Galactic Conquest 8: A(nother) Review
A note to our (fantastic) moderator community: My last review ended up getting moved to being a response to a mega-thread as opposed to being a standalone post in the feedback section. I would greatly appreciate it if you left this as a standalone post as it is not written with the intent of being a response to the mega thread and I believe is far better purposed as it’s own separate wall of text instead of being a wall of text inside another wall of text. Thank you all for all the work you do and keeping the forums functioning and (mostly) productive!
Galactic Conquest #8, (Another) Review
Alternatively, Star Wars Galaxy of Do I Get to Take A Turn?
Opening Thoughts:
It seemed interesting and good to me to write another review on this same subject matter. Given that no changes have been made to Conquest, I’m curious to see if my attitudes will change regarding this iteration. I’ll do my best to point out where my opinions changed, regarding conquest, and amend my thoughts as necessary. As of my writing for this section, my GP is 4.99M (so stinking close to my first GL, SEE) and I expect that many of the same issues I had with Conquest #7 will persist through Conquest #8.
To be clear. I’m not angry about it – and I certainly wouldn’t be writing such a detailed review were I so infuriated. I am also going to try and write in a new section entitled “Strategy” so others can see where I erred and not do the same. As my grandfather put it to me: “I’m not any smarter than you – I’ve just had 53 years longer than you to do it the wrong way.” So, my hope is that maybe something constructive will come of it.
Strategy:
Right now, my goal is to pick up ruthless swiftness whenever possible as this will help me utilize more teams against the onslaught of endless turn meter trains that I’m bound to come across in the course of the event. Starting off in sector one, I’m presented with Ruthless Offense and Master’s Technique. I suspect I will take Master’s Technique as this will help beef up many of my squads in the event that I get to take a turn and call in some assists.
But back to Ruthless Swiftness for a second. This is by far one of my favorite discs and it very quickly makes the unbeatable, beatable, on its own but even more so when paired with the purple disc that ignores a percentage of protection. That’s what I’m hoping for. That’s what I’m believing in. Harvey Dent; don’t fail me.
I also decided that in the absence of increased mastery or something that would give me extra turn meter that tanking up my squads would be a worthwhile endeavor. Entrenched is a solid disc that should help keep you from getting rocked by _again_ the infinite turn meter train. So far it has worked relatively well for battles against General Kenobi and the Padme Mini-Boss fight.
Thus far, I must say, entrenched is putting in the work. I’m on sector 3 now and trying to drop a GAS team with steadfast retribution. Oh. Boy. I’m actually having some issues with this fight – but I suspect it is likely because my GAS is running at 80% of his stats. We’ll try again _later_ at some point. As an update to this: JKL was able to put in the work that I needed him to do. So I’ve got that going for me.
It's Day 7 and I’ve switched out a green entrenched data disc for a blue one and that’s the most I plan on futzing with my data discs for the time being. The overall cost to re-disc for a battle is just too high. I’m on the Maul sector and it’s difficult… sure… but the flavor isn’t overly spicy. It still feels like hard mode, as it currently exists should still be challenge mode.
The Horror, The Humanity:
Oof. Well. I haven’t even started yet and I’ve already got two Phoenix teams spread across the next two nodes. I could be interested in finding out if the team dispersal is set for every conquest or if it’s randomized. Either way. Phoenix isn’t fun anymore. Out of 5 possible battles, Phoenix has 40% representation. I think I’m going to keep a running tally of how many times I see Phoenix pop up. That sounds fun. (actually, it doesn’t.) But if it helps prove a point, I’ll do it, happily so… perks of working in the legal field. I sort through this so you don’t have to. The answer is 9, by the by. Nine phoenix teams that I had to see… one that I had to actually battle. Gross.
You know what’s incredibly annoying? Steadfast Retribution on a GAS team. It’s not cute. It’s not funny. It just feels… lazy. In a lot of ways this is what I meant in my earlier review when I said “Hey, this borders on malfeasance.” It’s not a fun fight. It’s not even a fair fight with data discs. This is a prime example of where a GL is a “cheat code” to get around the battle. Do better. Now, look, I did make it through this fight… but ask me if I enjoyed it. Ask me if I felt like I accomplished anything other than gaining a sense of “thank the Whills that’s over.” I didn’t.
Endless turn meter trains. I came across this several times, but most notably against Imperial Trooper teams where I wasn’t taking the first turn. Also, that maul battle is… something. I can’t tell if I like it or not. It’s a literal exercise in my trying to figure out if I can make it through the battle without shotputting my phone. Results so far are mixed. Unrelated, CG, if you ever want to make a new companion app, one that would track distance, velocity, and height using the iPhone’s accelerometer, altimeter, and GPS function, I’d be happy to license the idea to you.
