The difficulty increase is ridiculous

Deadpool87 · January 2023

Kabam Jax said:
Hello Summoners!

tldr: The team is actively discussing this topic, we're hoping to know more soon.

When we announced Thronebreaker difficulty was coming to the contest, we also announced there would be a rework to all the other difficulties as well.

We've received a lot of feedback that the new difficulties feel overtuned, and is something I've experienced as well; it's something we have brought to the game team.

The increase in difficulty is fine as long as the reward increase is equal in comparison. Also, with the addition of a new difficulty it feels like we need to choose between getting rank up materials/crystal shards (Uncollected, Cav, TB) or units (Contender, Proven, Conqueror). The added energy requirements plus the energy needed to complete the side event seems like there is no way to complete everything like we used to. Can we get lower energy requirements for Chapters 2 and 3 in Contender to 1 energy per tile for chapter 1 and 2 energy to chapter 3 and then change chapter 1 for Uncollected difficulty to 1 energy. This would be more in line with how the energy requirements were before cavalier difficulty was introduced.

Haamertail · January 2023

Overtuned is an understatement. The first uncollected boss went from 61k HP to 142k.

zerodude · January 2023

I'm a paragon player that stopped expending since I lost my job, in order to keep up the needs of units I had to start doing more arena grinding and exploring EQ.

I used to explore every difficult, auto fighting the lower ones while doing other things, because I didn't need to be focused, I thought it was really good, to be able to do so, since I had gotten strong enough to do it, but I really changed.

I tried auto playing today the conqueror difficult, I left my phone alone for a few minutes and 3 of my Champs were dead, while the other two were at lower health and it surprised and scared me, the team was made of 6 stars r2 and up, with a rank 4 kitty.

I still can't believe it, I don't know if the AI isn't prepared for this difficult, because it couldn't keep up.

PascalGambit · January 2023

An utterly myopic and tonedeaf decision.

One of the perks of completing higher end content and acquiring otherwise unobtainable rank up materials is being able to passively complete lower end quests via autofight. In the grand scheme of things, the rewards aren't game changing but can be very useful nonetheless.

Prior to the current iteration, I would play Master and the lower EQs on autofight, specifically to garner iso and units. I attempted the Conqueror EQ yesterday but although I now possess higher ranked champs due to the Xmas boon, I still had to manually complete the entire Quest. I can't recall when I last played the Master level EQ and the experience felt neither challenging nor exciting. Moreover, if the rewards had received a commensurate boost in line with the content ramp up, I think my reaction and the response here would've been more favourable. However, it appears as if they've reduced the amount of units previously available (can someone categorically confirm this) which is both inexcusable and inexplicable.

Due to time constraints (demanding role/young family) I can normally just about fully explore Uncollected and do a once through run of Cavalier. I haven't checked as of yet but going by the responses here, these two EQs have been amped as well. I know many others are in a similar situation to mine and I think we'd all unanimously agree that having to input more resources and time for the same or a reduced payoff is totally demotivating and a disincentive to increase engagement.

I don't obsessively catalogue everything in the game but I'm absolutely certain completing each path in the Master EQ previously yielded 4 T5 class iso bricks and 8 T5 generic ones. During my Conqueror run yesterday, I was only receiving 4 T3 class iso bricks instead; was the reduction in iso and units intentional? What is the rationale behind increasing the difficulty but reducing the payoff? A penny for your thoughts Kabam..

Chobbly · January 2023

Kabam Jax said:
Hello Summoners!

tldr: The team is actively discussing this topic, we're hoping to know more soon.

When we announced Thronebreaker difficulty was coming to the contest, we also announced there would be a rework to all the other difficulties as well.

We've received a lot of feedback that the new difficulties feel overtuned, and is something I've experienced as well; it's something we have brought to the game team.

Thanks for the update @Kabam Jax. Hopefully there will be some clarity and a way forward with this issue. It would be nice if something could be done for the current EQ but that may be a difficult ask.

