Balancing Realms Without Locking
Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2018 9:52 pm
Hello. I wanted to make a suggestion for balancing the realms without need for a lock. I believe that most of what is needed is already in place, and all that is needed is a little bit more stick to the carrot that is currently in the game.
I would suggest two changes:
1: the side that is zerging loses contribution and realm points equal to the amount of AAO the other side has. If the smaller side has 60% AAO, then the zerging side loses 60% of their realm points and contribution. Anything over 100% AAO and the zerging side doesn't gain anything.
2: Allow each player to gain contribution for 1 character on each side towards a single zone. I feel that players will be more inclined to switch sides if they don't lose contribution. If they will lose contribution, they'll just keep on the side they are on. This can particularly affect North America as there is usually just a single zone open so players would have to face losing all their contribution or continue to zerg. I think that the system will work better if players aren't facing a disadvantage towards switching sides (such as losing all the contribution they have earned thus far).
With a system like this, players won't lose contribution because players decided to zerg their side suddenly. If you played under AAO, and then the enemy side gains AAO a couple hours into the fight, you don't suffer in the long term, and thus can't be griefed.
This will also prevent players from PvEing a zone down. In order to gain contribution and realm points (including big ticks for taking a keep and zone, but I think these are already tied to contribution anyway), players need to partake in RvR in zones with enemy players. And if there aren't enough players on the other side, they can freely jump to the disadvantaged side to help out.
If players want to zerg a zone, or sit in empty zones, or fight against overwhelming odds, let them. They just won't get anything except special bags and little to no realm points for their 'efforts'.
I would suggest two changes:
1: the side that is zerging loses contribution and realm points equal to the amount of AAO the other side has. If the smaller side has 60% AAO, then the zerging side loses 60% of their realm points and contribution. Anything over 100% AAO and the zerging side doesn't gain anything.
2: Allow each player to gain contribution for 1 character on each side towards a single zone. I feel that players will be more inclined to switch sides if they don't lose contribution. If they will lose contribution, they'll just keep on the side they are on. This can particularly affect North America as there is usually just a single zone open so players would have to face losing all their contribution or continue to zerg. I think that the system will work better if players aren't facing a disadvantage towards switching sides (such as losing all the contribution they have earned thus far).
With a system like this, players won't lose contribution because players decided to zerg their side suddenly. If you played under AAO, and then the enemy side gains AAO a couple hours into the fight, you don't suffer in the long term, and thus can't be griefed.
This will also prevent players from PvEing a zone down. In order to gain contribution and realm points (including big ticks for taking a keep and zone, but I think these are already tied to contribution anyway), players need to partake in RvR in zones with enemy players. And if there aren't enough players on the other side, they can freely jump to the disadvantaged side to help out.
If players want to zerg a zone, or sit in empty zones, or fight against overwhelming odds, let them. They just won't get anything except special bags and little to no realm points for their 'efforts'.