Random thoughts on Fractals of the Mists

Random thoughts on Fractals of the Mists

in Fractals, Dungeons & Raids

Posted by: Apolyon.6937

Apolyon.6937

Some time ago I started recording the rewards me and my wife got from Fractals with the intention to find out the chance to get a fractal skin, so 100 successful runs later, here I am with 0 (zero) fractal skins and a few things that I would like to share.

I’m going to start with the most obvious things I observed in these months.

Problem: Random Map Rotation “forces” players to go back to the observatory until the Swamp is the first fractal. Specially in higher level fractals. While this is not really a major issue, I think it is quite boring and stupid. The reason for this is that there are some really quick fractals, while other are very very slow and may take forever to complete, and people just want to try to avoid getting three long fractal maps in the same run.
Proposal: Map Rotation based on Fractal Length: I think that instead of completely random, the fractal maps could be classified by expected time to complete, and then rotate them so you will always get short and long fractal maps. For example, split them in Fast (Aquatic, Snow, Swamp), Normal (Urban, Uncategorized, Volcanic) and Slow (Cliffside, Underground, Volcanic) maps; then you will always get 1 from Fast, 1 from Normal, and 1 from Slow.

Problem: Fractal Specific Rewards have no uses. And by this I mean the Mists Essences (ascended material) and the Pristine Fractal Relics. These rewards have very limited uses compared with other similar rewards (for example, like dungeon tokens, or any other material). As far as I know Mist Essences can only be used for either A) Infusing ascended rings, or Crafting (very expensive) ascended back items. And let me put this “very expensive” statement in perspective… I’m in the process of crafting my fourth Prototype Fractal Capacitator, and in all this time I’m not even close to get the materials required to craft one of the other back items.
Proposal: Add more uses to these rewards. In the case of the Pristine Fractal Relics, I would add the same rewards that you can get with Standard Fractal Relics but with a Pristine Fractal Relic version. I mean the Obsidian Shards, Fractal Capacitators, 20 slot bags, etc… And in the case of the Mist Essences I would convert them in materials that can be used with the artisan disciplines. Maybe adding some cooking recipes (who knows, they may be delicious) and stuff like that. Also, maybe upgrade them in the same way Ectoplasms were updated, so we can salvage them for Dust or Ectoplasm.

The next point may be controversial, so let me give you the rationale behind it. In my observations I found out that the average drops are very similar regardless of the level played, actually, for one specific type of drop I got worst results the higher the level. Let me put this in perspective, in these 100 runs, I got exactly 31 ascended rings, this means 0.31 rings per run (yes, I’m super lucky with rings, except that I only get 5 silver from each ring from vendoring :p ). Now, when I look at this statistic by fractal level, I found that my average is always very close to 0.31 in levels 10 to 19, also 0.31 in levels 20 to 29, again 0.31 in levels 30 to 39… This may be pure coincidence, but I got the same results with other drops, like Mist Essences, and the same again for Cores, and again for Lodestones. I haven’t got enough Exotics (only 4), or Fractal Skins (0) or Ascended boxes (0) but I believe that it is the same for them. So the conclusion I got is that I’ve been averaging the same number of rings in level 10 than in level 30 (yes, I know that in level 26+ you get ascended and infused rings, but what I’m looking at is the number of drops).

What really gets better, is that you get more Standard Fractal Relics, and more karma. And that’s it.

So now you may say… But I know that people doing level 48 get lots of Fractal Skins, and Ascended Boxes, and Precursors… Well, I don’t have enough data to claim this to be true or false with a 100% of accuracy, BUT, it is true that usually people doing level 48 will be farming this level, or just increasing their personal reward level playing higher levels, so obviously most of their drops will always be at level 48, but this does not mean that if they were doing level 26 they were not getting the same things. So finally, based on my observation, the next point is:

Random thoughts on Fractals of the Mists

in Fractals, Dungeons & Raids

Posted by: Apolyon.6937

Apolyon.6937

Problem: The average rate of rewards do not improve in higher levels. I’ve played fractals a lot, way more than 100 runs, and what I found is that the most optimal fractal level to play is level 10. Why? Because in the end you will end up with the same rewards that somebody doing level 48, but in half the time. If rewards do really have a higher chance the higher the level, I have never experienced that.
Proposal: The higher the level, the better the rewards. To try to keep this balanced, this should be in line with my previous proposals. Then, to increase the rewards, you can start with the basic Fractals stuff. Let’s say for example, from level 30 onward, you get two pristine fractal relics, instead of one. Another thing to improve will be the chance to get Cores and Lodestones, either from the monsters or from the chests. And finally, add a chest similar to world bosses to each fractal, with a daily granted rare, so if you do the 9 fractal maps you can get 9 rares (doing a fractal takes more time and effort than killing a world boss).

