Prismata unit balance survey

JavaScript isn't enabled in your browser, so this file can't be opened. Enable and reload.

Prismata unit balance survey - October 2015

As we move closer to Prismata's release, we're moving to do a final refining of the attributes of a large fraction of the core units. There are a number of reasons for this: improved multiplayer balance, more interesting games, and stability for completion of the single player campaign.

We've reached a point where most of the critically imbalanced units have been dealt with, so a lot of the remaining decisions are small balance nudges, or preference-driven tweaks based on taste and judgement rather than fixing brokenness.

Brokenness is something we can often determine from game statistics, but smaller tweaks require *your* feedback for us to make the best decisions for Prismata. So with that in mind, we have a number of questions about a few Prismata units.

See http://prismata.gamepedia.com/Unit for unit information.

Feel free to answer as much or as little of the survey as you'd like.

I thank you in advance for your participation!

~ Elyot Grant
Founder, Lunarch Studios

Chieftain and Doomed Mech

We recently nerfed Chieftain while *not* nerfing Doomed Mech, despite them both being similar units. We're now looking for feedback on that decision.

Some explanation on our motivations for the change can be found 8 and a half minutes into the following youtube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpsCv8u2s-E&t=8m24s

Chieftain

We recently changed Chieftain's cost from 7GGB to 8GGB. What do you think of this change?

(7) Strongly prefer 8GGB Chieftain

(6) Prefer 8GGB Chieftain

(5) Slightly prefer 8GGB Chieftain

(4) Neutral

(3) Slightly prefer 7GGB Chieftain

(2) Prefer 7GGB Chieftain

(1) Strongly prefer 7GGB Chieftain

N/A or no opinion

Other:

Clear selection

Any other comments on Chieftain or the recent change to it?

Doomed Mech

We've been thinking about making a similar change to Doomed Mech, increasing its cost from 8BB to 9BB. Would you support this change?

(7) Would strongly prefer 9BB Doomed Mech

(6) Would prefer 9BB Doomed Mech

(5) Would slightly prefer 9BB Doomed Mech

(4) Neutral

(3) Slightly prefer existing 8BB Doomed Mech

(2) Prefer existing 8BB Doomed Mech

(1) Strongly prefer existing 8BB Doomed Mech

N/A or no opinion

Other:

Clear selection

Any other comments on Doomed Mech?

Grenade Mech

Long ago, Grenade Mech didn't have a click ability at all. In an effort to spice the unit up, we gave it the ability to convert a Blastforge into two Pixies, and this was well received.

Recently, we decided to experiment with changing the ability to produce *three* Pixies.

We're now seeking feedback on this experimental change.

Grenade Mech Balance

How do you feel about the balance of the existing 3-Pixie Grenade Mech relative to other Prismata units?

(5) Too strong; needs a nerf

(4) Somewhat strong

(3) Average

(2) Somewhat weak

(1) Too weak; needs a buff

Clear selection

Grenade Mech Preference

Among the 2-Pixie and 3-Pixie Grenade Mechs, which do you prefer?

(7) Strongly prefer the 3-Pixie Grenade Mech

(6) Prefer the 3-Pixie Grenade Mech

(5) Somewhat prefer the 3-Pixie Grenade Mech

(4) Neutral

(3) Somewhat prefer the 2-Pixie Grenade Mech

(2) Prefer the 2-Pixie Grenade Mech

(1) Strongly prefer the 2-Pixie Grenade Mech

N/A or no opinion

Clear selection

Any other comments on Grenade Mech?

Scorchilla

Scorchilla was recently changed from a 5RG buildtime 2 unit to a 3RG buildtime 3 unit.

We're seeking feedback on this change as well.

Scorchilla preference

Comparing the 5RG buildtime 2 vs the 3RG buildtime 3 Scorchilla, which do you prefer?

(7) Strongly prefer the 3RG buildtime 3 Scorchilla

(6) Prefer the 3RG buildtime 3 Scorchilla

(5) Somewhat prefer the 3RG buildtime 3 Scorchilla

(4) Neutral

(3) Somewhat prefer the 5RG buildtime 2 Scorchilla

(2) Prefer the 5RG buildtime 2 Scorchilla

(1) Strongly prefer the 5RG buildtime 2 Scorchilla

N/A or no opinion

Clear selection

Any other comments on Scorchilla?

Deadeye Operative

Deadeye, with its Drone-sniping ability, has probably been the hardest unit to get right in Prismata, having gone through many changes.

The main problem was that mutual Drone-sniping in games where both players bought Deadeyes was leading to situations that many players found unfun (due to them being predictable, degenerate, or imbalanced).

Recently, we tried giving the unit 3 stamina to limit its sniping ability and address some of these problems.

We were aware that this caused some other issues (such as Deadeye's infopanel being really complex), but our plan is to first evaluate whether the stamina change resolved Deadeye's gameplay issues, and then proceed from there.

