Poll - reasonable period to max cover and level a character

atomzed

(Edited the poll options after feedback)

I come to realise that different players have different expectation of how fast they can get a max cover character.

Looking at D3 reward schedule, I suspect they think a 3 month to 6 month wait for a new character is reasonable. If someone tops the tourney featuring the rewards, he will be able to get 8 covers usually within a single month (pve and pvp). Including the progression reward, a top player can get 9 covers. When the next pvp comes along (which seems to be about a 2 month wait), the top player will get 13 covers. That is about a 2 month, or at worst a 3 month wait.

But of course that's just the top player.

What I like to know is how long an average player, (read: not statistically average in mpq population, but a player with an average roster. This would mean someone with only a 2* roster) should wait for their first max 3*.

For greater clarity, let's assume the following:
1) player has maxed his 2* and has no 3*
2) player is in top 100 alliance.
3) player has around 400 hp saved up
4) player has all max 2*
5) player knows all the tricks in mpq
6) player is willing to spend $5 a month as his gaming budget. He don't have to spend it, but he is ok with using it.
7) player has decent luck with tokens
8) player play in at least 70% of LR every week. (To account for iso earnings)

please feel free to give your opinion about this matter.

It should give d3 a better calibration of how they want to pace the player progress within reasonable limits.

GrumpySmurf1002

atomzed wrote:

I come to realise that different players have different expectation of how fast they can get a max cover character.

Looking at D3 reward schedule, I suspect they think a 3 month to 6 month wait for a new character is reasonable. If someone tops the tourney featuring the rewards, he will be able to get 8 covers usually within a single month (pve and pvp). Including the progression reward, a top player can get 9 covers. When the next pvp comes along (which seems to be about a 2 month wait), the top player will get 13 covers. That is about a 2 month, or at worst a 3 month wait.

But of course that's just the top player.

What I like to know is how long an average player, (got all 2* max but no real 3*) should wait for their first max 3*.

For greater clarity, let's assume the following:
1) player is in top 100 alliance.
2) player has around 400 hp saved up
3) player has all max 2*
4) player knows all the tricks in mpq
5) player is willing to spend $5 a month as his gaming budget. He don't have to spend it, but he is ok with using it.
6) player has decent luck with tokens
7) player play in at least 70% of LR every week. (To account for iso earnings)

please feel free to give your opinion about this matter.

It should give d3 a better calibration of how they want to pace the player progress within reasonable limits.

From start to finish, it was about 200 days for me. If you're cutting out the 1->2 transition (given assumption 3), then it's considerably less. Probably 3 months, give or take.

wymtime

I would say once you get maxed out cover 2 it is about 4 months. I was in the 2* range all through season 1-3 and then made a huge jump in season 4. Once you get a really good 3* team built up you will be able to cover max a lot of 3* if you are willing to grind in PVE and PVP even if you are only winning 3 covers at a time. With a random 3* token and season 10 packs it is easier to get covers the problem becomes getting ISO to cover them all.

loroku

atomzed wrote:

What I like to know is how long an average player, (got all 2* max but no real 3*) should wait for their first max 3*.

For greater clarity, let's assume the following:

You have a serious issue with your assumptions if you're asking about the average player.

That list describes a top-end player. Maybe not "top" like you defined top above (i.e. top <1%), but that is absolutely a top 5%-ish player. Those reqs are amazing. And someone like that may STILL have to play for 3-6 months to get a maxed covered, maxed out 3*.

I think an average player would be more like:

1) player is in top 500 alliance that is sometimes top 1000 (this is already above average but let's keep going)
2) player has around 200 hp saved up
3) player has a single max 2*
4) player knows one or two tricks in mpq
5) player is willing to spend $5 a month as his gaming budget. He don't have to spend it, but he is ok with using it.
6) player has average luck with tokens
7) player play in at least 20-30% of LR every week

Someone like that probably cannot get a maxed 3* cover in 6 months. Your poll needs a higher time span, like "less than 9 months," "less than 1 year," and the most realistic "more than the time before the player quits and moves on."

Unknown

Maybe add avg hours played / week

If you're playing 1-2 hours a week, then yes it would take a year to max a 3*

If you play 1-2 hours / day, probably a few months assuming you need to gather covers, lucky tokens etc.

loroku

I'll put a couple real world examples out there, just to make sure we're all on the same page.

I have a friend who's been playing for about 3 months, maybe longer. He's never missed a daily reward. Routinely plays for a few hours, but probably not a few hours every day. I'll ask him, but I'll guess his average daily time is maybe 1-2 hours a day (on average).

