Decrease iso-8 required to level a 4 star?

Chirus

I think it's fairly well agreed upon that 4 stars aren't particularly that intimidating anymore. With some really good 3 star releases of late (good on you demiurge for that!), I don't feel they carry the intimidation that a 3 star roster would have against a 2 star player. Since most 4 stars are basically 3.5 stars anyway, maybe they should carry the iso requirement of a 3.5 star? Really, most players that I talk with feel a bit of hesitation laying down the iso cost to level a 4 star for a couple reasons: they're all simply nice to have, but not particularly threatening or competent in a pvp-driven environment; secondly, if they were, it's very likely they'll get nerfed thus wasting their investment. Buffs probably won't happen either. So with more and more reasons to not level a 4 star, it is quickly becoming a vestige rather than the next tier to work towards. A trophy for display rather than a usable sword.

It makes me wonder what the dev intent is with 4 stars anyway. But I feel that in this case, the developers need to give up something for us. Either buff the current 4 star roster (or release better 4 stars worthy of that tier), or simply keep things as they are and decrease the iso required to level one up (maybe even decrease the max level across the board?) Can't make a toon waaay too expensive to level and at the same time expect people to be content having it be less competent than a lot of 3 stars.

Or! OR! we could simply replace 4 stars with achievement stickers we can proudly attach to our forum avatars!

Unknown

Something of a rock-and-a-hard-place situation, I think, especially for PVP. If 4* characters are really good, then P2W players will sink money in and use them to dominate, which makes for a more monotonous experience (the walls of X-Force/4Thor in PVP). If they're not, then why should anyone bother with them much?

I think the multiple buffed characters they're trying out in the Torch event could be something of a fix, though -- that way, 4* characters can be reliably good, but the rotating set of 3* characters could be buffed to be in the same league.

Chirus

I think the first problem can be alleviated by simply introducing more highly competent 4 stars. If we had a selection of 10-12 four stars that have the potency of x force or prenerf goddess, then variety can be established. Keeping in mind this is actually the case with the current 3 star rosters vs 2 star rosters. There is plenty of variety of 3 stars and generally do feel an actual tier above 2 star toons. Imagine removing 4 stars entirely. You would have an actual end game selection where generally characters do have that x force level of threat to the next lowest tier (high hp, high relative damage to that hp, reasonable casting cost). This is what 4 stars need to feel like. Especially given the iso requirement. So I'm saying let's push for a give in one of the two aspects of the "highest tier": either lower the cost and keep the damage scaling as they are (and reasonably nerf X force in the process); or do either or both buff and introduce more 4 stars that have x force level of power and competence.