Caz · January 2023

I started my first legends run with a 3-4 hour window to work with and the boost in PI/Health in Proven and Conqueror absolutely screwed me. Any chance I can get my boosts and energy refills back so i can try again without having to fight roided up 3 stars lol

Shamir51 · January 2023

Doctorwho13 said:

Shamir51 said:

Searmenis said:

GroundedWisdom said:

Jwagg said:

GroundedWisdom said:

Wozzle007 said:
For context, if you had a roster that could easily auto fight previously but now can’t, imagine what it’s like for those who previously could complete each month, but only by a little. Or maybe with a revive or two. This isn’t about Paragon and Thronebreakers who can’t auto fight the Master Equivalent quest. It’s about conquerer and low level uncollected who now can’t get through.
Which they will grow into.
They won't grow at all now because they can't complete things now that they used 100%, new people will just quit increasing the timeline for the death of the game.
New people will grow and adapt, the same way we grow and adapt, and have done since the beginning of playing. If we all quit the second we couldn't do something 100% the day that it came out, there would be no game. This game has had an infinite number of "deaths", pretty much everytime something comes along that people are uncomfortable with. Life goes on, and so will the game.
When we grew and adapted in the "beginning of playing", the difficulty was compatible with skill and rosters at that time and level of progression. At the moment, it is not for newer accounts, if they were skilled enough, they would have been at least Thronebreakers already. But, they are good enough for Uncollected.

... Or so they thought...
It is infinitely easier to get ahold of 5* and 6* shards now- and that's a fact.
That’s like 25% of the equation and doesn’t really come into play unless all the boxes are checked regarding higher level content. Yay. A UC got a 6 star groot. With no 5 or 6 stars with a compatible synergy. Or no duplication. Etc etc. not to mention skill development.

There’s very few single champs that break the entire game on their own. Champ acquisition by itself as a standalone still requires a significant amount of other variables.

Skill development is absolutely a part of the equation. Probably the most important part.

But how do you get skills? By using 3* to complete act 4 or by steamrolling act 4 using 6* or 5* at rank 4 and up? Greater access to higher rarity champs at lower levels is exactly why rosters progress but skills don’t. As someone with a mini account at level 40 and a few 6* (courtesy of GBC’s and GGC’s), all you have to in act 4 is parry, 5 hit combo, rinse and repeat. How does that develop skills?

So of course these players are then under prepared and undercooked when the difficulty increases.

Shamir51 · January 2023

Searmenis said:

Shamir51 said:

Searmenis said:

GroundedWisdom said:

Jwagg said:

GroundedWisdom said:

Wozzle007 said:
For context, if you had a roster that could easily auto fight previously but now can’t, imagine what it’s like for those who previously could complete each month, but only by a little. Or maybe with a revive or two. This isn’t about Paragon and Thronebreakers who can’t auto fight the Master Equivalent quest. It’s about conquerer and low level uncollected who now can’t get through.
Which they will grow into.
They won't grow at all now because they can't complete things now that they used 100%, new people will just quit increasing the timeline for the death of the game.
New people will grow and adapt, the same way we grow and adapt, and have done since the beginning of playing. If we all quit the second we couldn't do something 100% the day that it came out, there would be no game. This game has had an infinite number of "deaths", pretty much everytime something comes along that people are uncomfortable with. Life goes on, and so will the game.
When we grew and adapted in the "beginning of playing", the difficulty was compatible with skill and rosters at that time and level of progression. At the moment, it is not for newer accounts, if they were skilled enough, they would have been at least Thronebreakers already. But, they are good enough for Uncollected.

... Or so they thought...

You mention "compatible with skill and rosters at that time". I'm curious, do you see that rosters now develop at the same rate as yours did way back when?