He does not have a single 2* character maxed out. His highest two characters are in the 70s, and the rest are 55 or lower. (Although he does have two 4*s with 1 cover each.) He has not even started the 2*->3* transition.

I've been playing for over a month. I haven't missed a day and my average daily playtime is higher than my friend. My highest characters are 55. I have only one guy I could max to 94, but I don't have anywhere near the ISO required. You could say I'm technically still in the 1* to 2* transition, although maybe I'm a 2* player now.

1-2 hours a day for 3 months is absolutely nowhere near what is required to get a 3* up to snuff. Maybe it was at one point, but those days are long gone. Here's a small example: even when I started a month ago, you could get 3* covers from PvE subs. Now they only give tokens. Progression has slowed WAY, way down.

I would vote 9 months to a year for an "average" player to get from start to a single maxed 3*. Seriously.

atomzed

loroku wrote:

atomzed wrote:

What I like to know is how long an average player, (got all 2* max but no real 3*) should wait for their first max 3*.

For greater clarity, let's assume the following:

You have a serious issue with your assumptions if you're asking about the average player.

That list describes a top-end player. Maybe not "top" like you defined top above (i.e. top <1%), but that is absolutely a top 5%-ish player. Those reqs are amazing. And someone like that may STILL have to play for 3-6 months to get a maxed covered, maxed out 3*.

I think an average player would be more like:

1) player is in top 500 alliance that is sometimes top 1000 (this is already above average but let's keep going)
2) player has around 200 hp saved up
3) player has a single max 2*
4) player knows one or two tricks in mpq
5) player is willing to spend $5 a month as his gaming budget. He don't have to spend it, but he is ok with using it.
6) player has average luck with tokens
7) player play in at least 20-30% of LR every week

Someone like that probably cannot get a maxed 3* cover in 6 months. Your poll needs a higher time span, like "less than 9 months," "less than 1 year," and the most realistic "more than the time before the player quits and moves on."

Changed the poll options based on your feedback.

Hmmm, I was thinking along the line of a forumite who is diligently doing their best to get the best placing. Such a player will try to get into a top 100 alliance and get the best advantage possible.

Maybe I should call him a "serious player with an average roster"? In the parameters I set up, I was looking at players who already have their max 2*. Such a player, while handicap by their average 2* roster, nonetheless can still get their first 3* without spending their way.

But you brought up a good point about the vast majority of players. By definition, these players will never make top 50, and will not be in a top 100 alliance. Such a casual player, will really need their Rng luck to be aligned to get their max 3*.

atomzed

Oh shucks! I didn't know that putting in more options on the poll will reset the poll!

I'm sorry everyone! You may have to revote again

MarvelMan

I know my persepctive is a little warped, but Ive managed to more than rebuild Hawkeye/Daken since the sale ended, plus built an OBW and a TinyTorch (which is 4x 2* for those keeping track at home). None have been leveled up, but Ive banked 200k+ ISO in the last week, in large part due to the anniversary (which would fully level 2.5 of those 2*s). Not to mention that Ive had good luck with placements (brackets were good to me) plus tokens (including 50HP daily deal). Ive gotten about two dozen 3* covers in that time, and I havent opened a heroic (~50 saved) or standard (~100 saved).

Unknown

Judging by my number of days in the game (223) and the number I've missed (2) I believe I started on March 2. was released at the end of March, and would go on to be my first maxed .

He may have been an anomaly since he was given out so much (and alliances had just begun) that not only did I have him fully covered at 3/5/5, but I actually sold off a few extra covers. I had him maxed in another couple weeks, so I'd say from the time I started until I had him maxed was under 2 months. Having one maxed made getting more a lot easier. In order since then I've maxed , and have taken XF (now fully covered as well) to 166. I will throw in the caveat that I bought 2 covers for and 4 for , but everyone else was earned through in game prizes. And within 2 weeks I had gotten the covers I bought from rewards, so it just sped up my getting them, didn't earn me anything I wouldn't have earned eventually.

With help (read a top 100 alliance, which when they started was any alliance with 20 people), and consistent (and likely excessive) play, and a bit of luck, you should be able to get 1 maxed in a couple months. Since most people don't play that much, 3-6 months seems a bit more reasonable, but is getting tougher to do with more and more characters in the game.

FierceKiwi

I'm a bit confused most people seem to by answering how long does it take from the start of game to 3*, but the OP seems to be asking how long from 2*s to first 3*...those are very different questions. For that matter the title makes it seem the OP wants to know how long it should take in an ideal world which is an even more different question.

Start - 3*: Probably something like 9months-1year
2*-3*: Probably something like 6months
How long it should take: ???