“Gotcha” feats are not something I’m particularly interested in seeing in GC. These “USE RELIC PHEONIX” or “HAY UU FERMED BaDbAtcH rIgHT?” feats are literally some of the most annoying and tone deaf feats I’ve ever come across. Hear me, it’s fine in Galactic Challenges – it’s not okay in Conquest. IF that’s something you want to pursue – please just give us a month’s heads up to panic farm/level.
What CG Can Improve:
This is probably not a useful section, but I’ve included it in my other reviews so lets have at it. I wouldn’t mind fighting a Beskar Mando team here and there. I remember those being pretty good fights.
It’s funny though, because with every battle, I find myself having these “What If?” moments that take place in an alternate reality where I’m fighting a tough opponent – but the battles are winnable not using something so gauche as a JKL or GAS team. I find myself thinking “wow, it sure would be fun to take on these bosses (like the sith spirit, perhaps?) or the security droid that were one off legendary character event bosses. I do think that’s where the future lay. Or I certainly hope so, at least. Heck, an AT-AT special event battle would be… something. I know I keep bringing up KOTOR content… but y’all really nailed it with those boss fights. So you’ve got that going for you – I just wish you’d bring that content into GC.
Enough of my hopeful waxing. For the love of the whills… would y’all please tie the conquest energy penalty for swapping disc to their value? (I.e. one dot is only one GC energy to change, two is two, three is three, etc.) That certainly seems equitable instead of some arbitrary number that applies to all discs. A higher allowance for discs might be an interesting experiment as well. Specifically, something like 20 for normal and 16 for hard might be a fun switch-up. Also: I wrote that with a challenge mode specifically in mind… so in that instance, challenge mode would have 12. Or alternatively, 16, 12, and 8,
Also: challenge mode: this seems important. Hard Mode still has the flavor of “it should have been something else.” I think that is mostly the sentiment of a lot of our fellow players and content creators and I think they’re right. The rewards at this juncture don’t adequately reflect the time you’re asking us to put into the mode. You want us to spend two weeks on it? Fine. You want to make it so that it actually takes two weeks? Well, now I probably have an issue.
Laws of Unintended Consequences:
Typically, there has been some sort of game-breaking element that I’ve covered here that made unintended interactions with data discs a fun aspect of the game. No such luck quite yet. The extra protection is still working out as a solid strategy… so I’ve got that going for me, at least.
We’re only about three hours away from Conquest being over, now, and I came across a fun element that I _assume_ was not an “intended interaction.” Protection recovery when attacking out of turn on a GAS team. Yep. That’s right. He doesn’t go down. (no, not like your mom, either.) That was a fun interaction that I ran into. I’ll have to keep it in my back pocket for this last GC in this set.
The Final Score:
Oof. Well. I still can’t say I enjoyed this conquest.
Obviously I can’t say that I feel the final grade has improved at all. It’s still an F. No. I’m not paying my respects, either. The first several rounds of conquest were way more appropriate for what you were asking us to do. It had value. It had a certain amount of draw. Now it’s a grind that asks us to spend two weeks doing menial tasks that we’re not sure if we want to do. Were it not a central part to the release of recent characters and ships – I don’t know that it would have the same engagement as other modes. In fact, it might genuinely languish in obscurity like ships did.
BUT. It is a mode that is central to acquiring new characters – the oddity of which is that players below 4M GP will only have half or so the shards needed to get CAT assuming they were able to get to the max reward crate. Specifically, I’m 27 banners (shards? Idk) away from the Hard-04 box. I’ve been 40- some odd shards (banners? Idk) away from Hard-04 since Friday (so 3.5 days) and I’m simply not interested in the grind. I’m already getting one less battle for the refresh… and honestly, for the extra 5 CAT shards that I already bought to make up for my own not caring enough to try to achieve anything more in the game mode… the work doesn’t match the payoff. I think that’s what it boils down to. Hard mode isn’t hard. It borders on absurdity and insurmountably. My best advice is to make the rewards better, the feats less “gotcha” and introduce a challenge mode for 7M and above with the added rewards (like unlocking the character outright through end of event rewards). That said… I’ll have CAT once the event ends… which is certainly something.
It does sound like CG has heard the discontent from the community… so I applaud and thank you for that – I just hope that you’ll take the criticism (whether fair or not) and suggestions in consideration and let them weigh heavily. Conquest can be vital to the game – but treat it like a proper game mode and not a blatant money grab.
