5-Star Featured Crystal Change Discussion Thread

Summoners!

We've just released some more information on the future of the 5-Star Featured Crystal here: https://forums.playcontestofchampions.com/en/discussion/43300/upcoming-changes-to-5-star-featured-crystal

We know you've got questions, and this is the place to ask and discuss!

FAQ

Will you announce the pool of 18 each time it changes?
We do plan on sharing the list every time the crystal is updated.

Can you buy the 5 star featured crystal with units or only shards?
This crystal is replacing the currently available 15,000 Shard Featured Hero Crystals.

So does it means that if a new champ comes to the Battle Realm we won't be able to get them as a 5* right away?
You will still be able to get them in the Grandmaster Featured Crystal, but they will not be available in a featured 5-Star Hero Shard Crystal until they are added to this new Crystal. So, this might mean having to wait a little while to get some Champions, but it also gives you a shot at 6 New Champions at a time, as well as a smaller Basic pool.

Comments

Hulk_77

Kabam Miike wrote: »

Just talked to the team, and they are comfortable with sharing the list of Champions we plan to include in the first Featured Champion Crystal. It's important to note that this list could still potentially change a little before the release, but the selected Champions are based on empirical data showing their effectiveness as 5-Star Champions in both Alliance Quests and Alliance Wars.

Beast
Storm
Cable
Cyclops (New Xavier School)
Thor (Ragnarok)
Taskmaster
Agent Venom
Hawkeye
Modok
Sentry
Void
Ant-Man
Mordo
Thor (Jane Foster)
Loki
Juggernaut
Hela
Phoenix
Ronan
Venompool
Nebula
Punisher (2099)
Civil Warrior
Doctor Octopus

Bold Text denotes Featured Champions.

Did you guys use your advanced analytics to avoid the best champs or something?

DNA3000

Iron_Deceiver wrote: »

Kabam Miike wrote: »

Just talked to the team, and they are comfortable with sharing the list of Champions we plan to include in the first Featured Champion Crystal. It's important to note that this list could still potentially change a little before the release, but the selected Champions are based on empirical data showing their effectiveness as 5-Star Champions in both Alliance Quests and Alliance Wars.

Beast
Storm
Cable
Cyclops (New Xavier School)
Thor (Ragnarok)
Taskmaster
Agent Venom
Hawkeye
Modok
Sentry
Void
Ant-Man
Mordo
Thor (Jane Foster)
Loki
Juggernaut
Hela
Phoenix
Ronan
Venompool
Nebula
Punisher (2099)
Civil Warrior
Doctor Octopus

Bold Text denotes Featured Champions.

So would it be possible for us to receive a more detailed explanation of these champions/effectiveness in both AQ and AW and the level at which this empirical data was taken from? It sounds very vague and doesn't give insight as to whether the champions are used for anything meaningful or what level they are being used.

I've never seen an MMO development house explain their datamining methodology. Its generally considered sensitive information.

I can say that based on my experience, barring errors which do happen, when Kabam says this list is based on the effectiveness of these champions in AQ and AW, they are most likely looking at the percentage usage of each champion first (for each champion how often are they used on attack or placed on defense) and then when they are used how high they score on a set of effectiveness metrics (probably the obvious: how many kills they get on offense, how many kills they generate on defense).

I should also point out that having seen these statistics myself, what "the players" think the actual players are doing and what the actual players actually do is always, and I mean ALWAYS wrong in pretty much every game. Unless you actually see real data, guesses based on your circle of friends and Reddit posts are statistically meaningless most of the time. The problem is public discussion about what is going on in the game heavily self-censors for narrow consensus. Anyone who posts "I think this champ is good" that doesn't match what "the players" think is shouted down, and those players tend to not post anymore. But they continue to play the game, and vote with their playtime.

You can shout down and belittle the people who think Cyclops is a great champ, but you can't eliminate their play from the game stats. Every one of us has a vote on what's good and what's bad, and that vote is registered in the actual game. To be blunt, shouting down the people the vocal players think are wildly wrong in the public spaces is actually extremely counter-productive in most games, even though it always happens. Because you just don't see what they are doing, until you are confronted with something like this and you just assume its because Kabam doesn't know what "the players" are actually doing. But while I've seen a lot of datamining errors (usually, flawed analysis), that data tends to be more accurate than player public guesses. You will never convince Kabam that your opinion should be trusted over their data. You wouldn't ignore your own data just because another player told you to, you can't expect game developers to do so.

