3* Train Up Token

babinro

Problem:
There are over 30 three star characters and we're starting to see more and more vaulted off each month. In addition, we continue to see more new characters added to the game and yet no more events. Since each event typically rewards with a single character it means that it will take longer and longer to go through the entire rotation of characters.

To compound this problem you have players at different tiers of play. Top tier players and whales may only need a reward to cycle around once or twice to complete a build after the initial events. MOST other players will need at least triple that. Look at how many times we've seen Hood appear in the last 6 months. I'm almost completing my 3rd hood and yet many ** transitions from my alliance were still working on their first. That's in a top 100 alliance no less.

Players can overcome this issue by devoting 8+ months of play to the game or by paying money. So while the problem can be fixed I'd argue that the expectations are unreasonable to the point of causing more long term harm than good for the company and it's players.

Recommended Change:
Creation of a 3* Train Up Token
This is a token that increases any 3* characters skill by one cover.
This applies to any 3* character and any skill that they've already unlocked.

Where can I obtain this Token?
1) 1 is automatically included within every single 10-pack cover purchase
2) 5 are automatically included within every single 40-pack cover purchase
3) Replace the PvE final progression reward with this token

1) The inclusion of the token here guarantees a level of satisfaction with every single purchase. It promotes positive customer experience with a monetary system that too often leads to frustration and honestly feels like playing a slot machine.

2) Larger bundle means larger rewards and incentives. That's just how these games work. Makes sense to include a 5th cover with the 40-pack rather than just 4 of them.

3) The placement here is important. Top end PvE progression rewards are reasonably attainable by EVERY player regardless of their tier in the game. It's also not walled off by direct competition like it would be if placed as an alliance reward or within PvP.

Since it's tied strictly to this spot it means that a free to play player would still require an average of 10 weeks to finish all covers for a single 3* star character by this method alone. During this time we'll have seen upwards to 5 new characters added to the game. Put this all together you have a MUCH better experience for the transitioning player without completely killing the incentive to buy covers. Better retention experience for players without damaging D3's bottom line.

Final Note
I don't see this as a complete solution to the problem but I think it would go a long way to making the experience better for everyone involved. I see this as more of a complimentary solution to other ideas such as fight4thedream's post of having more events added to the game with focused rewards. That post can be found here http://www.d3pforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=22828

IamTheBiggs

I have to say, this sounds favorable. I'd really like to hear the downside, if anyone can come up with a legitimate downside....

Unknown

The only downside I can see off hand is that for alot of players the PVE 3* Prog cover may have been their first cover in that color and now they are losing the chance at getting it. Of course this is offset by the fact that you could use the upgrade token to help out another 3* you may have that is better covered.

jackstar0

The idea of a generic 3* token is pretty great. I'm not sure I see it being adopted by them, but I would welcome the change if it came.

Unknown

It may prevent people from buying that last cover if they know they can have it in a week. Hence it will never happen...unfortunately.

This and/or the crafting system are great ideas that the game really needs. Instead we will get daily PvE and still be at the mercy of the rewards rotation.

rednailz

Playing devil's advocate - the downside is that there would be no motivation in PvE or PvP to finish top 5 or top 25. Why bust your backside for a Hood blue only given out to top 5 when you know you'll be getting an uberanything token on just grinding a few nodes on PvE.

Usually final progression reward is half the score that is needed for a top place.

john1620b

Love the idea.

Not gonna happen.

D3 isn't going to do something that isn't money-making, and I don't see this as contributing to their bottom line. They WANT people to keep playing the lottery for covers -- the comic pack store is basically a casino right now, and casinos don't ever make changes in the players' favor.

Unknown

You get 2 of your hypothetical tokens if you didn't buy a heroic 10 pack at 2800 and instead use 2500 HP to upgrade any 2 ability you already have.

SnowcaTT

I like this idea. I'd also like if they give a token that is simply "Thor - pick a color" rather than forcing a color.

If they are going to force a color, make sure it rotates- no more three (or more?) hood events with no blue covers in that rotation!

PeterGibbons316

SnowcaTT wrote:

I like this idea. I'd also like if they give a token that is simply "Thor - pick a color" rather than forcing a color.

