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Is the Gladiator Circuit too Stressful and Toxic?
Polygon
Member Posts: 5,614 ★★★★★
In the sense of how it can be stressful to climb back up after losing, or constantly checking the leaderboards to see if you’re “safe”.
At 5 AM PST, just 5 hours before the reset time i was in spot 292/500. Being the perfectionist I am, I actually lost sleep to make sure I wouldn’t fall in rank. I ended up not playing more matches, but the amount of players that push at the very last day and especially the last few hours is unbelievably high. I’ve also heard the last day is when the modders usually run rampant.
Anyways, as for where my final spot was you might ask?
Spot 500. While at the same points. I dropped over 200 ranked spots in just 5 hours and barely just made the cutoff, which is pretty insane. On top of that I see people like Beroman that probably also lost sleep over trying to keep the top spot. I can’t imagine how unhealthy the competition is at that level.
I understand its a choice and people don’t have to participate, but the majority of the games rewards that are delivered *consistently* come from BGs, especially with the coming update to the Valiant shop. Alliances are even mandating a minimum score of contribution despite some players not being fond of playing the game mode just because of the marks/token rewards in the milestones (which are going to be updated along with the solo milestones per Kabams recent announcement)
Also regarding the “its optional” take. Hoarding was also optional. But it was highly frowned upon and even discouraged by Kabam.
There’s other factors as well that feed on to this such as the brand new champions being offered via money deals, of which the meta usually favors of the time of the release. The energy cost (which usually isn’t that bad but with WoE, EQ, SQ and all other game modes) etc etc
At 5 AM PST, just 5 hours before the reset time i was in spot 292/500. Being the perfectionist I am, I actually lost sleep to make sure I wouldn’t fall in rank. I ended up not playing more matches, but the amount of players that push at the very last day and especially the last few hours is unbelievably high. I’ve also heard the last day is when the modders usually run rampant.
Anyways, as for where my final spot was you might ask?
Spot 500. While at the same points. I dropped over 200 ranked spots in just 5 hours and barely just made the cutoff, which is pretty insane. On top of that I see people like Beroman that probably also lost sleep over trying to keep the top spot. I can’t imagine how unhealthy the competition is at that level.
I understand its a choice and people don’t have to participate, but the majority of the games rewards that are delivered *consistently* come from BGs, especially with the coming update to the Valiant shop. Alliances are even mandating a minimum score of contribution despite some players not being fond of playing the game mode just because of the marks/token rewards in the milestones (which are going to be updated along with the solo milestones per Kabams recent announcement)
Also regarding the “its optional” take. Hoarding was also optional. But it was highly frowned upon and even discouraged by Kabam.
There’s other factors as well that feed on to this such as the brand new champions being offered via money deals, of which the meta usually favors of the time of the release. The energy cost (which usually isn’t that bad but with WoE, EQ, SQ and all other game modes) etc etc
Is the Gladiator Circuit too Stressful and Toxic? 84 votes
Yes, I only push for Vibranium
25%
21 votes
No, I push as high as I can and it doesn’t bother me
52%
44 votes
I don’t play battlegrounds at all as I’m not interested in the game mode
8%
7 votes
I only play until I hit the monthly alliance requirement
14%
12 votes
2
Comments
Found the secret poll option
And yes, it is an optional experience. Not everyone likes competition. Not everyone wants competitive PvP in their games. And there are also those for whom handing them the opportunity to compete is unhealthy, because they will turn checkers into world war three. Those people shouldn't play it.
People keep saying "its optional" is not an excuse. But it isn't an excuse. It is simply the intentional truth. Not everything in the game is meant for everyone. That's deliberate, because a game where everything was meant for everyone would be incredibly boring. You deliberately want to make things some people won't like, because that's the only way to make things others will like a lot. Battlegrounds is there for the players who actually want to compete. If you don't want to compete, there are milestones and a Victory Track. But pushing into the Gladiator Circuit and then complaining about how hard it is to be competitive in the Gladiator Circuit is not actionable feedback. That stress and toxicity is coming from the other players, who want to beat you. The game mode is explicitly designed to let them try.
I just do the solo objectives, and if i'm close to the next tier i may use a shield. Some seasons i make it to GC, most i don't. But the moment it starts to feel bad is the moment i stop.
You get a lot of that, and you’re bound to lose spot if people are staying up and grinding the mode.
I detest this progression system, so much, it makes me dislike the rest of the game and not want to spend. And I play *a lot*.
So, while you do find it stressful, I doff my cap to you on the mental fortitude and skills in the game, required to make it into the top 500. Take a bow.
We can't all be Beroman.
Higher level AQ/AW/BGs are all stressful and unbelievably toxic. Some of the top AW alliances are straight up cesspools. Unfortunately, by choosing to push, that is what you are opting to do.