The rich getting richer syndrome?

Moofieboo

Hi All

I like the game, and use alot of time on it, even som money from time to time.

But I am starting to get a bit frustrated. Sure it's time consuming, I'm fine with that. But the thing that annoys me so much is that fx. right now The Hunt: Alaska is up and i have cleared everything that i can. Since i dont have The Punisher, i can't do anything more. And i'm at 883 rank... So i get nothing at all for the time i have used here(yeah, 250 iso is like nothing), cause i don't have one cover. So now the people that have them get first prices and get "richer" and I don't get anything and wont ever cause the gap just gets bigger and bigger from each event. Right when I started playing i could get around top 200ish and get some covers if i was lucky, now cause I can't grind each day, and won't use that much irl cash I won't really be able to win anything and the top grinders will win more and more each time.

Am I alone in feeling this?

Unknown

There was a time we were all in that position. The covers will come. The grind is never ending, and that's the fun. At least for me it is.

Unknown

Moofieboo wrote:

Hi All

I like the game, and use alot of time on it, even som money from time to time.

But I am starting to get a bit frustrated. Sure it's time consuming, I'm fine with that. But the thing that annoys me so much is that fx. right now The Hunt: Alaska is up and i have cleared everything that i can. Since i dont have The Punisher, i can't do anything more. And i'm at 883 rank... So i get nothing at all for the time i have used here(yeah, 250 iso is like nothing), cause i don't have one cover. So now the people that have them get first prices and get "richer" and I don't get anything and wont ever cause the gap just gets bigger and bigger from each event. Right when I started playing i could get around top 200ish and get some covers if i was lucky, now cause I can't grind each day, and won't use that much irl cash I won't really be able to win anything and the top grinders will win more and more each time.

Am I alone in feeling this?

The solution for punisher cover is dump 85 lvls of iso and up Ares. Then u can reach 1200 pvp score and get that green punisher. But, if you don't have a decent origin black widow or spidey, you need to pay for health pack.

Moofieboo

so a cup of suck-it-up it seems just feels bad finally doing better then i had before, to see that it did absolutely nothing to my rankings Oh well, Ares grinding it is i guess, atleast i have been lucky to get him to lvl 36...

Unknown

Moofieboo wrote:

so a cup of suck-it-up it seems just feels bad finally doing better then i had before, to see that it did absolutely nothing to my rankings Oh well, Ares grinding it is i guess, atleast i have been lucky to get him to lvl 36...

Now i am.hungry for a cup of ramen.

Unknown

Moofieboo wrote:

so a cup of suck-it-up it seems just feels bad finally doing better then i had before, to see that it did absolutely nothing to my rankings Oh well, Ares grinding it is i guess, atleast i have been lucky to get him to lvl 36...

Sadly due to rubber banding and so many 1 time use spots during this event its actually smarter to Not grind and abuse the rubber effect to its fullest.
It annoys the hell out ta me as well but its the way they built the system we are playing in

Moofieboo

hmm, rubber banding is?

Unknown

Moofieboo wrote:

hmm, rubber banding is?

Short version : It's a hidden system that gives players behind the leader more points per mission to help them catch up, but not pass the main bracket leader. Designed to very much help out the casual player.

turul

Moofieboo wrote:

hmm, rubber banding is?

Higher score players get less points. Side effect is, if you play repeatables in the last hour (you can also do them 12 hrs earlier), you get far better score.

Moofieboo

turul wrote:

Moofieboo wrote:

hmm, rubber banding is?

Higher score players get less points. Side effect is, if you play repeatables in the last hour (you can also do them 12 hrs earlier), you get far better score.

aha, thanks for the clarification

Unknown

Moofieboo wrote:

Hi All

I like the game, and use alot of time on it, even som money from time to time.

But I am starting to get a bit frustrated. Sure it's time consuming, I'm fine with that. But the thing that annoys me so much is that fx. right now The Hunt: Alaska is up and i have cleared everything that i can. Since i dont have The Punisher, i can't do anything more. And i'm at 883 rank... So i get nothing at all for the time i have used here(yeah, 250 iso is like nothing), cause i don't have one cover. So now the people that have them get first prices and get "richer" and I don't get anything and wont ever cause the gap just gets bigger and bigger from each event. Right when I started playing i could get around top 200ish and get some covers if i was lucky, now cause I can't grind each day, and won't use that much irl cash I won't really be able to win anything and the top grinders will win more and more each time.