And my last proposal will be, obviously, for the fractal skins:

Problem: Fractal skins and the double chance. Fractal skins are way too rare, and even if you get one, you may not be able to use it, and to top it off they are not even weapons or skins; you can only use them after transmuting them.
Proposal: ???. To be completely honest, I cannot find a solution that pleases everybody, so this is what I come up with… Do not change them, just make it easier to get either the skin you want or the stats you want, and convert them in items like the old Magic Find items, so you can double click them and select the stats, but only once. AND add a new set of fractal weapons that can be obtained with tokens (like in any other dungeon), ideally this set should really be something prestigious to show off that you really are a Fractal Master, so maybe make it so this new token only drops from levels 30+, or 40+ or 50+ or whatever you think is good.

Thanks for reading!!!

Random thoughts on Fractals of the Mists

in Fractals, Dungeons & Raids

Posted by: Tree.3916

Tree.3916

Some good ideas here but this belongs in the suggestions thread.

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Random thoughts on Fractals of the Mists

in Fractals, Dungeons & Raids

Posted by: laharl.8435

laharl.8435

I had over 500 fractals completed before I had a character reach 48. Got my warrior to 30 very early, then got guardian to 48 eventually. I got my first fractal skin at scale 46. At scale 48 I seem to get about 1 skin out of every 3 or 4 runs. It seems the chances of getting a skin are exponentially higher at 48.

Random thoughts on Fractals of the Mists

in Fractals, Dungeons & Raids

Posted by: ShadowRX.9024

ShadowRX.9024

I got all my skins(8) from lv 20-28 , personal lv 41 and i think i did the same number as you 100 lv 20-28 . I did 2 lv 48 and the loot was the same as 20. Im my opinion the skins are fine though i know i got very lucky xD gs,sword,focus,longbow,double axe,pistol,trident my main= wa and mes ^^.
I hope when we get the 3 new fractals fotm will get revamped. The rewards just suck ,doing a world boss is more rewarding then fotm 48.

(edited by ShadowRX.9024)

Random thoughts on Fractals of the Mists

in Fractals, Dungeons & Raids

Posted by: Apolyon.6937

Apolyon.6937

As Tree said, I should have posted this in the Suggestions thread. If a mod is reading this, can you move it?

I had over 500 fractals completed before I had a character reach 48. Got my warrior to 30 very early, then got guardian to 48 eventually. I got my first fractal skin at scale 46. At scale 48 I seem to get about 1 skin out of every 3 or 4 runs. It seems the chances of getting a skin are exponentially higher at 48.

@laharl do you usually play level 48, maybe 48 and higher levels, or do you still play lower levels in the 20’s and 30’s levels? In my observations, we had several runs at 48 were nobody from the party got a skin.

In any case, do not focus only on the skins please, even if it is the most popular issue, I would like to bring this thread to the attention of the devs so your opinions on the other problems will be much appreciated.

Random thoughts on Fractals of the Mists

in Fractals, Dungeons & Raids

Posted by: laharl.8435

laharl.8435

I mostly just run 48’s now, unless I’m leveling my warrior. I only run fractals for skins and the challenge. The group i usually run with melee’s everything, which i find very fun. The skin drop rate at 48 seems pretty decent, that’s really all I was talking about. Sure, the rest of the rewards could be better though.

Random thoughts on Fractals of the Mists

in Fractals, Dungeons & Raids

Posted by: laharl.8435

laharl.8435

As Tree said, I should have posted this in the Suggestions thread. If a mod is reading this, can you move it?

I had over 500 fractals completed before I had a character reach 48. Got my warrior to 30 very early, then got guardian to 48 eventually. I got my first fractal skin at scale 46. At scale 48 I seem to get about 1 skin out of every 3 or 4 runs. It seems the chances of getting a skin are exponentially higher at 48.

@laharl do you usually play level 48, maybe 48 and higher levels, or do you still play lower levels in the 20’s and 30’s levels? In my observations, we had several runs at 48 were nobody from the party got a skin.

In any case, do not focus only on the skins please, even if it is the most popular issue, I would like to bring this thread to the attention of the devs so your opinions on the other problems will be much appreciated.

If your reward level isn’t at 48, you’ll have a substantially lower skin drop rate than someone whose reward level is 48, even if you run a 48. I leveled my guardian from scale 36 to 48 doing all 48’s. Skins didn’t reliably drop until my reward level was 48.

(edited by laharl.8435)

Random thoughts on Fractals of the Mists

in Fractals, Dungeons & Raids

Posted by: Phadde.7362

Phadde.7362

Generally adding more fractal levels would be a great addition….
As someone who has yet to reach 30, I’m happy with the rewards of 10-28. Really hope that I’ll be satisfied with the rewards when I progress.

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Random thoughts on Fractals of the Mists

in Fractals, Dungeons & Raids

Posted by: Tree.3916

Tree.3916

Generally adding more fractal levels would be a great addition….
As someone who has yet to reach 30, I’m happy with the rewards of 10-28. Really hope that I’ll be satisfied with the rewards when I progress.

Don’t get your hopes up

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