That's not really the point though. The point is that this is a fraud of a competition, because it apparently rewards tanking, or rather in many cases punishes you for competing.
I do a lot of tanking in my gauntlets because I can't be bothered with it ... I enter one as soon as the last one finishes but I usually don't play for the first day and only start with half a day (or so) to go (sometimes I completely forget - hence I've only played 4456 gauntlet rounds but do manage to rank top 5/10 on a frequent basis).
This means that my standard crew (picks from):
Locutus
Seven of Nine
Surak
Guinan
Mirror Picard
Age of Sail Crusher
Crell Moset
Klingon Bride Jadzia
Suliban Reed
Will sit around at position 180+ till that time.
Then I decide to either ... win 10 point battles to get long streaks going and open more boxes (still hoping for the Caretaker) or go for big points wins and end top 40.
I never rank up slowly and then consolidate my position over the two days. I've found that to mean I end with worse end results (because I can't be bothered to play as regularly as most people and so lose out because at higher positions I only face tough match-ups).
This thread is depressing. It is an advertisement for succeeding in a game by actively NOT playing the game.
That being said, I have read every word and am taking it to heart. It is killing my soul a little bit each time, but I'm trying a new Gauntlet strategy; I registered three hours after the last Gauntlet ended, let it simmer for several hours before wading in, spending the 50 merits to refresh to get my neighbors at the bottom of the barrel, and have been careful to select 3 winnable matches before stopping, waiting the 4 hours to refresh, and carrying my streak forward, spending the required 50 merits each time I go back to refresh my opponents at the beginning to reflect my lack of rank (for some reason it wants to start me out against people in the mid 60s instead of around 140 where I live now).
So yeah, I've got a decent streak going right now (only 6, but every reason to believe I'll hit 9 or higher). I feel like I'm winning and losing at the same time, not playing is just not fun. But as a scientist, I feel I need to give this an honest try, especially given how the strategy of actively trying has never worked.
This thread is depressing. It is an advertisement for succeeding in a game by actively NOT playing the game.
That being said, I have read every word and am taking it to heart. It is killing my soul a little bit each time, but I'm trying a new Gauntlet strategy; I registered three hours after the last Gauntlet ended, let it simmer for several hours before wading in, spending the 50 merits to refresh to get my neighbors at the bottom of the barrel, and have been careful to select 3 winnable matches before stopping, waiting the 4 hours to refresh, and carrying my streak forward, spending the required 50 merits each time I go back to refresh my opponents at the beginning to reflect my lack of rank (for some reason it wants to start me out against people in the mid 60s instead of around 140 where I live now).
So yeah, I've got a decent streak going right now (only 6, but every reason to believe I'll hit 9 or higher). I feel like I'm winning and losing at the same time, not playing is just not fun. But as a scientist, I feel I need to give this an honest try, especially given how the strategy of actively trying has never worked.
Don't spend the Merits! If you don't see a favourable first round match just lose it! A waste of 50 merits and if you choose your weakest crew you can still get in a decent number of wins your first batch of gauntlet rounds.
I used to do this when I didn't have any of the previously mentioned crew (except Seven and Reed) ... I got top 40 with 3* Kirk and odd 4*s (Captain Q, Dr. Russell etc.). I even got my top 5 finish achievement before I had most of the crew on my previous list.
I don't spend Merits or Dil, as for me that seems a waste.
I've disliked Gauntlet from day one (as I do Arena) ... so for me playing the game is opening the loot boxes at each third win or however many I get at the end of the gauntlet (be it 1 or 7). My goal is to get chonitons (portal pulls) and the Legendary (and Merits in between) so that I can boost my overal crew and do better in events.
(Arena is playing 5 times to get the daily achievement).
So ... it depends on your perspective. I do play, but just not to win gauntlet rounds, to improve my overal crew.
This thread is depressing. It is an advertisement for succeeding in a game by actively NOT playing the game.
