This is probably going to get it's own post at some point, but I was talking with The_Toastmaster_General today, and I think I might have come up with a new system that people won't be furious about for CW Campaigns.
The Problem: The specific issues that people have with campaigns are numerous. Campaigns are known for breaking clans, being aggravating as hell to be in, difficult to figure out if you're getting a tank, not good times for west-coasters or late shift east coasters to get the required battles in, etc. This isn't a secret. When you have clans that are (lets be honest) guaranteed to get the tanks mad about how these campaigns are run, you know you have a problem. And WG knows they have a problem. As evidence: No campaign ever has the same system for distributing tanks. They're trying to fix it. But that's the problem. We don't need a fix, we need a completely new system.
The Proposal: This is going to seem like heresy to some, but hopefully what follows will make it clear. Keep the Fame Points. Keep the Tank Licenses. Just change what they actually mean.
Fame Points: Under the new system, these would have zero relevance to if you get the tank or not. FPs would determine if you got camo, emblems, consumables, gold?, personal reserves, etc. Basically, the stuff that's cool to get, but honestly, it's not why we're playing the campaign, we're playing for the tank, and that's where the Clan Tank Licenses come in.
Clan Tank Licenses: Tanks would be distributed purely on a clan license system. However, rather that only the X number of top clans getting Y licenses, Every clan would get a single license for each game they win. To be eligible to receive a license, you would have to have been in a winning game with the clan.
"But why?" I hear you ask. "Clearly clan licenses are stupid, since that favors the better clans to win". Well. yes. The clans that are full of great players aren't going to have any problem getting licenses, but that's already the situation. Running two full teams? Hit two landings in an early time zone, and two in a later. 4-5 battles per landing, if you win them all, means that day one a clan could have 16-20 licenses. If they run more teams, or hit more landings, they obviously will get more. However, The teams that are doing that day one? Lets be honest, they probably were going to be getting tanks no matter what system is used. Where this system starts to show it's benefits is later on. Say a few days have passed, and all the top clans have tanks. At that point, they're probably going to go from hitting landings to just holding land for the gold. That lets the 2nd tier of clans start getting wins, then the third, etc. There's no solid cap on the number of tanks given out on this system, just a cap on the time you have to get it done. This gives smaller clans, and people that have less time to play, an actual incentive to keep trying for the tank.
T6/T8/T10 combination campaigns would also be more rewarding for smaller clans, and give them incentives to actually play. Say WG has three premiums that will be given out for the campaign. A T6, 8, and 10. THe 6/8 could be tanks that already exist. The campaign starts, and the T6 map is open. Clans fight, big clans get licenses, smaller clans get some. Then T8 opens. Instead of shutting down T6 completely, WG could leave it open for the smaller clans to fight over the remaining battle to get the T6 reward tank. Those clans that already have the T6 or don't care about it are now fighting on the T8 map for the 8 reward tank. Then T10 opens, and the T8 stays open still for those that want to fight for that tank. To get the T10, you still have to work for it, and your clan has to be at least decent, but smaller clans will have an incentive to actually play all the way to T10, and those that don't want to can still be in the campaign. It could be setup so that T6 closes when T10 opens, if WG wants to cut the number of tanks being given out.
Benefits of the proposed system:
- People that were going to get the tanks no matter what still get them.
- Smaller clans that usually don't have a chance, actually have a reason to participate in the campaign, since they can still get tanks if they play well enough.
- Easier for clan officers to track progress in the campaign. Rather than juggling fame points, guessed cutoff points, etc. It's a simple "How many licenses do we have or need, and how many players have won a battle".
- Encourages clan play and strengthens clan bonds, since you don't have to fight for the last few battles worth of FP during a campaign.
- People who aren't able to play during the most common times can still contribute and get a tank.
Disadvantages of the proposed system:
- Companies that manufacture blood pressure medications will see decreased profits.
- Moderators on this forum will have to work harder to find people breaking for the forum rules by swearing.
TL
R: The CW Campaign system is broken. Instead of patching it, build a whole new reward system.