By the by. I found some graffiti in the Cantina Bathroom. Underneath a phone number to connect with “Hot Twi’Leks in your area” there’s also something scrawled out that is barely legible. The Aurebesh is sloppy – but it reads “Windu Vindaloo.” If I were guessing as to the meaning… it has something or other to do with a spicy Mace rework.
Galactic Conquest #8, (Another) Review
Alternatively, Star Wars Galaxy of Do I Get to Take A Turn?
Opening Thoughts:
It seemed interesting and good to me to write another review on this same subject matter. Given that no changes have been made to Conquest, I’m curious to see if my attitudes will change regarding this iteration. I’ll do my best to point out where my opinions changed, regarding conquest, and amend my thoughts as necessary. As of my writing for this section, my GP is 4.99M (so stinking close to my first GL, SEE) and I expect that many of the same issues I had with Conquest #7 will persist through Conquest #8.
To be clear. I’m not angry about it – and I certainly wouldn’t be writing such a detailed review were I so infuriated. I am also going to try and write in a new section entitled “Strategy” so others can see where I erred and not do the same. As my grandfather put it to me: “I’m not any smarter than you – I’ve just had 53 years longer than you to do it the wrong way.” So, my hope is that maybe something constructive will come of it.
Strategy:
Right now, my goal is to pick up ruthless swiftness whenever possible as this will help me utilize more teams against the onslaught of endless turn meter trains that I’m bound to come across in the course of the event. Starting off in sector one, I’m presented with Ruthless Offense and Master’s Technique. I suspect I will take Master’s Technique as this will help beef up many of my squads in the event that I get to take a turn and call in some assists.
But back to Ruthless Swiftness for a second. This is by far one of my favorite discs and it very quickly makes the unbeatable, beatable, on its own but even more so when paired with the purple disc that ignores a percentage of protection. That’s what I’m hoping for. That’s what I’m believing in. Harvey Dent; don’t fail me.
I also decided that in the absence of increased mastery or something that would give me extra turn meter that tanking up my squads would be a worthwhile endeavor. Entrenched is a solid disc that should help keep you from getting rocked by _again_ the infinite turn meter train. So far it has worked relatively well for battles against General Kenobi and the Padme Mini-Boss fight.
Thus far, I must say, entrenched is putting in the work. I’m on sector 3 now and trying to drop a GAS team with steadfast retribution. Oh. Boy. I’m actually having some issues with this fight – but I suspect it is likely because my GAS is running at 80% of his stats. We’ll try again _later_ at some point. As an update to this: JKL was able to put in the work that I needed him to do. So I’ve got that going for me.
It's Day 7 and I’ve switched out a green entrenched data disc for a blue one and that’s the most I plan on futzing with my data discs for the time being. The overall cost to re-disc for a battle is just too high. I’m on the Maul sector and it’s difficult… sure… but the flavor isn’t overly spicy. It still feels like hard mode, as it currently exists should still be challenge mode.
The Horror, The Humanity:
Oof. Well. I haven’t even started yet and I’ve already got two Phoenix teams spread across the next two nodes. I could be interested in finding out if the team dispersal is set for every conquest or if it’s randomized. Either way. Phoenix isn’t fun anymore. Out of 5 possible battles, Phoenix has 40% representation. I think I’m going to keep a running tally of how many times I see Phoenix pop up. That sounds fun. (actually, it doesn’t.) But if it helps prove a point, I’ll do it, happily so… perks of working in the legal field. I sort through this so you don’t have to. The answer is 9, by the by. Nine phoenix teams that I had to see… one that I had to actually battle. Gross.
You know what’s incredibly annoying? Steadfast Retribution on a GAS team. It’s not cute. It’s not funny. It just feels… lazy. In a lot of ways this is what I meant in my earlier review when I said “Hey, this borders on malfeasance.” It’s not a fun fight. It’s not even a fair fight with data discs. This is a prime example of where a GL is a “cheat code” to get around the battle. Do better. Now, look, I did make it through this fight… but ask me if I enjoyed it. Ask me if I felt like I accomplished anything other than gaining a sense of “thank the Whills that’s over.” I didn’t.
Endless turn meter trains. I came across this several times, but most notably against Imperial Trooper teams where I wasn’t taking the first turn. Also, that maul battle is… something. I can’t tell if I like it or not. It’s a literal exercise in my trying to figure out if I can make it through the battle without shotputting my phone. Results so far are mixed. Unrelated, CG, if you ever want to make a new companion app, one that would track distance, velocity, and height using the iPhone’s accelerometer, altimeter, and GPS function, I’d be happy to license the idea to you.
