What are you expecting for holiday gift?

DrZola · December 2023

Buttehrs said:

DrZola said:

DNA3000 said:

DrZola said:

Polygon said:

DrZola said:

Polygon said:
It will be broken for Valiant and either mediocre or meh for Paragon. If i was to take a stab maybe a Titan crystal for Valiant and 7* crystal for Paragon.
I suppose it depends to some extent on how much the team wants to stress the “explore Necro you scrub” message to long-time Paragons.

Dr. Zola
You make a great point, I am actually curious now because it did feel like the new progression title was a bit rushed and only a little over a month to explore Necro (for those not whaling on cyber) seems realistic to have Paragon and Valiant have a similar level of reward
I think the thing that surprised me most wasn’t the lack of T4a or R3 materials available, but the lack of other items from Necro in the year end celebration haul—namely, 4-5 gems, dust, 7* shards or crystals, etc. The former (mainly Valiant title stuff) I expected, the latter was a surprise to me and others apparently.

In that vein, then, I’m not optimistic any of the kinds of items earnable in Necro will be part of the gift to non-Valiant players.

Dr. Zola
My recollection is that last year Paragons got an Abyss Nexus and some sig stones, and the year before the TB gift was a 6* Nexus crystal (TB being the highest progression tier at the time). The pattern seems to be champion acquisition rewards, not rank up materials. So I don't expect rank up materials in either the Paragon or Valiant xmas gift, whether in Necropolis rewards or not. I'm thinking more along the lines of 6* Nexus or Selector crystals for Paragon (maybe with more sig stones), and 7* stuff for Valiant: Basic or Titan shards or crystals, or maybe on the high end something like the 7* launch selector.

These free gift things tend to be champions and not rank up related, I suspect for a number of reasons, mostly having to do with what I often call "wider not taller." More champs is what you do to strengthen your status within a tier, while rank ups is what you do to progress upward towards the next tier. This is of course a massive oversimplification, but rewards are often designed with this kind of generalization.

Think about last year's gift for Paragons: Nexus and sig stones. Why sig stones and not rank up materials? A Nexus does one of two things. It can award you a new champ if you don't already have it. Or, it can add sig levels to an existing champ if you duplicate one. The Nexus is new champ or sig levels. The sig stones are more sig levels. They are kind of both in the same category of reward. Sig stones are in a sense targeted dups.
On the narrow topic of what to expect for a *gift* I agree.

But I’m talking more about the year-end events taken as a whole. Most rational objectors would have understood the lack of 2-3 materials, T4a, and anything that pushed players to Valiant. The team made that clear.

But the absence of other items relevant to near Valiant or advanced Paragon players is what surprised and disappointed me.

For example: I can understand Banquet doesn’t award Valiant on a platter because that’s what Necro + whaling out on BF/CM is for. But a 4-5 gem? Or dust? Or some 7* shards?

All of those are Necro prizes, sure, but they aren’t super rare, first-time-in-game things like a 7* 2-3 gem. They are valuable to Paragons and would be seen as useful items even though they likely won’t boost progression. Excluding those types of items seems unnecessarily shortsighted—it’s hard to understand how the team wouldn’t expect frustration and disappointment.

Back to the gift, and assuming its champion acquisition materials—if it’s 6* shards or a Nexus or even a 6* champ selector for Paragons, I would expect that to be poorly received. I would anticipate a similar reaction if it’s relic-only (which I don’t expect).

Where the team could thread the needle is a prize selector—whether intentionally or not, the team has allowed a significant divergence among early to late Paragon accounts. Many late Paragons are simply finishing Necro or waiting to form a final T4a, so a Nexus 6* would likely be only slightly more useful than another 6* AG. At the same time, there are probably plenty of early Paragons who ware crossing fingers for a 6* Aegon, Shuri or some other much needed champ. Logging in a selector that allows Paragons to pick 1-2 options among a menu of gifts seems logical.

Do I think the team will do that? No I don’t. I think it will be along the lines of what you suggested—more 6* acquisition materials, which will get panned.

Dr. Zola
I would mind a package that has champ+relic+catalyst/gem. Why not all 3? I even have it mapped out in my head.
Valiant: Titan crystal, 7*1-2 gem and 6* relic.
Paragon: 7* crystal, 6* 4-5 gem And a 5* relic.
Thronebreaker: 6* crystal, 6* 3-4 gem and a 4* relic.

