Challenge Trials

We've always had people in the game competing for best time for doing specific trials, or posting about how long it takes them to clear out a specific AE farm map using their uber farm build. ( I sometimes have a hard time figuring out if their posted build is as great as they claim )

So, how about challenge trials, so that it can be recorded in-game...

I'd propose several specific types:

1. Speed Trial - something like an ITF with 4-5 missions, with varying goals. The goals and enemies should be varied enough so that specific team builds ( i.e. all melee ) do not have an advantage over a balanced team with mixed archtypes. Top 10 times would be recorded along with the team members' names.

2. Clear Map ( Team ) - the mission settings would allow you to specify the damage type for the mobs ( fire, ice, energy, mixed, etc. ) - and top 10 times for each damage type would be recorded.

3. Clear Map ( Solo ).

4. Survivor ( Team ) - the team is placed in an arena ( similar to the summer event ) - and ambushes keep coming at them with increasing numbers, frequency, and levels until the team is wiped. Resurrect powers disabled. Top 10 survival times recorded.

5. Survivor ( Solo ).

Rewards: After a minimum of 10 scores have been recorded, I'd award a badge for achieving the top score. Perhaps a small number of reward merits for a top 3 score, with a 20 hour timeout before you can receive the award again.

Restrictions - for the group trials, you would need a restriction of perhaps +/-5 levels from the group leader to prevent power leveling abuse. Not sure if I'd want to totally restrict this to level 50s, but it's a possibility. The drop rate might need to be restricted as well, especially on the survivor trials.

Short Response> I can see adding a timer function and a few other features to AE so that such missions could be designed by players. Other wise the proposed system would likely run into many of the same issues that PvP did, as well as give support to the claim that the game is "Pay to Win" OR upsets those who pay. I doubt that very many players would feel a Dev designed competition system to be a good use of Dev time.





Detailed Response> A good way of doing this is that the Devs MIGHT (S Code Rant) be able to "easily" add a Timer system, a few arena maps, and a few more enemies (Pylons, etc) to AE. Maybe even add a powers disabled feature like Ouroborus/Arena. This would allow those who want to compete create challenges and to debate what maps, levels and mobs are fair and leave the Devs out of it. It would allow for non competitive uses (Personal Best Times, Testing of different Builds, etc) thus being useful to a wider range of players, and would avoiding the badge and PL problems listed bellow.


By comparison a Dev created one would have a difficult time avoiding the same elements that limited PvP to a minority of the player base and would likely upset a percentage of players in the same way PvP has.

1) PvP powers worked differently then they did in PvE in order to achieve "balance". This alienated many PvEers as well as some PvPers from the system. Even in your opening proposal this is already occurring. For the 4th challenge, You are calling for eliminating "Resurrect" a perfectly valid power used by my main character.

Would rules be added limiting fly (range = less damage), Phantom Army (invincible taunt tank), Phase shift (Can't touch this), and many others? If they are added then you alienate many players. If you don't add them then certain builds will have significant advantages and be FOTM.

2) The Devs can expect even more complaints since what ever maps and enemies they choose will favor certain builds and result in criticism of the system.

3) Specialty builds and teams WILL win. I can't see a reasonable way to prevent this. This will result in the perception that the average player can't possibly get their name in lights.

4) All about the Benjamins. PvP predated money having an impact like it does now so a new and significant problem would be that those with money will have tricked out builds and powers that the poorer VIP players will lack. , Money will give a decided build advantage just with

a) "Enhancement boosters",
b) tens of thousands of "Super Pack" merits convertible to billions of influence allowing any in game enhancement to be bought at Wentworths
c) "Store Bought Enhancments"

And what about all of the store bought inspirations and powers? Would the Devs disable them in this system and upset there "Paying" customers, or would they allow them, thus placing the bar that much higher for the poorer VIPs.

4a) Vet rewards. Allow them and even more players will not bother to use the system, disallow them and you risk upsetting your most loyal customers.

5) Future additions. What happens when a new power (As an example the other new Power Pools like Sorcery) or a change to an old power (Time Bomb I25) is released that breaks the system even further? What if it's free? What if it's paid for? No matter what decision the Devs make people will be upset.

6) Badges for high score. Just like PvP, this will upset a segment of badgers while at the same time another segment of badgers will likely find a way around the system (AFK Farms, Standing in Sirens Call safe areas, etc) which will upset those using the system the "correct way."

7) "PLing"/"Extreme Farming" for rewards. How often have the Devs added a new system, Only to find that certain players had figured out how to gain rewards faster then the Devs liked then wound up nerfing the new system and upsetting not only some of the PLers but also some of those who first supported the system and even used it the "correct way".

Right off the top we have AE, PvP ranking system, AE, TF reward system (Speed Katie and Speeden), AE, Portal Corp missions (Wolf Farms, etc), AE and in case I forgot, AE!



And when all is said and done how many players will use the system? Compare that with how many players will be upset over the amount of Dev time needed to create and maintain it.

Your alternative of adding this to AE is a good one, let the players test each other's skills. It would need two new features:
A. Saved times/Player names
B. Some kind of player awarded "Badge" when you break the record.

The only real issue with this is, if I as the creator of the mission decide I dont care for someone being on the list, I can easily unpublish and republish, essentially wiping out the current times. Of course - do this often enough, people will stop playing your missions.


Short answer to most of your objections:
I have no problem with players using any power. The caveat I added about not using "resurrect" in survivor was just this - you didn't survive, you died.
Vet powers? Fully IOed toons vs SO toon? The IOed toon should win, period. That's the whole point - testing my build vs other characters.
If someone doesnt have the time or desire to fully outfit their toon, sorry, no sympathy.