Did stamina fix Deadeye?

Do you think that adding stamina to Deadeye Operative reduced the number of unfun situations created in Deadeye games?

(4) I believe that adding stamina HELPED STRONGLY

(3) I believe that adding stamina HELPED

(2) I believe that adding stamina HELPED SLIGHTLY

(1) I believe that adding stamina DID NOT HELP

N/A or no opinion

Clear selection

What would be the optimal amount of stamina on a Deadeye Operative?

Do you believe that 3 stamina is the right amount of stamina (so that 4 Deadeyes could kill a total of 4x3=12 Drones)? Or do you believe that higher or lower stamina values would be better? Pick the value that you think is closest to optimal:

Stamina 1 would be best

Stamina 2 would be best

(current) Stamina 3 is best

Stamina 4 would be best

Stamina 5 would be best

No stamina at all would be best

I'm not sure/no opinion

Clear selection

What do you think about adding stamina to Deadeye?

Check all that apply:

Deadeye is too complicated now that it has stamina, sniping, pay-attack-to-click, and sac-to-buy.

Stamina should not be on blue units.

Deadeye's current amount of complexity is fine.

Deadeye should just be removed from Prismata entirely.

The stamina Deadeye is the best version of Deadeye that I've played with so far.

Deadeye should be simplified, but stamina should be kept no matter what.

I would prefer the old Deadeye without stamina over the current Deadeye.

Any other comments on Deadeye Operative?

Kinetic Driver

We've always been afraid of making Kinetic Driver's click ability too strong, because many players find it unfun when their buildings get sniped. However, we felt that the previous click cost of 3 was possibly unnecessarily high, and that a lower activation cost might be more interesting. Hence, we've experimented with changing the click cost from 3 to 2.

We're now seeking feedback on this experimental change.

Kinetic Driver preference

Comparing the old Kinetic Driver with an activation cost of 3 to the new Kinetic Driver with an activation cost of 2, which do you prefer?

(7) Strongly prefer the new 2-gold-to-click Kinetic Driver

(6) Prefer the new 2-gold-to-click Kinetic Driver

(5) Somewhat prefer the new 2-gold-to-click Kinetic Driver

(4) Neutral

(3) Somewhat prefer the old 3-gold-to-click Kinetic Driver

(2) Prefer the old 3-gold-to-click Kinetic Driver

(1) Strongly prefer the old 3-gold-to-click Kinetic Driver

N/A or no opinion

Clear selection

Any other comments on Kinetic Driver?

New and altered units

We're looking some general feedback on units that we recently added or changed.

Unit balance

In terms of strength, rate each of the following units, which are either newly added, or have been recently modified:

1 - too weak, needs a buff

2 - weaker than average

3 - average

4 - stronger than average

5 - too strong, needs a nerf

Lancetooth

Savior

Ferritin Sac

Redeemer (9GGB, gives opponent 5 Gauss Charges with buildtime 3)

Tesla Coil (11GGB with 2 Engineers)

Sentinel (7RG with 3 stamina)

Venge Cannon (1GGG cost with GGGG click-cost)

Xeno Guardian (5GB with buildtime 2)

Asteri Cannon (16HP, produces Barriers when clicked)

Frost Brooder (5RR with 6 lifespan)

Gauss Fabricator (12GGGG with 10HP)

Wincer (8RBBG)

1 - too weak, needs a buff

2 - weaker than average

3 - average

4 - stronger than average

5 - too strong, needs a nerf

Lancetooth

Savior

Ferritin Sac

Redeemer (9GGB, gives opponent 5 Gauss Charges with buildtime 3)

Tesla Coil (11GGB with 2 Engineers)

Sentinel (7RG with 3 stamina)

Venge Cannon (1GGG cost with GGGG click-cost)

Xeno Guardian (5GB with buildtime 2)

Asteri Cannon (16HP, produces Barriers when clicked)

Frost Brooder (5RR with 6 lifespan)

Gauss Fabricator (12GGGG with 10HP)

Wincer (8RBBG)

Clear selection

Unit FUN

Rank the new units in terms of how enjoyable they are in games:

1 - LAME: makes games LESS FUN

3 - Average

5 - AWESOME: makes games MORE FUN

Lancetooth

Savior

Ferritin Sac

Clear selection

Final thoughts...

Do you have any other comments on the current balance of any of the units mentioned above, or any other units in Prismata?

What types of units would you like to see MORE OF in Prismata?

Could be anything... more crazy units, more vanilla units, more defenders, more snipers, more econ units, more long build times, more combos, etc..

What types of units would you like to see LESS OF in Prismata?

Any other general comments, requests, or feedback?

Could be about anything at all...

THANK YOU!

These responses really help a lot! Cheers.

~ Elyot and the rest of the Prismata team

Submit

Clear form

Never submit passwords through Google Forms.

This content is neither created nor endorsed by Google. Report Abuse - Terms of Service - Privacy Policy

Forms