If they are going to force a color, make sure it rotates- no more three (or more?) hood events with no blue covers in that rotation!

I agree with this. Nothing more frustrating than grabbing a 6th color of a 5/0/0.

Or maybe the PvE reward is a "pick either this specific cover, or level a cover that you already have".

Unknown

SnowcaTT wrote:

I like this idea. I'd also like if they give a token that is simply "Thor - pick a color" rather than forcing a color.

If they are going to force a color, make sure it rotates- no more three (or more?) hood events with no blue covers in that rotation!

I think that'd make more sense as a PvE prize given PvE events are less frequent so someone who does PvE prodominently is going to have a harder filling time out a 'rare' color cover.

Unknown

It would be too valuable to just give away easily. It would have to be a "top 5 PVP only" thing, or a 10,000 point season progression thing. Possibly to replace the already hard to get three star cover PVP progression.

Don't forget that it would be worth 1250 HP. How many times have you won that many HP in one shot? Not including actual covers. A universal 3* token would be a piece of valuable currency.

babinro

Vertigozooropa wrote:

It would be too valuable to just give away easily. It would have to be a "top 5 PVP only" thing, or a 10,000 point season progression thing. Possibly to replace the already hard to get three star cover PVP progression.

Don't forget that it would be worth 1250 HP. How many times have you won that many HP in one shot? Not including actual covers. A universal 3* token would be a piece of valuable currency.

That's the whole trick though. As soon as you make the reward earned via high season score or top 5 in PvP then you've immediately restricted it to the higher tier player who doesn't actually NEED the help.

This is a problem that is at it's worst in the ** to *** transition phase and so the prizes must be reasonably attainable by this group.

SnowcaTT wrote:

I like this idea. I'd also like if they give a token that is simply "Thor - pick a color" rather than forcing a color.

If they replaced ALL covers with this concept I think it would make for a pretty great alternative fix.

You'd still have the problem of people waiting for months for their character to rotate back into rewards, but at least you'd remove the frustration of constantly finding duplicates. This is solid middle ground solution for those who feel my original post was perhaps too generous to the point that players might hold off buying covers.

Unknown

I could maybe see it working as something like "Pick a color cover for X" and the X is Hood or Colossus or whoever the special person of the day is. It'd also be kinda cool if this could be added to the 3 and 4* pool for tokens, even if it would be a little silly to draw a token from a token.

Unknown

SnowcaTT wrote:

I like this idea. I'd also like if they give a token that is simply "Thor - pick a color" rather than forcing a color.

If they are going to force a color, make sure it rotates- no more three (or more?) hood events with no blue covers in that rotation!

I feel like this is a much more realistic implementation than the train up token as it helps players greatly and i don't think it would reduce d3's profits very much (if at all)

evil panda

maybe they could give it as a reward for grinding Heroic Juggernaut for a week

atomzed

babinro wrote:

You'd still have the problem of people waiting for months for their character to rotate back into rewards, but at least you'd remove the frustration of constantly finding duplicates. This is solid middle ground solution for those who feel my original post was perhaps too generous to the point that players might hold off buying covers.

I upvoted the idea as I proposed some thing similar before.

I agree that if we make it as a reward to top 5%, it won't benefit the transitioners. One possible tweak is to give the "generic tokens" as rewards in the season progression award. Maybe at 3000 mark? That way most people can get the tokens.

Another way to prevent the 4* hoarding it for future chars, give it a expiry duration of 7 days. That is similar to how our covers expiry is.

Dauthi

babinro wrote:

Problem:

Players can overcome this issue by devoting 8+ months of play to the game or by paying money. So while the problem can be fixed I'd argue that the expectations are unreasonable to the point of causing more long term harm than good for the company and it's players.

You feel 8 months is unsatisfactory to reach end game? Granted you pulled that number from nowhere, but I would say it is a decent guess. For this type of game I would consider that time frame acceptable.

I can see it creating problems in the future: near future if they continue to release 3*s at their present rate, but far future if they stop releasing so many and instead focus on 4*s as they have stated they plan to do.