The future of the Gym Meta
We all know that moves and CP have been altered in the past by Niantic and can be changed in subsequent updates. Just recently after the Gen II release, they have been changed once more as shown here:
https://pokemongohub.net/moves-changed-heres-full-list-changes/
While I'm glad quick moves have been made faster, I am concerned about the future of the gym meta and how we can safely invest in pokemon with good movesets. Niantic does not show when or why these moves are changed, which is ultimately damaging to the player base and endgame. Some optimal movesets are unobtainable as they are legacy, which gives an unfair disadvantage for new players. Hardcore players will also struggle as the time and stardust invested in supposedly good movesets have become wasted. This is not healthy for the development of the game.
If Niantic wants Pokemon Go to stay relevant after the Gen II hype dies down, I propose some solutions:
-Let the players know in advance which moves will be changed and when. This can give people caution when to invest and steadily mix up the Gym Meta, as well as giving newer and casual players a chance to participate
-(Highly requested already) Give players TMs / a method to randomize movesets. This allows players to focus searching for high IV pokemon and reduce the luck aspect of team building. It also gives Niantic flexibility to make changes to the movesets as players can expect and prepare for these adjustments.
What are your thoughts on the future of the game?
How do you feel about unpredicated move changes?
Answers
Well, my concerns are the same as yours, I am not a hardcore player but I play every day at least 1h or 1h30, have invested a lot of effort powering up mons as everyone knows dust is expensive to get (I don't have a go plus to help just clicking and getting dust, or the money to permantly get incubators running).
I think letting players know in advance moves is not an option, because then no one would powering anything up and the game will lost also a part of it, but if this changes keep comming (seems they will), they should at least put an item on the store to randomly reroll movesets after new ones come out, this way you can decided if you want a legacy move or try to reroll for the new one that may be better in some cases and don't lost all dust and candies invested on a particular mon.
Hope they realize this soon, for me no more power ups in at least 2 months, have burned like 150k dust on a Blissey that will no longer be anything near it has been those days, at least I got 30 coins from her hahah xD
I think most of the most onerous changes from gen 2 have already been reversed. If you wanted to dodge rather than spam, the nature of your collection changed. I don't really mind if some mon get nerfed or buffed periodically. I'm part collector. So, maintaining a diverse squad to cope with that doesn't bother me much, or scrambling a bit to get the new hot mon is ok. However, to have the playstyle of all the mon I've been collecting arbitrarily altered bothers me.
It is possible that they had done the math and realize that they could make much more money by NOT introducing TMs. Without TMs, it takes A LOT of trial and error to obtain a Pokemon with both good IVs and moves. Players may be more likely to spend more time and money in the game under the current system.
Just my guess.
Great post. I share your concerns.
Regarding your proposed solutions:
- I do not think that preemptive notices, from Niantic, about future nerfs and move adjustments would serve a significant purpose. This would merely give players heads up to prevent-loss and / or stop-loss, but not reverse-loss. Resources (dust, candies, time, effort, luck) that had been spent would still be wasted.
- I agree with the addition of a way to customize movesets, as this would remove a very discouraging aspect of the game. I had created a thread earlier to ask people what they think about the introduction of TMs. To my surprise, many have been less than enthusiastic about the idea (judging from the comment section). See link below:
https://pokemongo.gamepress.gg/q-a/are-you-dispirited-and-discouraged-niantics-nerfs-and-adjustments-moves-will-introducing-tms
If Niantic know they are about to change the movesets/stats of moves, then it could not hurt to give us notice.
Too much notice will be bad, but 5-7 days notice so that you don't blow all your stardust in the last couple of days or even literally hours before a change making them worthless.
A little notice could save a lot of pain.
As for TMs. I can see why Niantic would be hesitant. The game is to go out and catch mons - if you want another moveset, go and catch 'em all.
No one is entitled to the best movesets on their best IV mons, even when the 'best in slot' changes.
In short, my opinion...yes to a little (only a little) notice that changes are 'incoming', and no to TMs.
Without the ability to customize movesets, one Niantic update is all it takes to tarnish a player's investment in his / her Pokemon. While updates are necessary to improve and "balance" the game, I feel strongly that it is possible to do so without making a player's previous progress in the game irrelevant.
In my opinioin, introducing TMs simply offer flexibility to the game. TMs do not have to come easy so players can't abuse the system. For instance, it can come as a Cash Shop item for those who are willing to pay, and as a rare PokeStop drop for those who want to play for free.
What do you think?
