@AndrlCh said in Ask a veteran ARKS!:

@Ekajata Oh, I have no desire to stop you from quitting. I'm just making sure to provide information that clears up the misconceptions you are writing for anyone who happens to come across your posts.

All Rising Badges have come from end-game content outside of the Mission Pass, so they never really were for the benefit of new players. Rising Badge 1s originally only dropped from SH Elder (which was the highest difficulty at the time) at a quite abysmal rate.

That said, SEGA has "thrown a bone" to lower level players since, as I also mentioned before, Rising Badges are eventually added to AQs during a Boost Rally (which are announced and advertised in-game), meaning that you can get them as low as level 40.

Patience seems to be your biggest issue, as you want it all now instead of just waiting things out, which is not exactly a good mindset to have especially considering the content pace we have on the Global version.

Nice little slap. Sorry, I thought you were trying to be helpful. Silly me.

Edit to update:

@AndrlCh - Patience wasn't and isn't the issue, regardless freely-rendered judgement - the issue is that it was poorly communicated (i.e., not at all) and even the people who claim to "have a clue" (like yourself) didn't actually know anything about IF they were coming back.

The Rising Weapon Badge 4 WAS REMOVED from all expedition, quest, and actual game content/progression without ANY notice to players that it would be going away. That was the issue. That and a poor communication about how the system for their use operates.

I'm not sure what part of "not where it is expected to be" you misunderstood, but boy you didn't waste any time using it to turn the tables and claim that I was "spreading misconceptions" - incorrectly claim, that is.

So, seems the only "misconception" was your own. Your assumption that everyone knows how things work seems out of place given the factual reality that no one but SEGA actually does.

As it turned out, they brought them back in the Thanksgiving holiday and I genuinely believe my letter to SEGA played a part in that.

Who knows, maybe even this thread, despite the rudeness of self-proclaimed "community minded" people played a part.

Funny how that works when the people you're talking to are actually interested in your thoughts rather than eagerly looking for a way to shut them down.

Go figure.

@AndrlCh said in Ask a veteran ARKS!:

@Ekajata But the currency is not removed? They have made it so that you can continue to get the older Badges from the Badge exchange itself (not even having to deal with going into the Swap Shop). You can even still get Rising Badge 1s, at a higher rate than when it was originally out, by trading in Rising Badge 4s.

So far as I am aware, the only way to get 4's is the 80/80 UQs and the mission pass.

Is there another way? If not, my issue stands. How the heck am I supposed to come up with 75 4's without paying more money? Because the only way I see that happening is making a new account, buying max tiers, getting the weapons I need for upgrade on the "alt" account, and then having my husband log in and physical help transfer them to me.

My point? Simple:

If that is SEGA's idea of proper gameplay and player experience.... then I've got another reason to stop supporting them on principle.

I appreciate your posts and am actually holding my full account cancellation in hopes of you giving me still more information that is otherwise invisible to new players. (wry grin)

@AndrlCh said in Ask a veteran ARKS!:

@Ekajata While I understand your frustration, it isn't like this is unprecedented with the game as they did the same thing when we went from Rising Badge 1 to Rising Badge 2 and Rising Badge 2 to Rising Badge 3. Additionally, with each new iteration of Rising Badges, they have eventually put up an ARKS Boost Rally where the newest Rising Badge drops from the featured AQs frequently.

I hear you; perhaps you can tell me how a new player is supposed to know that?

For that matter, why is it necessary to remove a currency that new players will need to have?

The answer to the first question should be obvious... no way a new player would know this. Nothing on the currency itself to tell you it's limited or will be removed in future.

The answer to the second is more about a business philosophy and it's this that I really took exception to... you see, I would happily pay the same as I paid this month to enjoy the game... but I can't support a deliberate gate designed to push players to make shop purchases to be able to progress.

In fact, that is a textbook definition of "pay to win" and I know a lot of people complain but still play... I'm just not one of them.

I've packed everything into player storage, pulled all my market items, and my character will neither be missed nor mourned.

