's major downfalls are a tendency to want to drift inside too much, while not being as good at breaking tackles as power running style. It's kinda wishy-washy in its role and doesn't utilize quickness well as it has a penalty to acceleration and doesn't like to slow down anyhow, so it won't make the hard cuts that let quickness shine across the middle of the field - but it always wants to try and get there anyhow. It can be frustrating depending on your build.

I actually like North/South. Bo Jackson (S* HB) will be running on North/South. He is hybrid runner...end build will have very high power, pretty good speed and decent footwork/quickness. He is a "one cut" back. On tosses, I want him to run parallel to the LOS until he sees an opening and hit it hard up the field, dragging/stiff arming any DBs and/or LBs with him. I don't want to put him on Power because I want him to try and avoid the first defender "slightly" but not go out of his way to change direction. I want him to basically always be moving north/south with slight adjustments here and there.

Hershel Walker is gonna be a straight up power back.

Holieway...I'll put him on either slippery or elusive.

Why do you keep saying North/South has a penalty to acceleration? Where are you getting this from?

Try running your back on N/S for a game and then combo for a game. The acceleration difference is still noticeable, though it is the least noticeable gap between the styles. Run him on slippery a game and you might not recognize him.

N/S isn’t a bad style, for a guy who breaks a lot of tackles but still has a good sprint and footwork, it’s the best style to run. It’s definitely better at setting up stuff arm than power. I’m just discussing the downsides and why people who don’t fit that bill might not want to run it.

Why do you keep saying North/South has a penalty to acceleration? Where are you getting this from?

Originally posted by Raid
Early in the build?

I tend to tell power guys not to invest in power until sophomore/journeyman as they can make more headway starting their investments into conditioning and sprinting. Just being fast and not running out of breath can be plenty for a HB at lower levels, just a little footwork and you’ve got a speed back on your hands that can transition seamlessly to a power back once you start investing in power. You can also run him on slippery to avoid a lot of fumbles while leveling power running up to the point you can feel comfortable flipping over to power or N/S running.

If you wait to add Power early, you don't have a Power HB until late Pro. So while Power doesn't do a lot in the beginning, it does scale well after Soph (ie. Journey & Pro). If you go Sprinting first, you wait too long (IMO).

Yes, without Sprinting you can't run Outside. But you don't need to. Off Tackle/Slam/Dive to both sides is enough.

Originally posted by Raid
I'm no good at intros.






Let's start with the easy and obvious ones and work our way back across to elusive.

--


Power is pretty straight forward. If you are looking to break a lot of tackles with power running and want power running skills to activate a lot, this is your setting. It's got decent pathfinding, runs well on the outside, and overall doesn't require much investment in footwork or quickness to run - though the quickness helps a lot - especially after breaking a tackle.

The drawbacks of power are also straightforward, you won't utilize elusive running skill well and the style has a 'hidden' penalty in that quickness is lowered, or at least acceleration is. Your back refuses to give up and run out of bounds most of the time and doing so can normally help to preserve energy and morale. Also, since you take people on head-on, you are more likely to fumble if they clean your clock.




I've gone with Footwork over Quickness for S* HB Gimli (Power) and I think it's a better choice. Almost done with Pro, but the Footwork helps him keep breaking tackles as he regains his balance faster. (It seems.)

We'll see how his Vet campaign goes with very high Footwork (no Quickness) on a S* Power HB using Power running style.

So far, he's a beast.

Originally posted by Xars
I've gone with Footwork over Quickness for S* HB Gimli (Power) and I think it's a better choice. Almost done with Pro, but the Footwork helps him keep breaking tackles as he regains his balance faster. (It seems.)

We'll see how his Vet campaign goes with very high Footwork (no Quickness) on a S* Power HB using Power running style.

So far, he's a beast.




You should seriously consider N/S if you're going with the higher footwork. Power benefits from it - but N/S is fueled by it.

And yeah, when you are being 'bounced' after a big hit, your ability to correct yourself seems to be based on footwork and balance, the faster you recover from stumbling the faster you can recover the hidden 'balance counter' to then break another tackle.

Originally posted by Cybertron
Why do you keep saying North/South has a penalty to acceleration? Where are you getting this from?

It's not listed, but if you pay any attention to your back, like I suggested, it's easy to see.

Originally posted by Xars
If you wait to add Power early, you don't have a Power HB until late Pro. So while Power doesn't do a lot in the beginning, it does scale well after Soph (ie. Journey & Pro). If you go Sprinting first, you wait too long (IMO).

Yes, without Sprinting you can't run Outside. But you don't need to. Off Tackle/Slam/Dive to both sides is enough.

This is true, but overall since you aren't breaking tackles at the lower levels in any regular interval, you can gain more from just being faster even if you run the back inside mostly. I just find it's better overall for maintaining production as you progress to focus on the physicals first and ride them to the point where power can take over. Using slippery run style to protect the ball as he then progresses into more power and quickness, if the build calls for quickness, so he doesn't fumble on power or N/S by charging headfirst into a defender when he's still only got 40 power running.

Originally posted by Raid
You should seriously consider N/S if you're going with the higher footwork. Power benefits from it - but N/S is fueled by it.

And yeah, when you are being 'bounced' after a big hit, your ability to correct yourself seems to be based on footwork and balance, the faster you recover from stumbling the faster you can recover the hidden 'balance counter' to then break another tackle.

I'll do a season at Vet with Power and a season with North/South. It won't be till Vet that he hits full Footwork - which should be about 83.

I prefer longer tests when possible.

Then again, if I remember of course.

Originally posted by Xars
I'll do a season at Vet with Power and a season with North/South. It won't be till Vet that he hits full Footwork - which should be about 83.

I prefer longer tests when possible.

Then again, if I remember of course.



I like North South a bit as well. Outside runs can lead to the HB cutting inside of the pursuing defender if he overpasses, which leads to a few more yards at times. However, there are always runs where you wish the HB was slippery, N/S or just straight up power depending on the run and how the HB reacts. Cannot get the right reaction for every run obviously which is a good thing.

Frankly though, I build all of my HBs with footwork over quickness. Personal preference, but it's served me well so far.