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Noc Tempre
Imperfects
Negative-Feedback
1170
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Posted - 2012.07.04 08:59:00 -
[1] - Quote
Right now the bonus SP and anti-grind timer appear to be set to a clock. If your schedule overlaps correctly, you are at a huge advantage for SP gain simply by merit of time-zone. This simply feels wrong. Furthermore, people are very confused by the unpredictability of bonus SP given the myriad threads discussing the system. I propose the system can be demystified and taken off a timer without breaking the intention of encouraging regular play while discouraging grinding.
I recommend a system using 3 pools of SP. It may even be similar to the current system, but easier to understand and more importantly, more accessible to different schedules.
The first pool is passive SP. This is the same as it is now.
The second pool is the bonus SP. This is currently in game behind a voodoo algorithm.
The third pool is the active SP. This is earned by playing matches.
The important change here is the bonus SP collects at a fixed rate like passive SP, and you can see exactly how much is in this pool as well as how full it is. I would suggest 2-3 days of 0 drain as the maximum cap, with potentially AUR purchases extending this. You would then convert this SP into available SP by earning active SP. CCP could even keep their same diminish returns algorithm (so the closer you are to the cap, the faster you convert it).
Several advantages I see to a visible bonus pool
- You can see exactly how much you have to go until you are "grinding"
- You are not penalized from being successful due to erratic schedules
- It clearly shows the benefits of playing regularly, since overflow is lost
A player that logs in once a day will see no change. A player that can only play an hour a day during the week can manage the bank enough to stop it from overflowing to then collect on the weekend. A player that has atypical or unpredictable schedules will still gain the same as a regular player if they put in the same time. I see this system helping people from feeling like they are falling behind even if they are still able to play regularly. That should help with player retention of the most at risk group - those who like the game but can't grind hardcore.
Please feel free to add comments about question or concerns. |
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Imperfects
Negative-Feedback
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Posted - 2012.07.04 18:27:00 -
[2] - Quote
Skytt Syysch wrote:I would rather a pool than a few games bonus anyway, purely for the consistency of how much bonus is available (as much as I love joining a game in progress as my first game of the day, and getting garbage for SP).
I don't think the current system favors people in certain time zones, though. I've noticed the "new day" begins at about 5pm for me. I can play before 5pm, get my bonus, and then play after 5pm and get a new bonus period. However, if I play the next day before 5pm, I'm still making my diminishing returns worse, carrying over from the night before. It would really only matter if comparing two people in two different time zones who can only play one day every few days. If you're playing at a consistent time every day, it makes no difference to you.
The issue is, you could play every other day and get the same SP as someone that plays every day, since your playtime crosses that invisible line. I would love to see bonus point management managed by players. Furthermore, it gives them opportunity to sell AUR items to improve that bank, letting people who can't play for a week pay to not fall lose out. Seems like a win-win to me.
Thanks for all the feedback and support guys. I'm also interested to hear what CCP's opinion on this is. |
Noc Tempre
Imperfects
Negative-Feedback
1170
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Posted - 2012.07.04 23:21:00 -
[3] - Quote
steadyhand 08 orti wrote:i know im going to be shot for saying this, but i quite liked EvE skill system, as baiscly no matter how crazy my life got i always new i was leveling, in fact i would get all the skills together long before i got the isk, i would quite like a return to that system :(
The nature of DUST requires active skill gain. However, the balance will be mainly passive. The bonus SP would be a hybrid, a passive bank that requires a small amount of active play to collect. The grind SP (pure active) would likely be the smallest portion. Pure passive cannot be the greatest portion of SP though, because the game is free to play so anyone could be using advanced gear without investing in the game. We need people to be playing in the universe to have any real content. |
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