Quick observation about contest. A lot of people in my arena are just using one toon and it’s likely their weakest toon as many have below 10k power. I’m just curious if this is a TOS issue because it’s negatively affecting the general placement of people who have actually built up contest heroes because it is allowing people to use weak heroes to get further in contest. It also messes up the arena ranks. I can only get a quick win against these so I lose out on the additional points for shields and healing. I know this has been a thing in the past, but I would think the community as a whole would be concerned that this gives some players undue advantages in gaining the progress rewards as well and undue advantage in overall contest placement since they have likely not promoted many of the contest characters.
I want to help other players like myself get the Progress Rewards, like a collaboration between us players to help each other :-).
It is week 4 out of 4 this week, so how the rankings are this week won’t effect the coming Arena rankings that much even if yes it will affect week 1, but I think week 2-3 are the more important ones than week 4 and 1.
I personally put out 5 weak Orange-Purple characters, so that it less likely mess up City Watch and Surge, and yeah I enjoy the collaboration of we players helping each other better survive :-).
You’ll still be getting more contest points from arena than people who don’t have the contest heroes built up, plus you can get more contest points from using them in City Watch whereas people who haven’t built them up will hardly be able to get any points from that method. Besides, isn’t this one of those contests where people win by spending more gold and diamonds (for Arena battles) than anyone else, anyway?
Lowering defenses is just a way to help others get the progress rewards more easily; it’s not some grand conspiracy to rob rank rewards from people who’re able to max out new heroes within a month of their introduction.
If it were an effective tactic for reducing opponents’ points, more people would be doing that when there isn’t an arena-themed contest running. 
Jody, I don’t think it’s a grand conspiracy to rob someone of rank rewards, but it also doesn’t seem to be an intended use for play, which was a part of the issue with the last contest. I think finding creative ways to help each other throughout the game is fun and provides an interesting aspect to the game. However, during the last contest there was a huge community issue with several groups who did just that. Consequences from those actions resulted in suspensions from the game due to violations the ToS basically because that wasn’t the intended outcome for the contest or game. I do not see this as being any different other than the fact that it is widely accepted by players. I feel like this is also a manipulation strictly for the contest that does have contest rewards that are perhaps unduly earned and simply questioned if this also violates ToS. How are we to know everything that could potentially be unacceptable, if we do not specifically ask?
Also it does affect rank in contest. People who would not be getting as high as they currently are ranked are higher ranked due to the manipulation. I’m merely pointing out the similarities from the prior contest and asking a clarifying question.
Lowering arena defenses is an action taken to make it easier for some other players to get one set of progress rewards. Serial guild creation is a series of actions taken to make it possible for oneself to get multiple sets of progress rewards. I think those are significant differences.
The people benefiting from this are unlikely to be competing for the top 5%, and there are so many players in the top 10% and top 25% that I don’t see it making any difference in those ranks.
I understand what you’re saying, but just because the scale is different does not mean that it isn’t still and unintended game use. Also, I am in no way advocating for suspensions or anything of a consequential nature. I am merely stating that, to me, these are also undue rewards being gained and am just drawing a comparison. While the scale is vastly different, it is a similar principle, work as a group to gain additional rewards you wouldn’t otherwise receive. Is that not the intent of lowering arenas? Help other gain rewards they wouldn’t usually receive. I didn’t say it wasn’t a noble gesture. Just that to me, it seems similar.
Also, my question is mainly address to the community admin on the technical consideration of these practices. I already know how the vast majority of the community feels towards this practice. However, instead of participating in this activity this time around, I just want clarification.
Again, helping others get one set of progress rewards verses helping oneself get multiple sets of progress rewards. The former is, at least, theoretically achievable by everyone; the latter is only achievable by going against “an intended use for play”.
Of all the things, we should be happy people do this and help one another get tier rewards. It’s not like everyone got the “good toons “ to defeat others.
