Take Back the Derby: Making Derby Fun Again!

Since the inception of themed derbies, I have watched my hood dwindle from 22 opted in to a mere 5.

as well, while solo hoods started needing to be perfect then perfect and fast to place, we are finding that requirement creeping up as well. Not for all derby matchups, but certainly more often than not.

The derby was created on the premise that you earn rewards for everyday farming. I don’t see it like that any longer.

i put my hood on notice this week that anyone was welcome to opt in and do as much or as little as they wanted or could. I only got 2 back on board, but it is a start.

We may never place in the top three again, but I don’t think being perfect and fast and miserable is worth the few extra EMs for placing :p

Nice, Wussy. 😊😊😊

Have you tried delaying at least 24 hours before starting? The late-to-party gang is not so competitive. We're first this week, our score is only 78% of the max, well below "perfect and fast".

There's no need to be top 3, but being bumped down every other week is demoralizing. If you want to tune down the expectation, somebody has to actively and constantly set a more leisurely tone*. Otherwise, it will just "pressure up" naturally.

*"Good job guys! We're not bottom 3 this week!"

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Originally Posted by Benjamin9632

Have you tried delaying at least 24 hours before starting? The late-to-party gang is not so competitive. We're first this week, our score is only 78% of the max, well below "perfect and fast".

There's no need to be top 3, but being bumped down every other week is demoralizing. If you want to tune down the expectation, somebody has to actively and constantly set a more leisurely tone*. Otherwise, it will just "pressure up" naturally.

*"Good job guys! We're not bottom 3 this week!"

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i am quite familiar with delayed start. It never used to be necessary for our hood and it is impossible to make it happen anyway due to language barrier with one over zealous hoodie :p

i am not looking for a new way to win... we can just go out with all max and sprint to the finish line, but it just isn’t worth it.

i want my hoodmates back and enjoying the derby rather than avoiding them.

we have all horseshoes, sitting in 8th place, 2 hoodies have perfect score x 9 tasks and the others were more leisurely.

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Originally Posted by WussyPuss

i am quite familiar with delayed start. It never used to be necessary for our hood and it is impossible to make it happen anyway due to language barrier with one over zealous hoodie :p

i am not looking for a new way to win... we can just go out with all max and sprint to the finish line, but it just isn’t worth it.

i want my hoodmates back and enjoying the derby rather than avoiding them.

we have all horseshoes, sitting in 8th place, 2 hoodies have perfect score x 9 tasks and the others were more leisurely.

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Hey WP, I realize you have seen a decline in derby participants since the themed derby's came along. Is it possible they are opting out for other reasons? A while back, I made a suggestion of an in-chat translation feature (I think others suggested it as well). Since we don't have that, I'd try to get as much feedback as you can from your team to ascertain what the reasons are.

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Originally Posted by Tahoe

Hey WP, I realize you have seen a decline in derby participants since the themed derby's came along. Is it possible they are opting out for other reasons? A while back, I made a suggestion of an in-chat translation feature (I think others suggested it as well). Since we don't have that, I'd try to get as much feedback as you can from your team to ascertain what the reasons are.

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I think “ughh..._______ derby... I’m out” says it all XD

they have indicated that the themed derbies are too much pressure, though we are 300 points plus

Same with us. We had 10-15 regularly and now we struggle to have enough to get all 9 horshoe prizes. Nobody really wants to play it. We had 2 this week and it was just to keep us in champs league. We been taking turns to play for that reason and everybody dreads when it’s their turn. On mystery derbies nobody plays and we have to get back to champs derby the next week.

Wussy, I agree with everything you said. In my opinion the themed derbies are a huge chore. But as a solo player in the CL, I can’t opt out without getting demoted. So every time a themed derby comes along, my choice is between going through days’ worth of drudgery or opting out and getting demoted.

I’m not saying that I’m in a worse position than people in larger NHs. I know the themed derbies are nightmares for many larger NHs, and I’m not trying to open a discussion about who’s worse off. I’m just supporting your position and adding my point of view as a solo player.

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Originally Posted by LuvHayDay

Wussy, I agree with everything you said. In my opinion the themed derbies are a huge chore. But as a solo player in the CL, I can’t opt out without getting demoted. So every time a themed derby comes along, my choice is between going through days’ worth of drudgery or opting out and getting demoted.

I’m not saying that I’m in a worse position than people in larger NHs. I know the themed derbies are nightmares for many larger NHs, and I’m not trying to open a discussion about who’s worse off. I’m just supporting your position and adding my point of view as a solo player.

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Thanks for this :blush: not trying to debate anything either. Although we have never been demoted, the only thing that would bother me is not being able to do 9 tasks

i will take it one derby at a time. It was really nice seeing 2 former derbiests take part and one has not finished tasks, but that is okay. No obligation, just participation. Hood chat has picked up a little and maybe more will opt in for the next one, fingers crossed.

as it stands, this derby was the least stressful in some time... no stress, actuallyXD

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Originally Posted by WussyPuss

I think “ughh..._______ derby... I’m out” says it all XD

they have indicated that the themed derbies are too much pressure, though we are 300 points plus

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And now another themed derby.. ugh😂

Just....can't....be....axxed...anymore...

Well I’ve lost a player this morning who is sick of the themed derby and the work required to be competitive. We are have 29 players and now an all time low of just 19 opted in for this derby (we typically have 25-27 opted in), more may yet opt out. These successive miserly themed Derbys are killing the love and the fun for the derby.

I know there is the option to drop our competitive stance and take much lower tasks. Please understand that asking a 10x 320/400 hood to do that is like asking a 9x 300+hood to start doing 10x 320. It’s a total change in what defines a hood either way round.

What I don’t get is, what does Supercell gain from driving people away from the derby? Wouldn’t it just be nice if someone from the company explained why this is happening?? Perhaps they really are clueless and don’t understand what these derbies are doing to player morale ...... or perhaps they really don’t care!

Personally I will be plaguing support again to complain and ask them to pass it on as feedback. Perhaps futile, but what else is left to try? Perhaps if enough people message support to express their disappointment, the message will get through:(

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Originally Posted by Gymgirl4a

And now another themed derby.. ugh

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Worse, GymGirl. There’s a special prize for the top 3. It’s like SC looked into Wussy’s mind and went...”Oh that’s what YOU think!”😆 Laugh, girls and boys, so that none of us cry. I’m at the point where I will soon just stop playing the derby for a while and let my NH fall down to rookie league. I haven’t been having fun lately. It’s happened before. I’ve always come back 😊 but I do feel the need for a break coming.