Am I alone in feeling this?

No you are not, but you have to accept the game for what it is. I started around the same time as you. I will keep grinding until this event ends because I already put too much time in it and I would like to place in the top 30 to get the 2 Punisher covers, which may be impossible in the end since I keep dropping in the ranking - don't have IW so I can't make some missions and I was away from home one day. Do what I will do after the tournament ends. Be a casual player. Play 1-2 hours some days and try going for the 50 HP at the 500 on tournaments. While doing all that, find another game to enjoy yourself because life is short and before you realize it you have spend more time than you should on a silly match 3 game.

The problem of this game with its current pricing policy and recent changes is that it is not focused on a target consumer group. Most f2p game give you the option between spending a reasonable amount of money to progress past a point in the game, or grinding by spending way more time than you otherwise would. Both of these options are fine in most games. Here, none of these options is viable.

Because you buy packs with random covers, you could spend €1000 and not get exactly what you want. Even if you get the covers you want/need, you have to level your characters and the ISO you get in the game is too little compared to what you need. Don't even consider buying ISO with real money, the prices are absurd.

On the other hand, if you are thinking "OK, I'll just grind like I do in other games", you are in for a nasty surprise. You have to time it just right to get high in ranking. So if you try to play when it is convenient for you you will fail miserably. Apparently, the only way to progress in the game is to have a monster team which no one will want to attack because getting 1-2 of your heroes ko'ed in the last 3 hours of a tournament is not an options if you have no healing packs.

I posted in another thread that people who started 2-3 months ago had easier time getting some rewards because the teams were of similar level and strength. At this point, it is as you said. Those who have high level 3* heroes are the most likely to get the top rewards. For the rest of us, the 2* covers we get from some events are the consolation price which in the end are pretty much worthless against a 3* team. Ares may be an example is Wolverine is nerfed at some point, but is difficult to say because in his event he is so powerful he overshadows even the 3* characters.

Unknown

To be fair, punisher was pretty easily obtainable over the last month, if you are newer than that then I can.understand the irritation. Personally I am not a fan of the idea of segregating off lvls that are repeatable. A mini sidequest of 2-3 missions? Sure...otherwise just make those punisher repeatables too hard to do without a decent punisher if thier goal is to force ppl to spend on him, but give a lvl 15 punisher to everyone in those missions..

Personally, I have 5 spare punisher covers currently with 4 more on the way by the end of the event. I'd easily trade someone 50 hp for any color they would like, but since trading or gifting isn't an option I am.forced to know there are ppl like you while "the rich" are shoveling his cover like so much fodder. And its not like I'm some d bag just stealing covers from low lvls for kicks. It's been all progression or top finishes to earn the 4*** or progression rewards. Heck, I could build a second punisher at this point if there was really any point (I am ISO starved).

Unknown

In this set of missions the 'grind late' paradigm doesn't help nearly as much as people think. Just from watching the way scores are changing I can tell the guys at #1 are doing roughly the same number of missions as I do in the last hour or so, and since they started out with a significant lead, the end result is that I never catch up. Sure, you tell yourself that the #1 guy is only ahead of you by 100 points, but you only make up about 10 points at a time once you're within 100 (e.g. you get 70 points for a mission, but the #1 guy gets 60 points and he's doing the same missions as you), and then you realize that 100 point lead #1 started with is actually a lot. Since the #1 guy's score usually changes by less than 500 in the final stretch (since he already starts out way up there), that means rubberbanding has a rather minimal effect on anyone who do them earlier because the #1 guy's score isn't going up by very much either.

However what is important is you try to avoid as few of the non repeatable missions as possible, though this really is only feasible in the Florida bracket where Jump Jets 1/2 are available immediately. In Savage Land and Alaska, most of the missions quickly hit the max 10X modifier so there's no point to hold off doing them any longer, because they'd never be worth more than 10X, and you can't even do the repeatable instead because they're locked behind the initial missions.

Unknown

soenottelling wrote:

To be fair, punisher was pretty easily obtainable over the last month, if you are newer than that then I can.understand the irritation. Personally I am not a fan of the idea of segregating off lvls that are repeatable. A mini sidequest of 2-3 missions? Sure...otherwise just make those punisher repeatables too hard to do without a decent punisher if thier goal is to force ppl to spend on him, but give a lvl 15 punisher to everyone in those missions..