I look at that list, and I ask myself what that list tells me about the average player. Anyone who looks at that list and just tells themselves that its obviously wrong because they know better is really closing off an avenue to learn something.

Winner12344321

The only reason they are doing this is to push people to buy featured GMC. It’s painfully obvious. This isn’t an improvement in any way.

Kabam Miike

MSpawn wrote: »

SO, curious to know.. how do you definitively know how many players were "saving for Blade" Is this admitting you know who sucks and who doesn't? Is that a basis used to manipulate the drop rates?

I mean... there's a website dedicated to saving Crystal Shards for Blade, and many of you have posted all over the Forums and Reddit about how you're saving for Blade.

SgtSlaughter78

Kabam Miike wrote: »

Grimmbear wrote: »

I mean this in the worst of ways. Your team is deluded. In what universe are those champs even semi useful? Tier 20? There is NOBODY in any decent ally using 90% of those champs anywhere but defense (and only a couple for that) let alone **** attack or aq. They are NOT top options. Not a single one is god tier. Pathetic. Open your eyes.

If you are not a fan of the Champions in the Crystal, you can always wait until the Featured Champion you like is added to the Basic Pool, like the 3-Star and 4-Star Champions.

Also, nobody said they are the top Champions, and while player perception of these Champions may differ, these Champions are ones that people use to great success.

So someone sticks Cyclops on an Unblockable SP1 node in AW and picks up a few kills and this suddenly means that he is an ‘effective’ champ?

People use the likes of him in war because he’s a common champ and likely ranked these sorts of champs before they had a more developed roster and experience! Nobody pulling a Cyclops today is taking him to rank 4 or 5.

How will this help people further progress against 6 stars in the game? What’s the link that I’m missing here?

I don’t mean this sarcastically but I genuinely feel sorry for Miike having to post and defend this.

Miike, take this back to the ‘team’. Have them come onto the forum for for an hour at some point and answer questions directly.

gohard123

Such a trash idea

bradshaw84

This screams of a panic on kabams part that players were using the system to earn champs they want rather than randomly get champions they don’t for unlimited expense.

So we’re all to blame for playing hard for weeks and months to grind for shards for a 1 in 5 chance at a champion we want.

When will we learn that when kabam gives us Cyclops, don’t be sad, go fully explore LOL with him.

TheBaldAvenger

Kabam Miike wrote: »

MSpawn wrote: »

SO, curious to know.. how do you definitively know how many players were "saving for Blade" Is this admitting you know who sucks and who doesn't? Is that a basis used to manipulate the drop rates?

I mean... there's a website dedicated to saving Crystal Shards for Blade, and many of you have posted all over the Forums and Reddit about how you're saving for Blade.

Guess we need to start a website for useful aw/AQ 5* champs for you guys to see too then because you are so far off the mark with the champs you are putting in this new crystal it would be laughable if it wasn’t so pathetic

Qu1ckshoT32_Gaming

Kabam Miike wrote: »

MSpawn wrote: »

SO, curious to know.. how do you definitively know how many players were "saving for Blade" Is this admitting you know who sucks and who doesn't? Is that a basis used to manipulate the drop rates?

I mean... there's a website dedicated to saving Crystal Shards for Blade, and many of you have posted all over the Forums and Reddit about how you're saving for Blade.

Man I can't figure out why that is, might be because he single handily nullifies any argument you had for nerfs in the past. Maybe because he's the most unbalanced champion in the game. Can't figure out why people are going all in for the next cheat code.

SMiller80

Hyperion
Stark Spidey
Starlord
Phoenix
Magik
Ghostrider
Iceman
Archangel
Quake
Voodoo
Gwenpool
Rogue
Hulk
Ultron
Yondu
Angela
X23

These are the champions that I would consider worthy of r4 or r5 as 5*s. I know there's some debate about some on the list, and you could probably add some. Different strokes for different folks, and all that.

But here's the thing: no one wants to r4 any of the basic 5*s that you're putting into the featured. They might be forced to in some situation, but that's it. Forced. There are some in there who are okay, and who you wouldn't want to shoot yourself after pulling (here's looking at you, Iron Patriot).

