Support have asked me to raise my concerns about changes to the Lighthouse and Sanctuary AWs here - so here goes.
I will start by copying my conversation with Support.
ME TO SUPPORT
My level 11 Crystal Lighthouse currently gives me 385 goods for each neighbour and fellowship member I visit so by visiting my 24 Fellowship members and my 240 neighbours I can get 266*385 (=102,510) goods per day.
With the new arrangements I will get 3,850 goods each time I open a chest (maximum 3 per day) - I get 11,550 goods per day
How can this be explained as a tiny bit less - close to 90% reduction is not a small change!
In effect any player who visits more than 30 Fellowship friends and neighbours will be disadvantaged.
The reduction in goods will have a significant effect on my ability to take part in tournaments - fighting will still be possible but catering will be significantly reduced so I will not be able to complete as many provinces and/or levels..
I am sure I will continue visiting my fellowship friends but would have absolutely no incentive to visit my neighbours, the majority of which have not progressed sufficiently and are too far away to visit me back.
In summary this change will reduce my goods rewards by close to 90% and will reduce the visits I make to neighbours by a similar amount, I will not be able to participate as much in tournaments and overall will need less time to spend playing Elvenar. I guess it will give me time to find another game, maybe one I find I enjoy more - another satisfied customer?!?
Looks like this change will have exactly the opposite effect to what you are looking for unless balancing means playing Elvenar less.
It is very clear that the game designers are not listening to the players.The issue of changes to Lighthouse and Sanctuary AWs had severe adverse reaction in beta but despite this Inno has proceeded to bring this severe change into the live game.
Many players have invested significant time and effort in building up the levels of these AWs because they provided decent returns when they visited a high number of their neighbours. Anyone who normally visits over 30 neighbours including fellowship mates will now disadvantaged by this change.
A comment by a game moderator in beta -
We changed the mechanic for this ancient wonder. For the vast majority of players, you will end up having more rewards than you used to. For some players, you may get a tiny bit less. So why do this? Simple because now, this system will be easier to balance and track on our side.
This is blatantly wrong.
My level 11 Crystal Lighthouse has been giving me 385 goods for each neighbour and fellowship member I visit so by visiting my 24 Fellowship members and my 240 neighbours I can get 266*385 (=102,510) goods per day.
With the new arrangements I will get 3,850 goods each time I open a chest (maximum 3 per day) - I get 11,550 goods per day
How can this be explained as a tiny bit less - close to 90% reduction is not a small change!
In effect any player who visits more than 30 Fellowship friends and neighbours will be disadvantaged.
Along with many other players the reduction in goods will have a significant effect on my ability to take part in tournaments - fighting will still be possible but catering will be significantly reduced so I will not be able to complete as many provinces and/or levels..
I am sure I will continue visiting my fellowship friends but would have absolutely no incentive to visit my neighbours, the majority of which have not progressed sufficiently and are too far away to visit me back.
If I tear down my Lighthouse the 3365 KPs will be lost forever but that seems the best approach as my Lighthouse is now almost worthless. Maybe the developers will return the KPs if I decide this is the best option, or more likely I get nothing.
In summary this change will reduce my goods rewards by close to 90% and will reduce the visits I make to neighbours by a similar amount, I will not be able to participate as much in tournaments and overall will need less time to spend playing Elvenar. I guess it will give me time to find another game, maybe one I find I enjoy more - another satisfied customer?!?
Looks like this change will have exactly the opposite effect to what you are looking for unless balancing means playing Elvenar less.
Please. please come up with a better way of balancing the game than by totalling trashing the benefits that really active players get by investing their time and efforts in playing the game.
I am Archmage of Phoenix Power, the top Fellowship in Arendyll, and know that my team are extremely angry about this. A positive response about how and when you intend to correct this change would be appreciated.
SUPPORT RESPONSE
Hello LordBrian,
Thank you for contacting the Elvenar support team.
We are sorry to hear your dissatisfaction with the changes made to the Crystal Lighthouse and Bell Spire ancient wonders. Please be aware this was not a decision that we made lightly, and every part of the decision was analyzed - even your feedback from our Beta community.
The changes were made to balance out all of the Ancient Wonders to make sure that they were fair and advantageous to each player that decided to build them. This will also help players realize the importance of providing neighborly help in order to obtain the larger prizes/rewards.
We do realize that any changes made to the game are not always going to be liked right-away, but we do encourage you to try this alteration and leave your
feedback on our forum.
Again, our sincerest apologies for the inconvenience this change causes you.
Kind regards,
Aleron
In-Game Support
MY SECOND MESSAGE TO SUPPORT
Please can you explain your comment
'This will also help players realize the importance of providing neighborly help in order to obtain the larger prizes/rewards.'
I really don't understand this - the change will significantly reduce the reasons for me doing neighbourhood visits and I guess the same will apply for a high proportion of advanced players. For me the goods gained were the only real benefit from visiting. Now by just visiting my fellowship I will get all the goods I will receive.
At least if 3 chests were available for both Fellowship and neighbour visits, there would some reason to visit a few neighbours.
SUPPORT RESPONSE
Thanks again for contacting the Elvenar support team.
We're happy to help you with your question,
The majority of players in Elvenar do not visit their neighbors on the world map, and/or most of them have this particular Ancient Wonder for its effect to extend neighborly help.
It's unfortunate that the change negatively affects some players, but as previously stated this was not a decision that we made lightly, and every part of the decision was analyzed - even your feedback from our Beta community.
We hope this helps and if you should you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. Have a great day!
Kind regards,
Aleron
In-Game Support
MY THIRD MESSAGE TO SUPPORT
So if you acknowledge that the changes are going to reduce the already low levels of neighbourhood visits, and you want players to increase their visits to neighbours, what will you be doing to make this worth doing.
Surely you need to add incentives rather than take them away.
SUPPORT RESPONSE
Thanks again for contacting the Elvenar support team.
We value the ideas and opinions of our players and we will forward your feedback to the development team.
Should you have additional questions or comments, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Kind regards,
Aleron
In-Game Support
MY FOURTH MESSAGE TO SUPPORT
I have never pestered the team before but really feel this is a game breaker - you must show that you care about players who invest a lot of time effort and money into this game - my Fellowship, without any input from me, is saying that we should withhold all purchases of diamonds until we here a positive response to our concerns about these changes.
If the feeling is that strong surely you need to reconsider this change. I would add that if we do decide to go down this route, and we have not voted so far, I would address all other Archmages of senior Fellowships about our decision. Please, please give something back - we love the game but hate to see our hard work and plans ripped from under our feet.
We contribute massive amounts in the purchase of diamonds and I hope you will give us some reason to continue our support for the development of this game.
SUPPORT RESPONSE
Thanks again for contacting the Elvenar support team,
We understand the frustration and inconvenience this is causing some of our players but please understand that as Elvenar support we can only forward your feedback onto our developers for them to review.
You and your fellowship can also give you feedback to the developers by following this link to our forum.
https://us.forum.elvenar.com/index.php?threads/release-notes-version-1-39.13416/
Again, our sincerest apologies for the inconvenience this change causes you.
Kind regards,
Aleron
In-Game Support