Upcoming Changes to Versus Rewards

Demiurge_Will

Starting with the Versus event that begins tomorrow, 1/27, we'll be lowering the score it takes to reach some progression rewards.

Before this change, progression rewards in Versus looked like this:
* 25 - A Standard token
* 50 - 100 Iso-8
* 100 - All-AP boost
* 200 - 250 Iso-8
* 300 - An event token
* 400 - 25 Hero Points
* 500 - A 2-star
* 600 - 25 Hero Points
* 700 - 1000 Iso-8
* 800 - 50 Hero Points
* 900 - An event token
* 1000 - 1000 Iso-8
* 1100 - A 3-star
* 1200 - 1000 Iso-8
* 1300 - A 4-star

After this change, they’ll look like this:
* 25 (unchanged) - A Standard token
* 50 (unchanged) - 100 Iso-8
* 100 (unchanged) - All-AP boost
* 200 (unchanged) - 250 Iso-8
* 300 (unchanged) - An event token
* 400 (unchanged) - 25 Hero Points
* 500 (unchanged) - A 2-star
* 575 (down from 600) - 25 Hero Points
* 650 (down from 700) - 1000 Iso-8
* 725 (down from 800) - 50 Hero Points
* 800 (down from 900) - An event token
* 850 (down from 1000) - 1000 Iso-8
* 900 (down from 1100) - A 3-star
* 950 (down from 1200) - 1000 Iso-8
* 1000 (down from 1300) - A 4-star

A little bit about the reasoning behind these changes:

After we introduced a cooldown timer between shield purchases, we began analyzing data about how this changed scores. We looked at the percentage of players reaching particular scores, the number of matches they had to play to get there, and the number of Hero Points they spent on shields to get there.

When we looked at players reaching the progression rewards at 500 points and below, we found that cooldowns didn't have a measurable impact. There was a modest impact on scores between 500 and 700 points. The impact increased as we looked at the hardest-to-reach rewards. After cooldowns were introduced, the 4-star reward was earned by a third of the players who earned it before (though the Hero Points spent and the number of matches it took didn't change as much).

These changes restore the percentages of players that earn the 4-star (at 1300/1000) and the 1000 Iso-8 reward (at 1200/950) to what they were before cooldowns. It looks like a few more folks will earn the rewards from the 50 Hero Points reward (at 800/725) through the 3-star reward (at 1100/900) than did before cooldowns were introduced - these were a little harder to reach than they'd ideally be before.

A couple other interesting facts from the data we looked at: Slightly more players are using shields now than were before cooldowns were introduced (we think this is because the change makes placement rewards more competitive). The number of Hero Points it takes to top the leaderboards (and the number of Hero Points it will usually take to reach the 4-star reward after this change) is less than it used to be.

All of this is looking at the experience of players as a whole - depending on your exact circumstances, you might have a harder or easier time reaching the 4-star reward, or use more or fewer shields, than you did before cooldowns even with this change.

Looking forward to hearing what you think after you've had a chance to play it!

Phaserhawk

THANKYOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

orbitalint

Wow, depending on the 3*, might actually consider trying to grab that progression now. Event coin at 900 really wasn't going to push me to try and so I capped out after 800 or so if I was going for placement.

Nice change devs.

vudu3

I would give this post two thumbs up if I could.

Unknown

Demiurge_Will delivers awesome analysis three months in a row. Keep the streak going please.

Bowgentle

Awesome, awesome, awesome.
Thanks for making good on your promise - from 1300 to 1000 is way better than I expected.

Phaserhawk

All we need now is a Roster slot HP cap and I may cry

mags1587

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Thank you for the analysis as well, I really appreciated the thought process behind the change.

Flare808

Wow! What a pleasant surprise that this change was made so quickly. Most of us weren't expecting a change until after the season at the earliest.

I hope that this post gets the hundred plus thumbs up that it deserves. Let D3 know when we appreciate the positive changes they make.

simonsez

Holy ****, a pig just flew past my window...

turul

I appriciate the change, however i think it would be better to drop the cooldown system totally. My alliance-mate just quit the game because of it today...

Wonder if you have data for these "ragequits"?