Agreed—that doesn’t feel outrageous to me. Which means there’s no way we get it.

Dr. Zola

BeastDad · December 2023

DrZola said:

Buttehrs said:

DrZola said:

DNA3000 said:

DrZola said:

Polygon said:

DrZola said:

Polygon said:
It will be broken for Valiant and either mediocre or meh for Paragon. If i was to take a stab maybe a Titan crystal for Valiant and 7* crystal for Paragon.
I suppose it depends to some extent on how much the team wants to stress the “explore Necro you scrub” message to long-time Paragons.

Dr. Zola
You make a great point, I am actually curious now because it did feel like the new progression title was a bit rushed and only a little over a month to explore Necro (for those not whaling on cyber) seems realistic to have Paragon and Valiant have a similar level of reward
I think the thing that surprised me most wasn’t the lack of T4a or R3 materials available, but the lack of other items from Necro in the year end celebration haul—namely, 4-5 gems, dust, 7* shards or crystals, etc. The former (mainly Valiant title stuff) I expected, the latter was a surprise to me and others apparently.

In that vein, then, I’m not optimistic any of the kinds of items earnable in Necro will be part of the gift to non-Valiant players.

Dr. Zola
My recollection is that last year Paragons got an Abyss Nexus and some sig stones, and the year before the TB gift was a 6* Nexus crystal (TB being the highest progression tier at the time). The pattern seems to be champion acquisition rewards, not rank up materials. So I don't expect rank up materials in either the Paragon or Valiant xmas gift, whether in Necropolis rewards or not. I'm thinking more along the lines of 6* Nexus or Selector crystals for Paragon (maybe with more sig stones), and 7* stuff for Valiant: Basic or Titan shards or crystals, or maybe on the high end something like the 7* launch selector.

These free gift things tend to be champions and not rank up related, I suspect for a number of reasons, mostly having to do with what I often call "wider not taller." More champs is what you do to strengthen your status within a tier, while rank ups is what you do to progress upward towards the next tier. This is of course a massive oversimplification, but rewards are often designed with this kind of generalization.

Think about last year's gift for Paragons: Nexus and sig stones. Why sig stones and not rank up materials? A Nexus does one of two things. It can award you a new champ if you don't already have it. Or, it can add sig levels to an existing champ if you duplicate one. The Nexus is new champ or sig levels. The sig stones are more sig levels. They are kind of both in the same category of reward. Sig stones are in a sense targeted dups.
On the narrow topic of what to expect for a *gift* I agree.

But I’m talking more about the year-end events taken as a whole. Most rational objectors would have understood the lack of 2-3 materials, T4a, and anything that pushed players to Valiant. The team made that clear.

But the absence of other items relevant to near Valiant or advanced Paragon players is what surprised and disappointed me.

For example: I can understand Banquet doesn’t award Valiant on a platter because that’s what Necro + whaling out on BF/CM is for. But a 4-5 gem? Or dust? Or some 7* shards?

All of those are Necro prizes, sure, but they aren’t super rare, first-time-in-game things like a 7* 2-3 gem. They are valuable to Paragons and would be seen as useful items even though they likely won’t boost progression. Excluding those types of items seems unnecessarily shortsighted—it’s hard to understand how the team wouldn’t expect frustration and disappointment.

Back to the gift, and assuming its champion acquisition materials—if it’s 6* shards or a Nexus or even a 6* champ selector for Paragons, I would expect that to be poorly received. I would anticipate a similar reaction if it’s relic-only (which I don’t expect).

Where the team could thread the needle is a prize selector—whether intentionally or not, the team has allowed a significant divergence among early to late Paragon accounts. Many late Paragons are simply finishing Necro or waiting to form a final T4a, so a Nexus 6* would likely be only slightly more useful than another 6* AG. At the same time, there are probably plenty of early Paragons who ware crossing fingers for a 6* Aegon, Shuri or some other much needed champ. Logging in a selector that allows Paragons to pick 1-2 options among a menu of gifts seems logical.

Do I think the team will do that? No I don’t. I think it will be along the lines of what you suggested—more 6* acquisition materials, which will get panned.

