If you exceed 3,000 SP, you still get the bonus, but it only applies to your first 3,000 SP. So if you get 3,050 base SP, you get (3,000x2)+50=6,050 SP, 50 more than someone who just gets 3,000 base SP. So no one is going to avoid getting kills. If anything, the protostomp will be heavier than usual, as vets grind more or come back for the event.

I formally apologize to anyone who may become infuriated with me for AFKing in ambush maps and contributing nothing to the team. Have to maximize the SP gain from the event after all.

I should also mention that I won't truly be AFK because I have to trick the new AFK countermeasures.

But what everyone is saying is that that extra 50 SP receives no bonus whatsoever. [snip]

I also want to explain the reason behind changing the length of the SP events. Previously, we are tied to a week long SP event due to the weekly SP cap being reset on Wednesdays. While we understand that the general consensus from the community is that longer events are preferred because they seem less grindy, we also want to offer more variety with events as many of you have requested.

Another reason to do shorter events is logistics. We aim to do more events with shorter duration so we can increase their frequency as shorter events will be less taxing on the devs who do the support work.

We also want to give more equality to casual players who may not be able to play all week in order to achieve the required event goals, so shorter events will help make furture events feel less grindy.

Lastly, reguarding why the SP bonus is capped at 3000 per match. This is in order for us to estimate the expected amount of SP that players can gain from this event.

So I hope that many of you will see the benefit of doing such an SP event, you can earn the same amount of SP in less time than a conventional week long SP event.

CCP Cmdr Wang, thanks for fixing the worst problem. However, the problem with the SP cap per match of 3000, is it makes Ambush the only viable game mode for the week.

We have clarified the event details for easier understanding on how the SP event will work, you can check them out here.


Lastly, reguarding why the SP bonus is capped at 3000 per match. This is in order for us to estimate the expected amount of SP that players can gain from this event. Since the bonus SP can still be earned even after the weekly SP cap is hit, we need to ensure that there is a limit on how much SP a player can earn from this event. What I can tell you is that if you play 100 matches over the course of the event and earn an average of 3000 SP per match (with boosters) before hitting the cap, and average 1000 SP per match after hitting the cap, then the amount of SP you can expect to earn is roughly equal to a week long Triple SP event. If you play an average of 14-16 matches a day and earn the same amount of SP per match as mentioned above, then you can expect to earn roughly the same amount of SP as a week long Double SP event. So I hope that many of you will see the benefit of doing such an SP event, you can earn the same amount of SP in less time than a conventional week long SP event.

In the meantime, enjoy the bonus SP from this week's event and I'll see you on the battlefield.

CCP here is what the dregs of our community are going to do for this event:

https://forums.dust514.com/default.aspx?g=posts&m=1250915#post1250915


hope you have a nice surprise for them....

But what everyone is saying is that that extra 50 SP receives no bonus whatsoever. Let's push the 50 SP example further. Let's say you get 4500 per match which is not unreasonable or unheard of (and I have boosters but this 1st example is without boosters for simplicity's sake). That equals, above the 3000, an extra 1500 SP you're (not) getting the bonus for per match. At 4500 per match it will take approximately 42 and 1/3 matches to hit your 190,400 weekly bonus cap (42.311111... by actual math). If I multiply that 1500 I'm not getting a bonus for over 42 matches it equals 63,000 SP that I'm not getting bonus for, while I DO receive an extra 126,000 (3000 x 42 = 126,000 x 2 = 252,000) over those same matches. Now say I only get the requisite 3000 per match, then it takes me approximately 63 and 1/2 matches to reach 190,400 (63.46666...7 by actual math). If I choose to string it out over these 63 matches, I get every point doubled (3000 x 63 = 189,000). So let's do the final math:

Example 1: 126,000 x 2 = 252,000 (doubled SP) + 63,000(extra NON doubled SP) = 315,000
Example 2: 189,000 x 2 = 378,000 (doubled SP)

That's your 63,000 SP point difference, and that's without the booster bonus and only losing the bonus on an extra 1500 per round.

