A 5-Year Gacha Veteran's Shock: 'Thrud' Locks the Beginner Banner – A New Low in Monetization?

As a 'gacha locust' (a veteran player who jumps between games) with five years of experience, I’ve finally seen something that truly baffles me: 'Thrud' locks its beginner banner to a single fixed 5-star character, a design choice I've never encountered before.

To make matters worse, the concurrent rate-up banner is extremely limited. If players want anyone else, they are forced to fish in the standard banner. Players are comparing this to an alternate reality where Genshin's beginner banner only drops Mona, or Arknights' only drops Siege—a disastrous user experience.

The community is boiling over. Many suspect this is a textbook 'hit-and-run' monetization scheme; since players cannot 'reroll' (reset accounts to get better starters), the developer is clearly trying to cash in on Day 1 players before the game loses steam. Others have slammed the combat system, calling the movement clunky and describing the combat as lacking any satisfying feedback.

While a few argue that forcing a strong character saves time on rerolling, the consensus remains that stingy rewards, low drop rates, and questionable banner designs make this a game to avoid.