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Gauntlet: Mirror Picard problem

I just hit four walls of Mirror Picards in a row. I realize that there is some bad luck involved in that but really, there has to be a better way to distribute the guys.

Maybe some of you tech. people can give the DB guys some suggestions on how to resolve this? ( as it is an on going problem that they don't seem to know how to fix) Maybe someone here can help them out?

Comments

  • Nero84Nero84 ✭✭✭
    Problem is that Picard was give out free so everyone has him. He has good gauntlet stats and in my case this week he gets 45 percent crit chance. So basically everyone is using him.
  • EtienneEtienne ✭✭✭
    Nero84 wrote: »
    Problem is that Picard was give out free so everyone has him. He has good gauntlet stats and in my case this week he gets 45 percent crit chance. So basically everyone is using him.

    Yes, I realize that :)

    And perhaps I was not being as clear as I intended, Picard is just the latest installment of the ongoing issue of "walls" ... the problem that needs to be resolved is how to get the gauntlet script not to create them.
  • JhamelJhamel ✭✭✭✭✭
    The problem is that 90% of the gauntlet matchups include CMD or SEC ... I don't get it though. Even when ENG or SCI are the featured departments, CMD and SEC show up too often.
    "Everything about the Jem'Hadar is lethal!" - Eris (ST-DS9 Episode 2x26 "The Jem'Hadar")
  • Peachtree RexPeachtree Rex ✭✭✭✭✭
    How exactly do you propose your "gauntlet script" making a fair set of match-ups?

    Every time this is suggested, it's something along the lines of "prevent duplicates". The problem is, that approach will ALWAYS favor people running the duplicates and will only encourage it.

    If 90% run the same character, then, in a given 6-character-selection, that 90% of the gauntlet base is only going to be included in 1/6 choices. That means, anyone who has included the "mass" character in their team will get randomly chosen significantly less often than one who hasn't included it.

    If those players are presented less frequently, then there are fewer opportunities for to be chosen as a target and less points lost.

    Plus, what do you do when everyone runs the same character? This is a very real consideration with Mirror Picard. In those cases, there is no algorithmic help that's even possible.

    The only way to alleviate this problem is by releasing characters that can compete in terms of stats and traits with existing ones. No amount of specialized matching algorithm will help.
  • Data1001Data1001 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Also, it helps to just get comfortable with the idea of doing head-to-head matchups on a regular basis. I kind of enjoy them, myself, even though I'm sure the win/loss ratio has been very close to 50/50.


    Could you please continue the petty bickering? I find it most intriguing.
    ~ Data, ST:TNG "Haven"
  • EtienneEtienne ✭✭✭
    edited January 2018

    Plus, what do you do when everyone runs the same character? This is a very real consideration with Mirror Picard. In those cases, there is no algorithmic help that's even possible.

    The only way to alleviate this problem is by releasing characters that can compete in terms of stats and traits with existing ones. No amount of specialized matching algorithm will help.

    I am not sure that is a true statement or that EVERYONE is running the exact same set of characters or that there is no programing solution. Just because I don't know what it is and the Tech. guys at DB don't know what it is, doesn't mean that, 1. it is impossible and 2. that someone out there doesn't already know the answer to this dilemma. and 3.Schrödinger's cat :P
  • As long as I am able to take down KM Data....all's good. LMAO😂😂
  • I agree with the OP. I've hit many MP walls, the same as Guinan/Phlox/Locutus walls. How is it that the first MP is worth 115 to 250 points, and the 7th (or even the 2nd) is worth 10? Does the 7th spot's programming limit the amount it will hit over 70% of its max, or reduce the 3:1 ratio of crits against me? If I'm going for 10 points on the 7th slot, give me an opponent worth 10 points that I could have even the remote chance of beating - someone with 60% lower stats than MP. Have the reward justify the effort. It may be my 8th or even 12th round and my crew is exhausted, at which point I probably couldn't beat a 10 pointer with low stats anyway! DB thinks I will spend merits to refresh the choices (usually only to get another wall of MP's due to the piss-poor programming), or us DIL to refresh my character that could possibly beat the opponent... also not going to happen in my case because it's a waste of DIL as I'm going to be out-crit and out-scored anyway.

    I run Gauntlet in hopes of merits only, and that's not guaranteed either. If I knew the 1st 4th and 7th slots would offer merits if I won, and 2nd 3rd and 5th would offer credits, I could select what I needed at the time to try and win that reward. I use merits on a daily basis to buy faction-only crap or the 3* most needed items. I'm not going to dump them BACK into the Gauntlet. And speaking of credits and merit rewards, those don't match the effort either. I beat a 1st slot 250-point opponent, and my reward is 1K credits... I beat a 7th slot 10-point opponent and I get 7K credits? Or I get 35 merits for 1st slot and 99 merits for 6th slot. RNG should only play a role in the rolls, not the rewards (except the delivery of merits or credits, not the amount).