Let's look at it with the bonus using 4500(3000 + 1.5 active booster) as the minimum and 4500 x 1.5 (6750) as the hypothetical per match overage.
This time the 4500 a match takes 63 and 1/2 matches to reach the weekly bonus with boosters (190,400 x 1.5 = 285,600) (4500 x 63 = 283,500)
The 6750 this time takes 42 and 1/3. This time we're losing 2250 in bonus over 42 matches
(4500 x 42 = 189,000) + (2250 x 42 = 94,500 (non bonused))
So again, let's do the math plugging in the booster numbers:

Example 1: 189,000 x 2 = 378,000 (doubled SP) + 94,500(extra NON doubled SP) = 472,500
Example 2: 283,500 x 2 = 567,000

That's your 94,500 point difference with the booster.

Bottom line, if you do minimally 1/2 better than the 3000 point bonus max w/o booster, or the 4500 bonus max w/booster per match, you lose out on 63,000 or 94,500 respectively. This is of course contingent on my correctly understanding how this double SP events works. All of this could be wrong in which case I'm just going to go to sleep as my brain is angry with me for making it work this hard on a holiday.

The assumption is the average player earns 3000 SP per match, which is what our data shows. Rambos who average higher are at the edge of the bell curve and isn't the best example to use when planning events for players of all types....
...We will be watching the data on in-game activities from the event and see how this event affects play behavior. If indeed ambush becomes the predominate game mode played during the event, then we will use that data when planning for future events.

The issue with using 3000 SP per match as an average is the vastly different payouts across game modes. If you were taking the average payout for Skirmish mode only, I'd bet it is noticeably higher than 3000; ambush matches would be lower. By basing your cap off the average across all game modes, you create a situation where only the lower scoring game modes (i.e. ambush) are worth it for the bonus; the higher payout modes only waste potential earnings.

The players who are actually paying attention to the event know this, and if they want to maximize their bonus will stick to Ambush. Anyone playing Skirmish or Domination during this event either doesn't know or care about the event, or has already hit their weekly cap.

I actually get the idea of using "average" SP earned in a match as your baseline, as it ensures the newer and less skilled players will get the most out of the event; unfortunately it encourages skilled players to try and game the system by AFKing or not participating in the battles.

Perhaps a different maximum reward could be offered for each game mode? 2000 for Ambush, 4000 for skirmish, whatever each mode's average payout is.

So, with the math you've shown you max out your SP gain in 63 matches with no booster and 42 with a booster. Over 5 days that comes out to an average of 12 to 13 matches per day without boosters and 8 to 9 matches per day with boosters to get the same bonus as a double SP event. That is hardly a grind fest.

A calculation on how many matches will need to be played in a standard week long SP event in order to max out the SP bonus can be broken down like this: The assumption is the average player earns 3000 SP per match, which is what our data shows. Rambos who average higher are at the edge of the bell curve and isn't the best example to use when planning events for players of all types.

That comes out to 198,400/3000 (with no booster)=66 matches and 44 with booster. So this event is not trying to make you grind at all. What it does do is give you the chance to earn roughly the same amount of bonus SP as a triple SP event. The more you play, the more you earn, sounds pretty fair.

We will be watching the data on in-game activities from the event and see how this event affects play behavior. If indeed ambush becomes the predominate game mode played during the event, then we will use that data when planning for future events.

I think you are missing the point he is trying to make. Based on the weekly cap, earning any sp on non event days or any sp over 3,000 in a match results in a loss of event bonus sp. this means that players must try and "grind" matches deliberately earning no more than 3,000 sp per match on fri-sun ONLY to take full advantage of the event.

It is also interesting to note that while many are complaining about this event being a grind, they are also worried about hitting cap too soon, which means it will actually be less grindy if they average more than the mean 3000 SP per match.

I also don't see how AFKing will help players maximize their SP gain, yes you will earn more than you usually do, but it is unlikely that you get more than 3000 SP per match by doing nothing. The new anti-AFK mechanic should also curb this behavior as well. Which, if the theory crafters here are correct (that is their assumption that this encourages AFK) this event will actually help test the new anti-AFK mechanic.

Page 12 and this event is still clear as mud!

Lets see it starts Wednsday I can only play up to 3000 sp per match or its wasted?

I have no idea someone TLDR for me how do I maximized my SP gain

TL;DR

Play as you normally do and get extra SP! For free! Pretty clear.

TL;DR

Play as you normally do and get extra SP! For free! Pretty clear.

I would like to take this time to repeat for the thousandth time that you should present us options before these events to get feedback. You don't have to say when you will use them but better communication is desired by the community to stop this type of reaction.

It will be interesting to see how the new match making evens out the scoring.