How exactly do lenses work?

[hypevosa]

I understand that having all the same color is what gives the largest bonus, but what's the point of the shapes? (or is there not one yet?)

I've tried matching up as many shapes as possible, but shapes don't seem to need to match for any reason. Do shapes with more sides score more points then?

Is there another function to lenses I'm missing?

Thanks,

~Hype

[rob]

Hey Hype,

I think that grid12.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=gotopost&board=general&thread=45&post=300 is still accurate.

Rob

[hypevosa]

Thanks - I guess I have just been getting unlucky with my shades, I had 4 triangular pyramids in a series of 5 and the multiplier seemed to be exactly the same as when I'd only gotten 2 of the same color together. I didn't realize there actually were different shades, I thought it was just my imagination or something with my laptop screen.

May I ask why there needs to be that 3rd layer? Wouldn't shapes and colors be enough already?

Also, is their use to gain extra shards just temporary and they will have some future use instead? They seem unnecessary at the moment, it's not hard to get gridshards, especially in a group.

[rob]

Hype,

I agree that the "brightness" component of lenses isn't working well. When they were introduced, lenses were by far the best way to earn gridshards, but they've fallen out of balance recently. I'm not sure what will become of them, but I figure they are not hurting anything for now. Eventually we'll either make them more interesting or eliminate them.

Rob

[linkshot]

Having lenses should improve stats temporarily (based on shade, shape, and colour), and disappear on server reset, so you keep 4 for most of the server's lifetime and then start trying to cash in their gridshards in "endgame".

[sven]

While users figure out the color of the lense once the foe is defeated, is there a indication of the color roulette shown visibly during battle?

I think it can either encourage battling or a bit of slow down depending the roulette speed. (Colors shifting red, blue, green.) Disregarding the brightness factor, I don't really follow this.

I personally use whatever I gather is earned. I find it rewarding when clearing the areas than gaining amount of gridshards from lenses.