That being said, I have read every word and am taking it to heart. It is killing my soul a little bit each time, but I'm trying a new Gauntlet strategy; I registered three hours after the last Gauntlet ended, let it simmer for several hours before wading in, spending the 50 merits to refresh to get my neighbors at the bottom of the barrel, and have been careful to select 3 winnable matches before stopping, waiting the 4 hours to refresh, and carrying my streak forward, spending the required 50 merits each time I go back to refresh my opponents at the beginning to reflect my lack of rank (for some reason it wants to start me out against people in the mid 60s instead of around 140 where I live now).
So yeah, I've got a decent streak going right now (only 6, but every reason to believe I'll hit 9 or higher). I feel like I'm winning and losing at the same time, not playing is just not fun. But as a scientist, I feel I need to give this an honest try, especially given how the strategy of actively trying has never worked.
Don't spend the Merits! If you don't see a favourable first round match just lose it! A waste of 50 merits and if you choose your weakest crew you can still get in a decent number of wins your first batch of gauntlet rounds.
I used to do this when I didn't have any of the previously mentioned crew (except Seven and Reed) ... I got top 40 with 3* Kirk and odd 4*s (Captain Q, Dr. Russell etc.). I even got my top 5 finish achievement before I had most of the crew on my previous list.
I don't spend Merits or Dil, as for me that seems a waste.
I've disliked Gauntlet from day one (as I do Arena) ... so for me playing the game is opening the loot boxes at each third win or however many I get at the end of the gauntlet (be it 1 or 7). My goal is to get chonitons (portal pulls) and the Legendary (and Merits in between) so that I can boost my overal crew and do better in events.
(Arena is playing 5 times to get the daily achievement).
So ... it depends on your perspective. I do play, but just not to win gauntlet rounds, to improve my overal crew.
I agree with you, however for this instance I'm spending the merits because I want a "best case" scenario for testing purposes. I am considering them a cost of the exercise. Fear not, I consider 12K merits my basement, so I started with 12,700 or so, so I can afford it. Thank you for looking out
I have run the streak to 9, spending a total of 150 merits. I've earned more than that back from winning, but sadly I was forced to win 50 trophies to get to my 9th win, so now I have to wait a while to allow people to pass me ^_^
I use Caretaker, Surak, and Kahless nearly every single time. I usually pick Mirror Troi over Mirror Phlox (don't have Guinan), and the last spot goes to Locutus, Seven of Nine, Gangster Spock, or Mirror Geordi, depending on the skill/trait set.
Since virtually everyone else uses the top Gauntlet Beasties, I try to limit that to 2 and mix it up to see if I can get longer achievements. I always try to get all gauntlet crew to 25-45% in every slot if possible.
My Tops from which I choose 2:
Locutus
Surak
Guinan
Caretaker
My regular alternates:
Klingon Bride Jadzia
Gangster Spock
Geordi LaBorg
Madam De Neuf
Mirror Troi
Sulan
Admiral Riker
Admiral Nacheyev
Crell Moset
Age of Sail Crusher
Mirro T'Pol
Tempted Data
Passed out this morning for 9 hours, woke up, waited another 2 hours, then ran my streak up to 12...my reward? A 2* holoprogram. And now, more waiting, will probably go for 15 sometime after midnight.
Passed out this morning for 9 hours, woke up, waited another 2 hours, then ran my streak up to 12...my reward? A 2* holoprogram. And now, more waiting, will probably go for 15 sometime after midnight.
If you are judging your success or failure by the quality of what you get in your loot boxes you will be in for a long, depressing journey, because the vast majority are underwhelming, and there is ZERO (well, practically zero) correlation between the length of the streak and the quality of the drop. If you are getting into double-digit streaks, you are doing well. Eventually some good stuff will come your way, there's just no telling quite when.