That special prize throws a wrench in what my plan was. My hoodmates and I do love a special deco. So for the next week, our strongest 3 or 4 farms will go ⚽️ 🏀 🏈 ⚾️🎾🏐🎱 to the wall and do this derby. After that it is back to relaxed, quite like WP described. Just try to make it to the final threshold.

Mdcfc, months ago you asked the question about the point value of the first task taken and how it may or may not affect the lineup.
Our small hood, that normally would go perfect has tried this method several times since then. I can only speak for our results, but we have stayed in the CL and even placed when doing this. Although a small NH, we are very competitive people but we also love HD for the many ways it can be played and the non-competitive nature of the original game.

We were getting very bored with the grind. Our farms only being worked for the derby and no chat going on except about the derby prep. HD is, IMO, so much more than the derby. So we have decided relaxed is so much more fun. It leaves time for other interests and RL. We do our derby taking a fairly low first task, 270 or so. With our time zones we start about 5-6 hours after the derby starts. We decided to stretch it out, even taking a not so loved fishing or goat milk task. Instead of finishing in 12-16 hrs, we are taking 4-5 days. Slow and steady.

I would strongly encourage any NH’s out there to try this method. Taming the competitor may be the most difficult part. Just try it for a a few regular derbys. I would love to know if this works. Mdcfc, I don’t know if you will ever try this, but if you ever do, your NH result is the one I would find most interesting.

Winning isn’t the problem, we generally do that and arent looking for an easy race. We are happy to take on whoever the game gives us, strong opposition results in a better race.

Sadly we are also victims of our own success, currently sitting proudly in the leaderboard top 50, just by good dedicated derby play. The guys are proud of that, so we continue to push hard to post as high as we can. It would just be nice to have more entertaining themed derbys

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Originally Posted by BostonGirl

Worse, GymGirl. There’s a special prize for the top 3. It’s like SC looked into Wussy’s mind and went...”Oh that’s what YOU think!” Laugh, girls and boys, so that none of us cry. I’m at the point where I will soon just stop playing the derby for a while and let my NH fall down to rookie league. I haven’t been having fun lately. It’s happened before. I’ve always come back  but I do feel the need for a break coming.

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Ain’t it the truth? :saywhat:

I’m not going to fall for the bling... no new takers this week, but we have enough who have had enough and will take an imperfect score and we will see how it goes

momscar... I will try to snag one of them first at derby start and let you know how it feels

Although I like the decor I am still not doing this one. I will be away for much of this week and I am so ‘over’ the themed derbies that I am not prepared to put in the effort. There will be a few opted in and I will support them if needed.

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Originally Posted by Gymgirl4a

Although I like the decor I am still not doing this one. I will be away for much of this week and I am so ‘over’ the themed derbies that I am not prepared to put in the effort. There will be a few opted in and I will support them if needed.

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I am with you. I would love the decor but I refuse to do any theme derbies. Ever.

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Originally Posted by Bestajunior

I am with you. I would love the decor but I refuse to do any theme derbies. Ever.

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Joining you on your beach in a relaxed state😂😂

I would love to opt out of this one but I’m 39/40 for The Derby Champ III trophy. And I wants me that trophy! :)

I’m just hoping to not have to do the same production tasks over and over again.

I'd like to see champions league to be a true league with multiple levels ... so the elite teams who win every week reach - say - level 6, and those who just plod along might waver between levels 3 & 4.
This would give the elites more true competition and allow others more chance of winning occasionally.
This could be extended by having a premier league - equivalent to the top 2 champ levels - who have have two 60 hour derbies a week with a 24 hour rest between. The first derby would start with the main derby, the second end as the main derby ends.

I can quite understand the frustration players have with these Special Derbys but in general I think they add an extra frisson to the game. It’s the tasks in the Specials that need tweaking, far too many based on products, both single and in baskets, and no town, feed or crops (except strawberries which are no good to lower levels). If there was a better variety then more people would play.

This week we still have 19 out of 25 opted in which is more or less what we had last week.

suppose its different horses, different courses 😉.

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Originally Posted by Klash_Finder

I would love to opt out of this one but I’m 39/40 for The Derby Champ III trophy. And I wants me that trophy! :)

I’m just hoping to not have to do the same production tasks over and over again.

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Too late. There are three 400 tasks on my board and all of them are baskets asking for apple juice, carrot cake and feta pies. :saywhat:

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Originally Posted by BostonGirl

Too late. There are three 400 tasks on my board and all of them are baskets asking for apple juice, carrot cake and feta pies. :saywhat:

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Ha......BostonGirl.......how stunningly original of Supercell........

The exact same 3 are the only 400's on our taskboard!

Maybe I’m a little odd, but I love the themed derbies, I would stop playing if they reverted to only regular derbies, it’s got to the point that I really hate them.

As a Solo player it’s frustrating when there aren’t enough types of tasks in a derby to stack 10 on the board as it generally means a lack of top point tasks to be fairly certain of placing, I’m just totally at the mercy of the board generating 2 more top point tasks quickly enough that I’m prepped for. Anything that’s too slow means I won’t place. Most of the time that’s ok, but when it’s a good deco prize it’s annoying when placing is out of my control and purely down to luck.

I love the idea of themed derby. It's the execution that frustrates me.

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Originally Posted by MissBehaving

I love the idea of themed derby. It's the execution that frustrates me.

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I totally agree with you! The idea is great, the execution is beyond ridiculous.

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Originally Posted by MissBehaving

I love the idea of themed derby. It's the execution that frustrates me.

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I agree completely. It would be great to have a change of pace from regular derbies if the themed derbies were fun. Of course “fun” is subjective, but from what I’ve read here, I think most of us want the theme tasks to have more variety, more task categories, and higher drop rates for maximum-point (or at least high-point) tasks.

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Originally Posted by LuvHayDay

I agree completely. It would be great to have a change of pace from regular derbies if the themed derbies were fun. Of course “fun” is subjective, but from what I’ve read here, I think most of us want the theme tasks to have more variety, more task categories, and higher drop rates for maximum-point (or at least high-point) tasks.

