Time-based arena brackets make no sense and should be changed

Roboct1

Keep in mind that MCOC is going on six years old, intermediate arena bracket ends once an account reaches three months old.

Time-based arena brackets make no sense at all anymore. After an account reaches three months old, suddenly it has to compete with veteran, nearly six year old accounts. The roster size difference between two of these accounts is vast nowadays which means newer accounts aren't able to keep up with older accounts nearly as well as they used to. This only serves to demotivate newer players from utilizing an entire section of the game which is only going to push them away.

Arena brackets should be based on something like: number of characters, account rating, prestige, story progression, or any number of alternatives that could balance competition between account sizes more appropriately.

Especially now that the ThroneBreaker progression title has a character rank requirement to "address the difference in account sizes," a change should definitely be made to arena for the exact same reason.

Pulyaman

Huh, then you would not mind the different brackets have different star variants? If you take prestige, then 11k and above will have access to 5 star featured, 9k and above to 4 star featured etc. Because if you honestly think people will agree to arena brackets based on progression, then they need to reward that progression too. Everyone has to grow their accounts to compete. If you are just looking for units, then the other accounts does not matter. If you are looking to get the featured or basic champ, then you need to compete with others for that champ. Either through roster or through the units for refresh.

DNA3000

Roboct1 said:

Keep in mind that MCOC is going on six years old, intermediate arena bracket ends once an account reaches three months old.

Time-based arena brackets make no sense at all anymore. After an account reaches three months old, suddenly it has to compete with veteran, nearly six year old accounts. The roster size difference between two of these accounts is vast nowadays which means newer accounts aren't able to keep up with older accounts nearly as well as they used to. This only serves to demotivate newer players from utilizing an entire section of the game which is only going to push them away.

Arena brackets should be based on something like: number of characters, account rating, prestige, story progression, or any number of alternatives that could balance competition between account sizes more appropriately.

Especially now that the ThroneBreaker progression title has a character rank requirement to "address the difference in account sizes," a change should definitely be made to arena for the exact same reason.

I'm pretty sure the "time based brackets" aren't there to be competition brackets: they've never served as that from the very beginning. Even someone who's been playing for six months has a way larger roster than someone who's been playing for a month or two. Those brackets are time-based specifically to give people a chance to ease into the arena and get somewhat better rewards than they would otherwise, just as a nice bonus for players that decide to jump into the mode way earlier than they would otherwise be strong competitors.

In other words, those aren't intended to make things "fair" for newer players. In the long run everyone is expected to compete with everyone else because the whole point is to reward players with larger rosters and willing to spend more time. The early brackets are just a newbee bonus, and that's why only newbees get it.

Mauled

As DNA says, it's a way to make newer players excited about playing the game and arena. Don't forget that at an early level, before you're already hooked you're going to spend a fair time on low energy because you're starting on lower energy, so other game modes are important to keep players interested.
In the lower brackets if you're efficient and willing to get a bit sweaty you can grind out some really good progress but in the grand scheme of things being able to pull a couple of featured 4* isn't going to make or break an account.

If brackets were built around prestige then you'd have the whole AW matchmaking issue again - players actively keeping their prestige down, especially if they're not that interested in AQ, would be able to pull champions that players sitting on a few R3 6* wouldn't have the ability to grind for because they're in the same pool as the mega whales.

It isn't really broke now, the rewards are just a bit meh.

Roboct1

For clarification: Basically, intermediate and expert brackets should be based on something other than the age of the account. That way accounts are competing against similar accounts more like skill based matchmaking in a FPS. Everyone should have a realistic shot at ranking and that isn't the case as it sits now. Arena should be bracketed so that more people have a shot at getting the character they really want, without having to be blubbery whale.