Feedback Wanted: Character Balance

IceIX

Hey all,

Wanted to stir up a bit of conversation, this particular time for a subject that many of you know to be near and dear to my heart: Character balancing.

Like to get a temperature check as to what people are looking for here and now. I mean, sure. There’s tons of data that we can pull from over the past zillion years, but I’d like to know: How do you feel about character balance right now?

I’ve placed a couple of vote options to just kind of get a gauge of where you sit as a whole. But as always, the real meat of opinion will be in what you say, and who you say it about.

I’ll note that I’m not saying that we’ll jump on all this immediately. We’ve got near future plans already set, so even if there’s a total consensus on a given issue regarding balance I wouldn’t expect it to be hopped on in a week. But what it *does* do is gives a real time right this second impression of what you, the player, are currently experiencing in the meta and what you’d like to see happen to it.

So, what’chu think? Star-Lord need a buff?

ThisisClemFandango

Some characters could use super soldier serum

Dear lord yes, where you start I have no idea

MoonKnight

Some characters could use super soldier serum

A lot of the older 5* and 4* need some buffing. We also need hard counters to both bishop and Hammercap, maybe from some reworked older characters as well. For bishop, maybe a character who punishes characters jumping in front, and for hammercap, a character that deals damage based on opponents countdown tiles. 

LLohm

Some characters could use a dusting of nerf powder

I voted for a nerf because some mechanics are not fixable just by tweaking the damage on powers and AP costs on the rest to make it better since that move may itself create more problems.

The combination of AP generation and jump in front mechanics definitely needs a relook.

5* play at the moment are rather badly affected.

I’m not saying 4* shouldn’t punch upwards. But the OP mechanics are simply allowing 4* to punch way too high upwards till it makes the 5* tier useless at the moment to really chase.

Unless the intentions of the developers are that we should just champ 5* for the sakes of collecting. The above mentioned mechanic needs to be changed.

Just my own opinion of course which you may feel free to disagree with.

marshall

Some characters could use super soldier serum

I think some characters like 5*Banner could use some mechanics overhauls, but mostly we just need basic upgrades to match damage/health on Phoenix, Goblin, Kraven and other small numerical reviews to make them relevant.

The rockett

Some characters could use super soldier serum

There needs to be a balance for sure.  

Bishop and Hammer Cap need the OML/Gambit hammer dropped on them.  

Banner needs a 100% overhaul. 
Phx/GG/all old 5* need health and match damage fixed. 


There is so much that could be done to make them relevant again in this game and even promote it with a special store.   When doing them, this could promote spending which I know is the end goal.  

captainheath

Some characters could use super soldier serum

It stinks to have a roster of 200+, but not even know what some of my championed characters do.  There is no reason to use way too much of my roster.  Simple tweaks to numbers would make so many of them useful.

justsing

I don't know what to vote because why do I have to choose between nerfs and buffs? Why not both?

In my case, what's most urgently needed is a nerf to Bishop. (And maybe Hammercap. He's OP but bearable, so I could take it or leave it.)

However, what the game badly needs, as a whole, is buffs to lackluster 4*s and 5*s. It's really sad to see cool characters like Wa5p, Bruce Banner, Emma Frost, and Talos get **** useless power sets. It's really sad to see fun characters like Phoenix and Goblin become useless due to power creep. 

Hilk

Some characters could use super soldier serum

some of the older 5* could use a bump up...
hulk/banner/SS? - perhaps allow AP from the Hilk’s matches and make transformation faster.
Phx, green goblin - match damage, health? 
Rescue - 
kingpin - 
Wasp - has no synergy with anyone...


Bishop and perhaps Worthy Cap should be adjusted, as 4*, they basically require 5* to not be used against them ( they almost require a 4* or lower vs them)..

Talahamut

Some characters could use super soldier serum

For sure, the older 5*s need hp/match damage increases to bring them closer to modern 5*s. An overhaul of the worst 5s (Banner, Wasp, KP, AA) powersets wouldn't be bad either.

Idk what life is like in 4*-land, but it seems like there is probably a lot of 4* that have almost no usage, either due to a poor powerset or lack of synergy with anybody.

