Rift Mode Feedback

[boronian]

The starter decks are really terrible. I think they need some changes not just the best basics added of course (Healing Mystic, Tigers, etc.) because why should people replace cards then. But they need more 2 drops as an example. Often you miss on T1 because of that and lose the game then.

I really like the idea of the Rift mode as a casual ladder with no end to it. But the wins in it should count to your quest progression, not only the played games. And at a certain lvl you should get a little reward like a common crate key. Not too much but more than nothing.

Not sure though if you really want to disable Gauntlet for the whole month. Something like in beta seems to be better.

[akurane]

Another slight thing that caught my attention was that your current rank and ribbons are shown in this mode, whereas in gauntlet you couldn’t see either player’s ribbons or current rank. Not sure if this matters a lot to others, but just wanted to point it out.

[Krause]

I noticed the same! But I couldn’t put my finger on what bugged me in that. Thanks for pointing it out.

As it’s so detached from main constructed, I felt the ribbons were unnecessary as well, and surprisingly disturbing. I’d rather have info on Rift levels and standings, or other Rift related information.

[grismy]

I think the rewards have been mentioned a lot already.

When I started I expected the same rewards as in gauntlet (because of the 150 g cost), but with way more people.
I’m not disappointed, it is a beta, but I would not play a lot of rift, if gauntlet was around.

Another great thing to have would be the ability to switch generals at some point.
Maybee once you reach lvl 10, but I have only reached lvl 5, so maybee there are some things I haven’t seen yet.

[dzugwillie]

So can I commit to another game straight away, or is gauntlet coming back in the next days? Because I was looking forward for six weeks to make my work deadline and then be free to grind my favorite game atm (duelyst). Gauntlet would have given me the chance to make progress towards having more than one ladder deck to compete in Diamond+ and also have fun playing of course. And I am not even F2P, but for a new player the rewards are so important to catch up a little. I can’t believe you let new players down like that.

[nwardezir]

let us know here how your feeling about Rift mode

So, if you ask it, for what it worth.

The PROs

• it’s casual
• it’s fun (mixed faction combos, no ladder/meta pressure)
• it allows doing your daily quests (thanks for that)
• there is nothing to win (no spirit, no cards, no orbs except the unique meme Serpenti) keep it that way
• it’s more forgiving than Gauntlet (no 3 strikes and out)

The CONs

• UI/UX would really need some little corrections (back button leaving the Rift mode when you’re in a deck detail being the worse to me, no easy switch between decks) ¹
• some decks are more clunky than other (Faie++ with removal, Abyssian-- with dual-gimped creep/swarm theme)
• having 5 upgrade only on your first General/match is disappointing when you pay 150 to start a second General (I did it and after a couple of matches, the fun wasn’t here and went back to my first General)
• matchmaking seems to be … inexistent, you can meet the same guy 3 times in a row, even if he has a thousand-worth spirit value deck and you’re just starting

Summary : keep up the good work !

sidenote ¹

If I have courage and time, I’ll compile Rift UX/UI issues and add them to Interface Fix thread but to be honest, I’m not feeling any progress is done or planed on this topic. The other day I was watching a Streamer browsing his matches in order to show one he previously did, and seeing him having to leave the Match History, go back to main menu, and re-enter again, several time in a row just because there is a “Next” button but no “Previous” … that was embarassing. Shame, shame, shame.

[darxim]

A pay-to-play mode that has absolutely no rewards, even first win of the day and win 3? Doesn’t this mean that this game mode is DOA? I mean, it’s fun, sure, and I might keep playing my free run a bit, but I can’t see actually paying gold or money to enter into one of these, seeing as that payment is a guaranteed loss. Even if you win, you lose.

Also, are there going to be leaderboards? If the sole purpose is competition, leaderboards would be necessary. Otherwise, you’ve got a vague idea at best of where you are.

[trulster]

And I guess wins dont even count towards banners either. Should be easy to fix.

[alplod]

I mean, it’s fun, sure, and I might keep playing my free run a bit, but I can’t see actually paying gold or money to enter into one of these, seeing as that payment is a guaranteed loss. Even if you win, you lose

This seems like a very strange conclusion for me. Don’t know about you, but I’m mostly playing for fun. You mentioned, that the mode is fun. Isn’t it a win by itself then?

Too many people talking about, you know, investments. However, the mode is free and fun.

The reward will be great, of course, everybody loves more free stuff (not excluding me), but not necessary IMO.

[Aeruniel]

Some more feedback:

I notice I have no incentive to play this, as my deck will take ages to develop to a good enough stage and I know it’s all getting wiped without any ranking reward or so at the end.