What I don't get is why you didn't even include ONE of the champs listed above. Don't put all of them in, or even a quarter of them. But why not at least two or three? It doesn't seem logical to me.

I know people are always going to complain about change, and frankly that seems to be what the forums are designed for. I don't mind the change myself. And if you were to list a couple of the ones above, that I don't have already, in the featured crystal, I might think about it. But with all of those in the basic crystal, and none of them in the featured, I can't see you selling many. Hela isn't that good.

SpiritOfVengeance

What is with the sarcastic smarty responses. You guys drive a hard bargain don't you. But still none of us agree and are begging for this to not happen and you really don't seem to have a care in the world.

Bring the idea people out and let us speak with them instead.

unknown

This content has been removed.

Tsunani

Kabam Miike wrote: »

Just talked to the team, and they are comfortable with sharing the list of Champions we plan to include in the first Featured Champion Crystal. It's important to note that this list could still potentially change a little before the release, but the selected Champions are based on empirical data showing their effectiveness as 5-Star Champions in both Alliance Quests and Alliance Wars.

Beast
Storm
Cable
Cyclops (New Xavier School)
Thor (Ragnarok)
Taskmaster
Agent Venom
Hawkeye
Modok
Sentry
Void
Ant-Man
Mordo
Thor (Jane Foster)
Loki
Juggernaut
Hela
Phoenix
Ronan
Venompool
Nebula
Punisher (2099)
Civil Warrior
Doctor Octopus

Bold Text denotes Featured Champions.

In what tier did you get those data from? Cause I'm playing on tier 1 e 2 and those are almost never used, not for defense nor attack.

BossyBuilder

Kabam Miike wrote: »

bradshaw84 wrote: »

Beast, Jane foster, Cyclops, Ronan, Loki, Phoenix, Venompool, civil warrior, ant man amongst the 18 best and most used in aq and aw? GTFOH! LMAO!

I didn't say most used, but they are among the most effective. Cyclops actually scores very high on this list. There is a smaller group of players that use him, but they use him VERY effectively.

Really dude? Come on. That's just ridiculous. If you had told us nothing about how you were choosing champs, it would have been more plausible. Civil Warrior? Ant Man? I know no one...not one single person that uses them for AQ or AW. Maybe you're talking about the people that are getting terrible 5* champs, and if that's the case, then the whole purpose of this new format is void. Are you guys listening at all?

Apocalypse189

So we're just resorting to flagging all posts supporting this decision

Then I support it

beyonder8421

Stop bullying Mike.
Be more polite guys.

Collector6789

Kabam Miike wrote: »

MSpawn wrote: »

SO, curious to know.. how do you definitively know how many players were "saving for Blade" Is this admitting you know who sucks and who doesn't? Is that a basis used to manipulate the drop rates?

I mean... there's a website dedicated to saving Crystal Shards for Blade, and many of you have posted all over the Forums and Reddit about how you're saving for Blade.

So just curious, is this a thread about the new crystal or just about blade? Because that's the only post that gets any responses.

SpiritOfVengeance

@BossyBuilder They really aren't. Shutting us out is what is happening.

LiquidButt

@Kabam Miike

Maybe i missed it but how often does this crystal get "refreshed" ? like how often do the 18 champs get changed?

unknown

This content has been removed.

THX135

Kabam Miike wrote: »

Just talked to the team, and they are comfortable with sharing the list of Champions we plan to include in the first Featured Champion Crystal. It's important to note that this list could still potentially change a little before the release, but the selected Champions are based on empirical data showing their effectiveness as 5-Star Champions in both Alliance Quests and Alliance Wars.

Beast
Storm
Cable
Cyclops (New Xavier School)
Thor (Ragnarok)
Taskmaster
Agent Venom
Hawkeye
Modok
Sentry
Void
Ant-Man
Mordo
Thor (Jane Foster)
Loki
Juggernaut
Hela
Phoenix
Ronan
Venompool
Nebula
Punisher (2099)
Civil Warrior
Doctor Octopus

Bold Text denotes Featured Champions.

Do you guys take into consideration the conditions that drive behavior which clearly is captured in your data? While you data may show these champs are highly used it seems to lack external factors that influence usage.

For example, these champs drop the most for whatever reason. they are the best champs in peoples account at the time.

I think a more accurate representation would be to focus on players with large rosters in a top 300-500 alliance. Their usage of champs would be a more accurate representation of champs players actually want to get.

unknown

This content has been removed.

