#Overall imbalance in gameplay

56 messages · Page 1 of 1 (latest)

static spoke
#

Actually, there's a significant gameplay imbalance.

I'm taking the time to list some of these things here—additions are welcome!

For context: I'm the deputy of the largest German alliance and have been playing for several years.

#
  1. Coercion
    The pressure to do things outside of normal gameplay has increased significantly. To name just a few examples: Spirit Cave (it was and is not part of the normal gameplay flow; the game doesn't require this part at any point because there are no necessary resources - we have been forced to play this part for some time now even though it is unnecessary), Tracks (we are forced to craft or do things that are not part of the normal gameplay flow).
#
  1. Tracks
    The feedback regarding the track design is overwhelmingly negative. The skill trees themselves are generally good (though there are a few minor exceptions), but the tracks disrupt the gameplay.
    Examples: Avoid doing quests before the task reset - it could be a task.
    Don't play an event before the reset - it could be a task. Always keep two fertile horses in the stable - it could be a task. Don't immediately give away infertile horses - it could be a task. Don't level up your blueprints directly - it could be a task.
    Skipping tasks consumes silver - and silver is becoming increasingly scarce in the game.
    Low-level players have virtually no chance of getting into a flow, while high-level players start ignoring the tracks.
    Something is fundamentally wrong here.
#
  1. Gold Rush
    The Gold Rush is completely broken. We buy three opponents every single day - for weeks now, at least one of the three has been unguarded.
    These unguarded opponents should be excluded from the Gold Rush. Or they should get their own league where they can steal from each other to their heart's content.
    These unguarded opponents are poison for the leaderboards of the guarded alliances.
    They cause frustration.
#
  1. Assignments
    Are sometimes impossible to fulfill; the counters often do not function reliably.
#

Ultimately, all these individual issues lead to a loss of fun and gameplay flow. In the past few days, during our gold rush, we've come across several large alliances that are now deserted.
Even more empty opponents.
Two of our players only come once or twice a week to collect gold and feed the guards because they've lost interest due to the aforementioned problems and are taking a break.
I'm not far from that myself.
I really hope the devs finally recognize this danger and take countermeasures.
Otherwise, the game will soon be dead.

hybrid sorrel
#

Hey, thanks for your feedback
A lot of the points you’ve raised here (especially around Tracks, Gold Rush balance, and gameplay flow) have already been shared with the dev team, and they’re aware of the concerns being discussed by players.

While I can’t comment on specific changes or timelines, I can reassure you that these topics are on their radar and continue to be part of ongoing discussions.

We definitely understand how important gameplay flow and long-term engagement are, especially for experienced players and alliance leaders, so your perspective here is valuable.

Thanks again for sharing this.

sharp ibex
#
  1. Gold Rush and Building Upgrades
    Since our alliance upgraded our buildings to Level 5, it has become impossible to take 1st place in the Gold Rush. We are constantly being pushed down to the 2nd division. On top of that, we are almost never attacked. The progression feels completely broken at high levels.
    ​2. The Unbearable Grind
    Alliance quests now require way too much time. For example, farming 2,000 molybdenum ore per week is insane. All other quests are just more of the same. The game hasn't become more challenging or interesting; it has just become "longer" and more tedious. This is incredibly frustrating.
    Many of our alliance members have already quit. Those who stay are doing the bare minimum. Alliances have become a nightmare—they have effectively ruined the game. And these are just the most painful issues.
    ​3. Rewards and Resource Scarcity
    ​Gold: There isn't enough gold. Top alliances should receive significant gold rewards. We’ve invested a massive amount of time and effort, and we deserve fair compensation for that labor.
    ​Paper: The paper shortage is absurd. We gathered all the resources for the safe upgrade months ago, but we still have to wait at least another six months just to upgrade it. This is completely unreasonable.
    ​Overall Impression:
    It feels like the developers want players to "live" in the game for years, but they don't understand that this is impossible. The game needs more variety in daily tasks and more engaging events. The amount of grind needs to be radically reduced. This is obvious.
    Either the developers are unaware of this, or they are intentionally making the game worse. It sounds foolish, but that’s exactly how it looks from a player's perspective.
#

I translated using a translator. Sorry for any misunderstandings in the text.

idle stag
#

A word on alliances:
It is very hard for players to contribute to alliances, if they are not top level players. I for myself am lvl117, late t6, and have nearly no chance to contribute to anything. Gold Rush? Cannon fodder for t7e opponents, even with my best t6e gear. Buildings? Lol, we have a new tower now, I can farm t4 for near endless cotton requirements. Weekly tasks? All t7, no chance.