Mirror Picard
Mirror Intendent Worf
Gladiator Mccoy
Mirror Phlox
Muskateer laForge
Mirror Bashir
Obsidian Order Garak
Mintakan Riker
Mirror T'pol
Borg Queen
23rd Century Martok
Mirror Troi
Emotion Chip Data
Delta Flyer Paris
Admiral Nacheyev
Klingon Bride jadzia
Ambassador Troi
kortar
If all my crew are 5%, I usually just go with 5 of the top 6 depending on matching skills. If I am in a gauntlet with 45% crit crew or higher, I have have used as many as 4 of the bottom list, it all depends on the gauntlet
This thread is depressing. It is an advertisement for succeeding in a game by actively NOT playing the game.
That being said, I have read every word and am taking it to heart. It is killing my soul a little bit each time, but I'm trying a new Gauntlet strategy; I registered three hours after the last Gauntlet ended, let it simmer for several hours before wading in, spending the 50 merits to refresh to get my neighbors at the bottom of the barrel, and have been careful to select 3 winnable matches before stopping, waiting the 4 hours to refresh, and carrying my streak forward, spending the required 50 merits each time I go back to refresh my opponents at the beginning to reflect my lack of rank (for some reason it wants to start me out against people in the mid 60s instead of around 140 where I live now).
So yeah, I've got a decent streak going right now (only 6, but every reason to believe I'll hit 9 or higher). I feel like I'm winning and losing at the same time, not playing is just not fun. But as a scientist, I feel I need to give this an honest try, especially given how the strategy of actively trying has never worked.
Don't spend the Merits! If you don't see a favourable first round match just lose it! A waste of 50 merits and if you choose your weakest crew you can still get in a decent number of wins your first batch of gauntlet rounds.
I used to do this when I didn't have any of the previously mentioned crew (except Seven and Reed) ... I got top 40 with 3* Kirk and odd 4*s (Captain Q, Dr. Russell etc.). I even got my top 5 finish achievement before I had most of the crew on my previous list.
I don't spend Merits or Dil, as for me that seems a waste.
I've disliked Gauntlet from day one (as I do Arena) ... so for me playing the game is opening the loot boxes at each third win or however many I get at the end of the gauntlet (be it 1 or 7). My goal is to get chonitons (portal pulls) and the Legendary (and Merits in between) so that I can boost my overal crew and do better in events.
(Arena is playing 5 times to get the daily achievement).
So ... it depends on your perspective. I do play, but just not to win gauntlet rounds, to improve my overal crew.
I agree with you, however for this instance I'm spending the merits because I want a "best case" scenario for testing purposes. I am considering them a cost of the exercise. Fear not, I consider 12K merits my basement, so I started with 12,700 or so, so I can afford it. Thank you for looking out
I have run the streak to 9, spending a total of 150 merits. I've earned more than that back from winning, but sadly I was forced to win 50 trophies to get to my 9th win, so now I have to wait a while to allow people to pass me ^_^
You can avoid spending merits by not clicking the 'Find Opponents' button when you're ranking is relatively high. Wait until your ranking drops to click that button.
If you click that button when you have a relatively high ranking, then don't do any gauntlet battles for several hours to let you ranking drop, when you go back in the previously chosen opponents will still be there, hence the need to merit-refresh.
Normal Crew:
Kahless
Locutus
Caretaker
Mirror Inquisitor Troi
Gangster Spock
Frequently Used Subs: (These will be used sometimes with 1 trait match, certainly with 2)
Mirror Picard
Bartender Guinan
Mademoiselle de Neuf
Surak
Rarely Used Subs: (These, conceivably, could be used, but aren't regularly. Usually require at least 2 trait matches)
Mirror T'Pol
Mirror Phlox
Nurse Faith Garland
Doc Crusher
Interfaced La Forge
North Star Tucker
Assimilated La Forge
Chancellor Gowron
I take the same people a lot, but I do sometimes have a different lineup depending on featured skill or trait matches. I have a pretty good variety of gauntlet crew to choose from (though no Caretaker yet), so I won't list them all. Though some seldom see the gauntlet, I do like knowing they're there when I need them.