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The 400 task drop rate is totally influenced by how rapidly you complete the ones you get. By loading all the themed tasks with lengthy production items, fishing and lengthy crops, Supercell is almost ensuring the drop of 400 tasks is awful. The only way around it is to have everyon stack items, and complete production, and basket in particular instantly....... or spend a lot of diamonds. I wonder which of those choices Supercell prefers?
Its the variety of tasks that’s missing, a mix of rapid and slow tasks, but that probably doesn’t generate enough diamonds spend.

And the bad news ..... they are getting worse! Party derby, birthday derby, fishing derby and whatever this current pile of droppings is called, just when we think they have hit rock bottom the next one is just a little bit less enjoyable.

In our hood, derbies are optional, and as long as we stay in champion league (which isn’t hard), I didn’t care about placing in top 3. When a unique decor item is offered that only 1/5 of the people can get, it makes me want to place (which is Supercell’s design, of course. They probably noticed a decline in people doing derby or spending diamonds on derby, or something like that).

So, I made announcements in chat that only people willing to do 400s only (knowing myself that everyone would also have to spend diamonds) sign up, but people have (shockingly) lives, and out of the four who signed up for it, one didn’t see chat and took a 312 task.

That one move blew our chances entirely. It sure doesn’t do much to foster neighborly feelings. Maybe just don’t call them neighborhoods. Call them competition groups.

Oh, and we’ve had no 400 fishing tasks. On top of that, we aren’t getting boosters for completing boats.

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Originally Posted by MissBehaving

I love the idea of themed derby. It's the execution that frustrates me.

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Originally Posted by bender018

I totally agree with you! The idea is great, the execution is beyond ridiculous.

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Originally Posted by LuvHayDay

I agree completely. It would be great to have a change of pace from regular derbies if the themed derbies were fun. Of course “fun” is subjective, but from what I’ve read here, I think most of us want the theme tasks to have more variety, more task categories, and higher drop rates for maximum-point (or at least high-point) tasks.

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Oh, don’t get me wrong, I’m as frustrated as all of you by the execution of them!

...I want SC to improve them though, not abandon them.

I’m frustrated that the winning, or not, of a special bit of deco, is down to a lot of luck. I’m fine with organisation & planning etc, it being difficult, even to some extent the luck of your starting place when you take your first task, BUT total luck over getting enough tasks to win is rubbish.

What is this "special beach decoration" anyway? SC, if you want people to spend diamonds to get a 10th task, you have to be more specific. I was more than happy to spend diamonds for a chance to get those 3 trees a few months ago, but this week I don't even know what I'm going to get! If it's another sand path, then no thanks!

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Originally Posted by Glottis

What is this "special beach decoration" anyway? SC, if you want people to spend diamonds to get a 10th task, you have to be more specific. I was more than happy to spend diamonds for a chance to get those 3 trees a few months ago, but this week I don't even know what I'm going to get! If it's another sand path, then no thanks!

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My guess: It‘s the windsurfer sign (seen on Greg‘s farm)

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Originally Posted by mdcfc

...By loading all the themed tasks with lengthy production items, fishing and lengthy crops, Supercell is almost ensuring the drop of 400 tasks is awful. The only way around it is to have everyon stack items, and complete production, and basket in particular instantly....... or spend a lot of diamonds. I wonder which of those choices Supercell prefers?...

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It really does get worse. Last derby I got a basket task that required many multiples of 2 products from the same machine...the barbecue spit. If that isn’t a recipe for a diamond spend I don’t know what is. I deleted it...without compunction.

In related news: I honestly cannot tell you the last month I received a 320 mining task. I believe I got a 400 once this year (maybe late last year?) but am convinced that that was because the 400s generate for any task. It definitely wasn’t the equivalent of the 320 as I only had to mine 86 ores, IIRC. Forget 320 corn and wheat which were always the rarest of rare tasks on my farm.

Frankly, I’m just weary of playing every week - even though I have derby burnout - just to stay in CL. I was hanging out waiting for a Bingo Derby to continue to the completion of the Achievement but it’s just not worth it any more at this time. HD is supposed to be fun right? Right. So I’ve decided that after this week, no derby until I miss it again. I might just go-slow on HD overall but we’ll see.

[QUOTE=BostonGirl;118243

Frankly, I’m just weary of playing every week - even though I have derby burnout - just to stay in CL. I was hanging out waiting for a Bingo Derby to continue to the completion of the Achievement but it’s just not worth it any more at this time. HD is supposed to be fun right? Right. So I’ve decided that after this week, no derby until I miss it again. I might just go-slow on HD overall but we’ll see.[/QUOTE]

I definitely had derby burn out, Bostongirl, and giving it up has been absolutely great. I haven’t missed it at all. We did one in our little hood in rookie league recently just for fun, but it didn’t tempt me to go back to the weekly slog. Reading all the unhappy and frustrated posts about the themed derbies just makes me more certain it’s not something I’d like to go back to again on a regular basis. I still remember last year’s harvest derby! I’m enjoying the game much more now and the freedom to play it without spending diamonds to call boats and do a 10th task, and having my machines tied up for days stacking for tasks which often never appeared. I just realised that the effort required to get some nails and panels and a virtual trophy simply weren’t worth it for me.

Here lately we seem to be getting the same tasks over and over again. I have made over 100 ice creams so far with this so called theme derby. There is no variety anymore of 320 or 400 pt. tasks, just the same ones over and over again. And everyone else must be getting the same ones over and over because that is all I see in RSS is the same products I'm trying to sell. We really only see 2 or 3 tasks that pop up having to do with the themed derby's. Really getting frustrating and not much fun doing derby's anymore. I can understand so many people opting out. Hayday you need to step it up and make the game fun and more interesting.

Strawberry
we have 90% strawberry tasks
and the rest: strawberry and coat milk!

we don't have (enough) 400 point tasks

this derby is a pain!

it is boring!



There is no trace of variety. The same was at the fishing derby.

those themed derby's are killing the game, point.
too much the same kind of boring and long lasting tasks over and over again.

went in many hoods, all slowly dying because of those themed derby's from hell.
SUPERCELL DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS, don't you see this once beautifull game is slowly dying !!!

