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WhiteTiger -> Non-Varium vs Varium Equipment (7/17/2012 16:03:07)
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I appreciate the ongoing initiative that the developers are trying to balance non-varium and varium players with the pushing of new, stronger equipment. Although I agree that the gap is better than it was before, it is still a near impossible task for a non-varium player to stand a chance against a varium player. I am aware that this is most likely a shot in the dark but it's worth a try.
For the sake of keeping my comparison as fair as possible, I have chosen to compare equipment items that are comparable in level and rarity. Please note that this will only give you an understanding of the gap at a certain degree as varium equipment (usually armor) is often a higher level than non-varium equipment, resulting in more damage/defense, stat modifiers and enhancement slots.
Comparison
LR = Limited-Rare
SR = Seasonal-Rare
R = Rare
Score is roughly calculated by: Damage * 4 + (Stat Mods + Enh. Slots)
Primary Weapons:
Hero's Heart Set (LR) Wraith Pikes (SR)
34 Damage +0 34 Damage
+22 Stat Mods +4 +26 Stat Mods
7 Enh. Slots +1 8 Enh. Slots
Score: 136+29 Score: 136+34
Secondary Weapons:
Mecha Cannon (R) Super Mecha Cannon (R)
35 Damage +0 35 Damage
+17 Stat Mods +3 +20 Stat Mods
6 Enh. Slots +2 8 Enh. Slots
Score: 140+23 Score: 140+28
Auxiliary Weapons:
Carrotic Collider (LR) Lagomorph Laser (LR)
38 Damage +1 39 Damage
+16 Stat Mods +4 +20 Stat Mods
6 Enh. Slots +2 8 Enh. Slots
Score: 152+22 Score: 156+28
Armors:
Bio Hazard Husk (R) Space Warrior (LR)
8 Def/Res +0 8 Def/Res
+16 Stat Mods +0 +16 Stat Mods
5 Enh. Slots +3 8 Enh. Slots
Score: 32+21 Score: 32+24
Current Advantage:
+1 Damage
+0 Def/Res
+11 Stat Mods
+8 Enh. Slots
Score: 23
~4.75 level advantage
Although a 4.75 level gap may seem exceptionally great compared to the 7-10 level gap before, but if a level 30 and level 35 had the all of the same equipment, do you think the level 30 would stand a chance? Probably not, unless their build is superior and luck in their favor occurs. One can not rely on luck to win battles because it is a random occurrence and with the more stat mods that varium players have, they are able to obtain far more of each stat, meaning luck will, more likely than not, be on their side.
Also, remember that I took items of the same rarity and of the same level and I'm taking into consideration that both players are fully enhanced. What that means is that you are not getting an accurate representation of the current state of the gap, so here's what it looks like with all of the best varium vs non-varium equipment (still both fully enhanced but it's still a better representation).
Best Equipment Comparison:
Energy Rapier (SR) vs Infernal Slayer (LR)
Mecha Cannon (R) vs Super Mecha Cannon (R)
Carrotic Collider (LR) vs Lagomorph Laser (LR)
Bio Hazard Husk (R) vs Heavy Mechachillid Armor (R)
Advantage:
+2 Damage
+2 Def/Res
+15 Stat Mods
+10 Enh. Slots
Score: 41
~6.25 level advantage
Now, if that level 30 was no match for the level 35, a level 29 would have an even less chance. That is also why you are unable to face players 5 levels higher/lower than you in random battles. I am aware that this is not a very accurate level comparison with all those skill points, encumbrance, etc... but you get the general idea.
Also, keep in mind that this assumes both players are fully enhanced, which is generally not the case with non-varium players so the gap can be as large as ~12 levels, although most likely as large as ~7-9 levels.
With all this said, I can't just leave it here because this is a suggestion thread, which leads into my proposed solution to this problem. The following figures below are the advantage that a varium item will have over a non-varium item.
Proposed Solution
Primary Weapons:
+1 Damage
+2 Stat Mods
+2 Enh. Slots
Secondary Weapons:
+1 Damage
+1 Stat Mods
+1 Enh. Slots
Auxiliary Weapons:
+1 Damage
+1 Stat Mods
+1 Enh. Slots
Armors:
+1 Def/Res
+1 Stat Mods
+1 Enh. Slots
Total Advantage:
+3 Damage
+1 Def/Res
+5 Stat Mods
+4 Enh. Slots
Score: 25
~2.5 level advantage
Rare Items:
Limited/Seasonal Rare: +1 Enh. Slot
Rare: +1 Stat, +1 Enh. Slot
If all rare items (unrealistic): Max ~4.5 level advantage
If all limited/seasonal rare items (more realistic): Max ~3.25 level advantage
Wait, before you claim that this is an absurd, preposterous and outrageous solution, please take some time to read my reasoning. I mean, you've read through and stuck with it so far, so what's another few sentences? Also, if you're a varium player that thinks this has nothing to do with you since you have varium, it still does and by continuing to read, you will find out how.
I think it is a mutual agreement that generally non-varium players do not stand a chance against varium players of the same level. Forget the few rare battles where a non-varium player has won because of luck, anomalies are irrelevant to the big picture. What this has caused is an increase in players with varium and a decrease of players without varium. That means the advantage you should be getting by battling non-varium players is barely visible since most players you are facing have varium. This makes the advantage of varium appear to be small even though in reality (as I have shown here) it is quite massive.
The best solution to this would be to get an increase in non-varium players to the point where the non-varium population at the level cap far exceeds the varium population. But if players are constantly losing to varium players and are tired of having little to no chance of winning, they will not continue to play and the non-varium population will continue to shrink. The best way to incentivize non-varium players to continue to play would be to give them a higher chance to win without destroying the advantage of having varium.
Even though this may seem to be a step in the wrong direction temporarily, it is a great step for progressing forward. If you're asking why this is, then you are still not understanding the big picture but not to worry, continue reading! If the non-varium population increases, you will naturally see more non-varium players in random battles. That means you're facing more non-varium players and the varium advantage is smaller but clearly visible in the majority of battles. On the other hand if the non-varium population decreases, you will naturally see less non-varium players in random battles. That means you're facing less non-varium players and the varium advantage is larger but only visible in the minority of battles. Now do you understand how less gap = more non-varium players = more advantage overall?
To everyone that has taken the time to read through this suggestion, I thank you and be sure to treat yourself to a cookie. If you haven't read through the suggestion, I would highly suggest you at least read the bolded parts before commenting below. This is a very delicate topic in EpicDuel and I would appreciate it if you fully understood my suggestion before poking holes into it. If you do not understand and require more clarification, I would gladly answer your questions if you PM me or post below. Suggestions, comments and criticism are welcome.
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