VanillaCoke

Kabam Miike wrote: »

Grimmbear wrote: »

I mean this in the worst of ways. Your team is deluded. In what universe are those champs even semi useful? Tier 20? There is NOBODY in any decent ally using 90% of those champs anywhere but defense (and only a couple for that) let alone **** attack or aq. They are NOT top options. Not a single one is god tier. Pathetic. Open your eyes.

If you are not a fan of the Champions in the Crystal, you can always wait until the Featured Champion you like is added to the Basic Pool, like the 3-Star and 4-Star Champions.

Also, nobody said they are the top Champions, and while player perception of these Champions may differ, these Champions are ones that people use to great success.

a small group of people.

Ashtontonic

Definitely ur database is based on an aq map1 and tier 8 aw...magik as the aw def boss and on the node every whr and in ur data base she is not the most effective champs?compare to antman and all those craps champs?u can lie to us but not to urself if u play the game or get ur data right
The changes doesn’t benefit us at all except to urself ,ur explaination is lame and Ur intention of the changes is obvious(a 3 years old kid will know) basically u are Juz pushing the player limits and slap u on the face till the they we can endure of ur jokes anymore

Kabam Miike

LiquidButt wrote: »

@Kabam Miike

Maybe i missed it but how often does this crystal get "refreshed" ? like how often do the 18 champs get changed?

There will be a New Crystal every 3 Months. This Crystal will feature the 6 newest Champions, and another pool of 18 Champions as the Base Pool.

beyonder8421

BossyBuilder wrote: »

Kabam Miike wrote: »

bradshaw84 wrote: »

Beast, Jane foster, Cyclops, Ronan, Loki, Phoenix, Venompool, civil warrior, ant man amongst the 18 best and most used in aq and aw? GTFOH! LMAO!

I didn't say most used, but they are among the most effective. Cyclops actually scores very high on this list. There is a smaller group of players that use him, but they use him VERY effectively.

Really dude? Come on. That's just ridiculous. If you had told us nothing about how you were choosing champs, it would have been more plausible. Civil Warrior? Ant Man? I know no one...not one single person that uses them for AQ or AW. Maybe you're talking about the people that are getting terrible 5* champs, and if that's the case, then the whole purpose of this new format is void. Are you guys listening at all?

You should know more people then. Ant-Man is a good defender.

FPC3

Miike, with these changes, are we going to see the addition of the champions currently not available as 5*, or is that something that will happen more likely when 6*s come out?

I'm referring to that these champions are not available as 5* at all: Thor, Black Bolt, Gamora, Ms. Marvel, Vision AoU, War Machine, Deadpool X-Force, Magneto Marvel Now, Wolverine, Black Widow, Daredevil Classic, Abomination, Cap WW2, Joe Fixit, Dr Strange, and Scarlet Witch.

DNA3000

SgtSlaughter78 wrote: »

Kabam Miike wrote: »

Grimmbear wrote: »

I mean this in the worst of ways. Your team is deluded. In what universe are those champs even semi useful? Tier 20? There is NOBODY in any decent ally using 90% of those champs anywhere but defense (and only a couple for that) let alone **** attack or aq. They are NOT top options. Not a single one is god tier. Pathetic. Open your eyes.

If you are not a fan of the Champions in the Crystal, you can always wait until the Featured Champion you like is added to the Basic Pool, like the 3-Star and 4-Star Champions.

Also, nobody said they are the top Champions, and while player perception of these Champions may differ, these Champions are ones that people use to great success.

So someone sticks Cyclops on an Unblockable SP1 node in AW and picks up a few kills and this suddenly means that he is an ‘effective’ champ?

Actually, yes.

Miike, take this back to the ‘team’. Have them come onto the forum for for an hour at some point and answer questions directly.

I personally believe in better communications between players and game developers and I've fought for that myself in the past. But yeah, that's not going to happen.

Winner12344321

Kabam Miike wrote: »

Twunt wrote: »

Let me understand: only 6 champs will be in the newly featured crystals so you are guaranteed 1 of 6 within the pool?

No. You have a 1 in 24 chance of getting any particular Champion in the Crystal. This is roughly 4% for any particular Hero.

And you think a 4% chance is good? Lol

unknown

This content has been removed.