The scaling poll!

[Ruddertail]

Well. As you know, some time ago, we implemented factor 1,000, making values look 3 decimal points lower than they actually are. Thus, 1,000,000 T1 shows up as 1,000 T1.

Should we keep it as it is (option 1), which would mean 1,000,000 (One Million) troops shows as 1,000.

Restore it to the actual values (option 2), which would mean that 1,000,000 troops shows up as 1,000,000 troops.

Change it to something else (option 3). Perhaps 1,000,000 troops would show as 10,000, or 100,000. Or perhaps it will show as 10,000,000 (Ten Million). Specify what you want.

Feel free to debate and discuss.

- Ruddertail

[Shadow I]

I think we should scale it up a bit, but not to the point where it is as large as most other promis. Maybe 100x? I actually really like the scaling, I only suggested that it might be driving new players away.

Regardless, I think we should scale leader ratios accordingly and bring back ratio requirements, but that's a whole other debate.

[ohmyjapan16]

The reduced scale has grown on me. The only thing, if anything I would suggest is to increase the scaling on the boats to keep it consistent.

[Ruddertail]

Huh? What do you mean?

[ohmyjapan16]

Everything was scaled down 1,000 except for the boats which were scaled down 100,000. I would propose instead of scaling down the boats by 100,000, switch to 1,000 to keep it consistent with the other troop scalings.

[Ruddertail]

I'd actually to it the other way. Take off the rest of the scaling, but keep boats scaled at 100.

While I'm ok with the smaller numbers, 1,000s and such, I think it generally is less attractive. It gives the impression of slower game play. Seriously, if you spend 100 turns, wouldn't you like to get more than numbers in the thousands?

See the "Just in case you're interested" topic for more discussion...

[Shadow I]

Like I said, I really like the smaller numbers - they make the math a lot more precise for one thing. I think we should try taking out the scaling for a few rounds and see what it does to activity. Keep an eye on new players and compare stay rates before and after scaling. If it makes no difference, go back to the slow gameplay.

[Ruddertail]

Hrm? What do you mean it makes math more precise? If anything, it's less precise, because 3 digits are rounded...

[Shadow I]

Are they still there? Like do I actually have 350.22349 boats, or just 350? Precise isn't the right word. Easy.

[Ruddertail]

Yeah. If I have 1,000 - it could be anything from 1,000,001 to 1,000,499 (or is it always rounded down, in which case, up to 1,000,999?)

How does that make it easier to deal with 1,000 as opposed to 1,000,000, or even 1,000,365?

[Shadow I]

It's a psychological thing

Ignore my tired ramblings. Just forget everything i said after my second suggestion.

[bjornredtail]

I think the way scaling works is somewhat backwards... Instead of making lots and lots of stuff look bigger by simply dividing and lopping off everything after a certain digit, let's up the troop base values, and decrease the production multipliers.

[Ruddertail]

Nev - that has the same effect, making game play seem much slower. I'd guess most people won't originally be too enthused by spending turns and turns training to get... thousands of troops. They want to see millions of troops, billions of dollars.

[bjornredtail]

True, but at least we avoid the situation of having "invisible troops" where we have troops that have a noticeable effect on the outcome of engagements, but cannot be seen because they fall under the threshold of the scaling.

[carbz]

does it matter? The whole sacling thing i mean, is it that important?