Assuming no or only 25% trait matches, my go-tos are:
Kahless
Locutus
Seven
Surak
Sulan
Sometimes I trade Interfaced Geordi or Tempted Data for Seven and/or Guinan for Sulan.
CMD - Khaless, M Picard, Nechayev Depending on trait I might consider Donatra or T'Kuvma
DIP - Guinan, Locutus Depending on trait, I might consider Changeling Founder or Wedding T'Pol
ENG - Caretaker Even with traits, there's no one else to consider, Caretaker is always in my guantlet
SEC - G. Spock, 8472, Depending on trait Augment O'Brien, Duelist Yar, Will Scarlet
MED - Cap B. Picard (the best Captain Picard), Depending on trait Antaak has been getting some play, if I happen to have M. Phlox out of the freezer, but most 4* are on ice.
SCI - Surak, Depending on trait Yarnek, but almost always Surak
Barring any serious trait issues I will almost always have Guinan, Cartaker, Surak, and G. Spock. The 5th spot just goes to whoever is feeling lucky.
Drunken Dahar Masters is recruiting active players.
PM for details.
I have evolved in my Gauntlet play where I very much customize my 5 character crew to each specific game, and have no regular "1st team" so to speak. In order for me to consider someone 'usable', I need to be able to envision them having a greater than 50% chance of winning Gauntlet rounds for me. This means when choosing my own crew, I factor in my best prediction of which characters other players are going to select for their crews. An example of what this approach means is both Mirror Jean-Luc Picard and Surak are not considered usable by me, as I realize most players have them, and therefore the best they could provide me is a 50% win probability. Examples of characters who I do find usable because I can envision times when they will provide me with a competitive advantage are Interfaced La Forge, Trelane, and Mirror Bashir.
My results with bypassing using 'popular characters' have remained strong, as I will typically finish anywhere in the Top 5 of most of my Gauntlets. I was especially pleased when I did this recently in a Gauntlet where the featured skill was Engineering, and I had intentionally chosen to not include The Caretaker (who I do now have at 4/5*) as a member of my 5 character team.
Comments
I do a lot of tanking in my gauntlets because I can't be bothered with it ... I enter one as soon as the last one finishes but I usually don't play for the first day and only start with half a day (or so) to go (sometimes I completely forget - hence I've only played 4456 gauntlet rounds but do manage to rank top 5/10 on a frequent basis).
This means that my standard crew (picks from):
Locutus
Seven of Nine
Surak
Guinan
Mirror Picard
Age of Sail Crusher
Crell Moset
Klingon Bride Jadzia
Suliban Reed
Will sit around at position 180+ till that time.
Then I decide to either ... win 10 point battles to get long streaks going and open more boxes (still hoping for the Caretaker) or go for big points wins and end top 40.
I never rank up slowly and then consolidate my position over the two days. I've found that to mean I end with worse end results (because I can't be bothered to play as regularly as most people and so lose out because at higher positions I only face tough match-ups).
That being said, I have read every word and am taking it to heart. It is killing my soul a little bit each time, but I'm trying a new Gauntlet strategy; I registered three hours after the last Gauntlet ended, let it simmer for several hours before wading in, spending the 50 merits to refresh to get my neighbors at the bottom of the barrel, and have been careful to select 3 winnable matches before stopping, waiting the 4 hours to refresh, and carrying my streak forward, spending the required 50 merits each time I go back to refresh my opponents at the beginning to reflect my lack of rank (for some reason it wants to start me out against people in the mid 60s instead of around 140 where I live now).
So yeah, I've got a decent streak going right now (only 6, but every reason to believe I'll hit 9 or higher). I feel like I'm winning and losing at the same time, not playing is just not fun. But as a scientist, I feel I need to give this an honest try, especially given how the strategy of actively trying has never worked.
Don't spend the Merits! If you don't see a favourable first round match just lose it! A waste of 50 merits and if you choose your weakest crew you can still get in a decent number of wins your first batch of gauntlet rounds.
