NCB - are we loving it? Or not? (in General)

Ok, we're almost up to the end of the first round of NCB users. Which means I'm approaching the time when I can start one, if I want.

So I'm wondering if it has actually made a difference to people's game. Does it just work because of the balance issues - ie, fairness against the NUB? Would the NCB players near the top levels have gotten there in this time period anyway? And what hints and tips for players who haven't started one yet who do play a LOT?

Created December 26, 2005
Score / PR / MPR: 177,627 / 99,345 / 94,697
Battles Challenged 17,746
almost 2 months for me here doing this character and it seems rather meaningless overall to me ..Its not very exciting....I would say 2 thumbs down but any bonus is a good bonus right? ( Unless you get the bonus voltage and in your sitting in an electric chair ) (v)oo(v)

I like the NCB, though as I've often complained, it costs a lot to buy BA. (That's not to say it should be cheap; it great as is.) When this NCB expires, I think I'll save up several mil and start another one.

And yes, it makes a difference. You can actually notice your character growing, as opposed to the sluggish growth of a normal character.

Hints and tips? Have LOTS of cash for buying BA. Only by buying BA do you have a chance at getting to the top.

Only start a NCB character if you're sure you will fight more than you currently do.

If you can spure yourself on, then it's only for four months. Much easier to increase work rate over that time than a year...

And as Mael says, bring cash. Lots of it. BA cost is the re start tax of the NCB. You've got a way to start again, but you'll pay for the privilege. :)

But you're growth in both XP and tattoo is noticable.

I'd sugest two tactics for characters. Either play a single Mage and use a RoE (switch to ToE when it gets too tough or your NCB runs out) and have a nice big ToE on retainer. Or play a four minion RoS team from the start.

:)

With regard to BA cost, does it go back to normal prices once bonuses run out?

"Either play a single Mage and use a RoE (switch to ToE when it gets too tough or your NCB runs out) and have a nice big ToE on retainer. Or play a four minion RoS team from the start."

Is this your way of saying, "I wish I did that!" ;p
If I had any advice to give (which I don't because I'm still a NUB), I'd say... Do what you WANT to do. Not what someone tells you to do. NCB gives you a chance to try something new AND still be competitive with NUBs like myself.

P.S. Single mages suck, get some originality.

spending 336k a day on BA ? 519 ea for me and I can get 648 a day, you got to be kidding me ..you can only make around 100k a day....you Ex-Campers always got to be buying something I guess (V)o(V) ..To buy BA or Not to buy BA that is not the question..ooo wrong thread :) heh

At the pace I'm going, if I buy BA ONLY at xp time, and am good about not missing too much ba (which I've done so far), I'm on pace to be at about 1 mil MPR by the time my NCB runs out. I think that NCB is a great way to build a character fast as long as you fight most of the day, but if you are only on once or twice a day it really doesn't amount to much.

"P.S. Single mages suck, get some originality."

Oh, that made me laugh! :D

You didn't play CB1 did you Dreky?

"If I had any advice to give (which I don't because I'm still a NUB), I'd say... Do what you WANT to do. Not what someone tells you to do. NCB gives you a chance to try something new AND still be competitive with NUBs like myself."

If you're making a NCB character to be competitive, to get yourself back into the game, you don't want to waste your 4 months on a weird strat.

If you want it to just experiments with and have fun, by all means build whatever team you want! ;)

I know I'll do better by sticking with Tate after my NCB runs out, but I'm thinking of starting another NCB character after this one, just to power level my tattoo.

My ToE is level 611,020. My max tattoo is 1,117,000. It has far out grown my Tattoo, and another 4 months of increased XP will let my grow it at an increased rate after my Max tattoo exceeds 611,202 (around 300 MPR maybe?)

Originality is somewhat overrated as far as CB is concerned. It tends to mean 'hybrid' strats. Which generally lead to dilution of power. And I think that I've tried out most strategies at some time or other!

"...you don't want to waste your 4 months on a weird strat."

I believe the term I used was NEW. Last I knew new was not synonymous with weird. Although I'm sure there aren't many strats that haven't be tried... Anywas, I guess what I'm trying to get at is that I am tired of hearing people advise new players, "Train 1/3 HP, 1/2 FB, and DM or AMF or blah, blah, blahh." (I know, I was duped into this myself)

My understanding is that the NCB is a way for older players to make a comeback and get into the higher-ups, right? So anyone starting a NCB knows they can start a FB mage and punch through the ranks. Why not try something different, by different I do not mean weird or less effective, just put some thought into it. WEMT/ToE teams seem to be uber-effective nowadays, I would suggest that. RoS 4-minions are also very effective as GL put.

And for the record... I did not play CB1, sadly.