On Bracketing and SHIELD Training

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  • SnowcaTT
    SnowcaTT Posts: 3,486 Chairperson of the Boards
    Duffman85 wrote:
    Step 1: Make it more comfortable for newer players to get them hooked by making it easier to win, cause who doesn't like winning, right?

    Step 2: Let them win, load them up with 3* covers they can't use but look oh so pretty.

    Step 3: #2 makes them feel the roster size pinch and thus forced to spend money. CHA-CHING!

    I thought I'd come in and give a couple of cents here as well. Day 71 player here -- note that time compared to their changes.

    Came in noticing "puzzle quest", having purchased PQ1/2/Galaxtrix. Started out intending to completely FTP, and ran through story mode for first two-three weeks. Did a bit of PVE (didn't know that term two weeks ago), never touched PVP.

    Their plan worked for me, since I quickly realized the only way to get high level was to accumulate the higher star covers. Paid my $20 during a sale, put all points in making bigger roster (this goes to the "this isn't free-to-play thread). I didn't mind: by this point I've played 20+ hours, the developers deserve a little something, I usually buy games at $20 or under.

    My 3* roster now (all maxed out for ISO possible):
    Level 15: Thor, Loki, Doom, Psylocke, Widow.
    Level 18-20: Hood, Daredevil, Sentry
    Level 25-30: Captain, Spider Man, Ragnarock, Black Panther, IM40
    Level 38 (highest I have): Hulk

    That is 14 slots needed just for 3* characters, and I haven't collected them all yet.

    When I started, it was really, really hard to find the 2* covers. I slowly, slowly collected them, started in multiplayer, and finally got enough for a 77 Hawkeye -- slowly started 2* roster. It was such slow going, but I knew eventually -I- would be the one with the 85* roster, beating down these lowly 50/40/23 teams.

    Then they started giving out 2* covers left and right. Now I have maxed out covers for Hawkeye/Moonstone/Thor/Ares/Captain/Wolv/Magneto/Daken. One short for widow, thrown enough away that it would easily have maxed bagman/bullseye. That is 10 slots I'm using and 12 available -- wait, what, how can there be more 3* characters than 2* characters? That's odd....

    And lo and behold, as I just start getting into multi-player I rarely find those 50/40/23 teams to beat down. I was destroyed just a month ago as a 1* team all the time, now that I have a 2* roster I can't advance by getting those same matchups.

    Worse still, I managed a top 50 PVP for the first time on the last set, with a lucky bracket that allowed me in with 600 points. This is the first time I've ever gotten this high, and I knew I had to shield for the first time as well - something I really didn't want to do since I want to put all HP to more slots for the future 3*'s I don't have now. I also leveled up my third 85! My reward? Well, this bracket is full of 2* mid-to-maxed teams like my own, very difficult to separate. Oh, and my shield simulator went from level 50 teams to level 85 teams overnight (I'll give benefit of doubt and say that is because the 3*'s finally started playing there?).



    --What does it all mean? I have played for two months.
    The first month, I was a newbie and realized I needed slots, paid for the HP and started developing a 2* team, rough against higher players.
    The second month, my 2* roster I paid for is going! But the rules changed and now I can't take my 2* team against 1* teams, it's mostly against equal to higher players.

    That's a rough realization. I have just as much chance today of a top 50 with a 2* maxed roster as I did a month ago with a 2* starting roster.

    Another rough realization is that my 3* roster will take forever to level. Not only that, but in the two months I've played multiplayer, they have added Daken and Sentry: more 3* covers. In my 71 days I have 33 total 3* covers in 14 characters (of 17 possible). You need 13 covers to max out any one.

    Not only will I not be able to get 3* covers, I won't be able to compete with those who have been around longer. They had a much smaller pool of 3* characters to try to acquire, so of course they had much better chances to hit 141. I have seen the 3* roster grow twice in two months...is this a sign of things to come? Perhaps 2* maxed roster is the best possible for someone who is starting that doesn't want to pay hundreds of dollars.

    The possibility of leveling 3*'s through top 50 rewards was my goal, but that has been dashed with the new bracketing system.

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