[Bug/Gameplay Feedback] Scout Volatiles are not distributed properly in urban vs rural areas
thesolo
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in Report a Bug
Currently, Scout Volatile portals are weighted poorly, being flatly limited to one portal in each Level 14 cell, regardless of portal density.
However, the net effect of this is that in rural areas, a very large percentage of portals are scout volatiles, whereas in urban areas, a very tiny percentage of portals are volatiles. This is extremely unbalanced and creates scale problems.
Examples:
Urban Area, Philadelphia Museum of Art. Over 60 portals, 2 volatiles. ~3% volatile.
Suburban/Exurban area, Southern NJ. 19 portals, 6 volatiles. ~31% volatile.
Rural area, Virginia. 9 portals, 7 volatiles. ~77% volatile.
2
Comments
Well yes, but that means while the Volatile density is higher in rural areas, in cities etc., you have more portals to get an additional Scout Controller point from. I might be missing your point, honestly 😅
The whole point of the volatiles is to encourage more scanning and grant agents more Scout Controller points. If only a small fraction of urban areas contain volatiles, which is where most agents play, then it has the opposite intended effect. Niantic will gain more scans and have more controller turnover (which is what they want) by ensuring a relatively consistent volatile percentage regardless of location.
As it is set up right now, volatiles in urban areas barely exist, which does not encourage scanning.
Yeah, I've just started working on these badges and have noticed this disparity. Hard enough to find volatiles, much less ones that are in areas where I won't get funny looks for how foolish I look walking in circles with my phone around things. Moar volatiles plz!