Handicap System for the arena

[SnoWeb]

As I understand, the reward system is dynamic in the arena: the reward prices as well as the rating value of a win/loss change according to the number of win/loss compared to the number of decks and of game played in each league.

We could maybe think to a dynamic reward according to the most used cards in the game. Each card would have a handicap corresponding to the number of time it is played by the AI (the more it is played the higher the handicap). This would be made in a dynamic manner and would change with the time according to the real time numbers.

When you would build your AI deck, you would receive a deck handicap: H value (e.g. 0.1 < H < 2). A high H value would correspond to a low handicap. A deck containing a high number of highly played cards (immolation, golem, EQ, nightmare, etc...) would have a handicap value of H = 0.5 (for example - this is not a real number just a dummy example) whereas a deck using a lot of rarely played cards (fate egg, skeleton, dagger, flooding, etc...) would receive a lower handicap value of H = 1.7 (for example - same as before).

This H value would multiply the electrum rewards and rating values of each win (for decks played by the AI only). This would mean that to climb up the league rankings a high handicap deck (low value 0.1 < H < 1) would need to win a lot more that a lower handicap deck (high value 1 < H < 2). Similarly, the electrum reward would be higher with a lower handicap. This system would encourage any player to create efficient strategies with cards which are rarely played and lead to more creativity ... What do you think?

[Xenocidius]

Possibly the best solution to the Arena non-creativity problem I've seen.

[atomiton]

I agree. This is a great idea. Supports creativity among players as well.

[BloodlinE]

well this solves annoying fire stalls speed blitzing fire rushes and hermes like platinum decks which we all know fire is OP .good idea for balancing the arena somehow.or we can add an option to ban cards(whenever you create a new oracle deck you will ban 3 cards so that the other player below your rating doesn't use it)

[SnoWeb]

The more positive point of this system is that you do not artificially ban cards. You let the player choose if he wants to play a well known/spread efficient strategy which will therefore be less rewarding or take a risk in playing something less largely played and maybe increase his reward. No need to forbid. You just say "play this and you will win more if you win" - exactly as with the bookmaker system. If you bet on the well known best dog (here called immolation) you'll earn less if he wins that if you bet on the 3 legged one (called fate egg) and he wins. However, the immolation dog has more chance to win ... I don't think you need to shoot the best dog in the leg. I think the handicap system is better.

Side Note: With this system we could also increase the electrum reward for the human players who beat an AI deck with a high handicap (this added to the additional reward for the top 10 decks).

[Xenocidius]

Yes, humans should also gain increased reward for being forced to face another Firestall. Nice metaphor, by the way.

[Djhopper :)]

Add a poll so we can see that everyone loves this idea?

[MatrimKK]

I love how this rewards players for using ideas "outside the box"

I hope this offers a solution to "insert deck from forum" + 5 air pillars (aka oracle card)

I understand newer players may not have the cards to field multiple decks but you people in gold and platinum should be ashamed...
If you don't have time to post a deck, leave the old one.  I can't tell you how many times I've left 1 hp decks for days and days. 

+++ for encouraging free thought and creativity

[pikachufan2164]

Brilliant idea; +rep.

The only real problem I might see is how Zanz is going to code this, but he does have the resources to build it on (card usage stats and Arena's dynamic rating system).

[Tiko]

Just to repeat the ones who spoke before me: The best idea so far to solve the creativity-issue. If it could be coded, I see no reason why it shouldn't be.
More and more people are turning away from arena, mostly because of the repetitive, close to hopeless fights they are forced to face each time. Arena should be fun, hard but fun, and this would really encourage the creativity in deckbuilding: One win with your Fate Egg deck could mean an equal amount of income as 20 wins with your firestall (and I can easily imagine this with the current statistics..).

+1 for this. Great work, Sno.

[SnoWeb]

Yes, humans should also gain increased reward for being forced to face another Firestall. Nice metaphor, by the way.

Another good thing with this system is the self regulating effect of the method. If the handicap system succeed in pushing the people in playing more original decks (with low handicap H>1) then we increase directly the creativity. If it doesn't, said uncreative decks (with high handicap H<1) will have harder times to be on the top. As the higher you are in the Leaderboard the highest chance your deck has to be selected as an opponent, if the uncreative decks go less high then you will automatically have less chance to meet them. Then the creativity is indirectly increased.  Win or Win ...
Moreover, if we add the increased reward against the high handicap decks. You also support people using deck which beat said uncreative decks (with high handicap H<1). Then you promote the use of those decks and consequently decrease the win ratio of said uncreative decks (with high handicap H<1). And win again ...
However, as the system is dynamic you might have variations in which cards are the most played (probably influenced by their individual handicap). After a while some uncreative decks (which were not worth it at one time) could be less used (that's the idea). Then the individual handicap of the cards they contain will decrease and they would become interesting again. Exactly like a stock exchange system. Who will be the next element golden boy?

Add a poll so we can see that everyone loves this idea?

I am not a very big fan of polls. I'd rather see people explain why they like (or dislike) this idea. If I put a poll up, I fear that most reader will stop at the OP, vote and go away. I'd rather see some constructive feedback here. Also Zanzarino said he didn't really paid attention to the polls. I tend to agree. If all the post are positive, it means most people like the idea. However, if the majority think I should put up a poll, I will.

The only real problem I might see is how Zanz is going to code this, but he does have the resources to build it on (card usage stats and Arena's dynamic rating system).

Ultimately, he is the one who will decide if the result worth the time he'll spend coding it. I really hope he will.

Thanks to all for your support.

[Jappert]

Just to repeat the ones who spoke before me: The best idea so far to solve the creativity-issue. If it could be coded, I see no reason why it shouldn't be.
More and more people are turning away from arena, mostly because of the repetitive, close to hopeless fights they are forced to face each time. Arena should be fun, hard but fun, and this would really encourage the creativity in deckbuilding: One win with your Fate Egg deck could mean an equal amount of income as 20 wins with your firestall (and I can easily imagine this with the current statistics..).

+1 for this. Great work, Sno.

I don't have much more to add except one question:

Would this be hard to code or create alot more traffic on the servers somehow? I'm no expert but I could imagine the development team not having enough time/resources to implement this. (edit: just saw Pika said the exact same!)