Personally, I have 5 spare punisher covers currently with 4 more on the way by the end of the event. I'd easily trade someone 50 hp for any color they would like, but since trading or gifting isn't an option I am.forced to know there are ppl like you while "the rich" are shoveling his cover like so much fodder. And its not like I'm some d bag just stealing covers from low lvls for kicks. It's been all progression or top finishes to earn the 4*** or progression rewards. Heck, I could build a second punisher at this point if there was really any point (I am ISO starved).

In the long run I'd imagine people who have all the covers wouldn't try as hard on the events so it gives other people a chance, especially for PvP events with the increased cost in shields. I'm certainly not going to drop a 200 HP shield to get 3 covers to sell back for 25 HP each.

Unknown

We all have felt this way at one point. I felt that way in the Hulk event. I sucked because I only had 1* and 2* teams.But my teams have gotten so much stronger since the hulk event. I know have 1* maxed, 2* teams almost maxed and working on my 3* and 4* characters.

You can:

A) Invest more time into the game and give it a chance.
Invest money into the game and be some-what superior.
C) Stop playing the game.

I wouldnt recommend spending much money at this point due to all testing and experimenting of the game going on.

Spoit

Phantron wrote:

soenottelling wrote:

To be fair, punisher was pretty easily obtainable over the last month, if you are newer than that then I can.understand the irritation. Personally I am not a fan of the idea of segregating off lvls that are repeatable. A mini sidequest of 2-3 missions? Sure...otherwise just make those punisher repeatables too hard to do without a decent punisher if thier goal is to force ppl to spend on him, but give a lvl 15 punisher to everyone in those missions..

Personally, I have 5 spare punisher covers currently with 4 more on the way by the end of the event. I'd easily trade someone 50 hp for any color they would like, but since trading or gifting isn't an option I am.forced to know there are ppl like you while "the rich" are shoveling his cover like so much fodder. And its not like I'm some d bag just stealing covers from low lvls for kicks. It's been all progression or top finishes to earn the 4*** or progression rewards. Heck, I could build a second punisher at this point if there was really any point (I am ISO starved).

In the long run I'd imagine people who have all the covers wouldn't try as hard on the events so it gives other people a chance, especially for PvP events with the increased cost in shields. I'm certainly not going to drop a 200 HP shield to get 3 covers to sell back for 25 HP each.

See: lightning rounds

Unknown

Phantron wrote:

soenottelling wrote:

To be fair, punisher was pretty easily obtainable over the last month, if you are newer than that then I can.understand the irritation. Personally I am not a fan of the idea of segregating off lvls that are repeatable. A mini sidequest of 2-3 missions? Sure...otherwise just make those punisher repeatables too hard to do without a decent punisher if thier goal is to force ppl to spend on him, but give a lvl 15 punisher to everyone in those missions..

Personally, I have 5 spare punisher covers currently with 4 more on the way by the end of the event. I'd easily trade someone 50 hp for any color they would like, but since trading or gifting isn't an option I am.forced to know there are ppl like you while "the rich" are shoveling his cover like so much fodder. And its not like I'm some d bag just stealing covers from low lvls for kicks. It's been all progression or top finishes to earn the 4*** or progression rewards. Heck, I could build a second punisher at this point if there was really any point (I am ISO starved).

In the long run I'd imagine people who have all the covers wouldn't try as hard on the events so it gives other people a chance, especially for PvP events with the increased cost in shields. I'm certainly not going to drop a 200 HP shield to get 3 covers to sell back for 25 HP each.

I suspect a new 4**** to come out soon. With the 4**** as the goal, the 3*** are consolation prizes. Maybe 5 ppl shoot for 1st, 4 fail and take away covers from others below them. Now ppl.who would have been top 5 are top 10 and only get 2 cover colors. Now maybe they have a 5/5/0 and still Ned to try hard to place for that color. There is a lot of trickle.down here.

Plus there are new 3*** all the time. As for this pve event, I had no goal in mind really for the main event. I just went after those luscious 500 hp sub-brackets. The iw I will be getting is more gravy than anything. if subs give good prizes, that will still happen regardless of ppl.having the main event reward covers.

Unknown

Phantron wrote:

In the long run I'd imagine people who have all the covers wouldn't try as hard on the events so it gives other people a chance, especially for PvP events with the increased cost in shields. I'm certainly not going to drop a 200 HP shield to get 3 covers to sell back for 25 HP each.

