So what sayeth the community...are level 21 survivors worth starting the challenge at RSL 15?

WahooDawg · May 2017

Title pretty much says it all. Curious as to your thoughts.

WahooDawg · May 2017

I'm asking for a friend.

DLich · May 2017

No. When Lvl 22 survivors become a thing which they will eventually I plan to upgrade weapons first. It was not worth doing to get Rufus weapon which is unusable in higher challenge missions since the fire comes back to literally burn my ass.

Poppy · May 2017

Not made a jot of difference still an advantage not to upgrade.

Movado · May 2017

It can be debated whether the current changes are significant enough to mitigate the balance complaints (assuming lvl 21, starting rsl 15). But I think NG's inherent attempt here was to wipe-out the advantages of staying behind at lvl 20 w/ starting rsl 14 (trip rounds 19). So, Lvl 21/pinks/max gear/etc should now advance further than lvl 20's of same. But the issue of whether it conforms to an overall proper balance equation, is a different story

DLich · May 2017

Since I upgraded to Lvl 21 survivors I have been unable to reach my top score on challenges of 896. I strive to hit 800 each week. This challenge is no different.

So the theory of earning an extra star for every round completed compared to that of those that start at RSL 14 being 20-30 stars more (assuming 20-30 rounds apples to apples) the loss of 106 is in the range of... Will you look at that.... The 96 I can't attain since losing out on RSL 14, 19.2; 19.3

My highest completed round is 25.2. I achieved that with Lvl 20 survivors. Since upgrading to Lvl 21 survivors and upgrading about a dozen of them and upgrading Lvl 24 weapons (mostly epic, some legendary with 2 out of 3 ideal traits) I still can't make it past RSL 25.2

Since NG says my survivors should get further in the challenges maybe they can give me some advise on how to actually achieve that.

#EndRant

Steeboon · May 2017

I am at 26.1 with level 20 survivors so I am sure you will be able to get there soon. Sometimes it just takes a lucky break, walkers can start off at different levels on the same RSL too.
Good luck!

DLich · May 2017

So the "get more stars" is reliant upon spending more gold or continually replaying until I get a "lucky" set up of walkers/saviors?

So the extra stars I "should be able to attain" cost gold?

I understand what you're saying my main gripe is if I can make it to Lvl 25 with Lvl 20 survivors shouldn't I automatically be able to make it to 26 with Lvl 21?

That's why the starting level was raised right?

bladgier · May 2017

There is a difference. Slight. Barely notable.

My answer despite is still no.

I would get more stars if i stayed on 20.

xbamfx · May 2017

@DLich I feel your pain bro, I too feel it's harder to reach higher stars now due to moving up to 21 max survivors but I guess that's what is intended. To be honest I don't know why they moved it up? All those people complaining about not having enough time to grind the challenge caused it, when in reality if you don't have time you just don't have time. It's those same bottom feeders who sit there and let others grind out stars for them to reap the benefit of the easy route.

Guapo · May 2017

Having just 2 20s is still an advantage as far as I know (at least that's what a friend told me).

Cherokee_Rose · May 2017

I beat my personal best score last challenge with my level 21 survivors. I earned 922 stars and made it to 26.1 for the first time. I really didn't even have very many pieces of lvl 21 equipment fully upgraded so some were still using fully upgraded lvl 20 gear.

As for this week with the changes implemented, I don't think I will get quite that far. From my point of view that is because several of the maps this week are a bit more challenging to get stars than last week's challenge. Perhaps the changes will be more noticeable when we play a set of maps with no human enemies. Just a thought.

NCDawgFan · May 2017

A player starting with three level 20 survivors who got through the end of level 26 would have more stars than another player starting with three level 21 survivors at level 15 who had identical performance at the end of level 26, but was also able to finish all of level 27 (assuming 1 star on all 18 missions of level 27, plus 81 bonus stars). I'm not sure the new boost to level 24 gear assures a successful completion one full level higher myself.

sbf · May 2017

I'm not seeing much of a difference. Last week I three-starred all the way through 26.3, and did the same this week. Last week at 27 I started getting two and three stars, (same as this week), then at 27.2 I started getting 1 star. I'm at 27.3 now, and I'll probably fight through to 28 and then call it a week.

Ultimately I think it's a little too soon to make any kind of definitive statement since the maps are different. In general both maps are pretty balanced (overall)

I think that the rebalancing of the lvl21 survivors and gear was done to sate the end-level players, but the walker buff seems to disincentivize staying at lvl20 knowing full well that many people will buy boosters to level up, and then they might spend money on weapon bundles so they can do better against higher level walkers.

NG could have made the rebalancing of lvl21 survivors and gear a great morale booster, but they decided to nerf the phone drop rate at the same time, as well as taking away the 15 phone reward from the episode missions, and run a second (but "better") 14 days of heroes after depleting everyone's radios with the previous 14 days event. They didn't even give an overall reward with the rebalancing to say "Hey, here you go! I know you spent a lot of time getting to 21, so here's a reward of some phones to all players because of our decision to actively make our end-level players weaker." I'm not saying that folks deserve a handout, but NG continues to fail at customer satisfaction.