Sluggo

Some characters could use a dusting of nerf powder

Nerfs: obviously, Bishop. The fact that the end of Shield Sim every season is a sea of Bishops is a sign that he's out of balance and needs a tweak. I'm sure the rest of the community will be along shortly to repeat this many, many times. 

Buffs: there are too many unused characters in MPQ and it's probably unrealistic to ask for all of them to be buffed. But there's probably an easy win in giving a little nudge to older 5's in the match damage department. They don't need to be equal to current 5's, but maybe split the difference so they don't feel completely weak? 

SnowcaTT

Some characters could use super soldier serum

I voted buffs. Agree the 4*'s are where the nerfs need to be right now, but so may 4* and 5* alike that sit on my bench like bums.

pfarewell

Some characters could use super soldier serum

     I think it would be ok to return Old Man Logan to his pre nerf state. Phoenix needs a boost. What would be really cool is if you changed her powers to boss Phoenix. 

        Other 5* characters could use match damage and health  buffs to make them more competitive. 

         Please overhaul 5* Wasp, Kingpin and Banner

starlord1982

Some characters could use a dusting of nerf powder

Nerf bishop and hammercap. There is no reason for them to be overpowering for 5s but to be so weak against their own tier. For instance xfdp is very good in his tier, he can even slightly punch upward but he is not meta where most 5* rosters would skip over him. 
The saddest thing about bishop is in SIM every season, where people will float for 2 weeks without losing points. Is it kitty or r4g that people are skipping? Nope is the instant stun lock of bishop. 

Kolence

Some characters could use super soldier serum

I've voted for buffing, but really believe a tiny few could use a bit of toning down of their power. 

Ideally, if anything comes from this, it should be a combination of buffs for the weakest, least used, worst win success characters (across tiers?), some standardization of 5-star match damage, and either gentle nerfs of troublesome characters or actual counter play options, possibly added onto the newly buffed characters.

That's my dream scenario off the top of my head...  

starlord1982

Some characters could use a dusting of nerf powder

And you better not nerf Starlord!!!

sinnerjfl

Some characters could use a dusting of nerf powder

Nerf Bishop and Hammercap. They are basically impossible to fight with 5*'s because mere match damage activate their AP generation and stun, they're everywhere and counters dont work.

Glockoma

Some characters could use super soldier serum

I am thoroughly proud of the dev team. Pretty much everything that will be divulged in this thread Will most likely address the current distresses of the gameplay; because it is long overdue. 

I remember years ago (3-4) when there was an across the board health adjustment to all in game characters. 

In my opinion, This, (along with match damage), would be a great springboard. 

Thank you again, and hopefully, this can be an ongoing endeavor from the development team instead of letting the pot boil over.

Projectus2501

It's hard to "choose"

Most 5* need a buff and you could even make money from it selling the "improved" versions on stores

But in the 4* realm... What the hell is bishop and broken cap doing there??? Just nerf those guys already!!! Without the need for a "get a temperature" speech.

Ps: broken cap and bishop are the reason pvp sucks. Just check the numbers on how many people skip those guys on pvp

Tiger_Wong

Some characters could use super soldier serum

I voted for buffs but..... Bishop’s blue gain is insane for a character with a 4 turn stun. 

Phoenix needs buffs/overhaul
5* Hulk as well
5* Wasp needs an overhaul. 

And would it be too much to ask to put Mr.Fantastic back to his last version?

tiomono

Some characters could use a dusting of nerf powder

I said nerf powder but overall I'm more on supersoldier serum. Just I feel the few characters that need dusted would be easier to deal with than bringing a larger group up to meet them.

Primarily what I want to see though is the 5* tier equalized on match damage. Older 5*'a hit like wet noodles compared to newer people. Every other tier has the same match damage across all characters. It makes it much easier to plan out who will tank and when. But if you play 5* you just know your older characters are gonna sit in the back even if you want them up front more often like daredevil or oml.

I said nerf dust for one reason and I hate nerfs. Having an enemy jump in front of your wet noodle matching 3 and hit them back for 2 times the damage while gaining 5 ap is not cool. Bishop is extremely stupid vs 5* characters. He 100% nullifies their match damage and stuns people entirely too fast because of his massive ap gain. And let's not forget he destroys 6 of his targets strongest color when he stuns for 4 turns. He is insane.