I was lucky and got one 400 pt fishing task, but other than that, only Vegan, Warm and Picnic. I’m a hood of one, so can usually get production tasks going while I feed animals, do a town task, etc., but this is just impossible as those basket tasks need some of the same machines. Oh, I did get another individual task (either vanilla ice cream or apple juice, can’t remember ), but I trashed it as both those machines have been going constantly since the derby started.

I did this derby only to get my 40th trophy, so I’ll let my old brown mare rest now until something changes.

Vegan warm and picnic gee what planet are you on? All I see is strawberries goat cheese a nd more strawberries. Oh there were a few apple juice tasks. Some people in the hood got ice cream tasks but considering it’s a large hood and most still have six tasks to do or more it’s all a bit insane!

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Originally Posted by Simulatingdiva

Vegan warm and picnic gee what planet are you on? All I see is strawberries goat cheese a nd more strawberries. Oh there were a few apple juice tasks. Some people in the hood got ice cream tasks but considering it’s a large hood and most still have six tasks to do or more it’s all a bit insane!

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What planet am I on??

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Originally Posted by Klash_Finder

What planet am I on??

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Whatever planet we're on, I can guarantee you it's the same one!;)

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Originally Posted by Tahoe

Whatever planet we're on, I can guarantee you it's the same one!;)

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:) :) :)

Gracias amiga!

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Originally Posted by Klash_Finder

What planet am I on??

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Yup same one as me!
5 picnic, 2 vegan and 1 warm basket among my 10.

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Originally Posted by Klash_Finder

What planet am I on??

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I'm hoping you're playing HD on a planet outside the Milky Way Galaxy so Supercell may claim HD is an intergalactic game.

Indeed. :)

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Originally Posted by bender018

My guess: It‘s the windsurfer sign (seen on Greg‘s farm)

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Thanks Bender!

If this is the prize though, it's pretty lame, and no wonder SC was so secretive about it. :facepalm: Not worth the extra task, IMO. The trees were a much better prize last time!

Maybe now that the issues of the Summer Derby have been thoroughly beaten to death, we can get back to the original topic of this thread - Take Back the Derby: Make it Fun Again

It would be great to hear how NH’s are changing the rules for their derby in order to keep more of your hood mates engaged in play. Maybe leaders should ‘reward’ those players that come back to play with 5 or 10 of their own EM’s, is just one idea.
What else can you think of?

Is that pixelated gold trophy that cannot be displayed anywhere but here in your signature worth losing great players? For me, there are too many other real stresses in life to constantly feel the need to win.

Sorry Momscar I’m going to drag it back off topic a little again.
In my humble opinion there’s only so much a hood can do to try and make these special derbies fun again, what really needs to be done is that these derbies need to be more fun.

For me I’ve had it and the current derby really takes the red berry cake in the boring department. Take this summer themed derby for example which features fishing amongst other things. We just finished a fishing derby for crying out loud! And thankfully the angler and day trip tasks went MIA but still.. just too soon after the previous. As for Thebes rest of the featured items they’re all dreadfully long and boring tasks with mostly production. Why not add a beach café task in the mix. Seems to fit in with summer theme for me.

These kinds of special derbies really aren't special at all with their frequency. And they’re mostly boring production and long tasks there need to be some more variety or faster tasks in the mix.

I do love the idea of themed derby but certainly not the way they’re executed as of late. And I do enjoy the mystery derby or blossom derby but these endless boring production derbies, bah if I don’t see one for another year I wouldn’t miss it.

Furthermore if for example you choose these special products..For Special derby 1: vanilla ice cream, chili popcorn and carrot cake
For special derby 2: red berry cake, tomato juice, feta pie
For special derby 3: cotton shirts, tofu dogs, apple juice.


Then you do NOT get 3 different derbies but you get 3 of the same derbies with the same bloody warm, vegan and picnic tasks. So yes I am starting to really dislike these production derbies. And I’m a player who has always enjoyed derby and only missed a very few of them since they were introduced. These special derbies need to be way more divers, task selection needs to improve and they should have significantly better prizes more often and they should be more special (rare).

and that’s just my 2 cents worth.

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Originally Posted by Kaptain Kat

These kinds of special derbies really aren't special at all with their frequency. And they’re mostly boring production and long tasks there need to be some more variety or faster tasks in the mix.

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Good point Kaptain Kat. They do lose their "specialness" when they're week after week after week.

I agree that the biggest issue is the lack of variety in tasks, along with the high appearance rate of slow tasks (production, strawberries, goat milk, etc.)

I also want to add that I just got off a long chat with some long-term hood mates who are thinking of quitting the game altogether because derby has become such a chore. After seeing some of the other posts here, I realize that other NHs are hearing the same thing.

FYI, we also have a new hoodie who is a very new player. She's a lower level than most of us but is friends with one member and we're glad to have her on board. But after just 3 weeks, she's ready to quit because it's too much work.

I think that's a big warning sign for SC -- or at least it should be.

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Originally Posted by Kaptain Kat

Sorry Momscar I’m going to drag it back off topic a little again.
In my humble opinion there’s only so much a hood can do to try and make these special derbies fun again, what really needs to be done is that these derbies need to be more fun.

For me I’ve had it and the current derby really takes the red berry cake in the boring department. Take this summer themed derby for example which features fishing amongst other things. We just finished a fishing derby for crying out loud! And thankfully the angler and day trip tasks went MIA but still.. just too soon after the previous. As for Thebes rest of the featured items they’re all dreadfully long and boring tasks with mostly production. Why not add a beach café task in the mix. Seems to fit in with summer theme for me.

These kinds of special derbies really aren't special at all with their frequency. And they’re mostly boring production and long tasks there need to be some more variety or faster tasks in the mix.

I do love the idea of themed derby but certainly not the way they’re executed as of late. And I do enjoy the mystery derby or blossom derby but these endless boring production derbies, bah if I don’t see one for another year I wouldn’t miss it.

Furthermore if for example you choose these special products..For Special derby 1: vanilla ice cream, chili popcorn and carrot cake
For special derby 2: red berry cake, tomato juice, feta pie
For special derby 3: cotton shirts, tofu dogs, apple juice.