Just 1 post below yours is a newly minted cavalier. With 2 6* rank 3's. Not sure about you, but I didn't have any 6* rank 3's at cavalier. My first was when I beat Grandmaster. It is infinitely easier to get ahold of 5* and 6* shards now- and that's a fact.
Yes, if you don't count the Christmas crystlas it is. A normal player who don't buy a bunch of GBcs or GCCs (don't forget the rng factor in them as well) don't get a 6 star before level 40. Let s not also forget that 80% of the player base is ftp, so having 2 6* rank 3 is not that usual, and, even if they do, they don't have the skills yet.

But it’s not just banquet that gives greater access to shards and rank up materials is it. BG’s does, incursions does, AW and AQ also do.

And getting rank 3’s is no longer the mission that it was when first introduced. It’s much easier to get them now.

I’ve just seen a guy on global with a rank 3 6* duped Hercules. And he’s finding passing story 5.2.6 hard.

ESF · January 2023

Shamir51 said:

Searmenis said:

Shamir51 said:

Searmenis said:

GroundedWisdom said:

Jwagg said:

GroundedWisdom said:

Wozzle007 said:
For context, if you had a roster that could easily auto fight previously but now can’t, imagine what it’s like for those who previously could complete each month, but only by a little. Or maybe with a revive or two. This isn’t about Paragon and Thronebreakers who can’t auto fight the Master Equivalent quest. It’s about conquerer and low level uncollected who now can’t get through.
Which they will grow into.
They won't grow at all now because they can't complete things now that they used 100%, new people will just quit increasing the timeline for the death of the game.
New people will grow and adapt, the same way we grow and adapt, and have done since the beginning of playing. If we all quit the second we couldn't do something 100% the day that it came out, there would be no game. This game has had an infinite number of "deaths", pretty much everytime something comes along that people are uncomfortable with. Life goes on, and so will the game.
When we grew and adapted in the "beginning of playing", the difficulty was compatible with skill and rosters at that time and level of progression. At the moment, it is not for newer accounts, if they were skilled enough, they would have been at least Thronebreakers already. But, they are good enough for Uncollected.

... Or so they thought...

You mention "compatible with skill and rosters at that time". I'm curious, do you see that rosters now develop at the same rate as yours did way back when?

Just 1 post below yours is a newly minted cavalier. With 2 6* rank 3's. Not sure about you, but I didn't have any 6* rank 3's at cavalier. My first was when I beat Grandmaster. It is infinitely easier to get ahold of 5* and 6* shards now- and that's a fact.
Yes, if you don't count the Christmas crystlas it is. A normal player who don't buy a bunch of GBcs or GCCs (don't forget the rng factor in them as well) don't get a 6 star before level 40. Let s not also forget that 80% of the player base is ftp, so having 2 6* rank 3 is not that usual, and, even if they do, they don't have the skills yet.
But it’s not just banquet that gives greater access to shards and rank up materials is it. BG’s does, incursions does, AW and AQ also do.

And getting rank 3’s is no longer the mission that it was when first introduced. It’s much easier to get them now.

I’ve just seen a guy on global with a rank 3 6* duped Hercules. And he’s finding passing story 5.2.6 hard.

See, that’s exactly what I am talking about — it’s separate conversations.

Clearly, there are people who want to Autoplay like they could before, for the same stuff.

But Kabam isn’t doing anyone — players or themselves — any favors by making all of these resources and characters available and some people can’t actually play the game, because when that skill cap kicks in, you aren’t going one step further until you actually learn how to play

GroundedWisdom · January 2023

The Auto Play feature has never been intended to be a substitute for playing the game. There's a reason the AI is skilled in a mediocre way. Originally it was added for small, tedious tasks like Dailies, before Auto Complete was even an option.

ESF · January 2023

Because there’s a real difference in “can clear content but don’t want to do it manually,” “don’t care about progression and game balance because I am a casual player,” and “can’t clear UC now because it’s too hard.”

Because Kabam needs to balance the game. This is something they have done before.