Dr. Zola
I would mind a package that has champ+relic+catalyst/gem. Why not all 3? I even have it mapped out in my head.
Valiant: Titan crystal, 7*1-2 gem and 6* relic.
Paragon: 7* crystal, 6* 4-5 gem And a 5* relic.
Thronebreaker: 6* crystal, 6* 3-4 gem and a 4* relic.
Agreed—that doesn’t feel outrageous to me. Which means there’s no way we get it.

Dr. Zola

Agreed, that actually is very fair and at the same time a very good gift.

Literally no chance it is happening.

Darkness275 · December 2023

Past experience does not determine future outcomes.

I'm not setting my expectation beyond: "I will get something I did not previously have." and only that is because they've confirmed there's a holiday gift.

I'm trying to do better at not holding Kabam responsible for failures in living up to expectations I set. So instead, I'm just settling on the understanding that I will get something I did not previously have. A title. A paragon crystal. A potion. A revive. It's something more than I had prior to receiving it.

I know the vocal majority will not like that answer, but it's going to keep me sane and (hopefully) prevent me from flooding the forums complaining about a free gift.

altavista · December 2023

I expected to receive Coal or something I am not supposed to open until Christmas, but that hasn't happened this year.

SandeepS · December 2023

A duel credit

Toproller89 · December 2023

Ercarret said:
I'm honestly really struggling with ISO right now, so just getting more champions (even 7*s) isn't really too high on my wishlist at the moment. Would I be disappointed if I just got a huge stack of ISO from the gift? Yeah, probably. But would it be the most beneficiary thing for me to get right now? Yeah, probably.

I honestly don't understand why 5 and 6 star dupes give same amount of ISO as 4 stars, when it's clear we need more ISO now than ever before

Zeke_the_Xbot · December 2023

Paragon 6* Nexus
Valiant 7* crystal
Probably just wishful thinking they trying to drive valiant to so

Chovner · December 2023

lol I’d like to delete my similar serious thread I started about this subject in support of keeping this ridiculous one going

SecondSkriller · December 2023

When does the gift come out actually?

Figue · December 2023

DNA3000 said:

DrZola said:

Polygon said:

DrZola said:

Polygon said:
It will be broken for Valiant and either mediocre or meh for Paragon. If i was to take a stab maybe a Titan crystal for Valiant and 7* crystal for Paragon.
I suppose it depends to some extent on how much the team wants to stress the “explore Necro you scrub” message to long-time Paragons.

Dr. Zola
You make a great point, I am actually curious now because it did feel like the new progression title was a bit rushed and only a little over a month to explore Necro (for those not whaling on cyber) seems realistic to have Paragon and Valiant have a similar level of reward
I think the thing that surprised me most wasn’t the lack of T4a or R3 materials available, but the lack of other items from Necro in the year end celebration haul—namely, 4-5 gems, dust, 7* shards or crystals, etc. The former (mainly Valiant title stuff) I expected, the latter was a surprise to me and others apparently.

In that vein, then, I’m not optimistic any of the kinds of items earnable in Necro will be part of the gift to non-Valiant players.

Dr. Zola
My recollection is that last year Paragons got an Abyss Nexus and some sig stones, and the year before the TB gift was a 6* Nexus crystal (TB being the highest progression tier at the time). The pattern seems to be champion acquisition rewards, not rank up materials. So I don't expect rank up materials in either the Paragon or Valiant xmas gift, whether in Necropolis rewards or not. I'm thinking more along the lines of 6* Nexus or Selector crystals for Paragon (maybe with more sig stones), and 7* stuff for Valiant: Basic or Titan shards or crystals, or maybe on the high end something like the 7* launch selector.

These free gift things tend to be champions and not rank up related, I suspect for a number of reasons, mostly having to do with what I often call "wider not taller." More champs is what you do to strengthen your status within a tier, while rank ups is what you do to progress upward towards the next tier. This is of course a massive oversimplification, but rewards are often designed with this kind of generalization.

Think about last year's gift for Paragons: Nexus and sig stones. Why sig stones and not rank up materials? A Nexus does one of two things. It can award you a new champ if you don't already have it. Or, it can add sig levels to an existing champ if you duplicate one. The Nexus is new champ or sig levels. The sig stones are more sig levels. They are kind of both in the same category of reward. Sig stones are in a sense targeted dups.

if i dont recall they gave a rank up gem in some past year, maybe 2021 i dont remember but it was a 1 to 2 6 star generic gem

2StarKing · December 2023

Titan or bust!

