給ECB的少許建議~Two Cents for Game Improvement

[issac434241]

不經不覺，筆者已加入這遊戲一年，回想這一年來，於1.6版本時初出茅廬，用獨眼*5+貓衝天梯；1.7時把僅有的紅石都升在強盜、盜賊上，再配著風靡一時的酸雨+火箭衝大榜；後來的核心和掠奪模式都讓我攀到更高的層次……

玩家一天天變強，遊戲系統亦一直在優化，然而看著這麼優質的遊戲，每天的上線人數總是不超過600的時候，實在令人百思不得其解，這是我的大膽推測：這遊戲不時有新手加入，但遊戲人數停滯不前，一是新人很快放棄，一是老玩家流失率亦頗高。

為什麼新人很快便放棄？
歸納過往論壇帖子及聊天群組的討論，新人很快放棄是因為遊戲玩家出現斷層，上游阻力大。

所謂斷層即玩家往另一層次邁進時會面對不少阻力，形成斷層。
免玩紫卡玩家黑卡玩家天梯前20的玩家

瓶頸位一：從免玩晉升為紫卡玩家
新免費玩家於領完紅龍、戰役通關後，便要開始投身PVP世界，期間需要大量時間累積紅石，至於紫卡，則要寄望於幸運之星卡包之中大約1%的機會率。

瓶頸位二：從黑卡玩家晉升為天梯前20的玩家
部份新玩家會花費一定金錢購買黑卡(最常見是於黑卡活動首充)，但單純兩、三張黑卡，沒有紫卡及紅石的支持，也難以讓他們晉身20強，以獲得天梯紫卡的獎勵。

從此可見，新玩家假若是免玩，他們未必有心力花上半年時間累積金幣，換來可能只是兩、三張紫卡，即便是充了兩千多鑽石的新血，若果沒有持續的投入，實力也難得到質的提升，當他們失去可達到的目標時，很容易便會失去動力。因此公司要推出措施以讓新玩家更容易銜接到較高水平的競技環境，或是建立持續性的誘因，讓他們能為目標奮鬥。

為什麼會流失老玩家？
至於老玩家流失率高，一是缺乏新鮮感，一是已經登峰造極，再無可戀。那麼，要如何才能解決以上問題？接下來將舉出一些例子並評論其可行性。

解決新玩家過早放棄的問題
1. 全面調低貨品價格
這是最具爭議性的話題，然而筆者認為其可行性不大。其一，價格必須顯著下降，才能誘使免玩投入金錢。其二，本來已消費的玩家想必會為自己擁有的卡牌貶值而抱怨，要求賠償，屆時假如按以往紅石舊例而作回饋，那麼老玩家的實力更上一層樓，玩家層之間的差距依舊沒改善。當然，此措施之所以受其他人所推舉，主要是考慮到長遠來說，更低的買卡門檻，讓新加入的玩家能享受更全面的遊戲體驗，現有玩家亦更容易說服身邊的朋友加入，擴大玩家數目。至於實行與否，還需公司自行調研市場以及需求的價格彈性而定。

2. 讓免玩的努力得到認可
作為免玩，當然不能要求過多，但也不可以漠視他們的需要，皆因作為一個卡牌對戰遊戲，遊玩的人數可大大提高可玩性及變化。免玩不是想一步登天，但總希望自己的努力能得到回報。故公司可重推紫卡合成系統，在標明合成成功率的情況下，應不會出現以往的回響，同時能提供免玩一個獲得紫卡的希望。

此外，公司可考慮遊戲人物等級於65級後，每升一級便獎勵一張紫卡。考慮到升級需時，第一可提供玩家一個長期遊玩的目標，以回饋忠誠玩家的支持，第二可使高VIP所提供的經驗加成更有價值，達促銷之效。

3. 擴大天梯獎勵
要解決黑卡玩家到前二十玩家的斷層，公司可適當調整紫卡獎勵範圍。自紫卡獎勵推出後，已經歷時數個版本，亦累積了不少高級玩家，故現在前二十的玩家基本都是不缺紫卡的。而新加入的課金玩家，憑兩、三張1等黑卡要打進前二十也非易事。然而，此舉亦有隱憂，便是即使擴大獎勵範圍，亦有可能全被老課金玩家所獲得。因此公司或要集思廣益，以提供鼓勵讓這群處於夾心階層的付費玩家享受到有別於免玩的福利，使他們覺得自己的投資有意義。

遊戲中每一位玩家都是公司的顧客，只要有效到位地照顧到每一位玩家的需要，解決斷層問題，他們自然可以按自己需要，逐步投入金錢以作支持，同時使自己實力有質的提升。

解決老玩家流失率問題
1. 新遊戲模式
最有效但亦最難達到的建議，之前已有不少玩家發表過自己的意念，例如八人盃賽，CAP限制賽等等。小弟亦有不妨作一愚見，便是「低罕度專業模式」，玩家只能以1-3星卡上陣，而且所有卡牌等級會歸1。好處是一來使更多人開發1-3星卡戰術，免得讓設計師的心機白費，二來解決新手斷層問題，三來吸引已登峰造極的老玩家回流，來一場純鬥智鬥力的比賽。當然，這只是我的初步概念，當中可能會引申不少問題，例如某一卡組無天敵、耐玩性等等。不過假若公司有新的遊戲模式，不妨將之先引入練習賽，一試水溫，受歡迎的話可推廣至賭金及天梯賽。

2. 加快遊戲更新速度
相信是絕大部份玩家的心聲，我們不要求每次更新皆要將遊戲改頭換面，反而希望有更頻密的優化版本，讓玩家保持新鮮感。同時亦歡迎公司繼續於更新前刊登預覽信息，好讓玩家能提早反饋。

