I think the best way to describe PvP this week was SLOW
I was travelling and playing my free SoW all week with a refill here and there. It was enough to stay number one most of the week – but of course Saturday changes everything. I was at the airport and saw it was really just me and Alex near the top – so with free Philadelphia airport wifi and a delayed flight I knew had wifi – started playing – but then GMAC appeared! Of course I was interrupted by boarding, deboarding, crappy plane wifi and crashes, cab ride, etc – but the fact that we had even a little bit of a run was fun – because the arena was a pretty quiet spot.
In the end of course he prevailed – as he always does – but there was a little dovetailing while I was playing fast and furious – possibly because my defense had a solid week. In any event, big congrats to GMAC for his ELEVENTH eternal! Now tied with the original king of PvP Jofer!
Slauki rounded out the podium with third – his first time there! His maximized character thread is one of the best resources on this forum, and he always has wise things to say as he helps players here on the forum – so congrats!
Final top 5 were:
1) GMAC
2) NICKO
3) SLAUKI
4) ShaolinLondo
5) Caretaker
While I usually like to keep these posts process oriented – with a positive edge – it’s almost impossible to do that right now. The reason? Long term player attrition. It’s getting really disheartening.
I’ve said before – I’m a Maiden fan, not a “gamer” – so my experience with this matter is zero. Perhaps it’s simply inevitable – the way these mobile games work – and nothing else to say. But perhaps that’s NOT the case – and what can be done?
The list is long.
Jofer started when he simply got bored and moved on to a game that gave him more rewards for his effort and likely a greater challenge. I'm sure getting four Beelzebubs helped in that decision. But now – looking at a partial list – we have
Jofer
Osiris
Witkacy
Ringe
BadTaste
RCarter
IcemanFerrar
BillLion
Hold
Eskiggalu
Rygone
Tritium
Lulero
And I’m sure others I’m missing
Canyptian and Tom have become “casual” players – Kamuz and R1ck announced they will be slowing down – SilentKnight has slowed in the arena due to bugs - and then another humdinger – reigning champ GMAC expressed frustration as well with a possible retirement coming. He mentioned 90 event souls and zero Valkyries - I think anyone in that position would be pissed.
These players were great competitors and great forum members – great people – and every one of them stings.
So I ask again – is this just how it is? The natural progression of mobile games? Framing this as a positive – what would KEEP people here?
Of course the obvious things – better drop rates – new content – fewer bugs – more PvP variety without the same toons over and over – have been discussed in various threads. Change MUST happen or this will continue. And perhaps the business model depends on new players and long-term player attrition is just the way it will go until there are not enough Maiden fans to keep this ship afloat and it sinks.
But I’ll end with the fact I always believe people are doing the best they can with the resources they have – and that includes the developers. I DO think they listen and am grateful we have the interaction we have with them. Perhaps Sparton will even pipe in as I know he reads these threads.
I also believe this game is better than it was months ago. So change in some areas IS happening. But that doesn’t change the sting of these long term players hanging up their Eddie…
I would encourage responses to be constructive as opposed to rants. In the end everyone wants this game to thrive - good for newbies and long term players alike.
See you in the arena!