PVP exploits and bugs

[Snowgods]

(Android 2.9.5 Build 1846) PVP Exploits:

Closing the game client while in a PVP battle ends the battle without registering a loss. This allows you to exit game to avoid a death. Changing this behavior would however report a loss on a game crash or internet timeout.

Running the game on multiple clients without syncing saves allows you to use all 10 battles on each device.

PVP mode still works with clients running older versions, this is especially noticeable in this update as newer ships are a lot weaker.

PVP Bugs:

Some opponents can shoot through the new large moon in the PVP arena. Possibly these are from older version saves which don't have the moon.

Opponent ship occasionally spawns near friendly starbase.

Observations on new science system

The new system greatly encourages Specialization (focusing on a few 'Favorite' modules), but strongly discourages diverse builds and experimentation.
I would return to the +X system (It wasn't broken, and didn't need fixing), but have the science system on top, but maybe doubling the cost for each successive level, encouraging a much boarder selection.

Red tier ships.

These are much harder than normal ships (and it's seems to be very random about just how tough they are, with some easy to defeat, and others very hard (I'm talking about you Covid)), and many can destroy a base in seconds. I suggest using them as end of battle bosses, or an extra challenge section, rather than sprinkled throughout the battle. You should also give them a decent loot drop, (possibly rare resources)

Daily missions

The Rescue daily mission has been getting harder and harder with each game update. It's now at the stage where I am finding it difficult to defeat (although I do play the insane version) ... I'm up to level 475. It's doubtful that a player reaching the appropriate level would be able to defeat it.

[IsmollCheeKen]

The Arena force quit exploit has been around for a VERY long time, years even. The main reason why no one bothered to report it is that it didn't matter back then. Before the Arena overhaul, the exploit didn't matter since you can easily win back your Arena rating by winning one battle, if ever you lost one.

But now after the overhaul, it suddenly became important, and people are starting to use it, I also use it myself sometimes. Reason for this is because the new Arena's Win-Lose Rating System is incredibly UNFAIR and UNBALANCED, if by chance I lost 1 battle - I will lose 2000 rating, but if I win 1 battle - I get 9 rating back!? This is obviously not a fair system!

Now that someone had the balls to report the exploit, it's only a matter of time before it gets patched. BUT PLEASE, before that happens, I suggest to implement a better win-lose rating system for the Arena, and fix all bugs and resolve cheeky tactics people can build.

[PavelZinchenko]

Closing the game client while in a PVP battle ends the battle without registering a loss

it's fixed

Running the game on multiple clients without syncing saves allows you to use all 10 battles on each device

I'm not sure how players can benefit from this. If the goal is to increase rating quickly, this method won't work anymore.

PVP mode still works with clients running older versions

Clients using older versions can still participate in the arena, but they will only be matched with opponents using the same or older versions. What is the issue here?

Win-Lose Rating System is incredibly UNFAIR and UNBALANCED

The rating system counts the opponents rating difference If you defeat an opponent with a rating 5k or more points above yours, you gain 1000 points. If you defeat an opponent with a rating 5k or more points below yours, you gain no points. If you lose to an opponent with a rating 5k or more points above yours, you lose no points. If you lose to an opponent with a rating 5k or more points below yours, you lose 1000 points. If your rating is equal to your opponent’s, you gain or lose 500 points There was a bug that truncated ratings to 100k, it has been fixed. Now, you can neither gain nor lose more than 1,000 points in a single match.

[PavelZinchenko]

I forgot to mention: the maximum amount you can gain scales with your overall rating. It starts at 1000 and decreases to 20 at a rating of 100k and above. The maximum amount you can lose remains the same. Therefore, the higher the rating, the more difficult it becomes to increase it.