@Fizzer

I recommend adding a mechanism to "Reset" the AP reward level for completing a given map. As it is, the AP for a map decreases 30% each time. I'm not sure that's even a good idea tbh, as it just reduces the longevity & replayability of Idle. But that aside, assuming it stays that way, having some mechanism to Reset the level back to its initial state would be useful. It could be an AP Advancement, an Artifact, an Achievement with a Reward beyond Points, or something else. In fact, Achievements that give Idle "Benefits" would be interesting. So as an example, perhaps after finishing all levels once, offer the ability to reset the AP level of 3 maps. Or maybe they automatically reset once every 6 months, or maybe they diminish 30% with each completion, but also revalue themselves 1% each week. So 30 weeks later, the map is back to full AP value.

Otherwise, a number of folks (myself included) will soon "finish" Idle and have little to gain via replays. This issue is exacerbated by the fact that Idle is in Beta and new functionality like Hospitals and Artifacts are coming out, which actually encourage replaying to check out new functionality, get new benefits, etc, but if the AP is missing, the Reward/Benefit is minimized and thus the accomplishment diminished, this reducing Replayability. Reduced Replayability is always a bad thing for the longevity of a game.

Another idea for replayability ... perhaps some things (artifacts?) only unlock after 1 completion of the level.

I think Fizzer wanted to reduce farming levels, but in the process killed replay-ability. In the long run, players will wind up leaving as there is no point to play once they have beaten everything.

Removing the AP reduction on replays would be a simple fix for this.

I like kinrid’s idea about achievements resetting AP. As he said, it is really going to damper the fun of the game to have them lose 30% each time... there has to be someway to reset it

I think there has to be some measure to prevent farming. Without the reduction that could be done easily especially on earlier levels where joint strike is not such a great benefit. If one has purchased auto achievements one could start the level, activate the auto-pilot, come back later, collect and repeat.

I like krinid's idea about the AP values gradually returning to base over time though. That should prevent farming given an appropriate time schedule of such replenishment.

@SubLunar

To actually rely on auto-Advancements to clear a level, you either have to:

(A) Have put a HELL of a lot AP into the auto-conquer, auto-upgrade army upgrades, auto-smelt and maybe whatever is in phase 3 to make this even remotely viable - and if someone has, then 100% let them reap the rewards of actually being able to "auto-pilot" a level and get the benefits. What's the point of having such options if we're just going to make it so the benefit of doing so is reduced?

And this way of playing will even still likely take 10x the duration of normal playing, still having minimally check back in to keep the game running and not exhausting your Idle time. So they're not actually getting any benefit beyond what others are getting short of a semi-automated play experience, while still earning less than someone who plays actively (b/c being Active will clear the level 10x quicker).

(B) Keep coming back frequently to adjust smelting, crafting, army/hospital/mine upgrades, techs, etc. In which case, you're actually playing and being Active, so this isn't a concern.

This discussion has inspired me to post another thread and expand this topic.

https://www.warzone.com/Forum/489322-power-farming

@krinid

OK, maybe it was just a voice of experience - my personal one. And since I invested a lot in beating challenge levels I have a bunch of these auto-advancements already. And yes, second, lately I'm tempted to stop playing altogether - I always come back, damn! What I meant is when I am tempted again I could set the game to auto farm early levels and running out of idle time would not really concern me at all in such a case.

And since I invested a lot in beating challenge levels I have a bunch of these auto-advancements already.

And since you invested in auto-advancements, I'm suggesting you should be permitted to reap those benefits.

Side note - how much have you invested? Was it worth it? (in whatever means of "value" you get from them, not necessarily just AP from Challenge Levels, which I suspect that alone doesn't give an ROI).

And since you invested in auto-advancements, I'm suggesting you should be permitted to reap those benefits.

Sorry I meant that I could auto-pilot earlier levels if I wanted to take a break from the game and still get least a little something out of it.

Side note - how much have you invested? Was it worth it?

A lot. I do not remember exactly how much. Roughly around 3500 (30% auto-upgrade army camps, 50% auto-conquer and 80 min. auto-smelt). Challenges payed back 2800 but this return is highly debatable because the challenge levels results are heavily dependent on level designs. Sometimes I was able to win a level just because its design changed - without buying any additional upgrades.

Auto-upgrade army camps is useful in early and perhaps middle stages of normal levels. No idea if it works while at warp though. Auto-sell is perhaps useful too. However I'm not saying they're worth buying.

I think that, as krinid said, the AP value of completed levels should slowly restore over time.

That would prevent farming, but also make it possible to have a solid income of AP when you get stuck at a later level, and need some more advancements to be able to even have a chance to complete a level in under a month.

I suggest -30% when you finish a level, and +0.5% every day, so you can replay a level every 2 months.