Captainslayer · May 2017

I'm staying at lvl 20's still, I've very easily made it to 900 and assuming I have the time shouldn't have an issue getting 1k where others in my guild are fighting hard to get 900 and probably impossible for them to get to 1k this week, most of them have lvl 21's and starting as rsl15.
So I sayeth NO

gcheong85 · May 2017

Just a reminder, the walkers damage has been buffed and my survivors felt the pain with level 25 walkers 1 hit me into a struggle. Job well done, NG.

Captainslayer · May 2017

@gcheong85 that's they're way of getting ppl like myself to upgrade to lvl 21 survivors.

SmittySpivey3 · May 2017

I upgraded my first two this weekend but no decision on three needed since the cp bank is empty.

Pig · May 2017

This is disappointing. I was planning to make the upgrade to 21 soon, after getting some gear prepped first. But if it's still advantageous to stay at 20 then I guess I won't.

jammin · May 2017

My lvl 21s are slightly stronger this challenge, but they didn't get any farther than last week. After advancing to RSL 27, it was the same brick wall. Still, I earned a handful of extra stars. One of our guild members made it through RSL 27 w lvl 21 survivors. Our challenge stars still aren't any better than our previous best lvl 20 performance, though.

Warlord · May 2017

Not sure. The adjustments weren't that much but factor in three Freeman maps instead of the normal one plus the shooter/hunter bonuses; I doubt anyone can give a definitive answer one way or the other. I can't as I stopped at 775 because I'm fed up dealing with all of the Freeman issues and really won't go over 740 in any challenge where Freeman are involved until they fix them. I don't mind losing stars in a fair fight, just not to glitchy combat logic that favors Freeman that NG has known about for months.

Whisperer · May 2017

I think that considering the amount of stars collecting its the same if you have lvl 20 or lvl 21 survivors ,of course if you have upgraded weapons for that lvl 21 survivors on lvl 24 beacuse in the beggining with weapons on lvl 23 you make much less stars..

But if they add story missions in the future that 21 lvl survivors are going to be very useful and its gona be easier for players with them..

If you ask me my endgame is lvl 20 ,i do the same or even more stars than my guild members that have lvl 21 survivors.

If NG buff the lvl 21 survivors i maybe even change my opinion and start training survivors to lvl 21 but until they do that im stayin on lvl 20.

gcheong85 · May 2017

> @Warlord said:
> Not sure. The adjustments weren't that much but factor in three Freeman maps instead of the normal one plus the shooter/hunter bonuses; I doubt anyone can give a definitive answer one way or the other. I can't as I stopped at 775 because I'm fed up dealing with all of the Freeman issues and really won't go over 740 in any challenge where Freeman are involved until they fix them. I don't mind losing stars in a fair fight, just not to glitchy combat logic that favors Freeman that NG has known about for months.

That's why i have a thread that NG do not give a s*** on the players issue if it is not related to income generator factor.

Japes87 · May 2017

This is crazy that this chat is even happening honestly.. it's not a debate , endgamers will always be Nerfed permanently and that's just the way it is . Sorry guys

Shut_Up · May 2017

It's like your walker pit, upgrading to 21 is a detriment.

TXboss · May 2017

I have decent experiential evidence to suggest that upgrading to lvl 24 does enable players to gain 50-100 more stars.

I have two accounts: one team of 33, all non-heroes legendary, with a fairly comprehensive array of weapons and armor upgraded to lvl 23. I'm maxed out on 906 stars with this account. The other team has 35, all non-heroes legendary, with a less comprehensive array of weapons and armor fully upgraded to lvl 24. This account is maxed out on 956 stars. I reckon is I had a fully comprehensive array of lvl 24 weapons, I might get another 50 stars.

Teeceezy · May 2017

With this week's challenge you can compare a challenge star count pre- and post-balance changes, which I personally think is important when making a comparison. Look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Pig · May 2017

Great information @TXboss! Thank you for that.

I'm really torn at the moment because of this sniper rifle reward. If I claim it, I want to claim it level 21 in the hopes that, whether now or later, level 21 will be worth it. But to claim it 21 I have to upgrade a hunter to 21, giving me two survivors at 21.

I wasn't planning to move to 21 so soon. Two may or may not trigger the challenge change for me. And even if it doesn't, it leaves me one hero unlock away from 3 level 21s.

I don't think I have much a choice. I have to upgrade a hunter to get the rifle at 21. My plan and strategy of upgrading gear first, then survivors just won't work.

Shut_Up · May 2017

Actually If you wanted an accurate comparison you can't change 2 or more variables. The best comparison would have been a boring one and that would have been to repeat the same maps as the last challenge as well as the same class bonuses.

The eye test though tells me I'm still getting screwed out of my level 14 and two levels of 19 and I'm still hitting a wall at level 26 so the improved characters didn't do anything earthshaking to make up for 106 lost stars.

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So what sayeth the community...are level 21 survivors worth starting the challenge at RSL 15?

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