A clear change is needed in the league. There's some clear issues with the league that make it less fun. I think a major archetype rework is in order.

How did we get here?
As someone who saw the beginnings of the switch to FHM I know what was the talks were that led to our create system. There were a few essential issues that led to it:
1.) Lack of time. For better or worse we had to get this done. Was it rushed? Maybe. But let me be clear, that does not mean people didn't put countless hours trying to find the best solution they could. People worked their absolute asses off to get us into working order with FHM. What I am saying is that we can do things better. We're not scrambling to save the league from STHS's bugs, we're in a spot where we can try to make things better. So let's take that time and do it.
2.) Lack of knowledge on FHM. We knew a little, but now we know a ton more. We know sliders are super important, we know crease clearing defenseman/shadow/goon/enforcer/agitator have special effects on the game, we know that certain combinations of roles are super overpowered, we know that certain attributes like defensive read and checking are absolutely vital regardless of your build.

What is the problem?
Well... I mean look at this:

S53


S54


S55


S56


S57


S58


S59


S60


S61


We're seeing the same teams at the top every season. Part of that is these teams are built around great groups of people who create lasting friendships that people want to be a part of. Part of it is that teams tell their players exact builds to make and build their team around a set of builds. Part of it is teams continually attracting top free agents, and I don't blame those teams or players for that, nobody wants to have their peak seasons wasted when they could have a perennial shot at the cup on a team with proven management groups.

What is my proposed solution?
I think we need at least a two pronged solution

1.) Archetypes
Honestly I think the way PBE and ISFL have done this is a great thing to go off of. To use PBE as an example the idea is that you allow player agency by providing a large number of archetypes that are balanced to generally to prevent a meta archetype from emerging. Want to be a power bat? Okay but you're gonna have to sacrifice defense. Want to be a defensive specialist? Okay but your bat is gonna suffer. Want to steal bases? Okay but your power is gonna be garbage. PBE player builds are listed here: https://probaseballexperience.jcink.net/...topic=4023

The great thing about this approach is that you can balance these in a way that prevents OP builds. Defensive Read is supposed to be an overpowered attribute here, so let's see what an example of an SHL Perimeter Shooter and Defensive Forward archetype.

PLEASE DO NOT FOCUS ON THE SPECIFIC NUMBERS. The point here was not for me to create perfect archetypes, it was to illustrate the idea that archetypes can provide player variety while preventing meta builds. Something to pay attention to is that while the defensive forward is still better at defensive read, they can't get defensive read to 20 because we've seen that as an overpowered attribute. Again the number itself is not important. Maybe that should be higher, maybe it should be lower, but the point is showing we can use archetype maxes and mins to help balance over and under powered attributes.


Perimeter Shooter - An offensive minded shooter that stays to the outside. A good shooter but probably weak in puck battles. Excels at getting to open space.
Offensive Ratings
(MIN: 8) (MAX: 12) Screening: 8
(MIN: 12) (MAX: 20) Getting Open: 12
(MIN: 8) (MAX: 12) Passing: 8
(MIN: 8) (MAX: 16) Puckhandling: 8
(MIN: 12) (MAX: 20) Shooting Accuracy: 12
(MIN: 12) (MAX: 20) Shooting Range: 12
(MIN: 10) (MAX: 20) Offensive Read: 10

Defensive Ratings
(MIN: 5) (MAX: 12) Checking: 5
(MIN: 5) (MAX: 8) Hitting: 5
(MIN: 5) (MAX: 12) Positioning: 5
(MIN: 5) (MAX: 12) Stickchecking: 5
(MIN: 5) (MAX: 8) Shot Blocking: 5
(MIN: 5) (MAX: 12) Faceoffs: 5
(MIN: 5) (MAX: 12) Defensive Read: 5

Physical Ratings
(MIN: 8) (MAX: 16) Acceleration: 8
(MIN: 10) (MAX: 18) Agility: 10
(MIN: 5) (MAX: 12) Balance: 5
(MIN: 8) (MAX: 16) Speed: 8
(MIN: 12) (MAX: 20) Stamina: 12
(MIN: 8) (MAX: 18) Strength: 8
(MIN: 5) (MAX: 10) Fighting: 5

Mental Ratings
(MIN: 5) (MAX: 20) Aggression: 5
(MIN: 5) (MAX: 20) Bravery: 5
*Determination: 15
*Team Player: 15
*Leadership: 15


Defensive Forward - The guy you look to for killing penalties, getting in between passing lanes and preventing scoring chances. Probably doesn't hit much but will check players and lift sticks.
Offensive Ratings
(MIN: 8) (MAX: 12) Screening: 8
(MIN: 5) (MAX: 12) Getting Open: 5
(MIN: 8) (MAX: 16) Passing: 8
(MIN: 8) (MAX: 16) Puckhandling: 8
(MIN: 5) (MAX: 10) Shooting Accuracy: 5
(MIN: 5) (MAX: 10) Shooting Range: 5
(MIN: 5) (MAX: 10) Offensive Read: 5

Defensive Ratings
(MIN: 11) (MAX: 16) Checking: 11
(MIN: 8) (MAX: 16) Hitting: 8
(MIN: 12) (MAX: 20) Positioning: 12
(MIN: 12) (MAX: 20) Stickchecking: 12
(MIN: 12) (MAX: 18) Shot Blocking: 12
(MIN: 8) (MAX: 16) Faceoffs: 8
(MIN: 11) (MAX: 16) Defensive Read: 11

Physical Ratings
(MIN: 8) (MAX: 16) Acceleration: 8
(MIN: 8) (MAX: 16) Agility: 8
(MIN: 8) (MAX: 16) Balance: 8
(MIN: 8) (MAX: 16) Speed: 8
(MIN: 12) (MAX: 20) Stamina: 12
(MIN: 10) (MAX: 18) Strength: 10
(MIN: 5) (MAX: 10) Fighting: 5

Mental Ratings
(MIN: 5) (MAX: 20) Aggression: 5
(MIN: 5) (MAX: 20) Bravery: 5
*Determination: 15
*Team Player: 15
*Leadership: 15

2.) Archetype Roles
Another thing I think would help is assigning roles to archetypes. We have two routes we could go. Either you can make archetypes for major roles and allow GMs to play the player in any of their respective minor roles OR we make archetypes for minor roles and players can only be player in that minor role. A major role meaning Offensive Defenseman, Two-way Defenseman, Defensive Defenseman, Enforcer and the minor roles being Playmaking Defenseman, Rushing Defenseman, Quarterback, Point Shooter, etc.



What does this do? It allows us to balance archetypes and therefore create more player agency. Can GMs still create meta teams from this? Maybe. But if that happens we can do some minor reworks to the builds to prevent OP builds. We fix the issues as they come instead of living in the current perpetual state of meta city.