Thanks for explaining you were not trying to be dismissive. Based on your response where you said you didn’t want a back and forth but still broke apart my post into multiple sections and countered each one certainly came off more like one trying to do that. I have no issue explaining myself if you are trying to understand my views.
People can upgrade their account for plot bonuses and other things via - http://playboundless.com/#support There are threads on how to do it correctly if people are interested after already purchasing the game. Because of this option that is why I am very opposed to parts of the game that define stuff around plots, etc. It allows an advantage in the game which has outside influence and isn’t fair to everyone. I have no problem with the plot bonuses and almost sent in the $5,000 for more plots because I am a builder by nature, but that is also why I am very against prestige due to the plot link.
Of course the prestige system is a bit more complicated than just placing high prestige blocks. A recent patch put in some things that looks at diversity and other stuff. In any event, the overall point is very clear – any system or algorithm that is designed can be reversed engineered and there are people that will take the time to try to beat that system. Right now gems and other things are high value over the previous “Gleam” regime we had. Once people figure out the diversity they will start adding to their builds to meet that need. Then a new patch comes out with some tweaks and rinse and repeat trying to take advantage of that system. The problem is the model of design and you can’t fix that unless you do a different model. Personally, I just don’t agree that a system like that is best for figuring out a capital or ranking because of the inherent base issue with it.
I didn’t understand your context of “builder” and honestly was only meaning that a person can put a plot and build something on it for the capital example, not that they were a true builder or anything. That model of capital ranking relies on participation of an account for that. That is much harder to achieve because it requires a person to choose to put their account plots there.
A voting system gives choice and no only can make another person do something they don’t want to. So even if it is a popularity context on “nicest person,” “best build,” “ugliest build”, etc… a person can still choose where they place their vote based on their own value system and decisions. That gives each person some power in the decision versus a prestige system where they only people that have the power are 1) developers who design the system 2) those that try to use the system to achieve the top ranking. So only those participating in that “system” get the reward but everyone is affected by it. There are many people who want to participate to decide a capital but do not have time to help it or build their own to get ranking. So you are leaving people out of it which is kind of sad.
In regards to your response on my “community” comment, what you are talking about is people “choosing” and “voting” to decide the capital. Instead of them doing it with their “vote” they do it with work on the “prestige” system. Helping where they want the city to be on top. So there is no difference except the underlying design of one requiring more effort than the other as well as time. A voting system is easier because not everyone can put physical effort into the game at the same level but still do support it or are a major part of the community. A person could still work on their own builds and stuff, have real life time, and still give back by selecting the capital. A prestige system like that requires people to spend more time in game to meet everything. Something that isn’t always easy and not fair to everyone.
I didn’t contradict myself when I said voting contains popularity because I didn’t infer it would not contain popularity. Of course it does because you are adding up the votes to see what is most popular on whatever the “context” of the vote is. You cannot rally have zero bias and other stuff in a vote because voting is usually based on a persons perception and what they want. That is why is better than prestige because people will vote for whatever they like or want. It empowers everyone which is good. A zero bias voting system can exist but only in a design based on factors (like prestige) that can still be manipulated or taken advantage of and that really isn’t voting.
As to the comments about people and money. No one can control what people will spend money on. To get the game they would have to use different names, different credit cards, etc or go through many more real life hoops to try to tweak the vote in their way. And if that ever got out I have a feeling people wouldn’t vote for that person. In a prestige system this can happen as well because I could just pay others to do the work and build larger prestige builds for me. So the “real world money” issue is viable in all models. The idea is NOT to worry about that versus IN GAME dynamics which are more important and having a system that makes people want to participate and feel their voice has some sort of say.
There were plenty of threads where people shared why they felt the prestige system wasn’t great, but the developers made their decision to use this model. I think they probably won’t put much effort into revamping it due to many other things needing to happen for 1.0. I’m glad they have adjusted the algorithm but like I said the issues will still pop up in some ways because of the model. Due to this I don’t try to get at the top of the list for builds or get in prestige wars for capital status. What is sad is income will be linked to that so it will just compound the problems in this game.
