@eieio_31310
I think everyone enjoys a challenge. . . But there are challenges and CHALLENGES.
Challenges comprise of some trial and error while finding a winning strategy that will then carry you through the rest of the weekly tournament. (Possibly with a few minor tweaks to refine your initial setup and how your build patterns develop during matches.)
CHALLENGES comprise trial and error while attempting to find a strategy that will hopefully allow you to triumph over the joint threats of a near impossible arena and opponents that leave you thinking "WTH". (Or even "WTF!!!")
This week qualifies as a CHALLENGE and, at least to me, has been taken way too far.
I know it's technically the same amount for everyone, but 250 starting sun!! REALLY!! That ridiculously low amount immediately plays into the hands of players with Max level plants. (Again.) Their plants are cheaper, stronger, inflict higher damage, and regenerate much faster. This leaves lower level players constantly trying to play catch up and failing more often than not. (This is before you even take into account opponents who seemingly need no sun while achieving monster scores.)
EA/Popcap are saying they have got on top of the cheating, but thus far I'm finding that if anything the problems have escalated.
I saw somebody saying somewhere (Reddit?) that if the cheaters HAVE been dealt with as EA/Popcap are claiming, then the worsening situation HAS to be entirely down to THEIR dodgy replays and killer bots.
I'm not prepared to put my hard earned reward streak at risk under such circumstances. If I lose to a genuine opponent, it's disappointing. BUT losing to a 'Ringer' is another matter entirely.
It seems to me that, irrespective of claims to the contrary, EA/Popcap continue to play us along with suspect tactics aimed at bleeding us dry of gems so we'll purchase even more. It doesn't matter how skilled you are when confronted with an AI opponent that's set up to initially track your score and to then beat you. The only thing that MIGHT carry you through is to do whatever it takes to give your score a heavy boost in the final few seconds of a match, so your 'opponent' doesn't have sufficient time to hit back before the bell goes.
Having to do that extracts all the fun from Battlez matches, and I like to have fun while playing. This week's tournament is a chore that's like banging your head against a brick wall, and I don't enjoy doing that.
Both your league and mine would seem to indicate that particular sentiment is pretty widespread among human players.
