08-14-2014, 03:07 PM
TO PUSH, OR NOT TO PUSH? THAT IS THE QUESTION.
In response to recent talks regarding the start of a Push/Farm program, I've devised the following plan for a 6-week trial run. At the very least, I think it should get us off to a pretty solid start.
NOTE: for the purpose of this document, the use of the word Trophy and Cup are interchangeable.
It's important to note that I'm constructing this based on general perception and have no real experience or authority in constructing a plan of this type. That said, (<--favorite lead-in phrase of the month), if anyone has any input, or even better, experience; please don't hesitate to add input. Suggestions and comments are always welcome and appreciated.
PUSH/FARM PROGRAM OUTLINE
1.) Set a start date. Enough time should be given prior to the start date to allow players to reach their start thresholds. Initially, this will be equal to their record trophy count. This number is listed in the player profile under the "Sweet Victory" achievement.
[i] *We will consider "Player-1's" in an example. His current "Sweet Victory" record is 1200 . Therefore, minimum cup threshold for his initial push is equal to 1200
2.) The "push" phase of the Push/Farm cycle with last 1 season (2 weeks). All players will aim to increase and sustain their trophy record by no less than 200 trophy's.
*Player-1 will set a minimum goal of reaching 1400 cups by the end of the 2 week period.
3.) The "push" phase will be immediately followed by a "farm" phase. At this time players may find it beneficial to drop cups in order to increase the odds of pairing attacks that are likely to result in greater loot rewards. The goal of the farming period is to gather enough resources to initiate one or more upgrades by phase end.
4.) At the conclusion of the farm phase, players are required to possess no less than their new minimum trophy threshold which is equal to that of their previous threshold +100.
*Player-1 must possess no less than 1300 Trophies at the start of the next push "phase".
5.) Initial push/farm Program will have a duration of 6 weeks, concluding after the second push for evaluation and reassessment.
*Per-player and team progress will be recorded weekly and displayed on a fancy-dancey spreadsheet for the purpose of progress tracking and player ridicule.
INITIAL INCREMENT GOAL (200 CUPS PER PUSH)
This is initial goal is an average increase of 14 cups per day. At the absolute minimum, it is suggested that players aim to gain 30-40 cups per daily push session in order to maintain the net 15 required after assuming daily losses after attack(s). If you're not a "daily" player, do the math . Push sessions on an "every other day" basis would have a goal set at 60-80 cups.
* The increment goal is subject to change (+/-) based on evaluation after initial 6-week run.
FARMING PHASE BEST PRACTICES
Keep in mind that your minimum trophy threshold (previous threshold + 100) must be met prior to the next push cycle. If you intentionally drop cups while farming, be mindful of your timeline. Climbing back after dropping too low can be both lengthy and costly. Be sure to factor in the pacing of your climb, and distribute your goal over several days if need be. Finding yourself on a marathon pre-push the day before deadline can prove quite costly if you are forced to use more resources than you have time to mine.
When farming, keep in mind that dropping your trophies too low can be counter productive. Although the odds of finding weaker bases are increased, the rewards "per-base" will likely prove less lucrative. One reason is due to the game mechanics. Loot rewards are handicapped (lower %) on attacks against lesser Townhalls than your own. Also, since upgrades to smaller bases are generally less expensive, less stockpiling is required and available stashes are not nearly as plentiful as often found at higher levels. And of course, pre TownHall 8 bases have smaller storage capacities period.
So, dropping cups during a seasonal push/farm program is a delicate balancing act -- think twice before you race off to bronze. Consider your attack style (snipe vs full) and frequency of play to discern appropriate farming practices that yield best overall results for you. Spending more time searching for the right base may prove less time consuming (and less expensive) then dropping, raiding, and re-climbing.
A QUICK NOTE ON UPGRADES:
Early on its makes good sense to upgrade two or even four like units simultaneously because they complete at the same time which allows for efficient repurposing of your builders. As your base grows and upgrades take days rather than hours, the above rational is no longer a wise one. The extended downtimes sustained while upgrading multiple like utilities can have sever consequences offensively and even more so defensibly. Keeping your builders busy as much as possible is COC 101 - but never upgrade more than one "like" unit simultaneously. Imagine trying to trophy push and discourage full base attacks when you've got all 4 air defense's out of commission!
TIMING: CYCLES, PHASES, & DURATIONS
Using a seasonal farm/push cycle should serve as a good starting point. Its a convenient way to keep track of where you are because Supercell manages it for you.
We may find however that either farming is inhibited by the need to prematurely conclude collection to pace re-climb; or that pushing is in turn difficult because post farm upgrades handicap attack effectiveness. That said, rebalancing of the phase lengths and/or ratios may need visiting either immediately or over time as upgrades will inevitably become increasingly hungry for time in the future.
Regarding duration: While the push/farm cycle could easily become a permanent fixture within a clans regiment, I'm personally in favor of establishing "push/farm" durations with definitive start and end date(s). If for no other reason - to define a measure for assessment. Furthermore, taking a few days to consider the teams progress, allows for refinement system variables if needed. Depending on how demanding the push/farm program proves to be, there may be a benefit in a "Push Holiday" of one or more days or even seasons. Establishing an "endpoint" (even if only a day before the next session) defines a clear breakpoint where players can opt-out of an upcoming session. Knowing there's a finish line will keep players focused on reaching it, and hopefully prevent "fade-out" due to a seemingly monotonous never ending cycle.
JUSTiSO will commit to a 6-week duration for our first run. Within this run, we will stick to ALL variables initially decided. At the end of the run we will take a 1 season holiday to assess, discuss, and vote on whether the group finds benefit in continuing the push/farm Program of if changes are needed to make it more or less demanding.
It the majority votes to continue the Program, I envision durations will increase with each progression and will eventually manifest as quarterly process once near optimal levels.
PLAYER BURNOUT
Player burnout is an important factor to consider. Our top priority as always, should be to "keep it fun". We all play for slightly different reasons and admitingly, I'm perhaps a tad more obsessive with war than most .. While losing less interested and/or dedicated folks is inevitable along the way, I'd like to be mindful of pushing the limits of the great group we have right now. If this idea of a "Push Program" sounds or becomes more stress than fun, please PM me immediately. I do not have intentions to suspend or run this in place of war, so I want to ensure the additional requirements are in fact reasonable to at least attempt for a 3 week trial. If not, I will do my best to create a solution to satisfy all parties.
TO BE CLEAR: Reluctance to participate will in no way shape or form reflect negatively upon anyone but you MUST inform me via PM if you object. Simply ignoring the efforts as we move forward will not be an acceptable response. Objections will be kept confidential unless it is otherwise requested or cleared. Also note that not everyone always sees messages in the chat so don't let that be your only means of response on these topics.
If we all like this plan, I hope to move it forward within a week or two after I assess everyone's trophy record and calculate a reasonable "pre-push" timeframe. In the meantime, please reply here or PM me directly with any comments, questions, concerns, or suggestions.
Thanks to all for your help! I'm super excited to move forward on this venture together! Big thanks to Mr. Evo for lighting the fire!! Just imagine how good we will all look in RED !
Love always,
--Zooks