I don´t like the refresh contest.
What i´m saying is that there´s something that separates the top20 players (who presumably all reach top5 during their respective pay-outs) from the players who don't reach top5 during their pay-out.
I can't say with certainty what that something is that's currently preventing them from reaching top5 daily, but i think it's because they drop too far on defense and are unable to consistandly win on offense (which is a result of having (a) inferior team/mods).
Based on what i think you're suggesting (more balanced teams rock/paper/scissors no powercreep/leaps), that would all change making it alot easier to field a team that can consistandly win on offense, which in term would also mean everyone would drop significantly further on defense. That would turn arena into a "refresh contest". The only thing that separates players would be the willingness to refresh and do many battles per day in order to reach top5. Like you said, you have to refresh because you're equivalent. Ofcourse the competativeness of leaderboards is relative, but the principle remains the same.
I currently don't need to refresh where as i did need to refresh semi often just prior to revan returning. The longer i can not improve my team (for whatever reason), the further i'll start dropping on defense. That's what i'm basing the assumption that it's all about teams/mods on.
As for the principles, i think this game does allright on all 3 of them for being a mobile freemium game. I like certain aspects more than others, but as a whole it's quite an enjoyable game. I do have low expectations and i'm not even a star wars fan, this game just delivers what i was looking for in a mobile game. I would never pay for it though.