Then you do NOT get 3 different derbies but you get 3 of the same derbies with the same bloody warm, vegan and picnic tasks. So yes I am starting to really dislike these production derbies. And I’m a player who has always enjoyed derby and only missed a very few of them since they were introduced. These special derbies need to be way more divers, task selection needs to improve and they should have significantly better prizes more often and they should be more special (rare).

and that’s just my 2 cents worth.

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That‘s exactly how I feel about that themed derby thing. Thanks!:)


I really don‘t know how we (the players) can bring back the enthusiasm of playing derbies to our teams. The themed derbies are getting worse from derby to derby. The focus on production tasks where nobody can help their team mates is the main reason why people are losing their interest in this game, I think. You‘re planting strawberries, feeding goats, filling up machines and then there is nothing left to do but to wait for hours. No need to come back every hour to look if someone needs help or wants to chat. And when everyone is doing that at the same time, as there are no other types of tasks, there is no chance to communicate or bring back fun. I have to hold myself back from ranting about this derby the whole day in chat. So I‘m staying quiet. And this sucks. Big time. And even I -someone who is opting out from derby very rarely- am experiencing the whole frustration and urge to opt out next time. The incentive to do these kind of derbies every second week is not there anymore. And yes, the rewards are underwhelming. Especially as derbies like the current one doesn‘t feel like fun and distraction from everyday life anymore. More like a chore.

Momscar,

I applaud your efforts to try and make these awful derby fun again, but for any hood that is built around competitive racing, I just don’t see how it’s possible to be really competitive and have fun with this garbage. To suggest otherwise is like suggesting that it’s possible to pick up a 💩 by the clean end:(

The onus here should be on Supercell to give a toss and stop creating such dire themed Derbys that are turning players away from the game. The question is how the hell do we get them to see what they are doing to the game and engage with the Hayday playing community?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Thistledew

...FYI, we also have a new hoodie who is a very new player. She's a lower level than most of us but is friends with one member and we're glad to have her on board. But after just 3 weeks, she's ready to quit because it's too much work.

I think that's a big warning sign for SC -- or at least it should be.

---

I wonder if your new hoodie will be the canary in the coal mine. Only Team Hay Day will know.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mdcfc

...I applaud your efforts to try and make these awful derby fun again, but for any hood that is built around competitive racing, I just don’t see how it’s possible to be really competitive and have fun with this garbage. To suggest otherwise is like suggesting that it’s possible to pick up a  by the clean end:(

---

LOL, Steve. As noted by your QMT, you do know something about expelling excrement. Must never get on your bad side, you merry and imaginative prankster. :)

https://forum.supercell.com/showthre...1#post11821575

Quote:

---

The onus here should be on Supercell to give a toss and stop creating such dire themed Derbys that are turning players away from the game. The question is how the hell do we get them to see what they are doing to the game and engage with the Hayday playing community?

---

Sadly, I think an organized boycott by hardcore derbyists won't work because it was done a few years ago across several social platforms. However, I'm speculating when a significant number of hardcore derbyists stop playing themed derbies, then Team Hay Day will be alarmed and make the necessary tweaks.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Momscar

Is that pixelated gold trophy that cannot be displayed anywhere but here in your signature worth losing great players? For me, there are too many other real stresses in life to constantly feel the need to win.

---

I agree. I've enough to do in RL, I don't need to sit by my tablet and wait for the derby to dictate my life. Really, I've found in the past 6-12 months, the rewards aren't that special. I can make up those items weekly in regular game play. WHY waist my time fretting over the derby for very minimal rewards. RL is too important to waist on this stuff. Unless of course MOM, you're a cat person LOL

I’ve already been informed that everyone will be opting out of next derby. If this weeks derby is any indication of how the derby’s will be from now on maybe we as players need to take a stand and all opt out till hayday brings back better tasks, more variety instead of the same things each week. The ones thos week were to hard and repetitive. Took the fun right out, getting tired of hayday. Just another game that will slowly fade away.

Kat, as usual, you are spot on in you summary of what the “Special” derbys should be and why they are not.

I see more and more posts of players quitting the entire game because of the derby. That saddens me, as I really do love the game.

If the derby was taken away today, our NH and, I would guess many others, would survive and would go back to farming, chatting, and helping. However, those NH’s that are built to be derby winners may not. SC and Team HD needs to decide if there is an adequate way to appease both ends of the spectrum and if there is, how to implement the plan.

Until then both groups are stuck with what is being offered. Let’s hope that when SC returns from summer holidays in a few weeks they will hear this loud and clear.

I agree momsc ar, for me the game is about the thrill of the race and winning the gold cups. Before the institution of the derby, the regular farming was beginning to get repetitive and boring. Supercell was wise enough to recognize that players needed more to keep their interest. They have done a good job continually adding more elements to entice us. But the derby is running off the rails and they have to find a way to bring back the fun. Themed derbies sound like wonderful fun if they could just put balance and variety in the tasks. I disagree w Steve, it can be done, those guys aren’t stupid. They need to hear us and put their time and talents into this. Right now their efforts r probably going into the next major update.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Momscar

That special prize throws a wrench in what my plan was. My hoodmates and I do love a special deco. So for the next week, our strongest 3 or 4 farms will go ⚽️   ⚾️ to the wall and do this derby. After that it is back to relaxed, quite like WP described. Just try to make it to the final threshold.

Mdcfc, months ago you asked the question about the point value of the first task taken and how it may or may not affect the lineup.
Our small hood, that normally would go perfect has tried this method several times since then. I can only speak for our results, but we have stayed in the CL and even placed when doing this. Although a small NH, we are very competitive people but we also love HD for the many ways it can be played and the non-competitive nature of the original game.

We were getting very bored with the grind. Our farms only being worked for the derby and no chat going on except about the derby prep. HD is, IMO, so much more than the derby. So we have decided relaxed is so much more fun. It leaves time for other interests and RL. We do our derby taking a fairly low first task, 270 or so. With our time zones we start about 5-6 hours after the derby starts. We decided to stretch it out, even taking a not so loved fishing or goat milk task. Instead of finishing in 12-16 hrs, we are taking 4-5 days. Slow and steady.

I would strongly encourage any NH’s out there to try this method. Taming the competitor may be the most difficult part. Just try it for a a few regular derbys. I would love to know if this works. Mdcfc, I don’t know if you will ever try this, but if you ever do, your NH result is the one I would find most interesting.

