PW level, tier system inequality.

FeralSkald

Couple of things I've been noticing that I feel are ultimately bad for the game.

In any PvP style event there seems to be a growing habit of players using low level PWs to complete secondary objectives more easily. Example being a low level Chandra2 to quickly obtain the win and take less than 15 damage ribbons. While this is legitimate, especially for newer players who may not have the runes to level a PW, it's also a slap to those who have. Easily one of the tougher secondaries, it's relegated to, who has the most low level PWs. I see this in other aspects as well, where people intentionally keep PWs lower to reduce the chance of playing optimized decks. Same for tiers, intentionally remaining in lower tiers for less competition.

This behavior is enabled by the reward structure. Why level up, or advance tiers when you can obtain the same rewards with less effort and competition?

A solution would be to alter primary ribbon reward much as you do with quick battles. If you win a match in a pvp event with a sub level 10 PW you get 1 pt, plus the secondaries. Level 60, 6 points and secondaries. That would encourage people to level, play, etc. Instead of intentionally avoiding PW for easy wins.

The tier system needs more attention as well. Honestly, I often feel punished for having played the game. If I'm platinum, fighting constant optimized decks, it's a challenge and worth a loss here and there. But to see lower tiers getting top rewards for simply not playing non essential cards to keep at a lower tier I find myself questioning the purpose of the mastery system. I could collect cards and play less. Seems backwards. I'm not suggesting you remove rewards for other tiers, but there should be a bigger carrot for advancing,

Thank you.

Delnai

I agree that the mastery system is not implemented super well. I thought hard and did research before leveling to platinum. And having played a few events at plat now, I'm not sure it was worth it. Any disincentive for players to play more is just bad design.

Shino

Yeah I plan to stay at gold.

Plat is likely full of people that do nothing but dump money into the game to get an unbeatable amount of rares and mythics.

hawkyh1

unlocking the ability to use more rares and mythics with
planeswalker level might encourage players to level up
more.
also the matching making can be improved so that bronze
level players are only matched with someone 3 levels above
them but platinum people 18 levels above them. for a
bronze player, the easier chandra 2 objective goes together
with the much harder to get 75+ hp green objective. plus
low mana gains are not going to do you any favours trying
to get the energise 5+ objectives.

HH

FeralSkald

HH,

You're assuming all PW are low level. Most people using low levels for the red node example, have max or near max PWs for the other ones.

If all PW are low they are legitimately playing, but saving a low level just for that purpose is a different story.

I do like your suggestions on number of mythic and rates being tied to PW level though. Especially since most of the time mythics are cheaper, more powerful versions of other cards. Making them even more potent in lower levels.