This forces alliances to form homogeneous membership, all of same lvl and same tier. Friendship, comradeship, having fun together? Only if you are of correct level.
At least weekly tasks should be based on PLAYER level and tier, not alliance HQ.

idle stag
# hybrid sorrel Hey, thanks for your feedback A lot of the points you’ve raised here (especially...

I don't care for this "topics are on the radar and being discussed" at all. It's the same answer for friggin' MONTHS now. I know, you can't do a thing about it, you are as helpless as we are.
Many large and famous alliances are ghost towns now. New players have no chance of success, thanks to impossible tracks and broken skill system at low levels. Old players leave frustrated due to boredom and endless grind for tedious tracks.
Devs don't care, whatever you say. If we don't see any ACTION shortly, that will be it. I've played for more than two years now, had a lot of fun, but this fun has come to an end, devs have wrecked their game. Dark patterns rule, you have to pay up or die of boredom.

hot vortex
#

I definitely feel there are a LOT more empty bases. And a larger number where its clear that base is actively dying (bases we attacked months ago that now are missing key guards, but still have same numbers hinting at players that don't log in anymore)

The number of complaints about being assigned dead bases has also gone up. I know too many older players who gave up on the game after the tracks.

And too many newer players that give up because they can't earn skills or get enough spirit because they are a section or two behind and the tasks are too challenging and push them to higher areas before they can even master the current one.

#

I am also feeling the grind worse. I didn't used to mind resetting CT and SC but now i loathe it. I miss just being able to visit SC and x out after starting. I don't want to play every 2 days. There's no benefit, only a waste.

I dont understand why it is felt the solution to get people to play SC is to force them rather than address the reasons only a few very high level players bother to compete. Make it more appealing. Add coin. People will play.

The cost to play SC is prohibitive and you only get decent armor or weapons in the upper levels of gold league. Even if I did wish to compete its a real pain and nearly impossible to break into the niche of promotion with all the power players playing the demotion game. There's not enough competition.

#

Last a fully agree about alliance assignments. And the likelihood of attacks with a higher HQ. We did ours to 4 a few months back and attacks dried up. Assignments can only be done by t6 and t7. Tasks like mining ore are nearly impossible with the scarcity of ore. Its very challenging to on board newer players into existing alliances. It doesnt make sense to force all same tier players together and expect lower levels to form thier own alliances. We have a new t6 player and he decided to revenge the 12k authority alliance we got hit with. He didnt even see what killed him with one shot. There is no way an alliance of t4/t5 players has a chance of standing against a 12 member alliance with t7 epics. Not even if they sent all 6 of them in.

#

T7 epics is a challenge even for t6 rare. So forcing same levels into groups together is just going to end up with disatisfaction all around

oblique crane
#

I no longer consider alliances, I just withdraw gold and that's it, there's no point in doing anything else, I'm not at level 7, I'm always in the northern lands and when the Rambo of the moment arrives and flattens everything, you can't even counterattack, so you don't enter the rankings and you can't get the card for the upgrades!

abstract granite
#

I can confirm there is much more empty alliances. Never seen that mani as past 2 weeks.
Its like we get 1 or even 2 in every 3 raids.
This might be due to unactivity but also most lower lvls dont see much point competing in GR. As protecting base isnt even operational any more,ecept when strong alliances gets attacked by lower lvl.one. That rearly hapens.

finite crypt
#

Indeed no point of defending an alliance when you are distroyed after 2 sec during an attack 🙂 I am at the lowest lvl and got matched with the highest alliance lvl. It was not fun for them I guess.

