Elite Dangerous Exobiology Rank Threshold Rebalance Information

[Hellrider]

I could certainly see the issue if we had any kind of economy to worry about here, i.e., direct trade for materials from player to player involving credits, ship building to buy/sell from players, etc. But, we don't have anything like that.

We have "only" totally broken progression system.
For you it is nothing.
For me system "from sidey to conda after 1 good planet" is ultimate fail. This is this level of fail, which I NEVER seen in online games. Yes, they usually are easier and easier after some time, but firstly, not to this level, secondly, it happen usually in grindgames where devs add tons new grind each few months. Not in games like elite, where they add new content to unlock after 1-3 years.

You can stick to solo, but it isn't offline game. Yes, it is weird concept of online game, but it is another topic.
For me they could boost everything 10 times.
If they will add offline mode, and all boosts will exist only here

 

[vanFace]

And why would they get involved here when they rarely get involved in these types of threads? A Mod would intervene way before a CM does, in an effort to keep things civil. I don't blame them either, this is a thread with no resolution unless FD resolves it. And any 'resolution' will get some faction howling in protest on another thread where someone will ponder why FD isn't weighing in on their take on why they took the nerf away. Pretty much anything FD does is a no-win on this forum (not that that they don't do this to themselves).

Because a CM started it and left it hanging with this:

I'd like to echo this one too, but please do note that your frustrations are absolutely heard and understood.

Doesn't feel like our frustrations are absolutely heard and understood, now does it? Note that the demotion problems happened after that last post from the 9th of December (yes, it is 5 days from being a month old). If it was a server-side fix, where would be the harm to inform us in this very topic thread?
Now don't understand this as a dig at Sally. IMHO she is the one CM that communicates the most, and this poor "consolidation" of the self-inflicted exo-bio problem is certainly not her fault. My feeling is that she's got orders to stop coms on this subject, and also that FDevs communication mode in general has changed for the worse (again) since U14. Seems like some new guy has taken over the helm and changed course straight for Scylla in order to not fall into Charybdis.

 

[Vinman]

I just handed in 1.3 billion in exobiology data, and my rank remained at 0% Ecologist.

I could have sworn before patch 14.1, I was around 25% into Ecologist. Now I'm still at 0%. Did we lose all of our previous work (in the current tier) with the so-called harmony adjustment?

l, imagine that 1.3 billion would be enough to catch up, if I have not lost progress.

Before, anyone says you get paid more now and don't complain. I am only doing this for rank, and I despise the exobiology game mechanics. Overall it would seem our progress has been reset.

 

[Vinman]

Sally addressed your issue in the original post.

Yes, I did read what @sallymorganmoore wrote. Apparently, it will eventually catch up, but my question is, has it reset the % of progression in the current tier previous to update 14 or not?

For the record, I only started doing Exobiology again after 14.1, so any rank progress I have lost is before the 14.0 big payouts.

 

[Aunty Sledge]

Yes, I did read what @sallymorganmoore wrote. Apparently, it will eventually catch up, but my question is, has it reset the % of progression in the current tier previous to update 14 or not?

For the record, I only started doing Exobiology again after 14.1, so any rank progress I have lost is before the 14.0 big payouts.

From what we can currently figure out, profit and effort required is now around 20x higher. So fresh starters have the same hill to climb but make a lot more money on their journey. All is good on that score.

The problem is with existing commanders, as their accured effort that they made that went into their exobiology rank is now worth 1/20th of what is previously was when related to rank. So, our existing efforts have been nerfed into the void, and people are rightly annoyed. Folks can make light of the issue, it's only a game after all, but games rely on rules, and in this one the goal posts got shifted mid-match for most of us.

Previously we had a rank pointer on our account which simply told you the rank and percentage in that rank. Now we have two. The first is stuck at 0% of your current rank, the second is pointing to the true rank/percentage based on the new progress chart, but we can't see that pointer and haven't been shown the new chart. With the progress chart now 20 times bigger this pointer is now a few ranks lower than the one you can see. In short, we all got demoted but it was hidden from us.

Once the hidden pointer catches up with the visible one the visible one will start moving again and you'll be able to experience progress as before. Some people have reported rank demotions as the two pointers have snapped together, which isn't really a problem as it's only showing their true rank (the hidden pointer is the new truth after all). Most people have effectlvely move up multiple ranks but seen no change, and won't until they catch up to the visible pointer. How you make a system so inconsistent is part of the FDev secret sauce, and they aren't saying anything.

I think you'll start to see rank progress again once you pass 2,262,600,000. You sound like you are on about 1.5 Billion at the moment, so the next exploration trip should get you moving again. I hope that helps.

 

[Northpin]

The problem is with existing commanders, as their accured effort that they made that went into their exobiology rank is now worth 1/20th of what is previously was when related to rank. So, our existing efforts have been nerfed into the void, and people are rightly annoyed. Folks can make light of the issue, it's only a game after all, but games rely on rules, and in this one the goal posts got shifted mid-match for most of us.