Cavalier wasn’t designed for R3/R4 and up, and the lower tiers weren’t designed for people to get gifted a 6-star Weapon X and the materials to rank the kit to R3 from the Banquet, then use that kit to Autofight Conqueror, then have those players lose their minds because Kabam balanced the game and they can’t adjust

Crine60 · January 2023

Kabam Jax said:
Hello Summoners!

tldr: The team is actively discussing this topic, we're hoping to know more soon.

When we announced Thronebreaker difficulty was coming to the contest, we also announced there would be a rework to all the other difficulties as well.

We've received a lot of feedback that the new difficulties feel overtuned, and is something I've experienced as well; it's something we have brought to the game team.

@Kabam Jax Along with this difficulty spike you also decreased the path items yet again. With the initial improvement for a month we were getting more frequent item spawns, higher tier iso and higher level potions and some revives as well as multiple in a single space (previously for some reason it seemed most potions and revives were in lower difficulties and not in UC or Master) and increased iso tier in chests. You then reverted it and claimed it was a mistake but couldn't correct it until the next month.

Last month the increased iso came back but it didn't seem like the potion/revive change came back to UC and lower. Now this month we are getting the old, worse stuff again and the iso in the rewards at the end of the quest are lower tiers again too.

BenJGrimm · January 2023

GroundedWisdom said:
The Auto Play feature has never been intended to be a substitute for playing the game. There's a reason the AI is skilled in a mediocre way. Originally it was added for small, tedious tasks like Dailies, before Auto Complete was even an option.

Then you solve that when you put it in the game, not after several years of players being accustomed to using it for content that is beneath where they're at it the game. You might have a point if it had just been instituted, but it's been years, so this defense is utterly ridiculous. If it was really a problem, they should have solved it back then. This isn't suddenly a problem.

I can't live play as many hours a day as it would take to clear this content, so I'm just going to stop spending as much time on the EQ, probably not bothering with any exploration rewards in any level. And I'm going to stop spending until this is fixed. And if it isn't, I guess I'm f2p.

Unknown · January 2023

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ESF · January 2023

Dave7099 said:

GroundedWisdom said:
The Auto Play feature has never been intended to be a substitute for playing the game. There's a reason the AI is skilled in a mediocre way. Originally it was added for small, tedious tasks like Dailies, before Auto Complete was even an option.
Who cares what it was "intended" for? You used to be able to use it to run some content. Now that content can't be completed with it.

Your point is irrelevant

His point isn’t irrelevant, because the game can, does and should change — nobody was complaining when Kabam buffed Solo Events and didn’t make them one bit more complicated or harder to complete

Pedrothos · January 2023

I'm going to throw a new/different perspective into the mix. Did/has Kabam changed the difficulty with the eminent release of 7-stars? And like I can attest to having gotten 16 new 6-stars during the Banquet event, as a conqueror player, this shift in the baseline difficulty is solely because there are more 6-stars in the game?

LeNoirFaineant · January 2023

I just ran completion on the lowest difficulty with a team of R4 6*s. Actually lost a champ on the final boss. If the lowest difficulty is for beginners, there is no way a r46* should die on autofight. Last month I wouldn't have even lost any health.

tntsl · January 2023

Pedrothos said:
I'm going to throw a new/different perspective into the mix. Did/has Kabam changed the difficulty with the eminent release of 7-stars? And like I can attest to having gotten 16 new 6-stars during the Banquet event, as a conqueror player, this shift in the baseline difficulty is solely because there are more 6-stars in the game?

I

Pedrothos said:
I'm going to throw a new/different perspective into the mix. Did/has Kabam changed the difficulty with the eminent release of 7-stars? And like I can attest to having gotten 16 new 6-stars during the Banquet event, as a conqueror player, this shift in the baseline difficulty is solely because there are more 6-stars in the game?

Just having more 6* champions doesn't help anyone handle the considerably more difficult EQ and SQ. I suspect pretty much everybody got more 6* champs in December. But most people's rosters probably didn't become much stronger on the whole. So many aren't any more prepared to handle the big increase in difficulty this month.