    ... and don't even get me started on 5-and-out. Losing all 5 matches with top crew and getting the opponents 5% crit 5/6 and my 45% crit 0/6 or 1/6. Or in a matched crew fight, I'm rolling 30% of max and opponent is rolling 70% of max (2xx 2xx 3xx for me, 6xx 7xx 5xx for the opponent). Again, not going for rank, just want some merits!
  • {DD} Capt Jello{DD} Capt Jello ✭✭✭
    edited January 2018
    I agree with the OP. I've hit many MP walls, the same as Guinan/Phlox/Locutus walls. How is it that the first MP is worth 115 to 250 points, and the 7th (or even the 2nd) is worth 10? Does the 7th spot's programming limit the amount it will hit over 70% of its max, or reduce the 3:1 ratio of crits against me? If I'm going for 10 points on the 7th slot, give me an opponent worth 10 points that I could have even the remote chance of beating - someone with 60% lower stats than MP. Have the reward justify the effort. It may be my 8th or even 12th round and my crew is exhausted, at which point I probably couldn't beat a 10 pointer with low stats anyway! DB thinks I will spend merits to refresh the choices (usually only to get another wall of MP's due to the piss-poor programming), or us DIL to refresh my character that could possibly beat the opponent... also not going to happen in my case because it's a waste of DIL as I'm going to be out-crit and out-scored anyway.

    I run Gauntlet in hopes of merits only, and that's not guaranteed either. If I knew the 1st 4th and 7th slots would offer merits if I won, and 2nd 3rd and 5th would offer credits, I could select what I needed at the time to try and win that reward. I use merits on a daily basis to buy faction-only crap or the 3* most needed items. I'm not going to dump them BACK into the Gauntlet. And speaking of credits and merit rewards, those don't match the effort either. I beat a 1st slot 250-point opponent, and my reward is 1K credits... I beat a 7th slot 10-point opponent and I get 7K credits? Or I get 35 merits for 1st slot and 99 merits for 6th slot. RNG should only play a role in the rolls, not the rewards (except the delivery of merits or credits, not the amount).

    ... and don't even get me started on 5-and-out. Losing all 5 matches with top crew and getting the opponents 5% crit 5/6 and my 45% crit 0/6 or 1/6. Or in a matched crew fight, I'm rolling 30% of max and opponent is rolling 70% of max (2xx 2xx 3xx for me, 6xx 7xx 5xx for the opponent). Again, not going for rank, just want some merits!

    The whole point is that db CAN but DOESN'T make the effort to program in an algorithm to avoid walls of max crew. Even if all 200 players in your Gauntlet match are running a Mirror Picard, they are also running 4 other crew that can be presented. I'd even take a wall of Picard, Phlox, Gowron, Guinan, and Sulan, and hey WTH another Picard (theoretically if they all had the same skill to present). Seriously:

    Algorithm pick slot 1 from top 30 ranked opponents.
    Algorithm pick slot 2 from opponents ranked 31-60
    If slot 2 = slot 1, pick again
    Algorithm pick slot 3 from opponents ranked 61-90
    If slot 3 = slot 1 or slot 2, pick again
    Algorithm pick slot 4 from opponents ranked 91-120
    Don't check slots 1 to 3 for dupes, this can be a dupe if necessary
    ... continue slots 5, 6 and 7
  • {DD} Capt Jello{DD} Capt Jello ✭✭✭
    edited January 2018
    Not sure how it added 2 posts. Deleting duplicate from above.
  • Peachtree RexPeachtree Rex ✭✭✭✭✭
    It always uses the defender's best character on defense for the given stat pair. Deviating from that paradigm (i.e., using a different character in the case of multiples) would create a severe disadvantage to the defenders. I suppose you could argue that it only impacts the people who use a "massively overused" character, so it could push people away from using it.

    But then the entire player base has been turned into this gigantic prisoner's dilemma of sorts where if only a few of them use the "good" character, they stand to make significant gains, but if a lot of them use the same one, they will be penalized for it.

    This sounds significantly worse, imo.
  • EtienneEtienne ✭✭✭
    edited January 2018
    "The whole point is that db CAN but DOESN'T make the effort to program in an algorithm to avoid walls of max crew."

    I give DB the benifit of the doubt and that it's less a matter of not wanting to do it and more a question of they don't know how to do it :)

    Think about it and what you know about this company. Are thy more likely to be hiring top rate professional programmers in the gaming industry or guys fresh out of college who they can pay a minimum salary?
  • I don't know how you could ever prevent walls of certain characters in gauntlet. The Mirror Picard walls are due to the fact that hes really good in gauntlet and everyone has (or should) have him. It was the same after Mirror Phlox was in the Borg Mega Event. The Phlox walls were insane immediately after. When was the last time you ran into a wall of The Keeper or Defensive Phlox though? It's all about people using the best, and if the best is easily accessible it's going to happen.
  • I'm over "Picardgate" DB did their best to make-up for their mistake, but that was one of my biggest problems with "let's give give everyone a really good Free Legendary" the exact same one at that.

    They just made a really cool crew kinda lame, because he's so common.

    Even those who rarely play and don't participate in events got one. :(
    “You must understand that there is more than one path to the top of the mountain”
    ― Musashi, Japan's Greatest Swordsman and Samurai
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