Yes, this is the main issue.

I had a small % (15%) into my rank and didn't do anything, leaving it alone pre-14.1 patch. Post 14.1 patch, it showed me at 0% of the same rank. After going out and turning in around 1.3 billion (lots of first discoveries - which do count towards progression), I skipped collector entirely and went to 77% cataloguer.

Someone that had 450 millions in exobio - so Elite rank before U14 - after U14 will still have 450 millions and still the Elite tag.
But to see any further progress the commander will need to cash in 8+ billions to reach the new threshold for Elite rank, then another 8 Billions for Elite II rank
So, 16 billions needed to rank from Elite to Elite II (which is quite a nerf for players that did the mistake to level Exobio before U14)

The fair thing to do would have been for the players to be provided with the required amount of "experience points" to maintain their rank (and progress towards the next rank)
So to rank from Elite to Elite II one would need to cash in 8bn instead of 16bn as needed in the above mentioned (and current) scenario

 

[Evoflash]

Yes, this is the main issue.

The fair thing to do would have been for the players to be provided with the required amount of "experience points" to maintain their rank (and progress towards the next rank)
So to rank from Elite to Elite II one would need to cash in 8bn instead of 16bn as needed in the above mentioned (and current) scenario

Agreed.

What took me five months to gather (Cr465m worth of ranking progress) can now be easily matched by someone else within a few hours.

That’s what is so heinous about this update, as it has severely damaged trust in the game.

As I previously posted, FDEV Support have told me it’s gone to QA. Fingers crossed this is addressed, but I have to say I’m rather nervous it won’t.

 

[HRDiagram]

Agreed.

What took me five months to gather (Cr465m) can now be easily matched by someone else within a few hours.

That’s what is so heinous about this update, as it has severely damaged trust in the game.

As I previously posted, FDEV Support have told me it’s gone to QA. Fingers crossed this is addressed, but I have to say I’m rather nervous it won’t.

My experience with Exobiology!
On my main I've been out in the black for months, scanning thousands of times and when I got back to the bubble I still wasn't Elite, so I took a few more trips (and weeks), until I got it, and swore never to touch Exobiology again until it gets some significant revamping.
Last month I moved my alt to Colonia with his FC, using non direct route. It took me about a week of relatively casual play, with some exploration between FC jumps, and decided to land every now and again on planets with significant numbers of bio signals (without scanning them all, though: only the ones I could find near my landing spot).
Then I finally got to Colonia, went to Vista and BAM!, Elite in Exobiology

(I got to Elite for the red Artemis, not the title)

 

[Aunty Sledge]

My experience with Exobiology!
On my main I've been out in the black for months, scanning thousands of times and when I got back to the bubble I still wasn't Elite, so I took a few more trips (and weeks), until I got it, and swore never to touch Exobiology again until it gets some significant revamping.
Last month I moved my alt to Colonia with his FC, using non direct route. It took me about a week of relatively casual play, with some exploration between FC jumps, and decided to land every now and again on planets with significant numbers of bio signals (without scanning them all, though: only the ones I could find near my landing spot).
Then I finally got to Colonia, went to Vista and BAM!, Elite in Exobiology

(I got to Elite for the red Artemis, not the title)

Would you be willing to share your Exobiology profit numbers from your Codex? We can add them to the mix on trying to figure out what the new numbers are.

FDev have stated it needs to be 8,426,250,000 for Elite, but well, we like to fact check what they tell us, cos you know... history.

 

[Greasetrap42]

Is this what 21 pages is about? Being upset over a good money maker? Investment here is also time. Yes, it's great money. Yes, I hope they leave it alone. I really don't get what others are so upset about with this.

Pre U14 if someone was excited about Exobiology and wanted to rank up they might have spent big time to scan +2000 plants on +500 different planets. That effort was wasted because they made very few credits and post U14 their rank is effectively pulled down. For someone that had achieved Elite III, IV, V this would represent a huge loss in time.

A similar effort right now might achieve a similar rank (I assume) and lots of credits but it must be done over again for those who did it pre U14.

 

[Chaparral]

Is there a current table of Exobiology Ranks vs. total credits earned?

It would keep me from being annoyed when I look at a bar that is completely empty after a 138 million payout.

 

[aRJay]

Is there a current table of Exobiology Ranks vs. total credits earned?

It would keep me from being annoyed when I look at a bar that is completely empty after a 138 million payout.

Nothing official but several player produced ones have been included in earlier posts in this thread.

 

[Greasetrap42]

I wonder what the reaction would be if it was Combat Rank that got "rebalanced".

 

[Riverside]

I wonder what the reaction would be if it was Combat Rank that got "rebalanced".

It was rebalanced an update or two ago. There was a patch note about adjusting the rank based multiplier. Barely raised an eyebrow AFAIK.

