Executive Summary Version 3: *I'll try to summarize it on every page so that people won't need to look for other pages*

Everything started with the question: "How can we make Warzone more popular"

From what I gathered, the short answer is this 6-step guide below;

1) Make the game more "new-player friendly"

1.1) Terminate Auto-Changing Settings

- Instead of changing player settings automatically, ask players if they wanna change (so many new players quit because they thought Warzone App got broken due to auto-changing start-up screen + so many new players quit because they got overwhelmed by never ending games due to auto-enabling auto-invite)

1.2) Better Tutorials

- Develop detailed tutorials for each official template + For commerce, commanders etc.

1.3) Improve the Level-Up System

- Focus on participation, not wins (new players shouldn't be try-hards) + Make each level-up more rewarding (Coins, articafts, colorful text etc.) + Make all settings accessible to all players (at least for single-player custom games)

1.4) Separate Win-Rate & Ratings System

- WR only effected by: Tourneys, Open Games etc. | Ratings only effected by: QM, Ladders etc. + WR should only be effected by last 100 games (like booting rates)

1.5) Player-friendly GUI

- More emphasis on QM, Less emphasis on Open Games (Open Games are confusing for new players)

1.6) Better, Standardized Official Templates

- Remove: SEAD (on CW), 4FFA (on QM), S2V2 (on WZI Arena) | Add: Diplo templates, AIs vs Players template

2) Update some old ineffective mechanics

2.1) Improve Matchmaking Systems

- Every player should face people from their skill level

2.2) Better Single-player

- Shorter levels + Rewards for finishing each level (especially with gold star) + Better levels which are similar to
official template settings + Superior AI etc.

2.3) Improved "Accidental Commit" System

- i.e. If most of your armies didn't moved, double check the commit button

2.4) Multiple Clan Settings

- When making a new clan, player get to choose if they want capped or uncapped clan but uncapped clans can't play the game competitively (no CW, no CL etc.)

2.5) Rebranding/Renaming

- Go back to WarLight if able to, it will be important on marketing campaign step

2.6) Wheel Spin Cooldown Reduction

- Its currently every 16 hr, let's make it 8 hr (To reduce the coin gap with players from top clans + To encourage players to play more frequently + To increase Fizzer's advertisement revenue)

3) Utilize the community to increase visibility of the game (Youtube, Twitch etc.)

3.1) Find a Voice & Image of Warzone

- Everyone will subscribe to him and help him become popular to increase the visibility of this game

3.2) Warzone Community Newsletter

- All trends, dramas, game changes will be gathered & summarized in a single place to make community more informed and engaging

3.3) More Accessible Information

- All community accumulated knowledge about WZIdle, Official Templates etc. should be gathered in a single place like Fandom/Reddit/Drive etc. + Community should work to protect and improve this accumulated knowledge

3.4) Special Clans To Help New Players

- When a new player starts playing the game, game can force that player to go into a clan after the initial tutorial ends, through "Join a clan" page (they can leave the clan whenever they want, its just to show how to join a clan). They can join these new clans dedicated to help new players which will help them understand the game quickly while keeping them engaged with the community

4) Fizzer needs to start an aggressive marketing campaign

5) Fizzer needs to recruit a small developer team to keep the game trendy

6) Maintain the cycle "More players > More revenue > More advertisement" for infinity



Other Suggestions

a) When creating a game, if specifically a 1v1 QM template is used, there can be a an option to search players from QM (with ranking similar to person creates the game) as well. So that players can find another player faster
- Didn't included with the rest because this was too small and convoluted

b) Advanced filtering options for Open Games (you can look for games with specific settings etc.)
- Didn't included with the rest because Open Games already have just a few games, this filtering will make the options feel even less

It has already been mentioned that going back to the name Warlight isn't possible. The owner of that name won't let Fizzer have it. And it's too expensive. The current level system is working fine. You do get xp for certain archievements through playing this game; like controlling 200 armies and delaying your move.

It would be better if all clans are uncapped or that all clans are capped.

Custom and open games are much better than QM. You can choose your opponent(s) and it's much easier to play with more people. You can choose every map you like. On QM the choice is really limited and it takes long to unlock a lot of templates. You can choose the settings you like instead of kinda forced settings.

Players should not be forced into a clan. Same for forcing certain games to players. When they do not like that, the chance is much greater that they leave.

A page with some helpful information and tips could work, with links to certain subjects. Here could be the tutorials shown and lots of other helpful information and tips. Information of players that likely help new players could be added too.

That's much easier than changing half of this site. and it does not to be done by Fizzer himself :) Maybe only provide a linke where the information could be found.

Edited 3/29/2023 20:40:20

Better AI's in general would help to improve both singleplayer and multiplayer.

Stronger AI is impossible as long as Fizzer doesn't allow the AI to have memory.
Of course it'll always make dumb decisions without knowing opponents income etc...

