Hi Andy, I think your point about stamina is very well made and I think MaD Dragon Rugby covered it in his video post-patch. It seems the team doesn’t always manage to make subtle changes.
Perhaps Stamina needed a slight change, but it has to be carefully managed. Let’s say they decided that the front rowers were too fast on attack and that needed alteration. If they lower their stamina, then they’ll slow down after a making a break, but then it could also mean that they are too slow to make most of the breakdowns in the game and as users we’re wanting structured Rugby for the most part, not backs in the rucks and forwards seagulling out wide because they’re too tired to get to the ruck.
If the game could somehow know how to limit stamina of certain player types (Tight Five unless highly statted) after they make a 30m break, but not limit their speed when running to a ruck (more their actual role), then that’d be great.
And yes, despite Stamina needing refining. I think they’d have been better to have focused a bit more on AI attacking logic for the higher difficulties for now instead.
I am finding this new patch, v1.0.2793, 11 March 2025 update better yes, passing is a little easier finally but still hard but I put a few phases together, the ball hold on I like a lot.
Scrums, yes I think getting there yes, sliders would be great for help too, I am still on easiest and losing but last game it was 17 - 7 loss so not as bad as before.
The penalties I am giving away are mostly offsides, has anyone worked out how to do a high tackle button.
This game is just getting worst played a game I’m not even sprinting no one has any stamina, did a scrum everything saying good just collapses, great work team keep up these great updates.
And also no every offload is a penalty please test the game before releasing subpar updates please
Will repost because all these points still apply after the latest patch on xbox-s, One note I like the holding on feature, but the AI needs to be penalized for this every once in a while. And the point of implementing holding on is somewhat lost when the Y contest tackling player (stay standing, tackle and steal or tackle, stand and steal ) does not work. If it did, would give more significance to the new holding on feature. AI passing has improved but still needs more, and AI needs to us offloads and sidesteps/fends to improve the challenge they give to the user. AI does seem to be selecting kicking to touch more but still selects scrum at wrong moments, the rest is the repeating list of needed improvements.
The ongoing list of things to be implemented in gameplay.
Up to 5 in the ruck is a must, will change the dynamics of the game
This will also allow you more use it time at times to set up a play or formation.
Y contested tackle needs to be implemented. The person doing the tackling
should be able to stand up or remain standing and attempt the steal, this would complement the new holding on feature to defend this.
The scrum system is a good system, but needs to be implemented better, there is no reward for playing the perfect scrum. You should be able to keep gaining ground if you keep timing the mini graphs perfect or cause the opponent to be penalized. AI needs to be penalized sometimes in the scrum like the user.
AI passing and offloading need to continue to improve, (have confidence in this), all Big Ants other Rugby league games, have a fairly intelligent AI.
Up and under kick are bad at the moment, trajectory by players with good kicking stats should be much higher so offensive players have time to get under the ball, and the animation for need to sped up, so you don’t get tackled every time.(latest patch seem to get a little higher trajectory but not enough)
Dummy pass is still only working to one side. Fix so works to both sides.
Have the hi/low tackle with each having its benefits, low tackle more chance of offloads from opponent, high tackle more chances of player getting stepped. This was in RLL3, but was not implemented great , low tackle was to overpowering vs high tackle, A slider that came out for RLL3 fixed it though to play as intended. So it is possible. To balance the high and low tackle.
Sliders are needed so people can fine tune the game to play how they like. (arcade vs simulation)
Big hits to dislodge the ball with risk of penalty is needed.
Line outs are too simple, (not fun at all at the moment) see any previous rugby game system it is better.
*****Pick and go from tackled player is missing, this a big part of Rugby that is not in the game, it would bring exciting rugby quick ball play if implemented correctly, currently there must be at least 1 player in the ruck to play crash ball. You should be able to pick and go, if no challenge has arrived to the ruck.
AI needs to be more effective in rolling Mauls and Advancing Scrums if you play bad against the AI. The AI is not effective in any of those situations.
Overall, the game is progressing, but still many things to be implemented, I think the visuals are there, and there some really good running and passing rugby some of the best I have seen in a Rugby game, offloads for the User are almost perfect, there are some creative systems in place for rucking and scrums, they just need to be tuned much better. Happy to see the rucking is progressing considerably but still has a way to go to be on par with other rugby games, if implemented correctly could be one of the best interactive systems yet. Looking forward to next patches.
I was in the same situation for many times, this is a very big problem. I say before but nothing happened, i hope this situation to be resolved very quickly.