woeful flame
#

I'm member of strong alliance and I don't mind easy gold. Undefended bases are not problem, matchmaking is not a problem (anyone who buy cheap gold factory must accept the possibility to get robbed by stronger guys, it's wild west). Points distribution is problem, mainly -100 pts for empty base and 500 pts for revenge. This makes gold rush leaderboard lottery instead of competition.

oblique crane
#

The problem is the gold allocation. If the safe is empty because I just collected you, you have to find zero nuggets and not the hourly production!!! This is the Wild West! Otherwise, it's all useless. Participation and consistency are just spending dollars!!!

abstract granite
#

Point of viwe of leader of the strongest top alliance,and one of best players for sure.
But maching t5 players and t4,t5 alliances in same competishion with top t7 alliances that are there for years,we can not call it much of competishoin at all. Just boring repetishon of gold collecting and lottery in points.
This machmaking served well im first years when alliances where intruduced,so nobady was much more advanced than somebody else. But it didnt change for years. So now u have,few mounths old alliance in same competshion with, those that are there and developing for years.
If u gona be fer,thats not the state of things,that old alliances and old players have had, when they where begining,it was very very intrasting to fight with equal oponents,when everybody just had sherif armors and t5 weapons.
When avatars produced sama damage as attacking players.
You had to tim up to take it.
Now just one strong player suits up ,if he knows whats he doing can clear anyone.
Nobody paunded on you as t5 player,that was top t7 player as it did not exist.
And lottery yes,what else can it be than. They will attack u if thay very strong or dont know nothing yet.
The way its set up,favors idelnes. Reason for lower lvls. to give up unfer competishoin,go for single alliance, and leave empty bases.
Thay get much less coins than t7 players,need it for upgrades bluprints,as we did not need it for that,when we where t5s at all.
Thay have to gather same amounts to raid,and than thay revial old strong alliances somtimes, that thay can not attack.
They waste coins that are harder to get for tham. And not only that thay dont get gold from raid, but actualy lose gold from revenge,a than have gold deficit,and dont get any from production long time.

I just say alliance wars,are not intrasting part of game,as thay are very hard on lower lvls,and totaly boring for higher lvls. Specialy with rifle perks,abouth 95% of tome its 'rabbits shoting wars',as I call it.

oblique crane
#

exactly you summed it all up I totally agree with what you said!!!

#

Furthermore, alliances with multiple players aren't favored, and beginners have been put there to do what?
It would make sense if the more you are in an alliance, the more gold you can mine... this way you'd encourage group alliances!

#

The system needs to be changed from the ground up... as it is structured, it serves no one. Only those who are level 7 already have everything and can do whatever they want... otherwise, a single alliance is better and, absurdly, you earn more gold than many others!!! Absurd!!!

abstract granite
#

Yeah that was also my point.
Becouse of gold defficit,and hardship to earn coins for raids,as thay get less and need it for bluprints.
Leadrs of lower lvl.alliances are gona get more gold if thay just stay solo. Best way thay can fight is to post no avatar at all and revial nobady.

oblique crane
#

the problem is that the games are tested by players who have everything... unlimited life... shields like the old PC games that with special codes you could do everything, and here it is the same they are not tested by players at the beginning of their gaming experience and therefore the balancing problems arise

#

But since we're all telling them this, maybe they'll have to clean it up a bit... otherwise I think the end is near!!! People get fed up and leave, and goodbye to everyone!!!

finite crypt
finite crypt
abstract granite
#

As u are solo in alliance u recover deficit faster. 10-12 players alliances wait half of the day or more to get 1 nugget each. As thay do have bigger production but thats why their deficit is bigger.
Thay go -70,80,90 and more. We got -130even. Becose when u get raided,gold is taken from a mine not just safe.
That is why solo alliance is so efectiv.

lime ruin
#

Are you certain Antony? I would asume the “recovery” lasts the same for everybody, its just that as a solo you get your “share” sooner than in a group of lets say 4.

I wait 2 hours to get 1 nugget, while group of 4 waits 8 hrs. Where I in 8 hours collect 4 nuggets.

If it isn’t so, that would be one more argument in favour of being (Han-)Solo. As if that isn’t enough reason to be.

hybrid sorrel
# abstract granite As u are solo in alliance u recover deficit faster. 10-12 players alliances wait...