---

Fyi, I did try taking a low first task, 237 sugar cane harvest task. We still have 3 perfect finalists, so I don’t see any merit to this theory. :p

It was worth a shot

now this was a boring derby again, this really needs to change !!!

http://users.skynet.be/timmen/bdrby.jpg

New to this thread, and going back to the first post as WussyPuss states my feelings perfectly:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by WussyPuss

The derby was created on the premise that you earn rewards for everyday farming. I don’t see it like that any longer.

---

I used to find derby fun. But if I'm focussing on derby in its current form, no way am I doing "everyday farming" as well. I'm stacking machines, leaving crops and animals unharvested and wilted trees unflagged, in case I need them for the next task. Back in the day, I could usually complete 9-10 tasks in a few days so it didn't matter so much - I could do everyday farming for the rest of the week. But with these special derbies, all I do is refresh the board looking for high point tasks so that we can get all our horseshoes (gotta get those puzzle pieces for the cute sanctuary babies!) and stay in our league.

I opted out for a few weeks due to a busy period at work, and it was actually really relaxing to just pop into the game when I had a spare moment, help some of my hoodies out, and potter about feeding townies and sending off boats and trucks. That's the sort of everyday farming I signed up for. And the only way I can see to get that back is to just opt out of derby long-term. Which would make me sad.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by WussyPuss

Fyi, I did try taking a low first task, 237 sugar cane harvest task. We still have 3 perfect finalists, so I don’t see any merit to this theory. :p

It was worth a shot

---

If this had been a regular derby maybe the results would have been different. I hope you were not in the bottom 3. If taking less than perfect keeps you in the CL (if that is your NH goal), and everyone is enjoying farming and not stacking, I’d say it’s worth it.

My few hood mates and I love decorations, so we endured this week. Next week it’s back to this relaxed way of play.

I honestly believed that there was no way that SC could make a worse derby than the first bingo derbies but they knocked it out of the park with this one. Our NH had to trash more tasks than we did in our last 3 bingos. We gave up on high point tasks and the smell from overripe strawberries and stockpiled fish is intense.

I didnt realize a derby could could both suck and blow at the same time but I guess I learned something new this week.

Well, I must say that my attempt to “take back the derby” failed :(

the last derby took out another hardcore derbyist, so I think we have hit rock bottom.

there is only one way to go, right?
:p

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by WussyPuss

Well, I must say that my attempt to “take back the derby” failed :(

the last derby took out another hardcore derbyist, so I think we have hit rock bottom.

there is only one way to go, right?
:p

---

Ouch, WP. How many derbyists have opted in for next derby including you?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by WussyPuss

Well, I must say that my attempt to “take back the derby” failed :(

the last derby took out another hardcore derbyist, so I think we have hit rock bottom.

there is only one way to go, right?
:p

---

I'm really sorry to hear how these derby's have effected you and your nh members WP. I hope that SC makes the necessary changes (I, personally feel they will) and that you get some more awesome players in your hood;)

The remaining derbyists include

1) blissfully unaware
2) me
3) doing it for me
4) since you asked so nicely, I am back
5) I am back too and I can do 2 tasks and get all rewards

thankfully, still 4 and a bit, so we may get all thresholds :thumbsup:

btw, nobody is leaving. We have 28/30 members in our hood.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by WussyPuss

The remaining derbyists include

1) blissfully unaware
2) me
3) doing it for me
4) since you asked so nicely, I am back
5) I am back too and I can do 2 tasks and get all rewards

thankfully, still 4 and a bit, so we may get all thresholds :thumbsup:

btw, nobody is leaving. We have 28/30 members in our hood.

---

So that's what you meant by putting your hoodmates on notice. :)

Good luck on getting all thresholds in next derby.

I am still hopeful XD we have another entry!


And yet another :caticon:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by WussyPuss

I am still hopeful XD we have another entry!


And yet another :caticon:

---

Well, it is a start!!!

We are 3 playing this week, so no way to reach the last horseshoe. My strategy this week for relaxing is actually to take tasks I might not otherwise do, like the Pets Basket that has Milk, Bacon and Carrots in it. I will just be patient and not burn thru all my tasks in 1 day. I’m trying to keep the machines going, even though my barn is full, but will sell more in my stand.

I am beginning to wonder if this is the new derby format for the special derbies. Before, derbies, even special ones, were fairly predicable. Everyone did 400 point tasks because they were so readily available just as during a normal derby, everyone does the 320 tasks for the most part. By making the 400 point tasks difficult to spawn, it sort of forces players to take something lower (or spend). Since they implemented this, I have noticed less neighborhoods aiming for the max score.

We had 7 opted in the last derby, none of us were able to squeeze out a perfect score. I was the closet with 19 points below max. But, I know if I actually attempted to try to get a max score I would have HAD to spend with the tasks I took. I was literally collecting quesadillas up until I went to bed for my last task.

I don't actually mind this approach. I like the more variable scores I have seen. Before, special derbies (for me at least) were super easy to squeeze out that 4000 score. I just wish someone from SC would say something about it...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by WussyPuss

Well, I must say that my attempt to “take back the derby” failed :(

the last derby took out another hardcore derbyist, so I think we have hit rock bottom.

there is only one way to go, right?w
:p

---

Ouch Wussypuss:( I feel your pain
i know of so many hoods where great derby players have just quit in frustration at these recent themed Derbys. We have lost a player after each of the last two themed derbies, both 2+ year veterans in the hood, both just can’t be bothered with the grind now. After an all time low of 17 opted in last week, we have only recovered to 20 opted in this week and we are normally 25-27 opted in every week. Certainly some worrying signs of derby burnout, so we may lose more in coming weeks.

I can well understand the frustration. I don’t think the derby is fun any more. Even this week with a ‘normal’ derby the tasks are slow and boring. Baskets seem to be the main 320 ones 😱.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Tangntonic

I agree. I've enough to do in RL, I don't need to sit by my tablet and wait for the derby to dictate my life. Really, I've found in the past 6-12 months, the rewards aren't that special. I can make up those items weekly in regular game play. WHY waste my time fretting over the derby for very minimal rewards. RL is too important to waste on this stuff.

