Usually I play SCL 8, slice 5. Because it finishes either 6, 7 or 8 pm, depending on how daylight savings is in play here and in The One True Timezone. Right now it’s 8 pm.
I usually finish top 5 (hi, other consistent top 5 people in my CL / slice that I’m not allowed to name-check because reasons).
But it’s Christmas break, I’m not back at work until 7th January, so other options are open. I’m thinking of a temporary move to slice 4 (5 pm) or slice 3 (11 am).
Does anyone have any advice as to whether these are normally slacker or ultra-competitive slices?
I’m in the exact same situation lol (you work at a university too?). I’m also currently in your time zone visiting family, but will be traveling back home and playing in pacific time Xmas day on.
What I noticed about competitiveness is this: when the time slot first opens, it fills up with competitive people. I struggle to make it above top 20 despite having all essential characters and fast-clearing ones. However, if I wait two hours after the opening up of the time slot, I join the “lazy” bracket. I actually manage to place first in one of these and consistently Top 20/10 depending on the SCL (I vary between 6 & 7).
I don’t know what others have experienced, but I have experienced this on multiple occasions.
It varies on the 4-star. If it’s a new release, it can be a real slogfest. If it’s a character out for several months, though, there is far less scrapping early in an event. I try to nab it early, as I fon’t have enough quality 5-stars to get there… I’m in SCL9, because I like the rewards more, especially the 4-star at 900 points.
I have been thinking about gaming the bracket too. But a lot of people will probably change up their slots with holiday schedules, or play differently.
I guess my personal take is that it’s a little unpredictable for this next event or two, and I’m just going to play the slice that best fits my schedule.
I said and meant PVE. The one where you have to do clears about an hour either side of the start / end time.
8 pm is the only option when not on holiday, but right now others are possible.
I’ve decided to stick with the devil I know, and 8 pm it stays.
I moved from 4.9 to 5.9 and found it much less competitive. I figure it’s because 4 ends in US prime time, while most of the US is asleep when 5 ends. Then again I also usually join late in the first sub, after a flip or two.
I’m in 4.9, always the second bracket (which usually opens in prejoins right before the event starts or shortly after it goes live), and I wish I could play just about any different slice.
4.9 also fills so slowly that if you don’t catch that first flip, you can easily run the risk of missing the first sub entirely.