3. 優化卡牌平衡
假若有卡牌過強，我們並不希望它於下版本被修改得面目全非，也不願意見到有另一張「大魔王」出來使失衡的遊戲變得更不平衡。相反，公司可推出一些新卡，它們的技能綜合來說可能一般，但正正能夠平衡當時的環境。舉例來說，聖誕女孩、囚禁都是不俗的環境卡，當然對於它們現在的強度亦存有微言，不過亦喜見公司能逐漸向此方向改進，值得嘉許。


單憑筆者一人的思維絕不可能設想周到，因此在此歡迎任何玩家提出意見。以上問題亦可能牽涉到宣傳及可玩性的事宜，對於此，大神嘴好甜心好坏之前已經發表過相關的文章，誠然，我們沒有經營遊戲程式的經驗，從構想到實行當中定必是百般不容易，因此敬希公司能跟玩家多作交流，一起建設更美好的遊戲。

Epic cards battle is an amazing game with excellent art design and strategic game modes. However, online player has never exceeded 700. I believe that we have new comers every day. The reasons for the stagnant size of player base are 1. Newbies easily give up at the early stage and 2. Old players are quitting.

To deal with these problems, the following recommendation could be considered:
1. Drop in price of diamonds but this is open to discussion
2. Re-open option for crafting diamond cards & reward 1 legend card to players above LV65 whenever level up
3. Improve ladder reward
4. New game mode. For example, a Pro Mode where only 1-3 star cards can be used and their level will be reset to lv1 in the battle.
5. More frequent update
6. More balanced game. It is glad to see more counters for OP card instead of nerfing them.

There may be a lot more factors which have been discussed in other post. Further discussion is welcome especially interaction between players and the Admin.

[-bookie-]

+1. Giving a silver card for level up 1-20. Gold card for 20-40. Diamond for 41-60. And purple card for level 61+.

The real proem is not the price of the game. It's that the game is no fun if you don't spend money. How can a free player still enjoy the game? This is the question of most importance.

The most popular request from many many players has been a new battle mode, one that puts free players on a more fair footing with pay players. Too many people have requested this. Maybe ecb you have a fear that people will enjoy this mode too much and decide not to pay..? You guys are smart enough to overcome this I believe. Ultimately people pay if the game is fun and it is hard for game to be fun for free players many times.

Next is the issue of motivating new players. Keep in mind that half the people who play the game win less than 50%. This is math. These are usually the people who quit. Therefore there is constant turnover of new players coming in who struggle to win more than 50%. The game cannot grow bc the design is somewhat fundamentally flawed. In coin bet mode half the players can't come out in the positive. " why play?", "what's the point?", "I'd rather play another game than get my teeth kicked in", etc. these people quickly see money as the only path to winning. The need for the new battle mode can help here. I've suggested an 8 person mini tourney consisting of three rounds. Round one diamond cards and below only, round 2 legend cards and below only, final round epics and all cards. And in this mode there should be NO losers. Everyone gets a prize even if it's 10 gold.

Coin bet is flawed by design. The idea of playing and losing coins is counterproductive and ruins the game. If you win less than 50% you lose coins and lose the will to play. Hence you play less until you eventually quit. If everyone gained coins from battles more people would play, ESPECIALLY new free ayers. Coins can be awarded from ecb. Say 20 gold to loser and 100 gold to winner. Then the worst player in the game can still make progress. What fun can be achieved if no progress can be made? Repeatimg missions for gold does not keep ones interest. Pushing repeat for an hour playing the same battle seems somewhat "mindless" and takes away from the much needed players in coin mode and ladder.

As others have said and I will repeat. I believe a new player should have a chance at at least one legend card a month. Someone who loves the game is not gonna wait a year to collect 12. They will still pay bc they enjoy the game and would like access to cards right away. This chance at one legend per month should be equal amongst ALL players. If it were coin based the pay players could get more coins and acquire lots of these cards a month which I doubt you want. Simply adjust the free daily card to be a 1:30 chance to get a random legend. It will not be the end of the world for you ecb. It will inject some enthusiasm and excitement for new players and some hope. We have said over and over that many new players are hopeless and word spreads quickly that there are players with 3000 games under their belt and still no legend cards....

Honestly it would not take much to vastly improve the game. New cards and counters are great. But it doesn't address the issue of gaining gold and the fact that 50% of players have losing records. Let us find a way to keep these players in the game.

[嘴好甜心好坏]

同意Issac的观点
现在游戏模式过于单调，缺乏创意，玩家游戏体验和乐趣急剧下降。
望ECB多多采纳玩家建议

[issac434241]

Re anthrax:
Actually the existing game mode is really exciting and enjoyable but it is very challenging for new players. Therefore, there is a need to add new game mode or more other way for newbies earn coins while enjoying the game. Of course, new game mode is welcome because it can also help holding old players.

Re bookie:
I also doubt the effectiveness of lowering price because it is unfair to old players and if there will be refund, then the gap between players may be even wider. This will make game experience even worse.
Regarding the new battle mode, I hope Guild system will help and of course we are looking forward to a mode where new players can also be competitive (CAP limit/Rarity limit etc.).
For the chance for new players to get legend cards, I think it is good enough to give them out as reward when level up at LV60+. 1) To give motivation for players to stay and keep playing. 2) To let new players study more on low rarity cards first. This diversifies strategy. 3) Make additional EXP from high VIP more valuable. Attracting newbies to spend some first and get VIP asap. Leading to win-win situation.

Re甜心大大：
謝謝支持;)你之前的建議都很有啟發性，希望能夠拋磚引玉，吸引更多玩家加入討論。

最後，喜見ADMIN有聆聽我們的意見，就賭金制度作調整，感謝你們! 但願能盡快聽見V2.2的消息。