Still no adding real players to cutom teams. I find it extremly weird this is not in the game. Please let this be in the next update. It’s in games like cricket 24 and I’m not sure why its not in this game.
The fact that we cannot modify licensed players does not bother me because they are for the most part very well made, on the other hand being able to transfer players is for me essential for the lifespan of the game, and if it is possible to modify the kits of licensed teams that would also be good since some creators make very nice kits.
I am not the best gamer out there but I still find the game enjoyable and somehow easy.
I have tried and failed many times and practised diferent things in the tutorials, and I believe that Big Ant should develop deeper tutorials with a bit more explanation and letting you practise real scenarios (in the tutorials its basically 1v1, or a whole team passing around against nobody). If they manage to do this, I think the game would be much more enjoyable by everyone, there’s a long way till it’s finished but definately some progress has been made.
Also I have realised that the referees now have the licensed kits!! (At least on international games and also gallagher premiership). Good bye to the horrible big ant ref shirts.
Apart from that there are still issues to be adressed that completely ruin the experience:
AI doesnt substitute injured players. It is so annoying to have someone running around with that red cross icon underneath. On top of that, they keep running and tackling like nothing happened with a dislocated elbow.
Bump offs (I am yet to make one, going back to the tutorial thing, I dont know if it is my mistake or they cant be made yet).
Regarding hand offs and side steps, they should work depending on both attacker and defender rating. Props stepping wingers or wingers fending off a back rower? You don’t see that very often on a rugby pitch.
The kicker running towards the defense when taking a clearance kick/drop goal infuriates me. Ruins the whole purpose of sitting in the pocket.
Up-and-unders need to go higher in the air to make the contest in the air possible. Also adding the possibility of tackling/being tackled in the air would add depth to the gameplay.
So many good thing have been done and the game is changing for the better woth every update, but a lot to be made still.
By the way I have realised the all blacks have now licensed Adidas predator boots, will we be able to use those on our edited players? Are there more licensed boot designed on the way? It’d be great.
Finding the game enjoyable tbh, but have noticed AI get a penalty in their own 22 taking a scrum then box kicking out sure tweeks here and there will come
Just had a thought of there should be a day say 4 months out of the next season on career mode were you have to lock in say a 40 man squad. From there if you have a long term injury you can sign a player that will play almost imediatly. I went through career with realistic injuries on and got none until I turned it to extreme and then I got injuries but they were long term and ended up have to play Seru Uru (a second rower) on the wing😂 (he did exelent with two doubles)
If I may, are there any plans revealed to add competitions?
There are competitions in here that no one would have ever guessed or dreamed to be in the game.
What about The Rugby World Cup, The Rugby Championship, Currie Cup, Bunnings NPC?
An option to choose whether you want to place the ball for a try or dive for a try should be implemented. This was even a thing in RLL4 but this has been removed for some reason.
Good day @JNT_BA@MattW can you guys with all the other requests, look at the kicking foot of kickers as well, the kicker is right footed, but when going for touch at a penalty they kick with the left foot and vice versa,
2ndly, no forward running when in the pocket, more height for up and unders and kick offs,
3rd, 5 Meter Scrums for tackling someone behind the goal line instead of goal line drop out,
Better or improved animations, for example kicking to posts(for me as a flyhalf), jumping for the ball, or scoring a try.
Also, allow us to Change a Custom Competition’s name, would be great if we could create our own tour, with regards to International tours, and being able to play against club teams for warm ups.
For someone who is a Rugby Fanatic, I really hope these updates come to pass, just have a look at the EA’s Rugby 08 style, or even Rugby 22 and tweak these things on your side, You’d end up being the best in the business
Yes, I think everyone is getting sick of the over the top flamboyant dives being the only way to score.
On another note, there are occasional times where X or Square on Playstation is causing kicks when using them for scoring when only 1-2m out from the line. I thought it would only do that when 5m or further from the line.
Please also look at advantages for Penalties, and knock-ons(for the few that there is)
Also when a penalty is rewarded over 80 minutes, the game is done, kindly look at that. Do look at when kicks are out in touch, it should not go straight to lineouts, the game does not allow us to catch the ball outside of touch and Opt for a Quick throw, or this is on my games I have played.
One more chip I would like to throw in the pan as there are many valid points made above and I’m sure is still to come, is this it for the commentary? I have literally sat in front of my playstation and launched Rugby Challenge, only to close it again when I think of the awful commentary that will be hurting my ears soon, I know I can turn it off but I shouldn’t have to.
Commentary can make or break the atmosphere of your game.
And what is up with the position of that whistle on the referee’s hand? I know it is very minor but annoys me so much!