LeNoirFaineant · January 2023

LeNoirFaineant said:
I just ran completion on the lowest difficulty with a team of R4 6*s. Actually lost a champ on the final boss. If the lowest difficulty is for beginners, there is no way a r46* should die on autofight. Last month I wouldn't have even lost any health.

Turns out it was the second easiest difficulty but I think the point still stands.

Wozzle007 · January 2023

GroundedWisdom said:
The Auto Play feature has never been intended to be a substitute for playing the game. There's a reason the AI is skilled in a mediocre way. Originally it was added for small, tedious tasks like Dailies, before Auto Complete was even an option.

Are you serious. The level of fights we’re talking about is absolutely tedious to paragon and Thronebreaker level. This is exactly where auto fight should be used for and have for absolutely ages. For paragon and Thronebreaker this content is not difficult, but an absolute chore to actively play. For lower levels is overly difficult to complete and stymies their progression. It’s good Kabam are reviewing and recognising the overwhelming poor reception this change has had. You are obviously one of the few people actively in favour of the change. It’s good they hear all opinions. I only hope for the benefit of the game they don’t take your opinion on board.

NastyPhish · January 2023

There are too many attack and hp nodes on the lower difficulties across the board. 300%-600%. Doesn’t effect my 6* r3/4 roster at all. But I would NOT have done monthly eq back in the day with these pi’s. So glad I don’t have to progress through this. Im pretty sure this isn’t actually how they intended it to be. Some node code got doubled somewhere.

Feeney234 · January 2023

This is crazy! I feel bad for all of the progressing players who are about to be totally roadblocked by this sudden change smh

Tarzan041 · January 2023

Kabam Jax said:
Hello Summoners!

tldr: The team is actively discussing this topic, we're hoping to know more soon.

When we announced Thronebreaker difficulty was coming to the contest, we also announced there would be a rework to all the other difficulties as well.

We've received a lot of feedback that the new difficulties feel overtuned, and is something I've experienced as well; it's something we have brought to the game team.

This isn't helping people that are used to doing these difficulties. Most will lose out on those rewards this month.

Ironside47 · January 2023

Wozzle007 said:

GroundedWisdom said:
The Auto Play feature has never been intended to be a substitute for playing the game. There's a reason the AI is skilled in a mediocre way. Originally it was added for small, tedious tasks like Dailies, before Auto Complete was even an option.
Are you serious. The level of fights we’re talking about is absolutely tedious to paragon and Thronebreaker level. This is exactly where auto fight should be used for and have for absolutely ages. For paragon and Thronebreaker this content is not difficult, but an absolute chore to actively play. For lower levels is overly difficult to complete and stymies their progression. It’s good Kabam are reviewing and recognising the overwhelming poor reception this change has had. You are obviously one of the few people actively in favour of the change. It’s good they hear all opinions. I only hope for the benefit of the game they don’t take your opinion on board.

Nailed it. I’m thronebreaker… I auto fight content at the end of the month that I could complete with one hand, for the units. No one wants to have to manually complete something like that.

Starhawk · January 2023

Kabam Jax said:
Hello Summoners!

tldr: The team is actively discussing this topic, we're hoping to know more soon.

When we announced Thronebreaker difficulty was coming to the contest, we also announced there would be a rework to all the other difficulties as well.

We've received a lot of feedback that the new difficulties feel overtuned, and is something I've experienced as well; it's something we have brought to the game team.

Thank You

VlanceValraven · January 2023

Karam thinking that the conquest EQ should be as hard as act 5.1.6 or so is silly, I hope it was just an accident.
Maybe some decent compensation :$

Unknown · January 2023

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Unknown · January 2023

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Unknown · January 2023

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PowerOfACandle · January 2023

VlanceValraven said:
Karam thinking that the conquest EQ should be as hard as act 5.1.6 or so is silly, I hope it was just an accident.
Maybe some decent compensation :$

It wouldn't surprise me if they add grandmaster fight in TB eq.

The difficulty increase is ridiculous

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