[darxim]

Too many people talking about, you know, investments. However, the mode is free and fun.

It’s not free, though. We’re only getting one initial free run. After that, it’s the same cost as Gauntlet. If it were free, I wouldn’t care about rewards. As it is, if there are no rewards, I’m better off playing Ranked mode where I can actually build up my far-from-complete collection, allowing me to make more and better decks for Ranked play. Ranked play is free.

[Aeruniel]

So if I save a group I lose my choice of card?? Dammit! I really wanted to choose a particular card and save the REST… is this intended? I just lost a levelup choice.

And I lost the saved bunch of cards as well!
Does everyone have that bug?

I had a new level, opened a bunch of cards then saved before choosing one, at which point I got no replacement card, then exited the game, then today leveled, I thought I’d get the saved cards but instead I got a new set of card when I clicked levelup…
Serious bug.

[baubledawdle]

Idea is nice, what kills it [for me] is matchmaking. Matchmaking is HORRIBLE.
As silver player, just started rift run with 5 free upgrades and what you think? Constantly being matched with Diamond and SRank players with helot of badges, all key rares dropped by curve and guaranteed leg or 2 dropped by turn 5-7. Thus obviously 15 upgrades or more.
Moreover, I had to surrender to one SRank with very well made deck, then guess what I got matched with him in a VERY NEXT game 5 seconds later. Was it so hard to implement at least simple level of protection like “cant be matched with same person twice in a row”? Like in other games its usually obvious rule?
How am I supposed to win even 1 match for quest in such semi-pro-play environment?
Well ye I did it later, pure accidently for opponents silly mistake, not sure I’m gonna win another match in a week in this mode thou.

*Forgot to add, I won’t ever play this mode after I finish free run, for same reason I can’t play Gauntlet - only veterans and SRank can get any profit or fun from it, I aint getting much fun losing to them every match (thus, another vets-only mode)

[alplod]

Additional feedback from me here, with a question.

As for now, when the initial admiration faded, I can say that this mode has rather slow development for a mode that is there for a month. I’d personally would love things to be sped up a bit. Like additional xp for winning streaks, or xp multiplied by a fraction of a rating. Playing well should definitely be rewarded, at least inside the game mode itself, even if not outside it.

And I also would like to ask @Ryvirath. When (if) the mode will be there on permanent basis, will the drafted decks be reset every month, or the deck you drafted will be yours forever? If the second option is intended - then I see no problems in a slower pace of upgrades. However, if it is reset - then it’s too little time for an average player (and I consider myself an average one ) to make that particular something work.

Hope it is possible for you to answer this question at the moment)

[Ryvirath]

Hi Alplod, this mode is still being tested, so there are no definitive plans for if it will become a permanent fixture, because of that things like if drafts would be reset etc are not currently on the docket due to the temporary nature of the mode currently.

[nwardezir]

it’s the same cost as Gauntlet.

The cost is the same but the playtime is different.
In Gauntlet, you pay 150gp and after 3 loss or 12 wins, you’re out.
In Rift, for the same price, you can almost play forever (as it requires “loss-streak of 19-20 to reach 0 from the starting point” *).

Paying 150gp (which is 2 days of daily quests) to have a new funny mode I can play forever, with new mechanics (cross faction) and that allows you to do your quests without hurting your Ladder Rank, it’s fine by me, and I guess I’m not alone, considering how loud the Community was about asking for a Casual mode.

Dunno if it’s a feeling but it’s seems that the more months pass and Duelyst grows, the more players looks like unsatisfied spoiled child (no offense)

[exerio]

To sum it up. Good stuff:
-Extremely fun, price for runs is good, memes, really enjoyable.
Bad stuff:
-RNG general selection is real bad, I paid 600 gold, and still didn’t get the general I wanted.
-Lack of goal/reward. Yeah it is fun but I’d rather play ladder/gauntlet and get gold and new cards to expand my collection.
-I’d really like to see curve widget.

Anyway thanks devs for the great work and new mode!

[gabriek]

The rift matchmaking has nothing to do with the ranked ladder, it has to do with your deck rating. So in theory your deck should be about just as good as theirs. Maybe if you hate losing so much you should look at your own play.

[owlington]

I do not know if this is exclusive to Steam users but I am unable to scroll through my decklist in the Rift Mode screen where you choose what cards to replace. This means that i cannot choose to change my high mana cards.

[alplod]

I had the problem while using touchpad. Mousewheel worked correctly, however.