You’re completely misunderstanding how gold debt and recovery actually work.

Recovery speed has nothing to do with being “solo” or in an alliance; it’s based purely on gold production vs how much debt you have.

If a solo player gets hit and loses more gold than they produce, they’re actually in a worse position, not better. They have:

  • Lower overall production

  • Can't do raids to clear the debt

  • 100% of the debt sitting on their personal safe
    So saying “solo recovers faster” just doesn’t make sense.
    Your example about alliances going -70/-80 doesn’t prove anything either. Bigger alliances may show large overall debt but they also have:

  • Higher overall gold production

  • can do a raid to clear their debt and get some gold from it( thanks to full gold safe goddess)

  • Less chance of one player getting completely crippled (The total clan debt might exist, but your personal safe debt is lower. Debt is effectively spread across multiple players instead of one person taking the full hit. Since each member has their own safe (not one shared safe), you’re much less exposed individually)
    And you’re ignoring a huge advantage of grouped clans:
    They can actually defend themselves. while a solo with one defender is an easy target over and over again.

On top of that, grouped clans can actively raid to recover. Once their personal safe is cleared, they start gaining gold again from raids much faster.

Meanwhile, solos?
Yeah, they can raid to clear debt, but with only one defender, you’re getting hit back constantly. You clear some debt, get raided again, and you’re right back where you started. You’re stuck in a loop.

And if you go into debt trying to raid just to recover, you’re basically digging the hole deeper.

At the end of the day, it’s simple:
If your debt is bigger than your income, you’re stuck longer.
And solos are way more likely to end up in that situation.

There’s no hidden advantage here, solo is just riskier and way less forgiving.

finite crypt
vital herald
#

Tasks definitely have to become easier. The game just gets boring if you have nothing to do..can't donthe tracks because you just can't do them them due to missing items, or regions. Also why should I build every 2 days a new weapon? Fixing it should so be counted!
When I did the daily quests I don't know what else to do. As I can't proceed in the game. I can't be bothered to run around a map and collect items for the 5th million time.. Why is it so hard to get proper weapons?why do you unnecessarily get forced to open new regions when you are not ready? Going through alot of armor and healing is just boring. Also if the game is a bit more easy then people would maybe even pay for different things. I already wrote that several times. Bit if the game is so difficult that you already know after days that you will not finish the tracks there is no point in buying something..so on the one hand things become more and more p2w but on the other side you pay but get nothing..😅

abstract granite
#

Alliance that has 24 gold production and 8 players.
Alliance that has 24 gold production and 1 player.
1st gets 3 nuggets per member a day.
2nd get 24 nuggets for singl member a day.
Thay can work togheter on upgrades and raids.
But raids will bring them more deficit. Thay cant defend at those lvls,from 11.0 update,if they had a 100members. Its just duck hunting. It woud cost 100+dura on gun if there where 100members thats true. As it is raiding tham costs somthing like 8-10 durability.🤷

cyan stratus
#

My solo-alliance(at the time) was producing 21+5 gold nugget per day.
I've got hit back when sefe was empty, I've lost 20 nuggets - with is my daily excavation without bonuses - so attacker in theory took gold from Gold mine, and I was not able to acquire any gold from that point for the next 15h approximately.

I can understand that he took 'safe' as a symbol of succeeding attack. But what he really took was some sort of sand bags with he would have to reprocess in his base over some period of time, and then be happy to he acquire Gold from it. Right?

Before he attacked my base I stole his safe with 20 nuggets, and receive 12 nuggets from my safe.

Question: if attacker was able to take my gold nuggets despite the fact that base was empty, where did 8 Gold nuggets went from my attack on his base?

obtuse torrent
#

if you were already in gold deficit at the time from a different raid (say -15) then you would have paid back the deficit and received 5 gold as a solo member

abstract granite
#

So what if he with 26 gold production takes on 6 members.
Woud thay not have to wait longer,until thay can pick up first nugget from gold production?
-When he recovers deficit he waits for 1 nuget to be produced to pick up 1 nugget.
-With 6 members he waits same time for deficit to be coverd,but than waits 6 nugets to be produced so he can pick up 1 nugget.
As I was part of lower levl alliance and rise trough the ranks,I can rember lower lvl alliances can not defend almost never. Revenges create deficit every day.
Maybe old playres dont have that expirence,so thay dont understand that lower levels alliances can not defend 90% of time revenge is sure thing.

cyan stratus
#

We have questions because game provides no answers.

