Ideas to improve PvE challenge

GuntherBlobel

The Devs need our help improving PvE (clearly). So far, the attempts by the Devs to make PvE more challenging/difficult have been universally disliked. Essential nodes make people angry because they can't play them. And goons feeding AI abilities are confusing, frustrating, and lead people to think the AI is cheating.

So, here's my premise: PvE currently requires too little skill and so the top placement are won by simply playing every 2.5 hrs. Consequently, PvE competition is less fun than Prologue healing. We can fix this.

Does anyone have any ideas to make the current PvE format less grindy, more interesting, and more fun?

Here's one idea to get started:
Score multiplier challenges (2-3X more points)
Each node is accompanied with a rotating bonus challenge like:
"Stun for 4 turns total," or
"Prevent from casting Summon Demons this match," or
"Down every before defeating ," or
"Down with a ability."

So, if you think a little before each match and manage to complete the challenge, then you need to grind less than the other guy who doesn't. Roster diversity should give some advantage, but the challenges should be generic enough that no one specific character is required.

Any other ideas?

fmftint

Start by removing the ladder, PVE should not have a PVP slant to it

Unknown

Putting in things like that just makes it the same PvE except now you have to jump through a hoop each node. It's still boring. If the rewards were randomized to make them less tedious then there would be unfair advantage handed out by the RNG.

rednailz

I like the spirit of suggesting ideas for improvement instead of complaining. I don't mind the challenge idea. I disagree with the gripe about essentials. I was still always able to place decently, when I didn't have essential cover. Sure, it's more effort, but that's part of the deal. It's a "secret level" you need some one for, and it also forces you to use some intersting charecters and covers. Only grinding essenitals can also be a lifesaver. Having 1 cover in an essential sure opens up the node for you, but it's also a hinderance on the team, so it's a different type of challenge. Different challenges are needed, nor harder of the same challenge repeated 140 times over 5 days.

The game isn't supposed to be "fair" to people who just started vs people who have been playing forever and have the covers. It's same with pvp. Unless you have a good amount of covers in featured charecter you might as well use the loaner. I have no interest in my feature charecter with 4 covers using shotty skills on defense becuase it requires less AP than my brutes' AP skill.

I think everyone agrees on the node refresh rate. Most people like guantlet and simulator, why? Varried battles, and for guantlet, you choose how much you want to play for whatever progression reward.

My one suggestion is more progression rewards. Nothing like the final reward at 50k and everyone is grinding to 150k or higher and getting 20 iso a match for it. Even nominal stuff like a heroic token or 25 HP, or 500 iso, or decent boosts would be a nice pick me up.

_RiO_

Step 1: Hire competent event designer and fire current idiot
Step 2: (optional) Remove PvP elements from PvE
Step 3: ???
Step 4: PROFIT! (for players, anyway...)