I used to do this when I didn't have any of the previously mentioned crew (except Seven and Reed) ... I got top 40 with 3* Kirk and odd 4*s (Captain Q, Dr. Russell etc.). I even got my top 5 finish achievement before I had most of the crew on my previous list.
I don't spend Merits or Dil, as for me that seems a waste.
I've disliked Gauntlet from day one (as I do Arena) ... so for me playing the game is opening the loot boxes at each third win or however many I get at the end of the gauntlet (be it 1 or 7). My goal is to get chonitons (portal pulls) and the Legendary (and Merits in between) so that I can boost my overal crew and do better in events.
(Arena is playing 5 times to get the daily achievement).
So ... it depends on your perspective. I do play, but just not to win gauntlet rounds, to improve my overal crew.
I agree with you, however for this instance I'm spending the merits because I want a "best case" scenario for testing purposes. I am considering them a cost of the exercise. Fear not, I consider 12K merits my basement, so I started with 12,700 or so, so I can afford it. Thank you for looking out
I have run the streak to 9, spending a total of 150 merits. I've earned more than that back from winning, but sadly I was forced to win 50 trophies to get to my 9th win, so now I have to wait a while to allow people to pass me ^_^
My Tops from which I choose 2:
Locutus
Surak
Guinan
Caretaker
My regular alternates:
Klingon Bride Jadzia
Gangster Spock
Geordi LaBorg
Madam De Neuf
Mirror Troi
Sulan
Admiral Riker
Admiral Nacheyev
Crell Moset
Age of Sail Crusher
Mirro T'Pol
Tempted Data
If you are judging your success or failure by the quality of what you get in your loot boxes you will be in for a long, depressing journey, because the vast majority are underwhelming, and there is ZERO (well, practically zero) correlation between the length of the streak and the quality of the drop. If you are getting into double-digit streaks, you are doing well. Eventually some good stuff will come your way, there's just no telling quite when.
Surak
LaBorg
Gspock
Sulan
are my common team, but i also have in the dugout
Mirror Troi
KB Dax
R Damar
Mademoiselle Neuf
Command: Kahless, Mirror Picard, Revolutionary Damar
Diplomacy: Chancellor Gowron, Bartender Guinan
Security: Gangster Spock, Muskie La Forge
Engineering: Caretaker, Assimilated La Forge
Science, Seven of Nine, Daystrom, The Keeper
Medical: Sulan, Mirror Phlox
Kahless
Guinan
Caretaker
Sulan
Surak
Gangster Spock
Crew dependent on trait matching:
Mirror Picard
Mirror Intendent Worf
Gladiator Mccoy
Mirror Phlox
Muskateer laForge
Mirror Bashir
Obsidian Order Garak
Mintakan Riker
Mirror T'pol
Borg Queen
23rd Century Martok
Mirror Troi
Emotion Chip Data
Delta Flyer Paris
Admiral Nacheyev
Klingon Bride jadzia
Ambassador Troi
kortar
If all my crew are 5%, I usually just go with 5 of the top 6 depending on matching skills. If I am in a gauntlet with 45% crit crew or higher, I have have used as many as 4 of the bottom list, it all depends on the gauntlet
You can avoid spending merits by not clicking the 'Find Opponents' button when you're ranking is relatively high. Wait until your ranking drops to click that button.
If you click that button when you have a relatively high ranking, then don't do any gauntlet battles for several hours to let you ranking drop, when you go back in the previously chosen opponents will still be there, hence the need to merit-refresh.
DIP - Guinan most gauntlets; depending on traits - Abe Lincoln, Admiral Riker, Mirror Troi, Enterprise-E Picard, Interfaced La Forge
ENG - Caretaker most gauntlets; depending on traits - Assimilated La Forge, Interfaced La Forge, Mirror La Forge
SEC - none consistently; depending on traits - Gangster Spock, Urshaan Archer, Mirror Shukar, Lieutenant Valeris, Mirror Bashir
MED - none consistently; depending on traits - Mirror Phlox, Antaak, Nurse Garland, Crell Moset, Gladiator McCoy, Mirror Troi
SCI - Surak most gauntlets; depending on traits - Lieutenant Valeris, Degra, Gangster Spock
Kahless
Locutus
Caretaker
Gary Seven
Defensive Phlox
I rotate with Surak, Gowron, Guinan, Seven, and maybe Nechayev or Mirror Picard. I don't think I've used Mirror Phlox more than once.