Only SEGA knows the LTV lost here... and if they don't care, why should anyone, let alone me?

/salute

@AndrlCh said in Ask a veteran ARKS!:

@Ekajata I mean, you get 2 Rising Badge 3s for every 1 Rising Badge 4, so I don't see the issue.

Let's just say it would have been nice to know that clearly at episode launch. As it stands, I'm out of 4 badges, can't get anymore, and they will probably layer another grind of 5's into 4's next time... so since I cannot see a reasonable path to catch up.....

I need 75 Rising Weapon Badge 4's to upgrade, which is great except I'm max mission pass and used them for upgrade mats not knowing I needed them to get 3's as well.

But I suppose it's my fault, somehow, because expecting a company to clearly tell you they're making a HUGE change to a required currency would be, what, too much to ask?

I already spend more than I should on this game. This feels very grabby on SEGA's part and, since I do not encourage behavior I dislike from the companies with whom I do business, I decide to find another, less grabby/greedy game to enjoy.

It's not like there aren't plenty of them out there.

Sad though, stuff like this is usually due to lack of forethought... but seeing it was deliberate? Nah.... they can keep ALL of that.

So you may still elect not to see the issue, but it definitely isn't because I haven't laid it out plainly.

Honestly, I'm not mad. Just really disappointed. I expected more from SEGA.

@zaffy2005 said in Ask a veteran ARKS!:

@Ekajata I think it may have been a "seasonal" currency, much like the other Rising Weapon badges. But badges 2 and up can each be exchanged for lower number badges in their respective shops, e.g. in the Weapon Badge 4 shop you can trade them for Weapon Badges 1, 2, or 3.

So grind badge 4's and trade down for 3's. No. I don't think I will.

Ah well. Fun while it lasted. Thank you for the reply.

@Hail256 said in Ask a veteran ARKS!:

What's the fastest, most efficient way to farm rare drop ranking for your guild? I want first place by November or December.

Spend yo money. I think that's tied to how many scratches you do or how much AC or SG you buy...? Someone must know the specifics... I was surprised to find myself make the top 100 this go around (I wanted that new outfit, dang it.).

I posted on the other "Ask Us" type thread, but will post here as well:

Did Rising Weapon 3 badges get nerfed or removed with Episode 5? I haven't seen one since it dropped. Does anyone know? Or is it some esoteric thing like "Go back to Ep4 to farm them?"

I guess I really am a relic then, I usually complete a content set and then spend some time deliberately running the lower level missions precisely TO help others in the community make it to the party room where we all wind up.

If this is the way of it, I'll definitely be doing that here as well.

It is annoying to have to sit in an empty Match 1 room and wait. Seems everyone blitzed for 3+.

Honestly, I was a little surprised to see that Ep5 new battle content was buster quests, period. It seems a bit out of kilter with previous episodes, and feels a lot like a move away from level design updates to event item updates... as a new player, I'm still not sure how I feel about it.

I do know that I'm annoyed and frustrated at the moment as it seems the rising weapon badge 3 that I need to get to the new stuff is either no longer dropping or was hit so hard with the nerf bat that it still hasn't come out from crying in the bathroom just yet.

I've really enjoyed this game so far... but I won't lie - if spending my time waiting around in Match 1 buster rooms and trading what few rising 4 badges I get at a 2-to-1 loss just to get the 3's I need is "the future"..... ? That isn't a future (or a carrot) that I'm interested in chasing.

Did Rising Weapons Badge 3 stop dropping with episode 5 release? I have not seen a single one since the update and I'm stuck without a way to upgrade my harmonizer to the new one (it requires a +35 weapon and I can't get the ones I need to upgrade without these badges).

The only path I see at the moment is to down-trade (2 for 1...? Ugh) Weapon 4 badges for 3's and I cannot believe that would be the only avenue available.... is it?

Edit to add: I have now gone back to every previous episode and haven't seen a single one there, either. Unique, yes. Photon Boosts from heaven, yes. Rising Weapon Badge 3? Not. A. One.