Ranking System Bug found and fixed

[Zeras]

Read the game updates ...

[Ainessandil]

Glad to know I not crazy, and everyone who said they didn't advance when beating higher ranked players was correct. A couple of points.

You mentioned a color change, but I don't see it explained yet. I only see two colors now (above me) instead of three, and just one color still below.

As for the basic new ranking system, you say the benefit is that you can advance over older players. If you think it through though, it's still pretty much the same. You improve by getting better equipment, and that comes randomly--based on the number of battles you fight. So if you're gone for a weekend, you still fall behind. You still don't improve compared to people still playing above you. The only difference is that the people who have maxed out equipment will eventually be equalled. So they have nothing to gain by battles.

At least in the old system, you had battle points, which you could always improve, whether they raised your rank or not. As it is now, you see no improvement at all to your character once you've found your level, which happens very quickly. And when you do improve, presumably the folks ahead of you have improved too... unless they haven't been playing, same situation as before.

I understand the old system had flaws. Just seems that the new system has more flaws. Let's face it.. the new system is terribly simple. If such a simple system worked, lots of rpg's would use it. They don't.

I don't know the best answer, but perhaps a common feature of old-fashioned MUDs and other rpg's would help: levels based on exp. Exp based on successful battles. And when you gain a level you gain a very small benefit in skills and stats. Perhaps 'points' you can apply as you wish, or perhaps points randomly applied. This would be a lot of programming work, and would certainly take a while to implement, but a super simplistic program just doesn't make the game fun.

Anyone who has a better idea, please share it with us.

[Eve]

Then it sure is a good thing this game has periodic expansions to look forward to, I'd hate for anyone to max out their equipment/stats permanently! Phew!

[Zeras]

You felt like you were progressing in the old system because you were gaining rank over people who were not playing. In one of the other threads I gave a perfect example of why the old system was too flawed.

I started playing 3 days after the game launched with the idea of seeing how fast I could catch Eve. After two days of winning every battle and not missing any battle credits and gaining 3 points for each win since I was winning points back, I gained hundreds of ranking spots. However, I lost ground on Eve and was now over 100 points behind her than when I started.

The idea of "falling behind" is up to you .. Someone now who starts playing could catch the leaders in a few days .. before, no one could catch the leaders unless the leaders quit.

You and the other newer players were just under the illusion you could because your rank kept increasing .. you were headed for a break point that you would not have been able to surpass.

.

[Ainessandil]

My apologies, but I don't think you followed what I said in my post you replied to. I felt I was advancing before because my battle points went up, even though I was gaining virtually no rank improvement any more. So at least I saw some improvement in my numbers. Now I don't see any improvements in my numbers. Nor can I tell how many different players I've beat, since all folks ranked below me have the same color, and the (xxx-xx) battle stat is gone. (The one that determined your rank.)

Another note: it would be nice to be able to see how many silver codes I've received. But the prize log doesn't show that. I think I have two, but I can't be sure.

[Ainessandil]

A correction to my first post in this thread: I finally found an orange above me, so the color codes haven't changed.

When they do, I hope they will apply to those below you, not just those above.

edit: oh, and when they do change, it would be very nice to have a FAQ post about them. Thanks.

[Eve]

The ones below you are grey because you won't benefit a rank gain from attacking and winning them.

[Ainessandil]

Understood, but I'd still like to know whom I've faced before, and whether I beat them and they beat me. There's no way to tell that any more.

[archjack]

I think this new system is better because now you can move up by actually beating someone of higher rank than you. I've gained probably 100 ranks than where I last was and it is more equal to where I believe I should be. The same go for my friends, they are now in the top 100, and that is where I believe they should be.