To see how good it already is without fog, try playing against Wunderwaffe without fog. Such a game is certainly losable if you're not careful

@vena
It has already been mentioned that going back to the name Warlight isn't possible
- I know, however this doesn't change the need to have a name that's not gonna put game under legal cases & keep the game name original for the advertising campaign. If you have a plan to stop CoD Warzone, I'm happy to hear

The current level system is working fine
- This topic is not about you, its about new players. They can't level up because points are obtained through winning. It's perfectly normal for new players to lose in a strategy game and they shouldn't stop leveling up because of it

It would be better if all clans are uncapped or that all clans are capped.
- This already tried and failed, so I'm gonna go with no

Custom and open games are much better than QM
- Again, this topic is not about you, its about new players. They can't know which settings are fishy which are not, even is there is no fishy setting (which there is), thy wouldn't know that and keep being hesitant. They also get easily overwhelmed by all the features, Quickmatch is much better for them

Players should not be forced into a clan.
- If you read the full thing, it says that it's a 1-time thing to show new players how to join a clan. They can leave it afterwards but community can solve all new player's problems, so them, being in a clan is too important to pass. Forcing a 1-time short tutorial is not frustrating, its helpful

Here could be the tutorials shown and lots of other helpful information and tips
- Forums are not a convenient place to navigate, so even though its better than nothing, I would rather see these information on a fandom than a forum

For new players it's also nice to play open games. They will always be new to some settings, but part of the learning is through playing a lot of games. Somes settings are locked behind levelling up, for these things you need to have more xp (experience). Of course new player will likely lose their first games and the first games when they try new settings to play. But that will almost always be the case. I don't think there are enough new players most of the time online to match eachother (what indeed would be nice). Also new player can learn from more experienced players how to play certain games.

Showing how to join a clan is fine, but not forcing new player into a new clan. But there are so many different clans, that's way too much for new players. First you want to know where the more friendly and helpful players are. The experienced players already know that many player are indeed friendly and helpful. Many clans are not free to join, but you need to ask if you could join.

A block with links to helpful information on the multiplayer screen would be nice, just like the blocks for the forum posts, your own games and open games. That's also relatively easy to implement for Fizzer. Changing half the site is really a lot of work while this site already is really good. The singleplayer mode is and will be the first thing what new players will see. There you could implement more toturials and explainations if you like. If they like that, they can make an account. So changing the whole multiplayer setup is not needed. The targeted players are players who like to play a board game similair to Risk, but also a bit differently

Edited 3/29/2023 21:35:47

Oh, also, if you want to increase the visibility of the game by finding a content creator who would do videos/streams on it, maybe reach out to people who stream or do videos on other stuff who could be interested for some reason, could be that they like to promote indie games, or would enjoy a Risk-like game like WZ based on the kind of content they produce. I think that this idea of advertising the game by having someone do content on it. It works better with an already established content creator, since then people have a different interest in watching it, namely, seeing the content creator themselves by virtue of their humor, or the work they put into editing videos, or just someone they are already used to. I feel like most people who would currently watch Warzone content on youtube would be other Warzone players, maybe a couple of random people who happen to stumble upon it, but it is unlikely that someone would start playing the game because they found a video about it and thought "wow, this looks cool". Easier said than done, I suppose, but some content creators welcome suggestions, and maybe someone would be interested, and then the game could get actual publicity.

About the name Warzone:

Yeah, a more unique name would be nice. I liked Warlight, but now I also like Warzone. It could also be renamed to Risk Warzone or Risk Warlight, that way it's more clear that this is about Risk. But that could also be more difficult legally, I don't know about that part. And then you are for sure not anymore the first one who uses Warzone. Now Fizzer is still the first one (for what is matters)

Edited 3/29/2023 21:56:30

I think the first name change showed how bothersome it can be, but by now, I think we are used to the name Warzone. I think a name change should only be made if it's really worth the effort, which I personally doubt. Plus, we'd have to find a new name that is neither Warlight or Warzone (for reasons already discussed extensively in this thread), and good names are difficult to find.

@BBJ

Playing Warzone without memory is like playing chess with half of the board hidden for only one of the players. Of course it's not gonna work; I'm surprised I hadn't heard of that limitation before...

@vena
For new players it's also nice to play open games
- Not if it causes them to leave the game

Showing how to join a clan is fine, but not forcing new player into a new clan.
- Looks like you got stuck on that wording "force", this is called "applied learning", suggestion doesn't force them to stay in a clan, only shows them how to join a clan (I used the word "force" because they have to learn how to join a clan to advance)

Changing half the site is really a lot of work
- You misunderstood this part, I never said anything about changing the site

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@waffle
Oh, also, if you want to increase the visibility of the game by finding a content creator...
- Yea, that's called advertising, I already summarized it on the executive summary. It's the "4) Fizzer needs to start an aggressive marketing campaign"

I think a name change should only be made if it's really worth the effort
- Fizzer is on a litigation process due to name, litigation is expensive, its already worth the effort, that's why we are talking about it in the first place

