Vladdy asks: Winning breaks shield

Vladdy

With all the recent changes it seems to me that pvp matches take longer. Shield hopping is getting more risky when trying for more than 1-2 matches.

Just an idea to improve that situation and make buying shields more valuable and a little bit less risky (although I know that this is not gonna happen):
The shield breaks when you win a match. Not when you begin a match and doesn't break at all if you lose a match.

Would that be an improvement? Or would it make the metagame worse or break anything?

simonsez

I appreciate the idea, but we have to recognize things the devs have intentionally done to hamper us, from among all the things that we don't like. With shield cooldowns, and damage nerfs, boost nerfs and health boosts significantly extending matches, the devs are making it really clear that they don't like shield-hopping. They're very unlikely to counteract any of these recent changes by adding in something to make shield-hopping easier again.

Unknown

Its a good thought but teams would really boost each other. It would be out of control

Vladdy

Hikari2121 wrote:

Its a good thought but teams would really boost each other. It would be out of control

Why would be boosting any more out of control than it is now? Until you win the first match you stay "hidden". Do I miss anything?

Vladdy

simonsez wrote:

I appreciate the idea, but we have to recognize things the devs have intentionally done to hamper us, from among all the things that we don't like. With shield cooldowns, and damage nerfs, boost nerfs and health boosts significantly extending matches, the devs are making it really clear that they don't like shield-hopping. They're very unlikely to counteract any of these recent changes by adding in something to make shield-hopping easier again.

I agree.

I like thinking about those things nevertheless.

Unknown

Vladdy wrote:

Hikari2121 wrote:

Its a good thought but teams would really boost each other. It would be out of control

Why would be boosting any more out of control than it is now? Until you win the first match you stay "hidden". Do I miss anything?

Because teamates could target and lose matches to other teammates without the ramifications of being attacked by others. Their value would stay higher so their teammates will gain more pts per match.

I have climbed to 1000 now and got my cover. If I don't care about my placement I could target teammates and lose them with minimal pts loss and make hops for me later.

Vladdy

Hikari2121 wrote:

Vladdy wrote:

Hikari2121 wrote:

Its a good thought but teams would really boost each other. It would be out of control

Why would be boosting any more out of control than it is now? Until you win the first match you stay "hidden". Do I miss anything?

Because teamates could target and lose matches to other teammates without the ramifications of being attacked by others. Their value would stay higher so their teammates will gain more pts per match.

I have climbed to 1000 now and got my cover. If I don't care about my placement I could target teammates and lose them with minimal pts loss and make hops for me later.

I see, thanks. I haven't thought about that.

The boosters would have to be shielded though. And after they donated many points they would need to climb back and shield again. Boosters having to shield could be a major deterrent.

Don't know if that changes anything.

Your example with the 1k guy who doesn't care about placement or season point could break the game though, true.

Pwuz_

This is exactly opposite the logic behind why the changes were made to shields in the 1st place.

Let's look at it this way:
In a perfect world, shielding would not exist because you could be playing at all times to retaliate against any attacks against your team. However, due to the fact that we do not exist in this world solely to Puzzle Quest, shields exist to protect your points while you are otherwise obligated to not play, you know like sleep.

It's a way to merge the experience between a more hardcore & more casual experience. Shields exist (from a design perspective) for a more casual player. Hardcore players wouldn't bother using them...except they do.

The vast majority of players use shields because other players use shields and are able to achieve scores far higher than those who don't use shields.

Shield hopping has become part of the Meta game, but not by the choice of the designers. IF they could create a system that serves the same purpose the shielding was designed, but was unable to be abused as shielding has; I'm sure shields would disappear with the next update. As it stands, they have done what they can to minimize the abuse of shield hopping.

My point:
Don't expect anything to change in terms of shields that helps shield hopping. Do expect future changes to shielding that hampers shield hopping.

Quebbster

I just broke shield in Lethal intent for a game that would push me into the top 5. I lost that game and reshielded. Then I got about 50 points from defensive wins, bumping me up to the top 5 after all.
...just wanted to brag a bit.

Unknown

simonsez wrote:

I appreciate the idea, but we have to recognize things the devs have intentionally done to hamper us, from among all the things that we don't like. With shield cooldowns, and damage nerfs, boost nerfs and health boosts significantly extending matches, the devs are making it really clear that they don't like shield-hopping. They're very unlikely to counteract any of these recent changes by adding in something to make shield-hopping easier again.

They could kill shield hopping today if they got rid of health packs entirely. Exit match with full health, even footing with defense player. Downed characters hit the bench for a recharge time.

I think it's more they want to add health pack sales on top of shield sales.

esoxnepa

Lerysh wrote:

They could kill shield hopping today if they got rid of health packs entirely. Exit match with full health, even footing with defense player. Downed characters hit the bench for a recharge time.

I think it's more they want to add health pack sales on top of shield sales.

I disagree. Shield hopping is more about how once you hit a certain number of points, you will have far more players attacking you then you can retaliate against. Many of those retaliations you could make, would also be for a net loss of points, after their re-retaliation.

Now, I agree, everyone could battle to an equilibrium point with shields eliminated and auto heal, given enough playtime.