Gkyr
Chef
KK, so the oft repeated mantra is that the collection of Tourney and Spire liabilities (various expansions, various squad size increases, sum of AW levels and other things I forget) increases the cost of the T and S battles but not the difficulty of the battles. I have no argument with this dogma, which has been supported by various player researches.
However, I noticed Spire battles got more difficult for me last week (my only change was upgrading one AW one level, but after the Spire started) and now this week I am noticing that the Spire battles got even still more difficult for me - significantly so. Two weeks ago I was still able to top the Spire at my pleasure with no battle losses, as I had done for many months prior. Now I am being faced with contrary battles in Spire - you know, the kind where your strongest troops in the first battle become the weakest ones in the second, or third. Usually the challenge is diluted with some lower-threat enemy, but no more. Now every one of the 5 enemy squads turns my buff against me. So, this is not just a cost increase in the squad ratings, it is a new and definitely more challenging set-up on the part of the battle algorithm. In addition, units with the same initiative (Golem and Hellhounds at 7, and Banshees and Thornrose at 15) are increasingly being shifted toward the enemy moves. I am used to the Tourneys getting difficult for dust and gems, but the multiple battles that characterize the Spire are way more challenging than last times.
The thing is, I have increased my 'cost burden' by only 3 AW upgrades, no expansions. I am used to the difference in cost. Anyway, as mentioned, this is not referable to the cost factors - this seems to be something else. I completed chapter 14 (constructs) but did not yet enter chapter 15 (the ch. 14 quests are still undeclinable). The only big differences that I have undertaken have been to build the 1* Timewarp and to upgrade one Armory from 32 to 33. So I am thinking that somewhere are this position there are one or more 'trip wires' that have nothing to do with cost but considerably add to the battle difficulty. In Spire, specifically.
Is this anyone else's experience? Is there any discussion of difficulty triggers in contradistinction to the known cost triggers? I could see where formally entering ch. 15 could result in a harder treatment in Spire, but I did not yet do that.
However, I noticed Spire battles got more difficult for me last week (my only change was upgrading one AW one level, but after the Spire started) and now this week I am noticing that the Spire battles got even still more difficult for me - significantly so. Two weeks ago I was still able to top the Spire at my pleasure with no battle losses, as I had done for many months prior. Now I am being faced with contrary battles in Spire - you know, the kind where your strongest troops in the first battle become the weakest ones in the second, or third. Usually the challenge is diluted with some lower-threat enemy, but no more. Now every one of the 5 enemy squads turns my buff against me. So, this is not just a cost increase in the squad ratings, it is a new and definitely more challenging set-up on the part of the battle algorithm. In addition, units with the same initiative (Golem and Hellhounds at 7, and Banshees and Thornrose at 15) are increasingly being shifted toward the enemy moves. I am used to the Tourneys getting difficult for dust and gems, but the multiple battles that characterize the Spire are way more challenging than last times.
The thing is, I have increased my 'cost burden' by only 3 AW upgrades, no expansions. I am used to the difference in cost. Anyway, as mentioned, this is not referable to the cost factors - this seems to be something else. I completed chapter 14 (constructs) but did not yet enter chapter 15 (the ch. 14 quests are still undeclinable). The only big differences that I have undertaken have been to build the 1* Timewarp and to upgrade one Armory from 32 to 33. So I am thinking that somewhere are this position there are one or more 'trip wires' that have nothing to do with cost but considerably add to the battle difficulty. In Spire, specifically.
Is this anyone else's experience? Is there any discussion of difficulty triggers in contradistinction to the known cost triggers? I could see where formally entering ch. 15 could result in a harder treatment in Spire, but I did not yet do that.