---

My sentiments exactly.
Personally, I play derby once or twice a month.

Our hood continues to enjoy derby mostly because we don’t prioritize placing in the top 3...
although we placed 3rd for the summer derby because all agreed we wanted the beach deco and glad we did...
Our hood’s objective is to remain in the championship league so we can collect 9 horseshoes.
We also do not require 320+ tasks and that allows for more variety.


More casual play, I believe, has kept our hood engaged in derby.

I opted out this week. 11/10 would recommend! ;)

I’ve opted out all my farms and I’m enjoying the game a lot again. 😊 I’m playing the way I used to play before the derby. I flag trees when they need watering instead of keeping them dead just in case I get a task. I’m playing the town steadily and with joyous abandon instead of selectively just in case I get a town task. I’m even doing boats and letting them come in on their own. I have zero alarms set! Yes!!! It’s been very relaxing.

I wish I could play a “chill” derby but apparently it’s not my nature. Who knew? It’s all or nothing for me. 😆 The “all” may change but very minutely: I might decide to go for columns rather than a win then see I’m out front and can win and then the race is on to at least place. 😏 No more relaxing derby. At least I recognise it and know the only option for me is to every now and then not play the derby. It’s definitely time for now.😉

Wussy, I really hope your NH finds equilibrium.👍😊

So last week's derby, I had visitors from out of town and I opted out. One of my co-leaders was hot for the deco so he took over running the team while I was out.

He spent 1000 diamonds to refresh the board faster, trying to get those high-points tasks to appear. I applaud his dedication, but in a way I really wish he hadn't. That will only encourage SC to release more of these killer derbies.

If other hoods have been doing that all along, it explains why we're seeing so many themed derbies.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Thistledew

So last week's derby, I had visitors from out of town and I opted out. One of my co-leaders was hot for the deco so he took over running the team while I was out.

He spent 1000 diamonds to refresh the board faster, trying to get those high-points tasks to appear. I applaud his dedication, but in a way I really wish he hadn't. That will only encourage SC to release more of these killer derbies.

If other hoods have been doing that all along, it explains why we're seeing so many themed derbies.

---

Wow and wow again 🤔🤔. Our NH has never spent 💎💎on refreshing. I was opted out last week but the two who played finished first with the only 💎💎 spent being on an extra task.

Luckily we are not so competitive in my hood, as long as you earn your rewards by doing your tasks then we are happy. It's not as fun if you over think the game.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Thistledew

So last week's derby, I had visitors from out of town and I opted out. One of my co-leaders was hot for the deco so he took over running the team while I was out.

He spent 1000 diamonds to refresh the board faster, trying to get those high-points tasks to appear. I applaud his dedication, but in a way I really wish he hadn't. That will only encourage SC to release more of these killer derbies...

---

Please thank your hoodmate for supporting the game in ways I cannot. Thank you Thistledew.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BostonGirl

I’ve opted out all my farms and I’m enjoying the game a lot again.  I’m playing the way I used to play before the derby. I flag trees when they need watering instead of keeping them dead just in case I get a task. I’m playing the town steadily and with joyous abandon instead of selectively just in case I get a town task. I’m even doing boats and letting them come in on their own. I have zero alarms set! Yes!!! It’s been very relaxing.

I wish I could play a “chill” derby but apparently it’s not my nature. Who knew? It’s all or nothing for me.  The “all” may change but very minutely: I might decide to go for columns rather than a win then see I’m out front and can win and then the race is on to at least place.  No more relaxing derby. At least I recognise it and know the only option for me is to every now and then not play the derby. It’s definitely time for now.

Wussy, I really hope your NH finds equilibrium.

---

im with you Boston girl. I’ve had to opt out this week bc my granddaughter is in the hospital w a serious problem. You would think given all that stress, I would want to relax and enjoy just regular farming. But I can’t stand it. I want to see the task board. I want to do the tasks. I want to see the derby log and know what tasks my peeps r doing. It’s all or nothing. What is wrong w me? I’m suffering derby withdrawal!

I have opted out of derby the last 3 weeks after coming back for 2 weeks after opting out for all of June. That break has led me to realize just how much of a boring stressful grind the derbies have become, even though our only goal is to stay in the CL.

Long boring production task after long boring production task has me checking into my farm through a sense of obligation and with an irritated let-me-get-this-over-with attitude, not because I want to have an enjoyable time or am looking forward to some fun on my farm.

We used to be 7/16 derbying, now I think it’s down to 1 or 2 - we were 3 in the derby usually when I took my leave. So, yeah - I echo everyone’s thoughts here. The derby used to be great fun, but these way too frequent themed derbies have turned the derby into a boring grind.

While I do like the look of the CL purple derby silks on our NH House, Yellow is pretty too :) I may suggest that to my NH.

So how to make the derby fun again? My thoughts:

*Make a special derby a once a month event - absence makes the heart grow fonder

*Change horseshoe levels so single-person or small hoods can achieve ALL the horseshoes

*Improve the prizes - derby rewards that duplicate what I can wheat out of my fields in 20 min are a drag

*Recognize that there is no way regular hoods can compete with the diamond derby hoods, so maybe the diamond derby hoods should be in their own Diamond CL. (Don’t recall who suggested that tier idea here, sorry)

*Make the derby board work like the truck board (an old idea from way back)

*Tweak the special derby tasks to have more variety, not take so long, use the same machine for large quanties of products, and not repeat so frequently. It’s boring doing the same production or crop tasks 2-3-4 times per derby

*Return mining and help task frequencies to where they were - I like those because they can be done quickly andnthey give me something active to do, instead of passively waiting for juices to cook or tomatoes to grow (yawn)

*Develop a wider variety of themed tasks

*Let us have more than 4 special tasks on the board - it’s beyond boring to have to to trash all those repetitive special derby tasks, only to get more of the same

*Knock off the algorithmic suppression of a specific visitor once you take a task to serve X number of that visitor. FRUSTRATING to take that derby task and get 0 of the needed visitors on the next 2-3 trains.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by PerkyCox

I have opted out of derby the last 3 weeks after coming back for 2 weeks after opting out for all of June. That break has led me to realize just how much of a boring stressful grind the derbies have become, even though our only goal is to stay in the CL.

