Current character release cadence is something like this:Marquee release --> 4-6 weeks --> shipments/chromium packs --> 4-6 weeks --> single hard node/cantina node/guild shop/fleet shop.Unfortunately, this is resulting in a significant amount of toons ending up on single hard nodes recently. Are there plans to make these toons more farmable @CG_SBCrumb? A single hard node takes like 6 months to farm to 7 stars which maybe is the intent for some but it seems like all of them are that way. Why have Visas and Sabine on single hard nodes for example? Neither of them are earth-shattering meta characters? Rose? Holdo? I know it's been stated before that the other shops won't be touched as these are intended to feed the shard shop store but with all the toons being released this is going to continue to clutter up the LS/DS and possibly ship nodes at the rate things are going. Please revisit that aspect of the character release cadence. Let players decide if they want a toon or shard shop currency.As an option, I propose the following which should maintain the exclusive nature of these characters for a time but progressively allow them to become more farmable:Releases that go to hard nodes: Marquee release --> 4-6 weeks --> shipments/chromium packs --> 4-6 weeks --> single hard node --> 4-6 weeks --> 2 hard nodes --> 4-6 weeks --> 3 hard nodes or start removing from hard nodes and add them to either cantina/arena/GW.and Releases that go to other locations: Marquee release --> 4-6 weeks --> shipments/chromium packs --> 4-6 weeks --> cantina node/guild shop/fleet shop.

Agreed. This is where the problem lies, IMO, not with marquee events. Single hard nodes, especially the 20 energy ones which is the only place these characters are going, are miserably long farms which hinder gear acquisition for long periods of time.

Excellent idea to modify it too, OP.These single node farms are awful, but if it was only the starting place for these toons, and they'd continue to open up in more places as months go by that would be MUCH better.

If the plan is to add new characters on the cantina farm schedule, and with the major mod shuffle, we should get a separate energy for mod farming. If the mod only energy becomes a reality, I think I could bear it.

They will not make a change like this. Krakens will stop paying $300 for every marquee toon, and whales will stop occasionally paying that much for a marquee toon with a good kit if they can farm them quickly a few weeks later. They don’t want you to be able to easily farm these new characters. They want you to buy them. They will try to get you to buy them via the incredibly overpriced and deceptively marketed 3-330 shard packs. Then they will try to get you to buy the via slightly less overpriced Chromium packs, then via moderately overpriced crystal purchases via shipments, then via refreshes.They are apparently committed to this business model, so do not expect any changes.

"SoonerJBD;c-1597983" wrote:They will not make a change like this. Krakens will stop paying $300 for every marquee toon, and whales will stop occasionally paying that much for a marquee toon with a good kit if they can farm them quickly a few weeks later. They don’t want you to be able to easily farm these new characters. They want you to buy them. They will try to get you to buy them via the incredibly overpriced and deceptively marketed 3-330 shard packs. Then they will try to get you to buy the via slightly less overpriced Chromium packs, then via moderately overpriced crystal purchases via shipments, then via refreshes.They are apparently committed to this business model, so do not expect any changes.My proposal was up to 6 months after the initial release before a hard-node toon becomes farmable from 3 hard nodes or farmable within a store. The whales and Krakens have long moved on to the next shiny thing by that point.

Proposed Revision to the Character Release Cadence

natepod42
7 years ago
Agreed. This is where the problem lies, IMO, not with marquee events. Single hard nodes, especially the 20 energy ones which is the only place these characters are going, are miserably long farms which hinder gear acquisition for long periods of time.
GOW_LIKE_A_BOSS
7 years ago
Excellent idea to modify it too, OP.

These single node farms are awful, but if it was only the starting place for these toons, and they'd continue to open up in more places as months go by that would be MUCH better.
taxingpear94
7 years ago
If the plan is to add new characters on the cantina farm schedule, and with the major mod shuffle, we should get a separate energy for mod farming. If the mod only energy becomes a reality, I think I could bear it.
BMDean
7 years ago
They will not make a change like this. Krakens will stop paying $300 for every marquee toon, and whales will stop occasionally paying that much for a marquee toon with a good kit if they can farm them quickly a few weeks later. They don’t want you to be able to easily farm these new characters. They want you to buy them. They will try to get you to buy them via the incredibly overpriced and deceptively marketed 3-330 shard packs. Then they will try to get you to buy the via slightly less overpriced Chromium packs, then via moderately overpriced crystal purchases via shipments, then via refreshes.

They are apparently committed to this business model, so do not expect any changes.
stud3099
7 years ago
"SoonerJBD;c-1597983" wrote:
They will not make a change like this. Krakens will stop paying $300 for every marquee toon, and whales will stop occasionally paying that much for a marquee toon with a good kit if they can farm them quickly a few weeks later. They don’t want you to be able to easily farm these new characters. They want you to buy them. They will try to get you to buy them via the incredibly overpriced and deceptively marketed 3-330 shard packs. Then they will try to get you to buy the via slightly less overpriced Chromium packs, then via moderately overpriced crystal purchases via shipments, then via refreshes.

They are apparently committed to this business model, so do not expect any changes.

My proposal was up to 6 months after the initial release before a hard-node toon becomes farmable from 3 hard nodes or farmable within a store. The whales and Krakens have long moved on to the next shiny thing by that point.
BMDean
7 years ago
"Stud3099;c-1597992" wrote:
"SoonerJBD;c-1597983" wrote:
They will not make a change like this. Krakens will stop paying $300 for every marquee toon, and whales will stop occasionally paying that much for a marquee toon with a good kit if they can farm them quickly a few weeks later. They don’t want you to be able to easily farm these new characters. They want you to buy them. They will try to get you to buy them via the incredibly overpriced and deceptively marketed 3-330 shard packs. Then they will try to get you to buy the via slightly less overpriced Chromium packs, then via moderately overpriced crystal purchases via shipments, then via refreshes.

They are apparently committed to this business model, so do not expect any changes.

My proposal was up to 6 months after the initial release before a hard-node toon becomes farmable from 3 hard nodes or farmable within a store. The whales and Krakens have long moved on to the next shiny thing by that point.

Still not going to happen. The knowledge that the only way to get new toons in a reasonable amount of time is to buy them drives sales. They don’t want anyone thinking, “Well, I can just wait a few more months and farm them.”

I’m not saying your suggestion is unreasonable. I’m just saying there is no way they will do it.
slick1972
7 years ago
Congrats, OP, you've put forth an excellent post, with reasonable arguments, and you put the cherry on top: an actual suggestion to replace the system you don't like.

I like this idea. As a mostly f2p player, I would obviously prefer characters get released directly into stores, but I'm a realist, and I know that'll never happen. What you've suggested wouldn't hurt the characters, I believe, and would simultaneously help newer players get going faster. @CG_SBCrumb , is there any hope of seeing something along these lines enacted?
cicero727
7 years ago
I remember when they put Phoenix in multiple locations and then dropped a legendary for Thrawn like 2 weeks later. I don't see why that couldn't happen here.
theatomicpun
7 years ago
Here's how the math works out, just fyi. To get from 3*-7* you need 280 shards.

Current system (1 hard node forever):
170 days (24.2 weeks)
Total 36.2 weeks from release date
Proposed system by OP (assuming 6 weeks):
98 days (14.6 weeks)
Total 26.6 weeks from release date

No comment just math.
Prof_Whiskers
7 years ago
If they slowed the rate they released characters, 3 months would still be plenty time to encourage people to buy an advantage, and give them enough character releases to keep interest high and maintain the business model whilst giving the community a much needed morale boost. Seems good. Nice idea OP