Game needs to go deeper on giving players answers.

cyan stratus
abstract granite
#

Not really sure abouth that one also. When deficit is complete.
Those it give one to someone as soon first nugget is complete,or it waits 6 nugets for 6 players,than give all 1 nugget.
Anyway I do belive that smaler alliances with full house of player are in bad position,as lower lvl players can hardly donate their lvl.ingots for development of base.
If leader is higher lvl and knows how its done its diffrent story,he can grind materials,and benefit from taking part in GR in that sence that u get more special alliance materials,but that is only worth if u can grind materials as fast also.
Intrasting example of my first alliance I joind,that is actualy very old alliances started in 2021.
But never had active leader,so its t4 alliance even today.

oblique crane
#

I still think that only the vegetable garden in the safe should be stolen... and not what I should produce... if I am active and empty the safe continuously there should be a chance of finding the safe empty!!!

#

For low level players this system is very frustrating, there is no possibility to defend the base and therefore there is no accumulation of gold, and therefore its use in the game!

#

in other words, a significant part of the game is very difficult for us to obtain... ironically, it's always better to have an alliance with very few people!

#

also because with this attack system there is no collaboration, just pay, the rest is done by the strong player... he comes in and causes a massacre!!!

idle stag
#

Finding a safe empty would kill gold rush for good. You pay 1200(!) silver as an alliance daily for just 3 attacks. If there is a chance that you get nothing in return, most people would stop doing it. It's frustrating enough that you often get only 1 or 2 gold.

If the system was balanced, every alliance that got attacked would have a fair chance for a successful counterattack against an equal opponent, thus equalizing their losses.

At the moment we have two kinds of attacks on our base. One is the powerful t7e player waltzing through our t6e-t7e defenders like Conan the Barbarian, singlehandedly slaughtering everyone within 2min. The other is "Mr Strawhat" coming in waving his flintlock pistol and getting instakilled without even knowing what hit him right between the eyes.

So the system is unfair in all directions. There are literally no equal opponents. Every single base - even the strongest, best defended ones - can be obliterated by one, maybe two attackers of the same level.

Low level alliances stand no chance at all, high level alliances roam at will, but are 100% subject to chance for league points. At least they get some gold in return...

formal tulip
#

Well ... the part about defended bases getting defeated is just the natural result of having tier 7 equipment ... are we supposed to never defeat a base that is better defended ? And i honestly disagree to those players that don't like that now the safe is the only loot in raids . Who has enough people to send them after coffee boxes or stuffs that we had before ? Can we force our people to be active ? What do we do if someone don't show up to pick the last coffee box ? We wait two hours for the raid to end to take our gold and continue ? The curent safe-only format is just perfect for both groups and solos . And saying that there is " no collaboration " is equally wrong too . If there was no collaboration in an alliance , how were the buildings maxed ? How was the silver paid ( for sure 1 member wouldn't pay whole 1200 silver daily ) ? How were the defenders placed , equiped , fed ? Regarding attacks , there is collaboration in that too . If one fails against a strong base , the other steps in , then the next ones . I don't know how some people just ignore all the aspects i explained here . Yes , matchmaking has some issues that need to be adressed where low alliances get attacked by top ones , or other alliances in gold rush get more revenge attacks than others and steal place 1 , but other than that , the format of raids , the difficulty of defeating a good clan and the collaboration are in my opinion just perfect

obtuse torrent
formal tulip
obtuse torrent
#

if that was fixed and the matchmaking was fixed I'd be happy with it

formal tulip
#

If these two are solved , everything is great

dense plover
#

Yeah the matching for me, it’s annoying to constantly be put up against gold 1 alliances when you’re silver. I’m not talking just sometime. It’s very often. If you’re going to make it so you are constantly losing gold at least let us opt out of goldrush while it’s broken