I think they will keep trying hard because once they have all the Punisher or Wolverine (Patch) covers they need, they willl want to get 1-2 place for IW who is essential to open some missions. And when Wolverine 4* is buffed and he becomes essential for some missions too, they will want him too. Which leaves you in the same place as before: Trying with your nerfed 2* who you spend all your ISO into, thinking they were your best bet, and your crippled (2/1/3) 3* heroes to climb in rank. That is until you find yourself getting hit by a monster team for 15 points. Then according to the plans the devs are making you will then have the option to fight them bravely and fall gloriously, or skip them and lose some of your ISO.

Unknown

Narkon wrote:

Phantron wrote:

In the long run I'd imagine people who have all the covers wouldn't try as hard on the events so it gives other people a chance, especially for PvP events with the increased cost in shields. I'm certainly not going to drop a 200 HP shield to get 3 covers to sell back for 25 HP each.

I think they will keep trying hard because once they have all the Punisher or Wolverine (Patch) covers they need, they willl want to get 1-2 place for IW who is essential to open some missions. And when Wolverine 4* is buffed and he becomes essential for some missions too, they will want him too. Which leaves you in the same place as before: Trying with your nerfed 2* who you spend all your ISO into, thinking they were your best bet, and your crippled (2/1/3) 3* heroes to climb in rank. That is until you find yourself getting hit by a monster team for 15 points. Then according to the plans the devs are making you will then have the option to fight them bravely and fall gloriously, or skip them and lose some of your ISO.

1. And just like the 3* characters, eventually the 4* will be maxed out too. Add to that, now that it's common, they will be completed faster, since every tournament is offering them as a reward, and there are a min of 3 tournaments a week.
2. Maxed teams are beatable, especially if you are going into them boosted or with a buffed character.
3. The iso to skip system has not been implemented, so we don't know yet if it will cost iso to skip retaliations. (If so, that's a poor decision).

Unknown

Narkon wrote:

Phantron wrote:

In the long run I'd imagine people who have all the covers wouldn't try as hard on the events so it gives other people a chance, especially for PvP events with the increased cost in shields. I'm certainly not going to drop a 200 HP shield to get 3 covers to sell back for 25 HP each.

I think they will keep trying hard because once they have all the Punisher or Wolverine (Patch) covers they need, they willl want to get 1-2 place for IW who is essential to open some missions. And when Wolverine 4* is buffed and he becomes essential for some missions too, they will want him too. Which leaves you in the same place as before: Trying with your nerfed 2* who you spend all your ISO into, thinking they were your best bet, and your crippled (2/1/3) 3* heroes to climb in rank. That is until you find yourself getting hit by a monster team for 15 points. Then according to the plans the devs are making you will then have the option to fight them bravely and fall gloriously, or skip them and lose some of your ISO.

With boosts a 2** team. is all you need. Will be interesting to see how the nerfs affect that...but the 3*** hp pools aren't.so high as to make you feel like icarus's plight to the sun. Patches might be ridiculously hard fight for 2** character though just based off his heal. He heals way past your match damage, and with strike tile nerf to wolvie incoming nd thor damage prob too someone like ares is your best bet. 10 yellow and how many green does he need to tko.wolvie in one go? About 15-20? So 25-30 ap needing to.be held.to use at the same time. Pretty steep compared with 23 (with some of it self.built off.the red) or so for.current thor (2 red and a yellow and maybe another red if you didn't get enough match damage)....wolverine maybe even less (6 red and 12+ green and matches)

Unknown

It's difficult to predict how well a 2 star team will fare but the recent tournaments have been pretty favorable to them.

IM40 - Considerable advantage for the 3 star characters especially if your high level 3 star character is Ironman 40.

Smash Hit - Hulk is pretty much irrelevent on defense, and as long as your Hulk is high enough to match red/green (to tank for Wolverine/Thor), this is a rather easy fight because your Hulk still absorbs damage like a champ. The opposing Hulk is simply going to be ignored even if he's level 140, so it's pretty much a 3on2 and then you just need someone who can deal with Hulk at the end.

Ares - The members who aren't Ares almost don't even matter on this tournament since Ares is so incredibly powerful in this tournament.

By my count that'd be 2 out of 3 recent tournaments are quite favorable for a 2 star team. Of course that make change but at least recent history is pretty favorable for the 2 stars.