What I have a problem with is ftn contests that require more and more stamania and diamonds to use just to get progress rewards (and free gems don’t increase either only a small portion of stamania increases) and also have another contest that requires the same thing the following week with additional items like city watch fights, and gold spent. Honestly wish the one with just stamania and diamonds would just go away and be replaced with something else, but we know it will not Becuase it’s a way to make perblue money.
Who is it for us to say how something is intended or not? But end of day I rather help people then hear the complaints for every contest being too difficult.
Jody, like I said, I understand what you are trying to say. However here’s an example that might help illustrate my point.
Let’s compare someone who steals half a super market to someone who steals a loaf and gave it to a hungry person. (Getting multiple rewards in a small group effort vs. helping other weaker players gain rewards they wouldn’t otherwise get)
Stealing is wrong in both counts regardless of motive. It’s taking something you didn’t earn. And even if it isn’t as expensive as stealing the supermarket, the Apple/bread for the hungry person stolen in the example is still cheating the grocery store/company out of money (rewards received and not earned). Just making a point. I know it’s an assy point and I know there are good intentions behind lowering your arena teams but our escapade was only on a larger scale rewards wise. We worked together as a team and benefitted. Same same technically speaking. In my example, stealing is stealing regardless of noble intentions. (As a side note, there were no nefarious intentions last week). Like I said in my previous follow up, I’m all for helping other players but let’s not pretend this is so different when you get down to it. Players could have focused their efforts on building contest heroes when they came out but likely didn’t or they wouldn’t need help, so they should only get rewards they can earn on their own. I just think one is “justifiably” wrong and one upset other players because they weren’t personally benefiting. If Loutre, and by proxy PB, are concerned with people receiving rewards they don’t earn, this could be an easy fix by not allowing one toon for an arena defense.
Like I mentioned above, I already know the player general consensus on this topic.
My only intention is to get clarification from the community admin on this type of “help”. Is it acceptable, even though it is an unintended use of the game play and could have adverse effects on some players?
This is simply not true. If I don’t have these heroes built up and someone places an easy line I can then use all my diamonds and beat them over and over again so I will reach top 10 and maybe even win the contest. If the weak defenses didn’t exist then they wouldn’t have a chance to get the high ranks.
This was the point a lot of players made last week. How is someone to determine intentional/unintentional use? Which is why I posed the questions here.
Yes. Thanks omc. Also, it effects arena rewards. Many people getting quick wins that wouldn’t otherwise.
I think that’s a perfectly fair question in this case.
On the other hand, I think it’s quite clear that they don’t intend for people to collect Progress Rewards multiple times in the same contest.
There’s not a single defense in my arena league that’s composed of only one hero, but there’s multiple defenses with two to five low(ish)-ranking heroes.
There are 7 in my div 2 arena, with one at power 502. I’m happy to post pics and block out names if you’d like….
Also, I’m not debating the last contest. I know how people feel about it and I obviously understand Loutre and PB stance. My question is for the community admin for THIS contest.
Also, I would disagree. The deterrent is a 24hr cool down. But again, not debating last contest as I obviously have different opinions on that than the majority. I paid a price for it and I want to be sure I don’t break TOS again, which to reiterate, is why I specifically asked about this contest.
Let me clarify on this point:
That’s not a “fix” because people can lower their defenses while using more than one hero. A team with five purple-rank heroes will hardly be any more difficult to beat than a team with one white-rank hero.
If you’re done with bringing it up, I’m done with bringing it up.
Jody, you’re either totally missing my point or you’re being purposely obtuse. Let’s move on.
But this one is not for personal gain. It’s to help others out. I’m not getting any benefits letting others beat me. And there are others that I have to beat by working up my contest toons.
Jer, I understand that point. Did you read my comment above about stealing? Per prior conversations with Loutre and other players, obtaining rewards you aren’t supposed to receive (lowering teams to allow people to obtain rewards they wouldn’t otherwise receive) is considered cheating and stealing. While I have disagreed with this thought for various reason, that is the standard that was set and I’m merely asking if it also applies to little “cheats” like this.