Realm Balance Boosting

[utopi]

Realm balance is the daily post on this forum, but I thought of a good idea that might be easy to implement. Providing one account L40/RR60 level boosts for players that are already RR60+, but these characters must be on the opposite ream of your main. They start with RR40 gear to boot so its not a horrible ward grind. They can ONLY be played when the AAO is 60%-100%+, and are basically for people who just want to RVR. I would rather play on the weaker side, but the grind to RR60+ is a long journey. I normally only ever focus on one main, but the zergball just has me logging out .

[sharpblader]

From what I understand, do you mean to say that players can get a free boosted character on the opposite realm?

If yes, then this change might cause many fundamental issues especially when it comes to when they can log in or not and would undermine the player levelling experience/content.

Ultimately, it might not solve the underlying issues which cause one sided zerging.

[Xergon]

I have very easy and efficient fix for your zerg issue, and it works on both ends, when enemy zerg or your faction zerg too much.

PLAY SMALL SCALE GROUP

What does it mean, play 3/6/9/12 man in open RvR, with proper composition and proper synergies between classes. Why it works? Because you will be in control of your actions, play as small group, kite big groups, disengage. Is it easy ? Ofc not, but thats the beauty of this, its challenging gameplay process but its worth and fun when it works.

Obviously with that you need to setup proper goals for your group, you should focus on every fight and every kill, meanwhile you should not focus on zone locks or campaign progress, because thats not what small scale groups are build for.

[Lion1986]

Let's give them free sentinel too!! Would be awesome!!!

[Sofong]

well lets be honest just give a 40/40 char im more than willing to play order.

[Lion1986]

well lets be honest just give a 40/40 char im more than willing to play order.

only 1? I would say at least 6. 2 per role !!!

[sharpblader]

I have very easy and efficient fix for your zerg issue, and it works on both ends, when enemy zerg or your faction zerg too much.

PLAY SMALL SCALE GROUP

What does it mean, play 3/6/9/12 man in open RvR, with proper composition and proper synergies between classes. Why it works? Because you will be in control of your actions, play as small group, kite big groups, disengage. Is it easy ? Ofc not, but thats the beauty of this, its challenging gameplay process but its worth and fun when it works.

Obviously with that you need to setup proper goals for your group, you should focus on every fight and every kill, meanwhile you should not focus on zone locks or campaign progress, because thats not what small scale groups are build for.

If enemy faction is zerging it can be very profitable for playing in a small scale but it requires many factors for it to work in your favour:

1. High end gear/skill required by majority of the members involved. Unless you are DPS, where it is mandatory to have high end gear or the ability to score quick kills.
2. Good amount of RvR experience to know where you should be positioning yourself. For e.g - Roaming near enemy WC or other entry zones when your keep is being sieged.
3. Enemy faction is not running small scale group(s) bigger or more than yours.

Your suggestion while valid for an experienced or high level player, might not be as efficient or possible for the new or under geared player. They will have to put in some commitment and synergize, or get carried.

Generally, if you compare the rewards for small scale fights vs. zergs resulting in zone locks, the zerg gets relatively more rewards in terms of currency for the effort applied (including from the RvR Weekly progress), and has a lower RNG factor. While small scale is rewarding, especially in AAO, the zone lock rewards on the losing side is abysmal and that itself is enough to dismay a small scale player putting in the extra effort. The only plus side is that is a lot of fun to be able to win against larger numbers.

[utopi]

PLAY SMALL SCALE GROUP

My guild does do small man 6-12x people groups 5-6x days a week, but it's hard to get a decent fights when it's 160x Destro to 50x ORDER. When you start mid tier fight, the zergball ends up showing up mid way through and ruins the fun. What I am proposing with the level boost is a CHARACTER that can ONLY be played when one side is horrible lopsided. Since you can't prevent X-realming with a free game this is an easy solution to boost the weaker element. You are limited to only playing this boost character when AAO is heavy, hence it shouldn't affect peoples leveling progression with <40 toons as play times are limited. Exampe; With a destro main, and your side has 150x Destro to 50x Order you can swap to the order side (Make it a queue system where only 30 AAO characters can swap so is doesn't break balance). Not many will swap because a large part of the population base loves to zerg (My wife included), but even if 15-30 do it can balance it more. Also, you must have a high RR character already to be get the LVL/RR boost.

[sharpblader]

PLAY SMALL SCALE GROUP

My guild does do small man 6-12x people groups 5-6x days a week, but it's hard to get a decent fights when it's 160x Destro to 50x ORDER. When you start mid tier fight, the zergball ends up showing up mid way through and ruins the fun. What I am proposing with the level boost is a CHARACTER that can ONLY be played when one side is horrible lopsided. Since you can't prevent X-realming with a free game this is an easy solution to boost the weaker element. You are limited to only playing this boost character when AAO is heavy, hence it shouldn't affect peoples leveling progression with <40 toons as play times are limited. Exampe; With a destro main, and your side has 150x Destro to 50x Order you can swap to the order side (Make it a queue system where only 30 AAO characters can swap so is doesn't break balance). Not many will swap because a large part of the population base loves to zerg (My wife included), but even if 15-30 do it can balance it more. Also, you must have a high RR character already to be get the LVL/RR boost.

You have iterated the very problem in your suggestion. Why would one switch to the losing side? You yourself say that majority want to zerg. Then why waste limited resources to implement something that only 15-30 people can do? What if you start getting attached to that new character and the day you decide to play it, you can't because there's no AAO? If you or others feel so strongly about playing the other side to bring balance why not go through the existing levelling route? Prima facie, it might seem like an entitled request to skip the levelling process.

Development resources might be spent if data suggests that realm imbalance is creating an issue with player retention (most probably D7 or D28 percentages). If that is the case, probably only then the area of focus would be to balance out population more evenly.

[Lion1986]

Done 25 scenarios today. Participateed as total pug (no party, just alone in my toon). destro 25. 25 wins. I do not think scenarios are a matter of population.