Shouldn't leaderboard be based on more than budget?

[CreepyD]

It seems to me that to enable a more realistic set of bridges to be at the top of the leaderboards, then the score needs to be based on a combination of the 3 histograms.
Completing a bridge with more than 90% max joint stress is clearly not a good bridge.
So if I make a bridge with a max stress of only 50 and spent only a little more than a bridge with a max stress of 90%, then I would say I built a better bridge.

This would have the side effect of eliminating 'stupid' bridges or cheats, as they will generally be super cheap and use maybe no material but would score off the chart for max stress.
If anything breaks, then that's a massive score breaker.

I'd be surprised if I wasn't the only one to suggest this but I couldn't find anything quickly.

[Dry Cactus]

Hi CreepyD,
thanks for reaching out.

I agree that a budget-based leaderboard system does have its flaws, during the Early Access period we did experiment with calculating an overall "score" based on different factors (budget, max stress, material footprint), however it wasn't very consistent and I decided to scrap it to avoid confusion and incorrect scoring.

Perhaps this could be re-evaluated, maybe by having more than one set of leaderboards, for example the regular budget one, and a separate board for bridges with no breakage only.

I do still feel however that coming up with an arbitrary formula to calculate a score (ex: budget multiplied by the inverse of max stress capped at 80%) would not be an ideal solution.

Open to suggestions, as leaderboards is definitely an on-going topic.

Thanks!

[CreepyD]

Thanks for a nice reply :-)
I know everyone plays differently so I guess it wouldn't be one fits all.

To keep it simple, it would be nice if we could just have a leaderboard by Max Stress (least first).
If equal on % with someone else, then less cost should be first.

Again, just thinking of real world bridges here. Safety (max stress) is always going to be the first consideration - cost will always come second to that.

[magikguard]

I like the idea of having two leaderboards: Regular and no breakage. Many levels have good solutions with breakings, especialy those with multiple jumps or swinging, which are not only good, but unfair compared to no break solutions(sometimes it helps to cut budget in half).
Also,i think the idea of stress limit for "No breakage" leaderboards is good, not sure at which point but i guess 95% would be fine.

And as long as we're talking about leaderbords - that'd be great to quick-switch to level from personal Ranks.

By the way - Nice game you got there. Thanks=)

[Brother Alpha]

I think cost times max stress would be a simple way to do it. Lower the score the better the bridge. If you have two different leaderboards, the strategies needed to be cheap will be opposed to the strategies needed to be safe and the ones that combine both of those will be left out of either.

[Tempeh]

Wouldn't lowest cost under 100% stress be good? why not the limit at 100%. So a second leaderbord for those under 100% stress. As simple as that. I think it would be awesome and very rewarding for those who take it a bit more seriously.

I love the game, keep it up!

[perfectlyGoodInk]

I would recommend two leaderboards, adding one for least amount of stress while still under budget. I would think/hope that safety would trump cost in real-world bridge building!

[CreepyD]

Yeah that sounds like a real world setup - least stress while under budget, I like it.

[Koitenshin]

Least Stress while under budget might not work. I'm not sure if the car jumping "bridges" (1-1 as an example) even adds stress to the structure, I've not attempted it at all.

[CreepyD]

Maybe there should be 'vehicle' stress as well - same thing up to 100%.

[bolt986]

Originally posted by Koitenshin:

Least Stress while under budget might not work. I'm not sure if the car jumping "bridges" (1-1 as an example) even adds stress to the structure, I've not attempted it at all.

Mine was 551% https://gallery.drycactus.com/view/solution/1-10/checkpoint/286551

I saw some in the gallery over 1000% stress. Only one one under 200% at like 150%

[perfectlyGoodInk]

Cars jumping ramps stresses the ramp, just only until the car is airborne. I've had jumps destroy ramps.

[Whoops]

Budget leads into amazingly entertaining bridges. Yet as fun as it is to come up with disposable bridges, sometimes I feel a proper structure should also be highlighted.

Originally posted by Koitenshin:

Mine was 551% https://gallery.drycactus.com/view/solution/1-10/checkpoint/286551

you son of a gun.
Such a beautiful thing exists! shame I've missed out by turning away from gameplay. up until now, I've discovered the joy of break-away struts and (amateur)vehicle launches. but until now, such low scores make more sense.

[trueuniverse]

Originally posted by Dry Cactus:

Hi CreepyD,
thanks for reaching out.

I agree that a budget-based leaderboard system does have its flaws, during the Early Access period we did experiment with calculating an overall "score" based on different factors (budget, max stress, material footprint), however it wasn't very consistent and I decided to scrap it to avoid confusion and incorrect scoring.

Perhaps this could be re-evaluated, maybe by having more than one set of leaderboards, for example the regular budget one, and a separate board for bridges with no breakage only.

I do still feel however that coming up with an arbitrary formula to calculate a score (ex: budget multiplied by the inverse of max stress capped at 80%) would not be an ideal solution.

Open to suggestions, as leaderboards is definitely an on-going topic.

Thanks!

The problem of current leaderboard is so many cheatings!!!
If you see some brige is very low budget and the max pressure is 0%, it must be a sort of cheating.Some people even triggered some sorts of action and the vehicles just throw to the opposite shore without bridge.

[popojan]

Originally posted by Monsieur Roux:

Wouldn't lowest cost under 100% stress be good? why not the limit at 100%. So a second leaderbord for those under 100% stress. As simple as that. I think it would be awesome and very rewarding for those who take it a bit more seriously.

Originally posted by Dry Cactus:

Perhaps this could be re-evaluated, maybe by having more than one set of leaderboards, for example the regular budget one, and a separate board for bridges with no breakage only.

+1

Messieurs, that would be great! Budget histogram and leaderboards for solutions under 100% stress. There would be more temptation to replay perfect levels for those not willing to construct some falling bridges.

Thank you very much for Poly Bridge. Lovely game.

[Shyno]

Originally posted by CreepyD:

Completing a bridge with more than 90% max joint stress is clearly not a good bridge.

I disagree, that bridge just serves its purpose as well as the 50% bridge, that extra capacity isn't being used for anything. I see no reason for the stress to impact the score.

Also aiming for high stress - low budget is a higher risk choice as the bridge is closer to failure, and precisely because of that it deserves a higher reward if succesful.

Now broken links, that's another thing, it would be nice to take that into account to favour permanent solutions over one time tricks.

It could also be a good idea to take into account the maximum vehicle g-force so beyond a certain thereshold (e.g. 5G) it starts penalizing your score.