“Gotcha” feats are not something I’m particularly interested in seeing in GC. These “USE RELIC PHEONIX” or “HAY UU FERMED BaDbAtcH rIgHT?” feats are literally some of the most annoying and tone deaf feats I’ve ever come across. Hear me, it’s fine in Galactic Challenges – it’s not okay in Conquest. IF that’s something you want to pursue – please just give us a month’s heads up to panic farm/level.
What CG Can Improve:
This is probably not a useful section, but I’ve included it in my other reviews so lets have at it. I wouldn’t mind fighting a Beskar Mando team here and there. I remember those being pretty good fights.
It’s funny though, because with every battle, I find myself having these “What If?” moments that take place in an alternate reality where I’m fighting a tough opponent – but the battles are winnable not using something so gauche as a JKL or GAS team. I find myself thinking “wow, it sure would be fun to take on these bosses (like the sith spirit, perhaps?) or the security droid that were one off legendary character event bosses. I do think that’s where the future lay. Or I certainly hope so, at least. Heck, an AT-AT special event battle would be… something. I know I keep bringing up KOTOR content… but y’all really nailed it with those boss fights. So you’ve got that going for you – I just wish you’d bring that content into GC.
Enough of my hopeful waxing. For the love of the whills… would y’all please tie the conquest energy penalty for swapping disc to their value? (I.e. one dot is only one GC energy to change, two is two, three is three, etc.) That certainly seems equitable instead of some arbitrary number that applies to all discs. A higher allowance for discs might be an interesting experiment as well. Specifically, something like 20 for normal and 16 for hard might be a fun switch-up. Also: I wrote that with a challenge mode specifically in mind… so in that instance, challenge mode would have 12. Or alternatively, 16, 12, and 8,
Also: challenge mode: this seems important. Hard Mode still has the flavor of “it should have been something else.” I think that is mostly the sentiment of a lot of our fellow players and content creators and I think they’re right. The rewards at this juncture don’t adequately reflect the time you’re asking us to put into the mode. You want us to spend two weeks on it? Fine. You want to make it so that it actually takes two weeks? Well, now I probably have an issue.
Laws of Unintended Consequences:
Typically, there has been some sort of game-breaking element that I’ve covered here that made unintended interactions with data discs a fun aspect of the game. No such luck quite yet. The extra protection is still working out as a solid strategy… so I’ve got that going for me, at least.
We’re only about three hours away from Conquest being over, now, and I came across a fun element that I _assume_ was not an “intended interaction.” Protection recovery when attacking out of turn on a GAS team. Yep. That’s right. He doesn’t go down. (no, not like your mom, either.) That was a fun interaction that I ran into. I’ll have to keep it in my back pocket for this last GC in this set.
The Final Score:
Oof. Well. I still can’t say I enjoyed this conquest.
Obviously I can’t say that I feel the final grade has improved at all. It’s still an F. No. I’m not paying my respects, either. The first several rounds of conquest were way more appropriate for what you were asking us to do. It had value. It had a certain amount of draw. Now it’s a grind that asks us to spend two weeks doing menial tasks that we’re not sure if we want to do. Were it not a central part to the release of recent characters and ships – I don’t know that it would have the same engagement as other modes. In fact, it might genuinely languish in obscurity like ships did.
BUT. It is a mode that is central to acquiring new characters – the oddity of which is that players below 4M GP will only have half or so the shards needed to get CAT assuming they were able to get to the max reward crate. Specifically, I’m 27 banners (shards? Idk) away from the Hard-04 box. I’ve been 40- some odd shards (banners? Idk) away from Hard-04 since Friday (so 3.5 days) and I’m simply not interested in the grind. I’m already getting one less battle for the refresh… and honestly, for the extra 5 CAT shards that I already bought to make up for my own not caring enough to try to achieve anything more in the game mode… the work doesn’t match the payoff. I think that’s what it boils down to. Hard mode isn’t hard. It borders on absurdity and insurmountably. My best advice is to make the rewards better, the feats less “gotcha” and introduce a challenge mode for 7M and above with the added rewards (like unlocking the character outright through end of event rewards). That said… I’ll have CAT once the event ends… which is certainly something.
It does sound like CG has heard the discontent from the community… so I applaud and thank you for that – I just hope that you’ll take the criticism (whether fair or not) and suggestions in consideration and let them weigh heavily. Conquest can be vital to the game – but treat it like a proper game mode and not a blatant money grab.
By the by. I found some graffiti in the Cantina Bathroom. Underneath a phone number to connect with “Hot Twi’Leks in your area” there’s also something scrawled out that is barely legible. The Aurebesh is sloppy – but it reads “Windu Vindaloo.” If I were guessing as to the meaning… it has something or other to do with a spicy Mace rework.