Punter1

I meet 5 of the 7 requirements. I'm F2P and probably only make it into a handful of Lightning rounds a week.

I'm at day 248 - I maxed Hulk around day 190. As a F2P person I'd say this is "reasonable" from day 1. I'd argue in the slightly better rewards structure that's existed in the 2nd half of the time (top 100 = 3* when it used to be top 50) I could have done it quicker if I restarted today.

My MPQ story. I played around 80 days with no alliance (some of that was pre-alliance time), towards the end of that time I had maxed out a few 2*s, but wasn't playing a lot.

Then I spent 80 odd days in my first alliance, it was a top 200 alliance, nothing exciting, picked up the odd 3* covers from top 100 finishes. Maxed out more 2*s. Slowly built Hulk up as I seemed to luck out with covers for him.

Day 160 I committed to playing more - jumped to a top 50 alliance and it took me only about 30 days of more consistent play and rewards to max Hulk. Since then I've become cover rich and iso poor - I've max covers for Hulk, Psy, Pun, Spidey & GSBW. Plus several more 3*s with 10+ covers. I could have maxed my 2nd 3* by now but have spread the ISO love and have 7 3*s ranked level 120+.

My issue isn't with covers, they come in time and at a reasonable rate, especially when you're in a good alliance and posting top 25 in most PVPs personally. It's the massive amounts of ISO needed. There seems to be no easy way (accept lots of time!) to speed up the ISO gain. 1 decent PVP gets 3 covers, but only enough ISO for a handful of levels, that's ridiculously over scaled. Also with no way to switch HP to ISO I'm HP rich with nothing to do except add roster spots (I'm a chronic under-shielder, maybe 1 an event is all I need to get top 25!) so I've 49 roster spots, almost all characters (no Yelena or 1* Hawk) errr wooohooo...

According to my roster sheet I need 920K ISO to level my 3*s to their current max levels (about $1000...) even maxing my next one - from level 125 to 166 will still take 91k...

Unknown

I'm on my 135th day in daily supply and am about to get my first maxed 3* star after this heroic pve. It's probably been about 2 months since I finished maxing out a 2* team. That seems unusual according to this thread but I think it just has to do with when I started playing. The first pve I played had lazy cap featured, then season 4 had a pvp with lazy cap rewards, season 6 had two pvps with lazy cap rewards(well, one was between season 5 and 6) and now we have a pve featuring the last color I need.

Unknown

I've been playing this game for 234 days and I sailed through the 3* transition pretty easily. I meet all the criteria on your list. Currently I have 7 166 characters, and a few more with 13 covers but not max level. 234 days is almost 8 months. I would say I got my first 166 about 4 months ago? It was Lazy Cap, when they gave him out like 6 times in 12 events. That doesn't happen as much anymore but I think 4 months is a reasonable timeframe to get a 13 cover 3* and fully level him up. Especially if you have "know the MPQ tricks" and "70% of LRs" in your pocket. That's 4 months from day 1, not from max 2* roster. It should be less than 2 months from max 2* roster.

atomzed

Thanks to all who share their mpq stories!

Based on the stories, one trend this I observe is how important it is to get into a top 100 alliance. (By definition, loroku is right that an "average" player won't be able to get into top 100 alliance. I should have said "serious player with average roster")

Also punter post is a common story for those who are deep in 3* land.

Punter1 wrote:

My issue isn't with covers, they come in time and at a reasonable rate, especially when you're in a good alliance and posting top 25 in most PVPs personally. It's the massive amounts of ISO needed. There seems to be no easy way (accept lots of time!) to speed up the ISO gain. 1 decent PVP gets 3 covers, but only enough ISO for a handful of levels, that's ridiculously over scaled. Also with no way to switch HP to ISO I'm HP rich with nothing to do except add roster spots (I'm a chronic under-shielder, maybe 1 an event is all I need to get top 25!) so I've 49 roster spots, almost all characters (no Yelena or 1* Hawk) errr wooohooo...

According to my roster sheet I need 920K ISO to level my 3*s to their current max levels (about $1000...) even maxing my next one - from level 125 to 166 will still take 91k...

I am personally ok with the iso limiting factor. I don't look towards maxing all the characters, because hey, if I have done that, there's nothing to play for.

Pentagoon

I was the original admin on 5 Deadly Curses, so maybe I can lend some (long-winded) perspective from a top 50 "training" alliance. My personal transition happened during the original Ragnarok / CStorm combo days and I slayed opponents with wild, 2 red AP smashing abandon - those days are long gone where as much time as I put in was hugely rewarded with unlimited play time and unlimited ISO earning capacity. I made the max 2* to max 3* (Rags) transition in about a month from late November to late December 2013 - definitely an anomaly.