Long boring production task after long boring production task has me checking into my farm through a sense of obligation and with an irritated let-me-get-this-over-with attitude, not because I want to have an enjoyable time or am looking forward to some fun on my farm.

We used to be 7/16 derbying, now I think it’s down to 1 or 2 - we were 3 in the derby usually when I took my leave. So, yeah - I echo everyone’s thoughts here. The derby used to be great fun, but these way too frequent themed derbies have turned the derby into a boring grind.

While I do like the look of the CL purple derby silks on our NH House, Yellow is pretty too :) I may suggest that to my NH.

So how to make the derby fun again? My thoughts:

*Make a special derby a once a month event - absence makes the heart grow fonder

*Change horseshoe levels so single-person or small hoods can achieve ALL the horseshoes

*Improve the prizes - derby rewards that duplicate what I can wheat out of my fields in 20 min are a drag

*Recognize that there is no way regular hoods can compete with the diamond derby hoods, so maybe they should be in their own Diamond CL. (Don’t recall who suggested that tier idea here, sorry)

*Make the derby board work like the truck board (an old idea from way back)

*Tweak the special tasks to not take so long, use the same machine for large quanties of the same products, and not repeat so frequently. It’s boring doing the same production or crop tasks 2-3-4 times per derby

*Return mining and help task frequencies to where they were - I like those because they can be done quickly andnthey give me something active to do, instead of passively waiting for juices to cook or tomatoes to grow (yawn)

*Develop a wider variety of themed tasks

*Let us have more than 4 special tasks on the board - it’s beyond boring to have to to trash all those repetitive special derby tasks, only to get more of the same

*Knock off the algorithmic suppression of a specific visitor once you take a task to serve X number of that visitor. FRUSTRATING to take that derby task and get 0 of the needed visitors on the next 2-3 trains.

---

Perky! Glad to see you back. I agree. The derby has become a drag. It can drag a NH down. Drag player moral down. Drag the nice flow of the game down. Especially when you “stack” in anticipation of tasks that NEVER come even though they are posted as being the high point ones. Im in the derby this week only because it’s not a special or themed one.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bestajunior

Perky! Glad to see you back. I agree. The derby has become a drag. It can drag a NH down. Drag player moral down. Drag the nice flow of the game down. Especially when you “stack” in anticipation of tasks that NEVER come even though they are posted as being the high point ones. Im in the derby this week only because it’s not a special or themed one.

---

There are still lots of quesadillas stacked in my machine :facepalm:XD

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by themammabear

im with you Boston girl. I’ve had to opt out this week bc my granddaughter is in the hospital w a serious problem. You would think given all that stress, I would want to relax and enjoy just regular farming. But I can’t stand it. I want to see the task board. I want to do the tasks. I want to see the derby log and know what tasks my peeps r doing. It’s all or nothing. What is wrong w me? I’m suffering derby withdrawal!

---

😄 Sorry TMB. The game opted me in this week even though I opted out before last week’s derby. It doesn’t matter because I’m not going to play and I’ve opted out again. Maybe it’ll stick this time.

From PerkyCox: “Long boring production task after long boring production task has me checking into my farm through a sense of obligation and with an irritated let-me-get-this-over-with attitude, not because I want to have an enjoyable time or am looking forward to some fun on my farm.”

PREACH!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bender018

There are still lots of quesadillas stacked in my machine :facepalm:XD

---

Me too benderXD

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by PerkyCox

I have opted out of derby the last 3 weeks after coming back for 2 weeks after opting out for all of June. That break has led me to realize just how much of a boring stressful grind the derbies have become, even though our only goal is to stay in the CL.

Long boring production task after long boring production task has me checking into my farm through a sense of obligation and with an irritated let-me-get-this-over-with attitude, not because I want to have an enjoyable time or am looking forward to some fun on my farm.

We used to be 7/16 derbying, now I think it’s down to 1 or 2 - we were 3 in the derby usually when I took my leave. So, yeah - I echo everyone’s thoughts here. The derby used to be great fun, but these way too frequent themed derbies have turned the derby into a boring grind.

While I do like the look of the CL purple derby silks on our NH House, Yellow is pretty too :) I may suggest that to my NH.

So how to make the derby fun again? My thoughts:

*Make a special derby a once a month event - absence makes the heart grow fonder

*Change horseshoe levels so single-person or small hoods can achieve ALL the horseshoes

*Improve the prizes - derby rewards that duplicate what I can wheat out of my fields in 20 min are a drag

*Recognize that there is no way regular hoods can compete with the diamond derby hoods, so maybe the diamond derby hoods should be in their own Diamond CL. (Don’t recall who suggested that tier idea here, sorry)

*Make the derby board work like the truck board (an old idea from way back)

*Tweak the special derby tasks to have more variety, not take so long, use the same machine for large quanties of products, and not repeat so frequently. It’s boring doing the same production or crop tasks 2-3-4 times per derby

*Return mining and help task frequencies to where they were - I like those because they can be done quickly andnthey give me something active to do, instead of passively waiting for juices to cook or tomatoes to grow (yawn)

*Develop a wider variety of themed tasks

*Let us have more than 4 special tasks on the board - it’s beyond boring to have to to trash all those repetitive special derby tasks, only to get more of the same

*Knock off the algorithmic suppression of a specific visitor once you take a task to serve X number of that visitor. FRUSTRATING to take that derby task and get 0 of the needed visitors on the next 2-3 trains.

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bestajunior

Perky! Glad to see you back. I agree. The derby has become a drag. It can drag a NH down. Drag player moral down. Drag the nice flow of the game down. Especially when you “stack” in anticipation of tasks that NEVER come even though they are posted as being the high point ones. Im in the derby this week only because it’s not a special or themed one.

---

I agree with all of these points. I have come to really dislike the themed derbies. Even this one is recycling the same old tasks. I hardly ever see a mining task now.

Great to see you back, Perky:caticon:

while I feel quite liberated with these regular derbies and not stacking (I despise stacking), our hood of 28 is down to 4 opted in derby, 3 regulars and one along for the ride, but having fun :smirk:

i agree with all of perky’s points, but especially about the themed derbies being truly special by being less frequent, but all of these points have been offered up before

hoping the team gets back to work well rested and willing to make the changes needed to bring back derby fun. I just hope it is not too late.