Single player- online or offline?

[saints0221]

I know in the past with the Madden series it was risky to use offline dynasties due to corruption of files and other issues. What’s the verdict with this game? Can you safely use offline dynasties for single player saves?

[jello1717]

I haven’t heard anything about corrupted files, so if that’s your only concern, then I think you’d be fine. Here are some pros and cons off the top of my head.

OFFLINE
PROS:
Don’t need connection to EA to play
Can have multiple save files allowing for protection from corruption, and more importantly testing for stuff like potential broken schedules.
Doesn’t require updates, so you can play with an older version of the game if an update breaks something.

CONS:
Cannot use teambuilder

ONLINE:
PROS:
Teambuilder available
Usually gets updates before offline (but not this last update)

CONS:
If ea servers are down, you can’t play
Can’t save file for testing schedules and custom conferences and stuff like that.
Seems to have more broken scheduling bugs than offline.

[taylsz]

Right now I'm not continuing my online dynasty because I can't edit my schedule without getting the invalid schedule error. My offline dynasty works fine. Now that might be something to do with being 9 seasons deep in the online one, but it seems more likely it's an online/offline thing.

This is also anecdotal but I feel like there were more problems with the recruit commit splash updates in online, whereas they appear consistently in my offline. Small issue I know but worth mentioning.

[GKEnialb]

Another con for online is that you need a Microsoft/Sony subscription service to play, even if it's a single player online dynasty.

[delspf]

Quote: Originally Posted by GKEnialb

Another con for online is that you need a Microsoft/Sony subscription service to play, even if it's a single player online dynasty.

which is ridiculous

[BadAssHskr]

Obviously won't be this year, but I imagine at some point we'll have the ability to export our Dynasty file to a 3rd party.

If they can get recruiting via website or app, that alone wipes out any "con" one may make an argument for with an Online Dynasty.

Don't give me the tired line of losing connection to the EA server either. Have been playing, cfb online, solo dynasty since early release, and have not 1 connection issue to the servers.

In 1 instance we lost our home internet service during one of my games, and while it was disappointing, it was easy enough to overcome, and caused no permanent damage.

[illwill10]

Quote: Originally Posted by BadAssHskr

Obviously won't be this year, but I imagine at some point we'll have the ability to export our Dynasty file to a 3rd party. If they can get recruiting via website or app, that alone wipes out any "con" one may make an argument for with an Online Dynasty. Don't give me the tired line of losing connection to the EA server either. Have been playing, cfb online, solo dynasty since early release, and have not 1 connection issue to the servers. In 1 instance we lost our home internet service during one of my games, and while it was disappointing, it was easy enough to overcome, and caused no permanent damage.

I agree about a potential companion app for Online dynasty. Something that tracks what is going on around the nation/league, basic recruiting, and the ability to sim ahead. Recruiting isn't that complex where it couldn't be apart of a companion app



There needs to be add benefits for a solo Online dynasty. I'm only in a solo online dynasty because of Teambuilder. Luckily, I haven't had any connection issues or not being able play. But, there really isn't any added benefit for me to be in an Online Dynasty, especially now that I left my Teambuilder team in my dynasty. I rather have the ability to have save filea

[moTIGS]

Quote: Originally Posted by jello1717

I haven’t heard anything about corrupted files, so if that’s your only concern, then I think you’d be fine. Here are some pros and cons off the top of my head. OFFLINE PROS: Don’t need connection to EA to play Can have multiple save files allowing for protection from corruption, and more importantly testing for stuff like potential broken schedules. Doesn’t require updates, so you can play with an older version of the game if an update breaks something. CONS: Cannot use teambuilder ONLINE: PROS: Teambuilder available Usually gets updates before offline (but not this last update) CONS: If ea servers are down, you can’t play Can’t save file for testing schedules and custom conferences and stuff like that. Seems to have more broken scheduling bugs than offline.

Agree with all this. I'll add another PRO for offline dynasties: Multiple coaches.

In an online dynasty, you need to have a unique account for each coach.

In an offline save, you can create as many coaches as you want.

My dynasty right now is with UNLV. The Mountain West, unfortunately, sucks, so my 90ish overall team almost never faced a real challenge in conference play. Got kinda boring, but not quite as boring as playing in the Big 10 or SEC would be (saying this as a real-life fan of an SEC school). So my solution: Make coaches for a bunch of other MWC teams, recruit for them so they stopped loading up on pointless two-star recruits, force some non-conference wins against ranked opponents so they'd get boosts to coach/team prestige, and give them unique playbooks/coaching styles.

Right now I control half the conference (five side teams). I have annual games against a traditional option offense, a spread option, a pass-happy spread, and an air raid offense, all with rosters actually tailored to those styles. I face a 4-3 defense, a 3-4, a couple 4-2-5s, and a 3-3-5, again with players who actually fit those styles. I've only been at this for a couple seasons, so none of these teams is quite on my level, but I'm at least getting a handful of competitive games now.

In an online dynasty when playing in a weak conference, you're just gonna be stuck with weak opponents for 2/3 of the year unless you change teams or change conferences.