I think this has been rebalanced to get more players doing it. Upping the payout will undoubtedly have had that effect, and presumably making it a little quicker overall to rank up has been a response to metrics too; it does take longer than explo rank (based on my own experience).


Combat rank is different from Explo, trade or bio ranks, it isn't based on credits earned. When Explo & Trade ranks were rebalanced historically the pre-rebalance progress was retained. Hopefully what will happen for this one too.

 

[Greasetrap42]

It was rebalanced an update or two ago. There was a patch note about adjusting the rank based multiplier. Barely raised an eyebrow AFAIK.

I believe that did not modify cmdrs ranks or position within the ranking system. Rather the weighting of the activities that are used for increasing rank further. Cmdrs retained effective rank and progression to the next rank level.

The Exobiology rebalance effectively altered a cmdrs position within the ranking system. It got rolled back.

If Cmdr's combat rank was effectively rolled back in a "rebalance" I'm sure there would have been significant player response.

 

[Riverside]

If Cmdr's combat rank was effectively rolled back in a "rebalance" I'm sure there would have been significant player response.

I think that would apply to any rank

 

[AJH16]

It was rebalanced an update or two ago. There was a patch note about adjusting the rank based multiplier. Barely raised an eyebrow AFAIK.

I think this has been rebalanced to get more players doing it. Upping the payout will undoubtedly have had that effect, and presumably making it a little quicker overall to rank up has been a response to metrics too; it does take longer than explo rank (based on my own experience).


Combat rank is different from Explo, trade or bio ranks, it isn't based on credits earned. When Explo & Trade ranks were rebalanced historically the pre-rebalance progress was retained. Hopefully what will happen for this one too.

Except what it did was completely demolish the efforts of anyone who had done any exobiology. I was Elite, I'm now the third or fourth rank and have to put another 100 hours in just to get back to where I was. Anyone that had interest is going to be in a similarly burned boat where we've had our progress stripped away, so they'll have no interest, and for anyone that hadn't been doing it yet, the payouts aren't really any better than the payouts available in many other ways that are more engaging, so I don't see it drawing many people in.

 

[AJH16]

It was rebalanced an update or two ago. There was a patch note about adjusting the rank based multiplier. Barely raised an eyebrow AFAIK.

I think this has been rebalanced to get more players doing it. Upping the payout will undoubtedly have had that effect, and presumably making it a little quicker overall to rank up has been a response to metrics too; it does take longer than explo rank (based on my own experience).


Combat rank is different from Explo, trade or bio ranks, it isn't based on credits earned. When Explo & Trade ranks were rebalanced historically the pre-rebalance progress was retained. Hopefully what will happen for this one too.

Nobody raised much of an eyebrow when the payouts went up drastically for Exo either, the problem isn't the payouts, the problem is the rank reduction. I put over 150 hours in to getting elite before. Now I have to put in another 100 hours just to be back where I was. No thanks. I'm done playing the game unless it is fixed and I am a player with thousands of hours and probably close to $1000 put in to this game, but this is enough to make me walk away. Same for my father who has around 2200 hours in the game.

I have absolutely no problem with payouts increasing. They needed to badly and I don't mind it being easier for others to accomplish what I've accomplished so far. What I do mind is having to reaccomplish what I already spent hundreds of hours doing while others only had to spend 50 or so hours to get Elite V and will never have it reset unless they actually do Exo again.

Your comparison to what happened here is apples and hubcaps.

 

[AJH16]

They must have some great holiday allowance at FD. I mean they can't even assign someone to amend their schedule on Twitch, never mind the very idea that a CM might actually appear on the forum...

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It is a game. I'm very upset about this issue, and I'll walk away if they don't fix it, but at the same time. I don't want to be pulling someone away from their family time over the holidays for this. Just so long as they actually fix it when they get back.

 

[AJH16]

And why would they get involved here when they rarely get involved in these types of threads? A Mod would intervene way before a CM does, in an effort to keep things civil. I don't blame them either, this is a thread with no resolution unless FD resolves it. And any 'resolution' will get some faction howling in protest on another thread where someone will ponder why FD isn't weighing in on their take on why they took the nerf away. Pretty much anything FD does is a no-win on this forum (not that that they don't do this to themselves).

FD lost the handle on "balance" a long time ago.. The bigger issue, to me, is why am I obsessed with collecting billions in credits when there's nothing to spend it on, after one has already bought and fully kitted fleet carrier. Why give a poop about being Elite I-II-III-IV-V when it means virtually nothing to gameplay?

Clearly, two lines of thought here: Credits or Rank (ie "effort"). I think this parallels the old mining nerf, the discussions seem awful familiar lol..

I'm not sure there's no win for them here though. If they either did a rank recalculation for people who have previously done exobiology based on current values to determine rank, then I can't see who would possibly complain. It shouldn't be hard to do, we know they have the information to do it. It doesn't violate any semblance of fairness I can think of. Sure there would be some who didn't think that was enough, but it would still be a far cry better for all parties than where things are at now.