Roswulf

These are solid changes, but I'd recommend taking a look at the 500 progression 2* as well.

I have to think that it is very rare that anyone manages to hit 500 while still being in need of 2* covers. There is something deeply unsatisfying about working towards a reward that is undesired on its face (see also the SHIELD progression awards, still handing out 1* covers well beyond the range viable for someone without a strong 2* roster). I think D3 should consider changing that reward to another token, or perhaps a chunk of Iso (maybe 500?).

fight4thedream

Thank you so much! i look forward to continuing my battles in pVp!!うわたぁ～！( ￣口￣)ノ★))゜□。)あべしっ

JamieMadrox

1000 points is incredibly attainable. I think they'll actually see the number of people getting the 4* going up after this.

Unknown

NICE.

This change is perfect!

esoxnepa

Demiurge_Will wrote:

* 900 (down from 1100) - A 3-star

After we introduced a cooldown timer between shield purchases, we began analyzing data about how this changed scores. We looked at the percentage of players reaching particular scores, the number of matches they had to play to get there, and the number of Hero Points they spent on shields to get there.

When we looked at players reaching the progression rewards at 500 points and below, we found that cooldowns didn't have a measurable impact. There was a modest impact on scores between 500 and 700 points.

With the statistics, and the previous statement that the 2-3* transition is not working as well as intended, what percentage of maximum 2* rosters can reach the 3* cover at 900?

From many of the posts I have read here and on facebook, one of your main choke points of frustration is players in transition is not being able to even have a chance at the progression reward, even if shield hopping.

Is the 3* cover not for 2* rosters to be progressing? I think you would see more revenue with the cover at something like 700, where a 2* roster has a minor chance of hopping to it. Do you lose too much revenue from established 3* rosters buying covers when they would be able to reach it at 700?

(*and remember I want you to stay in business and prosper so I can play this game for years.)

Phaserhawk

Jamie Madrox wrote:

1000 points is incredibly attainable. I think they'll actually see the number of people getting the 4* going up after this.

I'm not so sure. Most of the brackets I've been in only had 5-6 people tops at 1K or more, there was a big pile up at the high 800's to low 900's. Now being so close perhaps more people will push for it, but in the end it means spending more on shields.

Unknown

Phaserhawk wrote:

Jamie Madrox wrote:

1000 points is incredibly attainable. I think they'll actually see the number of people getting the 4* going up after this.

I'm not so sure. Most of the brackets I've been in only had 5-6 people tops at 1K or more, there was a big pile up at the high 800's to low 900's. Now being so close perhaps more people will push for it, but in the end it means spending more on shields.

Exactly. While it's nice to see the analysis, the analysis provided doesn't address one major issue. What's the relative roster strength needed to reach 1k progression? It seems that, without an established 4* roster, the 1000 pt progression is quite beyond reach. Same thing with the 500 pt progression problem already mentioned in this thread. What's the point of having a 4* reward if the only players who can get there already have established 4* rosters?

That said, it is great to see that they were actually addressing the issue.

Unknown

I hope this also means they've some plan for people to use all those 3*s and 4*s that can be earned relatively easily via PvP.

Unknown

I think this is a good change, most people probably thought the reduction would be smaller. Though i still think i will be a little short for 1k progression, i might try for the 3* reward for the first time and see how it goes. One think i would suggest is introducing more rewards after 1k for those that go higher. Overall awesome change

Unknown

Roswulf wrote:

These are solid changes, but I'd recommend taking a look at the 500 progression 2* as well.

I have to think that it is very rare that anyone manages to hit 500 while still being in need of 2* covers. There is something deeply unsatisfying about working towards a reward that is undesired on its face (see also the SHIELD progression awards, still handing out 1* covers well beyond the range viable for someone without a strong 2* roster). I think D3 should consider changing that reward to another token, or perhaps a chunk of Iso (maybe 500?).

Another token is most of the time going to be a non-specific 2* cover, which most people will be turning into a chunk of 250 ISO. Doesn't seem to be a problem to me, and that's as someone who has sold every 2* cover for... many months. I'm ok with it the way it is, and I would be one of the people who would benefit by the small percentage that a token would give me a useful 3 or 4 star cover.

I think the progression changes are great.