Link Mania

I have been overly busy lately, hence the slowdown in updates. A bunch of things need commenting, but I'll tackle them one by one.

First, I wanted to put together a list of links with useful tools. This is not necessarily comprehensive, but I've found most of them to strongly enhance the Hattrick experience:

Hattrick Organizer
The Organizer is the first assistant software that I used, and I dare say one of the best out there. The advantages are so many: it's Java-based, you can use third-party plugins, it's easy to use and fairly intuitive. And last, but not least, it's free.

Now, I generally do not recommend programs like this, especially for new players, because I think they slow down your understanding of how the game functions. However, once you have a fairly solid grasp of what HT is all about, these are a good way to keep track of what is going on with your team. Still, questions like, "I trained scoring this week, but my HAM shows that none of my players got training," can usually make me frenetically run in circles around the room, cursing loudly.

Hattrick @ databased.at
A very good information site. Has a complete breakdown of in-game information, and some quite useful tools. Appropriate for people who do not like to download stuff, or log in to Hattrick from various locations. Some of the functions have become paid over the years, but there still are a lot of free goodies.

Virtual Hattrick Organizer
Hattrick Organizer's baby brother. The two products are unrelated, but VHO is, similarly to databased.at, suitable for people who have no permanent "base of operations". While not sporting a large variety of useful functions, VHO provides a good overview of your team.

Hottrick
A site that originates, I believe, from the Polish ht-gang. There is a useful, albeit unfinished, guide for beginner players. You might also want to use the keeper tool, and the friendly search agent.

Hatstats
The ratings' Mecca of Hattrick. If you hear references to "your hatstats", and have no idea what people are talking about - here is where you find the answer. Loads of useful team ratings for all who want to benchmark their teams against the competition. The site covers each nation up to division IV, and beyond for some of the bigger leagues. Though, they get the flops for the very awkward positioning of the newly introduced Google ad banner on the team page.

Hattristics
A huge database with tabulated percentages for special and weather events, tactics used, possession, etc. Might be a bit hard to figure out, but undoubtedly very useful.

HT-Dog
I discovered this one only recently, but it seems like a good tool to scout your next opposition. Very user-friendly, and highly recommended.

Foxtrick
If you are using Firefox, this plugin is a must. If you're not using Foxtrick, it is the reason to install the browser! What Foxtrick does is, it implements a number of add-ons to Hattrick directly in the html while you're browsing. Not only can you change the colour of HT, but you can also opt to see the hatstats ratings in the match report, the number of stars in the formation info, or links to the keeper and injury tools in the player info of keepers and injured players, respectively. You can even download nifty little clipart sets to replace the ugly medals and cups on team shelves while you're browsing! All options can be turned on and off.

HT Arena
HT Arena is a great service for everyone who lacks the supporter feature, but still looks to add some flavor to their team. You can create your team's very own website, complete with information taken directtly from the game. Don't worry, it's all CHPP-approved.

The list here is surely not comprehensive, and I am sure that most of you have found other little gems to help you play the game better. I will appreciate all contributions!

That's it for now, in the near future, expect my takes on HT-Magnus and usability, and the upcoming changes to scorers and wingers.

Also, thanks to my first two readers, ivo_stoyanov and farfouille!

Comments

I have tinkered with the settings a bit to configure the blog to allow comments from unregistered users. Enjoy.

Play Creatively

When you use Play Creatively, there is a greater chance that special events (both positive and negative) will occur during the match. If both teams use Play Creatively, the chance for special events will be even greater.

The downside is that teams playing creatively will be less focused on the defense, thus losing some defensive ability.

Playing creatively will probably be good for SE-optimized teams.

Now after I have observed the effects of this tactic for a couple of matches, I can share my thoughts on it.

Theoretically speaking, there is no reason why a team should get more SE chances if the other team chooses to play creatively. I understand the need to balance out the benefits, but this is ridiculous. It's a design flaw, the name does not fit the concept too well.

Indeed, I must agree that special events were significantly underpowered, and needed a boost, but come on. The HT team should be able to do better than that.

All this being said, who should use the new tactic? Let's review the benefits.

First, it seems like playing creatively increases only the chance for goal special events as opposed to weather special events. These include (by position):

Defenders: tiredness (negative), unpredictable (positive/negative), technical vs head (negative)

Midfielders: tiredness (negative), unpredictable (positive/negative), technical vs head (negative)

Wingers: cross pass (positive), experience (positive), quick (positive), technical vs head (positive), unpredictable (positive)

Forwards: unpredictable (positive, 2 kinds), experience (positive), technical vs head (positive), quick (positive).

Others: counter-attacks (positive), corners (positive), long shot (positive)

Unless I missed something, it looks like the forward and winger positions account for 10 different positive events, and the midfielder and defender positions - just for 2, both of them carrying significant negatives.

The natural conclusion is that Play Creatively is designed for offensively profiled teams. 3 scorers + offensive winger or 2 offensive wingers + 2 scorers seem to be the minimum required for maximizing the potential benefits from the tactic.

As far as negative events are concerned, defensive trainers might want to avoid the tactic, since the presence of 4 or 5 inexperienced defenders in the squad turns it into a time bomb.

Also, since the method of calculating the defence penalty is probably based on a percentage decrease, teams with weaker defence lose less.

Cup Round 2

I am playing a bot team, and I will again risk the less experienced starters for some boost in this area. Last week I managed to get away without an injury against a team, who was sporting 3 temperamental and 1 fiery player (and a huge bunch of balanced ones). This week's opponent only has 2 temperamentals and quite a number of tranquils.

Congratulations!

Congratulations to chukcha on his re-election to the Bulgarian U20 coach office. Good luck to him in his quest to qualify Bulgaria to the next world championship.

Word Out

I remember those beautiful days in the end of 2003 when I was first starting to dabble in the world of Hattrick. I've had the team for a day, and after some thinking I decided it is smart to start training passing, because it helps both my midfielders and forwards. In short, I had a lot to catch up 2 seasons or so from then.

I thought I'd put some random advice for other new players together, just in case.

1. Start training a main skill. Main skills are goalkeeping, defending, playmaking, winger, scoring. This is the fastest way to create some value in your team. You can train passing, set pieces, and other fancy stuff later on if you so desire.

2. Speaking about value, in order to make it to the top, you have to earn money. A lot of it. Therefore, make sure you have the best coach you can afford (skill counts, not leadership!), and have a full set of youngsters to train. Even if that means losing some games in the short run, it will pay off later.

3. Watch the upper divisions! Do not run for promotion before you are sure that your team is strong enough to finish in the top 4 of an average division of the upper level. Playing against stronger opponents is certainly instructive, but getting beaten up like a dog is no fun.

4. Follow the conferences, and look at the games of more experienced managers. There is always something useful to learn.

With all this being said, make sure you enjoy the experience. Hattrick is just a game, after all!

Hello!

This is a blog about Hattrick. Hattrick is an online soccer game where players manage teams by training, buying, and selling players.

I have been on Hattrick for quite a while, and I spent a lot of time and effort on the game. That's why I thought I'd put together this blog, so that my knowledge and experience might be of use to other people as well.