@Beep Beep I'm A Jeep
Stronger AI is impossible as long as Fizzer doesn't allow the AI to have memory.
All AI's require memory, if your meant "minimal memory", these AI's can be improved through;

1) Making them less predictable (make more aggressive AI and switch its strategy depending on situation or a fixed possibility)

2) Making them calculate the possibility of opponent getting a bonus (very important at T1 if encountered a player, and T2 if it can remember T1) and adjust move accordingly

In both of my examples, AI's will perform better without the need to remember what happened last turn

@vera

"1.6) Better, Standardized Official Templates
- Remove: SEAD (on CW), 4FFA (on QM), S2V2 (on WZI Arena) | Add: Diplo templates, AIs vs Players template"

Don't agree here! Removing SEAD from CW would lead to a massive decline in participation! It is by the most played template, followed by SE1W.

I'd vote for the oppsite: include SEAD and/or SE1W - and/or SEAD & SE1W "balanced starts" versions in every single CW slot. It will nicely drive up particiaption! A lot of players have time for a 5-10 minute game, without need to find a team mate or fumbling around for half an hour or longer.

SE Com Bomb should be changed to shorter banked/boot time - from 5 minutes initial banked / 3 min. boot to 2/1 minute, just like SEAD and SE1W. No reason for such long times. Again, speedier games attract more players.

5 SE templates [SEAD, SEAD balanced, SE1W, SE1W balanced, SE ComBomb] plus S1v1 would be fully sufficient and maximize participation in CW.

All other templates could be eliminated from CW, bc they are total minority programs, played by less than 5% of participants. [Multi-Attack, MME Com LD template] and S2v2 heavily favors large/"elite" clans, and disfavors smaller clans, as it is not so easy to get 2 players at a given time slot for a smaller clan.

I am also against diplo games being added to either qm or CW. Again: total minority program. I have not played a single diplo game and never will. If it were foisted on me, I'd boot or insta quit. I don't think I am alone on that.

It depends on what we want CW to be. Considering that it's a pure activity competition till date, I don't see a problem including templates with little strategic value like SEAD. I don't like that, but it's consistent with the format and with what Fizzer seems to want.

"For new players it's also nice to play open games"
- Not if it causes them to leave the game

exactly. To this day i have not joined any open game, bc almost all of them look *very sus* to me. Mostly either weirdo template and/or weirdo settings and/or simply a coin/XP farm, set up by some heavyweight L60+ players - the ones who dominate coin leaderboard every single season. New and intermediate/casual players are essentially nothing but "cheap cannonfodder" in most of the open games. Why should players like myself waste time (until loss) or lose coins in such a setting? So keep open games where they currently are.

Same goes btw. for most tourneys, see invite spewers FC Bayern and alexclusive. Why should/would I want to participate in such an event full of hardcore/"elite" players?

New and intermediate/casual players (like myself) are interested in "level playing field" qm games - with as little wait to start as possible, either vs. human opponent at similar skill level or if none available, vs. AI set to similar skill level. This is what makes an enjoyable WZ classic PvP experience for vast majority of new + casual players.

Everything else is "extras" for a minority of more advanced players. Ofc great to have it, but it should definitely not be foisted on newbs and intermediate/casual players or get in their way.

@alexclusive - elitists have CL and ladders for their elitist competition.

CW is and should be a much more "democratic" RT game event suitable for any player, provided he/she is in (any) clan. The more participation it has, the better. The more short, sweet and strategically not overly demanding templates [SE!] are offered in CW, the more participation it will get.

CW is and should be the WZ "mass event", attractive for vast majority of casual players who enjoy short/simple "Risk"-style classic PvP games and also want to get some idle buffs. [Like myself].

Edited 3/30/2023 08:04:53

@NONO
I didn't went into much detail on the CW (since focus was mostly on new players) let me write my vision on CW;

Templates: Action: Alternative:
SEAD - Replace - LOT3 (3 Player Lottery FFA - Lower Skill, Faster Game, Lower Chance to Win [Because its pure luck])
SE1W - Keep - No Alternative
S1V1 - Keep - No Alternative
S2V2 - Keep - No Alternative
COLD - Replace - SELD (SE Local Deployment [with Light Vision] - Faster, Less Strategy, Dynamic)
MALD - Replace - SEMA (SE Multi Attack [with No-Split, Cities & Wastelands] - Faster, Less Strategy, Dynamic)
SECB - Keep - No Alternative
FREB - Replace - SECE (SE Commerce [with Army Cap & Full Distribution] - Should be faster and more interesting)
GUIR - Replace - SEEA (SE Extra Army (Extra Army for every territory - To reduce the importance of SA and AUS)

Sorry, but are you serious?

I have too much crazy ideas about CW (like making clans actually battle with each other, limiting clan caps to increase competition, stop uncapped clans from entering CW, making players battle AIs instead of Free Win etc.) I just didn't talked much about them but if you guys interested, I can share them

Edited 3/30/2023 10:10:27

I am interested, but the examples you gave will be highly controversial already, to put it in a positive way