The All-New PVE Refresh Times

Unknown

Hey Everyone,

Since the Hunt wrapped up yesterday we've had some time to crunch the data on how the event went with the 8hr refresh times. We'd received a huge amount of positive qualitative feedback, both from people on these forums, and from our friends and family that play the game. We wanted to make sure the numbers backed it up though.

The main thing we were worried about is that a larger than average number of players would be able to play "perfectly" and get the maximum number of points possible. This would mean that we'd have a lot of people essentially tied for the top scores. Fortunately this didn't happen! Chris, one of our engineers, actually made this nice graph of the top 500 scores:



As you can see there's no plateau at the top!

What does this mean? It means that we're going to be running all PVE events with 8hr refreshes from now on! Unfortunately, it's too late to update Thick as Thieves (that would make things really weird as it's mid-run) but you can be sure that the next PVE event will run with 8hr refresh times.

Trisul

Just gotta say:

turul

Dat high-res diagram!!

stochasticism

From the bottom of my wife's heart thank you for giving me my life back!

rbdragon

Demiurge_Miles wrote:

What does this mean? It means that we're going to be running all PVE events with 8hr refreshes from now on! Unfortunately, it's too late to update Thick as Thieves (that would make things really weird as it's mid-run) but you can be sure that the next PVE event will run with 8hr refresh times.

Would it not be possible to implement this in TaT as well, starting from the second sub on? This way at least everyone experiences the same timers and no one benefits more than another. An announcement in-game would probably be enough to make people happy and not be frustrated with a mid-tourney change - something D3 has done in the past anyway.....

Unknown

Can't we just have a do over for TaT then?

fmftint

Happy that they are becoming permanent, angry that you did this test backward. You should have waited till AFTER Starlord instead of immediately before, then rolling back. You needlessly pissed off most of your player base

over_clocked

happy happy joy joy

I forgot all other words

Unknown

Wahoo!!!

And thanks for sharing the data. Much appreciated

Demiurge_Will

rbdragon wrote:

Demiurge_Miles wrote:

What does this mean? It means that we're going to be running all PVE events with 8hr refreshes from now on! Unfortunately, it's too late to update Thick as Thieves (that would make things really weird as it's mid-run) but you can be sure that the next PVE event will run with 8hr refresh times.

Would it not be possible to implement this in TaT as well, starting from the second sub on? This way at least everyone experiences the same timers and no one benefits more than another. An announcement in-game would probably be enough to make people happy and not be frustrated with a mid-tourney change - something D3 has done in the past anyway.....

That particular change couldn't be safely done live, and it would have complicated impacts on scoring. We ordinarily need to have Story events locked down close to a week ahead of time in order to test them, and while we do sometimes have to make changes live, they're risky. This would be a lot riskier than any other change we've made to events while they're running.

Lidolas

Thank you. I'm looking forward to these future events. I'm not even upset that Thick as Thieves has 3 hour refreshes. It's just one more event. 4 events are always rough, with the top 50 and all.

rbdragon

Demiurge_Will wrote:

rbdragon wrote:

Demiurge_Miles wrote:

What does this mean? It means that we're going to be running all PVE events with 8hr refreshes from now on! Unfortunately, it's too late to update Thick as Thieves (that would make things really weird as it's mid-run) but you can be sure that the next PVE event will run with 8hr refresh times.

Would it not be possible to implement this in TaT as well, starting from the second sub on? This way at least everyone experiences the same timers and no one benefits more than another. An announcement in-game would probably be enough to make people happy and not be frustrated with a mid-tourney change - something D3 has done in the past anyway.....

That particular change couldn't be safely done live, and it would have complicated impacts on scoring. We ordinarily need to have Story events locked down close to a week ahead of time in order to test them, and while we do sometimes have to make changes live, they're risky. This would be a lot riskier than any other change we've made to events while they're running.

Fair enough. Then I think a better solution would be to push the reset button on the event completely (since it's less than 24 hours in). Give yourselves today to make the changes to the timers (I would assume the coding involved could be a bit complicated but able to be accomplished before closing time today), then have the first timeslot begin at midnight EST. Perhaps give everyone a TaT token to compensate them, or (in a perfect fantasy world), increase the reward structure to allow for the top 100 to have a chance at Star-Lord...

As someone who does end up setting ridiculous timers when a new character is involved, 3 hr refreshes suck. 3 hr refreshes really suck for 6 1/2 days....

CrookedKnight

Yeah, I realize it's a pipe dream but I would be totally fine with a re-run of the last Gauntlet, exactly as it was in 2014, while you re-prep Thick as Thieves.

lukewin

I thank you guys for this change. As much as I would like to have Thick as Thieves with an 8 hr refresh, I understand your reasoning and am fine with it being the last 3 hr refresh. I look at it as a way of saying goodbye and good riddance to the 3 hr refresh, as opposed to dampening the good news of a permanent 8 hr refresh by asking for more.

Unknown

Very happy about this change going forward.

orbitalint

Like like like like love like. I can't express how great I feel about this. Though, you have had us on a roller coaster lately with the 8 hr test, progression PVP changes for the better and now this but it was smack dab in the middle of a TaT 3hr with a 4* introduction. All in the matter of about 2 days...

I'll take a 1 event 3hr refresh to end them all but man, did it have to be a 4* new release?

scottee

rbdragon wrote:

Demiurge_Will wrote:

rbdragon wrote:

Demiurge_Miles wrote:

What does this mean? It means that we're going to be running all PVE events with 8hr refreshes from now on! Unfortunately, it's too late to update Thick as Thieves (that would make things really weird as it's mid-run) but you can be sure that the next PVE event will run with 8hr refresh times.

Would it not be possible to implement this in TaT as well, starting from the second sub on? This way at least everyone experiences the same timers and no one benefits more than another. An announcement in-game would probably be enough to make people happy and not be frustrated with a mid-tourney change - something D3 has done in the past anyway.....

That particular change couldn't be safely done live, and it would have complicated impacts on scoring. We ordinarily need to have Story events locked down close to a week ahead of time in order to test them, and while we do sometimes have to make changes live, they're risky. This would be a lot riskier than any other change we've made to events while they're running.

Fair enough. Then I think a better solution would be to push the reset button on the event completely (since it's less than 24 hours in). Give yourselves today to make the changes to the timers (I would assume the coding involved could be a bit complicated but able to be accomplished before closing time today), then have the first timeslot begin at midnight EST. Perhaps give everyone a TaT token to compensate them, or (in a perfect fantasy world), increase the reward structure to allow for the top 100 to have a chance at Star-Lord...

As someone who does end up setting ridiculous timers when a new character is involved, 3 hr refreshes suck. 3 hr refreshes really suck for 6 1/2 days....

He just said they need to have a week and you said do it by tomorrow.

DrNitroman

Good news!

DrStrange-616

Unknown

Update appreciated. Thank you.

Houtro

Just to say: Thank you!
Good improvement.