Starhawk · December 2023

for Valiant a 7* Gifted Guardian crystal is what I would expect

hyp3r05 · December 2023

The paragon nexus with only 4* champs is going to go crazy

Colinwhitworth69 · December 2023

A rock.

Rohith21 · December 2023

Theruneking said:
I am a paragon with 1 r3 7 star, and I am expecting a 4 star nexus and 4 star r4 to r5 gem. I challenge you to disappoint me.😤😤.

What are your expectations?

A will to live maybe

I_tell_no_tales_1 · December 2023

Toproller89 said:

Ercarret said:
I'm honestly really struggling with ISO right now, so just getting more champions (even 7*s) isn't really too high on my wishlist at the moment. Would I be disappointed if I just got a huge stack of ISO from the gift? Yeah, probably. But would it be the most beneficiary thing for me to get right now? Yeah, probably.
I honestly don't understand why 5 and 6 star dupes give same amount of ISO as 4 stars, when it's clear we need more ISO now than ever before

Buy 4* crystals from incursions store
Pretty cheap if you ask me

DNA3000 · December 2023

Figue said:

DNA3000 said:

DrZola said:

Polygon said:

DrZola said:

Polygon said:
It will be broken for Valiant and either mediocre or meh for Paragon. If i was to take a stab maybe a Titan crystal for Valiant and 7* crystal for Paragon.
I suppose it depends to some extent on how much the team wants to stress the “explore Necro you scrub” message to long-time Paragons.

Dr. Zola
You make a great point, I am actually curious now because it did feel like the new progression title was a bit rushed and only a little over a month to explore Necro (for those not whaling on cyber) seems realistic to have Paragon and Valiant have a similar level of reward
I think the thing that surprised me most wasn’t the lack of T4a or R3 materials available, but the lack of other items from Necro in the year end celebration haul—namely, 4-5 gems, dust, 7* shards or crystals, etc. The former (mainly Valiant title stuff) I expected, the latter was a surprise to me and others apparently.

In that vein, then, I’m not optimistic any of the kinds of items earnable in Necro will be part of the gift to non-Valiant players.

Dr. Zola
My recollection is that last year Paragons got an Abyss Nexus and some sig stones, and the year before the TB gift was a 6* Nexus crystal (TB being the highest progression tier at the time). The pattern seems to be champion acquisition rewards, not rank up materials. So I don't expect rank up materials in either the Paragon or Valiant xmas gift, whether in Necropolis rewards or not. I'm thinking more along the lines of 6* Nexus or Selector crystals for Paragon (maybe with more sig stones), and 7* stuff for Valiant: Basic or Titan shards or crystals, or maybe on the high end something like the 7* launch selector.

These free gift things tend to be champions and not rank up related, I suspect for a number of reasons, mostly having to do with what I often call "wider not taller." More champs is what you do to strengthen your status within a tier, while rank ups is what you do to progress upward towards the next tier. This is of course a massive oversimplification, but rewards are often designed with this kind of generalization.

Think about last year's gift for Paragons: Nexus and sig stones. Why sig stones and not rank up materials? A Nexus does one of two things. It can award you a new champ if you don't already have it. Or, it can add sig levels to an existing champ if you duplicate one. The Nexus is new champ or sig levels. The sig stones are more sig levels. They are kind of both in the same category of reward. Sig stones are in a sense targeted dups.
if i dont recall they gave a rank up gem in some past year, maybe 2021 i dont remember but it was a 1 to 2 6 star generic gem

It might have been the Thronebreaker 2020 gift.

1xKöftespieß · December 2023

SecondSkriller said:
When does the gift come out actually?

Anybody knows?

Maverick75 · December 2023

With the number of 7* champions, it is time to think for 2024 about basic nexus and/or abyss 7* crystal. The champions inside the basic are not game-killers, the game can afford this or something equivalent.

For 2023 Christmas gift, my wish is a 7* basic for Paragorns and a 7* Titan for Valiants. Or something (crystal? selector?) with specific pool(s). No material for upgrade.
It can’t be (at least I cross my fingers) a 6* abyss for Paragorns like 2022 Christmas because the game has evolved with 7* in 2023.
I don’t think the failure of this month’s side quest changed something about the gifts. Nor the kind of disappointment on this year’s Banquet.