Would changing the bracket size for PvE events help?

Cymmina

Typical PvP events have a bracket size of 500 players, while PvE events have a bracket size of 1000. There is a huge advantage when it comes to joining a PvE bracket right when it opens, so huge that once it has been open longer than X amount of time, you have no hope of being able to compete for a top 10 or top 20 spot (depending on the reward).

Players know this (hence the "bracket" threads), so you'll see a fresh bracket get up to around 400-500 players in the first 24 hours but it won't fill for another 2-3 days. When it does, there will be a sudden rush to join the new fresh bracket.

Would lowering the bracket size to 500 be an improvement to the "stale bracket" problem? Or would it lead to heavier grinding for those who are aiming for the top 20 (or better)? Right now, it seems like late joiners just give up on trying to compete, making less competition for those who joined early.

fmftint

Smaller brackets mean restricted rewards, you have to T5 for 3 covers in a 500 player bracket

Dayv

Back when strong rubber-banding was in play, it didn't matter so much when you joined because it was possible to catch up with all but the most "optimal" metagamers.

A lot of people complained about this system, but I could regularly get top 25 or higher bouncing off the rubber band. Since they made those scoring system changes away from RB, I can't be arsed to try for it unless I get a lucky late bracket.

AXP_isme

Another way to handle it would be to automatically close all existing brackets and open new ones when a new sub starts. It might mean giving away more rewards but it stops new joiners from being in a position where it's almost impossible to catch up.

simonsez

AXP_isme wrote:

Another way to handle it would be to automatically close all existing brackets and open new ones when a new sub starts. It might mean giving away more rewards but it stops new joiners from being in a position where it's almost impossible to catch up.

Or we could just say that if you want to play for 1 day, you don't qualify for the same awards as people who've played for 7.

TxMoose

I'm interested to see how the legendary token at the end will affect the late bracket joiners (and just how far out it will be placed - hoping at 2x the *** cover progression). I know i'll be more inclined (especially on 3 and 4 day events) to join right off the bat and play in the harder slice 4 rather than my usual 5. 5 is easier to place in but I miss one full clear because it flips while I sleep. in 4 I can make my 4th clear and start the next sub right before I go to sleep.

mohio

I think no matter what there's going to be a point where people joining a given slice slows to a crawl. Having 500 people brackets might help one additional half-bracket open up at the end instead of a normal bracket not filling, but this seems like a pretty minor effect. And as mentioned the competition in each bracket would be insane since D3 would have to halve the rewards, so now only top 1 gets the bonus 4*, top 5 instead of top 10, 10 instead of 20, etc. I would prefer they keep it as it is now unless they are willing to double rewards yet again and leave the placements where they are (unlikely).

Buret0

I think this would mean more people joining late to get easier brackets tbh.

So long as you leave yourself enough time to hit the Legendary token progression reward, joining late is the easiest way to play as an individual. The people fighting for alliance rewards will all be in the earlier brackets, so there will be fewer people doing optimal grinds in the later brackets.

slidecage

Cymmina wrote:

Typical PvP events have a bracket size of 500 players, while PvE events have a bracket size of 1000. There is a huge advantage when it comes to joining a PvE bracket right when it opens, so huge that once it has been open longer than X amount of time, you have no hope of being able to compete for a top 10 or top 20 spot (depending on the reward).

Players know this (hence the "bracket" threads), so you'll see a fresh bracket get up to around 400-500 players in the first 24 hours but it won't fill for another 2-3 days. When it does, there will be a sudden rush to join the new fresh bracket.

Would lowering the bracket size to 500 be an improvement to the "stale bracket" problem? Or would it lead to heavier grinding for those who are aiming for the top 20 (or better)? Right now, it seems like late joiners just give up on trying to compete, making less competition for those who joined early.

ummm but at least 2 to 3 brackets of each slice open up within 24 hours so dont knwo why your saying you have to join right when it opens.

Normal slice 2 opens at noon

SLICE 2 bracket one opens at noon est should close around 2pm est
SlICE 2 Bracket 2 usually opens around 2 or 230pm fills around 4 to 6pm
SLICE 2 bracket 3 opens around by 6pm maybe as late as 7 or 8pm

so right there you have 3 chances at joining. its more like you want to join in the last few days and think that you should be given top 10

they really need to put legendary token to people who join within the first 48 hours of a new 7 day pve or 24 hours of a 3/4 day