Arc is not bad for the game, it's worse then that. I think in a few years we'll look back and identify Arc as the incredibly stupid mistake INNO made that killed FoE.
---------
Arc accelerates obtaining the 'infinite Chateau' level. Pre Arc it would be a matter of years except for a very few players. Now any player can do it and in a relatively short time. And as more powered Arcs and infinite Chateaus enter the game the process of players acquiring infinite Chateaues will accelerate.
Medals production through Arc power leveling has made all other forms of Medals acquisition insignificant by an order of magnitude.
The Arc FP Rewards Bonus affects every GB Reward situation in the game.
Arc has separated players into four groups: Arc-less, low level Arcs, Arcs being powered, fully powered Arc holders. Each group is easily dominated in multiple aspects of the game by those further in the process. This separation is unique in this game; there is no other aspect that can effect the game in so many ways.
I'll be happy to discuss what I see as the ramifications of each of the above, bur first I invite each of you to consider each of these and determine if you think those effects are good for the game.
I won't debate whether these effects are real, they are readily apparent to any serious student of the game who has been around since Pre Arc days.
~
Arc is not bad for the game, it's worse then that. I think in a few years we'll look back and identify Arc as the incredibly stupid mistake INNO made that killed FoE.
Interesting premise. Knowing myself, I will probably have moved on from FoE in a few years due to other factors and will be absent from the FoE Closing farewells and arguments threads.
My take away from this point is that the Arc isn't a game breaker in the short-term, but it's effects will compound to the point FoE will no longer pull enough money to keep the lights on. I concur, if we are only looking at long-term players that purchase diamonds. An advanced Arc effectively eliminates the need for a frugal diamond buyer to invest in FoE, as all their FP needs can be met with patient Arc investments and benefits. Thus a revenue stream dries up. The weakness of this argument is that it assumes long-term players are the chief revenue source for FoE/Inno. Unless we have the marketing data, all diamond purchase patterns and assumptions are shots in the dark for us lay peoples. [I make a similar argument for the recent PvP change; I assume they made the mid-Iron Age decision for the PvP unlock tech due to it being a sweet spot indicated by their marketing metrics. Hold of a player from pillage quitting long enough for them to invest in an event/Arc/GB/Premium etc.]
~
Arc accelerates obtaining the 'infinite Chateau' level. Pre Arc it would be a matter of years except for a very few players. Now any player can do it and in a relatively short time. And as more powered Arcs and infinite Chateaus enter the game the process of players acquiring infinite Chateaues will accelerate.
A fair fear and I partially share it. Hopefully, Inno is smart enough (har har!) to balance or 'fix' that issue once it crops up. Due to the nature of the game, I attribute the core problem as the same as the Arc, economic overdrive. Rich become richer.
~
Medals production through Arc power leveling has made all other forms of Medals acquisition insignificant by an order of magnitude.
I like this point. As a newbie, I did tower PvP my first week to win my first medal expansion. After learning more about the game and discovering the GB contribution reward meta-game, PvP tower medals became absurd to pursue as a serious medal income stream.
This shows how imbalanced the current PvP tower rewards are in comparison to GB contribution rewards. The Arc highlights and exacerbates the imbalance further.
~
The Arc FP Rewards Bonus affects every GB Reward situation in the game.
Taken with the previous Medal point, this has lead me to a small epiphany. The core issue isn't necessarily the Arc, but the Contribution reward system. The question then becomes if the Arc needs to be nerfed, the contribution rewards nerfed or if a new FP/Medal sink can/should be added. This assumes the end goal is to balance the economy in some way and the current balance is ruining the game for the majority of players.
~
Arc has separated players into four groups: Arc-less, low level Arcs, Arcs being powered, fully powered Arc holders. Each group is easily dominated in multiple aspects of the game by those further in the process. This separation is unique in this game; there is no other aspect that can effect the game in so many ways.
I partially agree here. The Arc is the GB for the Contribution rewards play style. Similar to Zues, CdM, Kraken, Orangery (Crit GB?) and CoA are the GBs for anything related to army strength. Idea: Maybe The Arc could be nerfed if which rewards it augments. Instead of EVERY contribution reward being upped, maybe just Medals? Second Idea: Future GBs could be like the Arc, but be more targeted, like boosting FP contribution reward multiplier only. I shall dub this hypothetical new GB: The Forgenator! This would make The Arc & The Forgenator the GBs to build/level for players focusing on FP generation from GB contributions. If medals became a worthwhile currency (Medal to FP exchange for instance), then another GB called The Medal Pinner! could be added, thus changing the balance and strategy of the contribution reward meta-game.
Conclusion: I don't share the same fear of the Arc being the FoE killer, but I do agree that balancing needs to be addressed across the board. ESPECIALLY, with contribution rewards. After the Delphi incident, I am watching Inno to determine if they have the capability to do such a re-balance. Not liek a hawk, but more a semi-interested crow. I would of said Raven, but I'm not that cosmic.
[/SPOILER]
New players and Arc’s below 20 players will never catch up. That’s the point, there is a huge disparity in the game, the only GB to do this
That and Time. And how much money a person is willing to give to Inno. I agree that there is a disparity and given equal effort, the Old Rich will always beat the new, but I do not see how this ruins or is detrimental to the game. Other than newer players wanting the riches of the older, how are Arc owners ruining other people's play styles?
My current thoughts: I think the Arc has enriched the players who enjoy the GB contribution rewards meta-game. I don't think the Arc is the problem, but it does highlights the real contention point, the balancing of rewards. The contribution rewards system is one of the most lucrative to milk. The Arc takes the milk we imagine coming from a good old dairy farm and shows us the scary realty of industrialization.