Last Stand game mode - Official Feedback thread

After having played this game mode for a few weeks now, I offer my feedback.  Like many of you, I find the Last Stand to be a monotonous and tedious game mode.  A lot of times, it feels like a chore instead of something to look forward to.  However, if you want support tokens, this is the only way to get it.  I think the idea of this game mode is good but it needs some tweaks to make it more fun.

To understand the problem, let's look at the game modes that are popular and compare it with the Last Stand:  The Challenge, Guild War, and the Distance.  The Challenge and Guild War have a cooperative guild element to it meaning the player's contribution adds to the total score of the guild and there are rewards set at specific milestones.  The Distance does not have a guild element but it explicitly map out the rewards for different missions so that players can set these as objectives.  The Challenge, Guild War, and the Distance also have a variety of maps that you can play in short bursts whereas the Last Stand is a single long grind on a single map. The reward is random and is not known until you get to the end.

1) Add a cooperative guild element to the Last Stand.  This provides an extra motivation.  In addition to the individual leaderboard, there should be a guild leaderboard calculated from each player's total scores for the week.  There should be guild rewards at certain milestones similar to the Challenge and these should not be random.  You want clear objectives that guilds will want to push for.

2) Instead of having a single map, change the map after x number of waves.  This creates variety.  If possible, have optional objectives on the map that yields bonus points.  Example, blow up a bridge, free some trapped survivors, search for clues, etc.  If you change the maps and add optional objectives, you will nullify strategies that depend on hunkering down and grind (e.g. Tara strategy) which makes the mission boring.

3) Continuous feedback and rewards.  Rewards should be awarded after each wave and the reward for the next waves should appear on the screen to entice players to reach the next objective.  Continuous reward will provide the player with the dopamine that will make playing pleasurable.  Right now, players don't even know what they're playing for and are only seeing the rewards at the end of a long grind and the pleasure of obtaining the reward is short lived.   You want to deliver the dopamine in continuous bursts.  This is why games like pinball is so popular.  It provides players with continous rewards in the form of lights, sounds, and graphics.  I'm not suggesting we make the Last Stand into a pinball but I'm pointing out what works.  You can still have a summary screen at the end for the rewards.  An increase in reward for each wave will be warranted for enticement because something like 2 Jerry tokens flashing on the screen is not going to cut it as motivation. 

4) Maps should spawn random boosts like a health pack that will heal a survivor if they reach it, different temporary damage boosts (similar to the bonus in Guild War), immunity to damage, etc.  Random loot such as radios, tokens, gold, crates, Last Stand score bonus, etc. can also spawn for limited number of turns on the map.  You can put these in chests with the appropriate identifiable icon that a survivor has to open.  This will distinguish the Last Stand from other game modes and also add some depth to the game play because players will have to decide whether to risk going after the boost or loot or play it safe and survive for another wave.  

5) I agree with the suggestion to stack up to 3 Tickets to Hell and offer them all on Monday.  This will give players the flexibility to play when convenient.  Having to play this game mode at a specific times during the week contributes to making it feel like a chore.