Kahless
Locutus
Caretaker
Mirror Inquisitor Troi
Gangster Spock
Frequently Used Subs: (These will be used sometimes with 1 trait match, certainly with 2)
Mirror Picard
Bartender Guinan
Mademoiselle de Neuf
Surak
Rarely Used Subs: (These, conceivably, could be used, but aren't regularly. Usually require at least 2 trait matches)
Mirror T'Pol
Mirror Phlox
Nurse Faith Garland
Doc Crusher
Interfaced La Forge
North Star Tucker
Assimilated La Forge
Chancellor Gowron
Kahless
Locutus
Defensive Phlox
Caretaker
Gangster Spock
Occasional Subs
Gowron
Bartender Guinan
Assimilated LaForge
Seven of Nine
Surak
Mirror Picard
Rare subs
Species 8472
Ambassador Troi
Daystrom
Doc Crusher
Sulan
Mirror Phlox
Second Star to the Right - Join Today!
Assuming no or only 25% trait matches, my go-tos are:
Kahless
Locutus
Seven
Surak
Sulan
Sometimes I trade Interfaced Geordi or Tempted Data for Seven and/or Guinan for Sulan.
DIP - Guinan, Locutus Depending on trait, I might consider Changeling Founder or Wedding T'Pol
ENG - Caretaker Even with traits, there's no one else to consider, Caretaker is always in my guantlet
SEC - G. Spock, 8472, Depending on trait Augment O'Brien, Duelist Yar, Will Scarlet
MED - Cap B. Picard (the best Captain Picard), Depending on trait Antaak has been getting some play, if I happen to have M. Phlox out of the freezer, but most 4* are on ice.
SCI - Surak, Depending on trait Yarnek, but almost always Surak
Barring any serious trait issues I will almost always have Guinan, Cartaker, Surak, and G. Spock. The 5th spot just goes to whoever is feeling lucky.
PM for details.
So long and thanks for all the fish.
Gary Seven
Locutus
Kahless
Caretaker
Defensive Phlox
Bartender Guinan, Surak, Sulan, 7of9, Gangster Spock, Chancellor Gowron, Assimilated La Forge & Mirror Picard show up with some regularity.
My results with bypassing using 'popular characters' have remained strong, as I will typically finish anywhere in the Top 5 of most of my Gauntlets. I was especially pleased when I did this recently in a Gauntlet where the featured skill was Engineering, and I had intentionally chosen to not include The Caretaker (who I do now have at 4/5*) as a member of my 5 character team.
CMD: 5* Kahless, 5* Mirror JL Picard, 4* Cmdr Donatra, 5* Mirror Regent Worf.
DIP: 5* Changeling Founder, 4* Vulcan Wedding T'Pol, 5* Mariachii Q.
ENG: 5* The Caretaker, working on a couple of recent high proficiency crew this skill.
SEC: 5* Will Scarlett, 5* Kahless, 4* Subcmdr T'Rul, 4* Duelist Yar.
MED: 4* Mirror Phlox, 4* Antaak.
SCI: 5* Surak, 5* Seven of Nine, 5* Mirror T'Pol.
Kahless, Locutus, Surak, Caretaker, Mirror Phlox
Often-used:
Seven of Nine, Chancellor Gowron, Mirror Picard
Usable with bonuses:
Admiral Nechayev, Admiral Riker, Kai Opaka, Disguised Kira, Inquisitor Troi, (Not a) Merry Man Worf
Why do you get a 65% crit chance so often?
Convergence Day Quark