When Curses started at the beginning of Season 1, we had several (4-5) players that only had one 3* at level 100+, but a mature 2* roster to back them up. It was an alliance requirement to have at least 1 3* toon above level 100 and to be able to hit 600 every PVP. As a "training" alliance, we focused (and they still do) on helping guys maximize their available rosters, focus on the best toons to max at a time, how to tank properly, and take advantage of other alliance benefits. Those players were at the lower tier of our roster, barely meeting minimums each event, but always coming through with dedication and smart, frugal play. It took about 3 seasons (4 months) to get 1 new, maxed 3* toons for those guys, and they're still climbing the ranks now. A few of them are in 5 Deadly Poisons now too, and I've been in Venoms for 2 full seasons now as an admin. I can tell you some absolutes: 1) the transition time is faster if you are part of a well organized, competitive alliance that provides training and extra rewards for high finishes. 2) Play time per day is a factor, but playing smart is more important 3) spreading ISO around slows down the progress - pick a toon and focus on them, regardless of the new, shiny objects that are out there.

I answered "3 months or less" on the questionaire - good luck to you guys out there in the transition phase - and if you're interested in joining any of the 5 Deadly Alliances, PM me and I can help find you a spot. We range from 600 to 900 required per PVP, lots of benefits like I mention above, and tons of room to grow, all the way to Venoms (98% of our finishes have been in the top 5). See you on the battlefield,

Unknown

There are still a few variables that are hard to account for...

one of which is it depends on the persons play style, and how they actually decide to level up their characters... if you look at me for example, while i have had a few characters i could level max a long time ago, i never sunk all my ISO into just one character, instead, i've been evenly leveling up a few 3*'s at a similar rate depending on if they are featured, or if i like using them in battle...

overall though, with all the new characters being released, i would say around 4-6 months sounds about right if you are focusing on just leveling one character to level 166...

Unknown

I took this from a F2P perspective, and said 5 months. Really, people expect that a new character will be offered that much in 3 months that you can earn every cover from rewards only? What, do they just disregard every other character in the game to be offered in that time frame? Should there be no opportunity to earn older covers?

Spoit

Yeah, I dunno about 3 months. I was able to ride the rags train into getting most of the covers, and it wasn't until like January that I'd say that I actually was able to make the transition. (Though my first maxed character was technically Rags. About 3-4 hours before the nerf went through). With the various barrier to entry, I can't see new players making the transition until at least 6 months

SunCrusher

There's 'Reasonable; Playing the Game as Intended' versus 'Reasonable; Playing the Game + Messing with Other Factors Required' timelines.

Given most people don't even visit these forums (or other similar sites and I'm not even sure if they visit the FB page or follow along on Twitter or whatever other social media is all the rage), it's safe to say that likely, most non-forumite people are of the 'Reasonable; Playing the Game as Intended' variety versus the other variety.

In which case, 6 months is most likely and most reasonable, but, it also partly depends on when, exactly, you started playing the game.

If you were lucky to have caught the game pre-R47 and could join in and use all the un-nerfed characters and take advantage of the LRs that offered players actual cover rewards, then your progression could really fly.

If you were unlucky and not only did you miss being in that Pre-R47 'sweet spot' but you also missed catching the Newbie Friendly 'sweet spot', then unless you either spent/spend money or were exceptionally lucky in Token pulls, you would likely be a bit screwed.

The newbies have a leg up, the old veterans have a leg up, but the older transitioning players got **** on both ends - they missed the 'strong' end of the sweet spot (for people with the more developed rosters at the time) and they missed the 'weak' end of the sweet spot (for newbies) and as we all know, D3 has never given the 2-3* transitioning players much of any kind of a 'sweet spot'.

Moon Roach

I suggest that you shouldn't max a 3* character. You should level all your characters equally. Levelling one ahead of another because they are the featured or essential character du jour is okay, but I don't think you should let anyone get more than 10 levels ahead of anyone else.

Of course that's not what I originally did as Moon Roach, but it's what Wolveroach is doing, and Moon Roach has now got all his 3* up to at least 100 (covers permitting, and I accidentally forgot to level up Rags), then it's up in steps of 5 as I get ISO. (Though I do have to fight the temptation to throw "just a few" more levels into X-Force.)

It's not a new opinion; I think it was Ben Grimm whose posts persuaded me. And there's talk on one of the other threads that an overly high level GSBW compared to the rest of the roster is causing ridiculous scaling.

This is one of those I guess where there's no right answer, just different approaches that are more or less successful than others. Or as they say, your mileage may vary.