11 replies to this topic

[EMonk]

The current matchmaker system is fine for lone wolves and groups that just want to drop with no interest in anything more than getting into battle quick.

For those of us who want a little better-organized team play, a lobby system allowing for groups to organize games would be an ideal interim solution pending development of the full community warfare (that's still happening, right?)

It should also allow us to either choose the map we drop on, or at least give us the opportunity to pick a loadout that suits the environment. Dropping blind with a loadout suited for low temperature environments, only to land in 6 successive games on Tourmaline and Caustic is a little annoying at times.

Ideally the lobby would allow some or all of the following:

• Setting map and play style
  
• Defining weight limits and such (total weight, number of each class, etc)
  
• Allow handicap drops with unbalanced teams (5v8 for instance)
  
• Allow drops of any size teams up to the 8-player limit (1v1!)
  
• Room creator able to kick/ban unwanted elements from the room
  
• Return to same room after drop, allowing multiple drops with the same teams
  
• Allow team padding from the pool of available lone-wolves

This is a wish list, of course, but not a particularly difficult bunch of features to implement.

To me, almost anything would be better than the situation as it stands with only random drops available and only up to 4-man teams being able to get games reliably.

[Syllogy]

This is what Private Matchmaking will do. PGI is already ahead of ya.

[EMonk]

Syllogy, on 19 June 2013 - 05:16 AM, said:

This is what Private Matchmaking will do. PGI is already ahead of ya.

Since this is about the 3rd time I've posted this since the middle of closed beta, I doubt they're ahead of the curve there.

As long as private matchmaking actually provides some flexibility, then maybe it'll work. A lobby system allows for randoms to join and drop as well, and stick with the group if they're having fun. It's much, much more than just letting organized teams play together.

[Syllogy]

Okay, so why do you keep posting it?

[Tolkien]

Syllogy, on 19 June 2013 - 06:39 AM, said:

Okay, so why do you keep posting it?

Because many of the rough spots in the game are due to reinventing the wheel where it's not strictly needed, and things like lobby driven play can help build community very quickly. For example:




For example MPBT3025 was out in beta between summer 2001 and 6 December 2001. During that 6 month period of beta development it had a similar number of mech variants, and infinitely more community warfare features than we have here after 12 months.

I never used solaris but it was there for private matches, while each player belonged to a great house and would fight for planetary control. Matches were lobby based where the players themselves would decide if the match was balanced or not before dropping.

The game followed the KISS principle by having only 3025 tech and only stock variants. As someone who likes customization it pains me to say it but the game might be better off without it from a balance point of view. Same with clan tech.

Also it had more defined role warfare in some ways through the restriction of customization and also had a sense of progression in that it took a really long time to earn a heavy mech. Everyone had to be a great light pilot though since the front lines could only supply light mechs, and assaults could only be deployed on homeworlds.

[Syllogy]

If MWO looked like this, when the devs would have much more time to dedicate to Community Warfare too:

[Tolkien]

Syllogy, on 19 June 2013 - 07:05 AM, said:

If MWO looked like this, when the devs would have much more time to dedicate to Community Warfare too

MPBT3025 wasn't that oldschool.




What game is your post from? Original mechwarrior from early 90's? I can't actually figure out which one it was from the screenshot.

[EMonk]

Syllogy, on 19 June 2013 - 06:39 AM, said:

Okay, so why do you keep posting it?

Because it is still an idea I have interest in, and because when you don't keep reminding people of the possibilities they get forgotten.

Syllogy, on 19 June 2013 - 07:05 AM, said:

If MWO looked like this, when the devs would have much more time to dedicate to Community Warfare too:

And is that what the game looks like now? Is what I suggested likely to set the current state of the game back to a more primitive state?

I know, it's cool to get new mechs and new maps. I can't tell you how overjoyed I wasn't when I saw the new fog on Caustic. You can't imagine how happy I wasn't when the startup animations were added.

In all honesty the game was sufficiently pretty for an open beta back when it first came out of closed. When we got that flood of mindless pugs back at the start of open beta, a lobby system would have drastically improved the game experience for everyone. Now what have we got? Most of the pugs they were trying so hard to please seem to have wandered off. I drop against the same people pretty often not by design but because the pool of players has decreased, both pugs and founders getting bored with the game because 'pretty' is all that seems to matter.

Personally, I couldn't care less if the objects in my cockpit bounce around when I move, or if the details of my mech's paint-job are pixel perfect to the Jenner that just crashed into my knee. What I care about is the health of the game, and I strongly believe that PGI are remiss in focusing on new content when so many other aspects of the gameplay are lacking.

[Corvus Antaka]

its coming. read the command posts?

[Syllogy]

Tolkien, on 19 June 2013 - 07:57 AM, said:

MPBT3025 wasn't that oldschool.




What game is your post from? Original mechwarrior from early 90's? I can't actually figure out which one it was from the screenshot.

Nope, that's the original Multiplayer Battletech.

[Rex Zero]

I don't know if this is the right place to post this, but, as i think that a lobby system will provide a solution, it may be. I'll start by saying that over the 6 months I've played this game it's been degenerating slowly. All the number tweaking in the world wont change my mind. The underlying issue is that the game has to make a choice.

Will it be squad based tactical game play? Or will it be a fancy fps with alot of unlockables? I envision a mwo where both teams tacticly select their mechs in a transparent turn based draft pick based on the mission and map using match specific resources. What i mean by match specific resources is that both teams select mechs that when added together equal the same weight/points/whatever can be used in order to ensure that both teams have an even playing feild.

There could be a planning phase prior to the mission exicution where team commanders selected based on rank can path routes and attack patterns and can group their own lances based on weaponry, speed, and chassis. Hell there could even be plays like in football that people could chose form.

It is my firm belief that this game is on the verge of greatness but is risking a catastrophic failure due to the elemination of tactics in favor for an easy to learn game. If it continues down this path not only will I stop playing but I am convinced that many others will as well.

[Lokust Davion]

i hope im wrong but i get this feeling there won't be a lobby at launch. pgi keep talking about UI 2.0 but theyve never shown us any concept of a lobby system at all.