15 replies to this topic

[Wildstreak]

A question I have wondered about for some time and thought through now presented for public discussion.
Note, I am not mandating or pushing for it, rather opening this for discussion to hear other thoughts about it, I also do not claim to support any specific items mentioned, some I do not but I think it is fair to list several items for consideration and discussion.
Warning, there is no TL:DR way of saying this.

Another MMO I play, Lord of the Rings Online (LotRO), does this. When you join, you have your choice of servers to play on. They have 30 servers each one having a different feel for them, some of the ways they separate their servers include:

• Language Specific - certain servers are used based on focusing on language (English, French, Dutch/German, etc.). This lets you know that everyone on the server will speak your native language if that is a big deal for you .
  
• Roleplay - not seen much in MWO but there are some people I have seen that post about it and like they are roleplaying. Certain LotRO servers are RP exclusive/encouraged.
  
• Population - different servers have different numbers of players. If you like a lot of people to interact with, you go to one of the highly populated servers where you can meet a lot of people. If you like sticking to an exclusive group or running solo with fewer people around, you find one of the smaller servers.
  
• Public Test Server - a special server opened before any new patch/hot fix/update goes live. Such content is tested here before being applied to other servers thus minimizing any harm to all the players caused by bugs. Kinda like Closed BETA but everyone can be involved as I understand it.

With certain topics discussed in MWO, I could see the following used as ways of separating people into different servers compared to the, "everyone is in the same pool," situation we have now:

• New Players - unlike LotRO, MWO does not have a new player exclusive area but I could see at least one server dedicated to new players until their cadet bonus runs out. Here they can do what they want while getting familiar with the game among others new to the game, when finished they could choose to go where they wish.
  
• Test Server - we all know some of the grief caused by certain patches. Having either a private or public test server allows checking any new patch/hot fix for problems before released on everyone. Probably will not get everything but does minimize the number of bugs the larger group pf players gets subjected to.
  
• Matchmaking - it should be possible to put people of different play skill on different servers if desired through a setting of some kind same as how new players can be put on their own server, this is similar to bracketing, also, the time spent searching for matches could be shortened from searching every match to only those on the server you are on.
  
• Solo vs. Grouping - Not sure if it could be enforced but merely mentioning that certain servers are designed for Solo or Group play can influence people to choose based on that.
  
• Language - if desired.
  
• Roleplay - if desired.
  
• Population - would happen anyway.
  
• None - If you answered No or Abstain to Question 1.
  
• Regional - grouping people by distance for issues such as common Ping.
  
• Stock - Only stock Mechs.

EDIT 1 - Added Regional, Stock and None Options to second question.

Edited by Merchant, 24 June 2013 - 05:15 PM.

[VonRunnegen]

Can't vote no without selecting something in the second question, need a 'none' option!

[Syllogy]

Why would you run separate servers for any reason but a Test Environment and Regional servers (for less ping)?

[jakucha]

Only for regional and test servers; regional servers should be optional as well.

[Ningyo]

There is no real reason to have separate servers in this game as you could easily enough have people enter matches based on a choice (like assault/ conquest). {The exception to this would be different servers in different countries to reduce latency and more localize languages)

Adding a new choice such as new player (option would disappear after 200 matches), german (enter your favorite language here), stock mech only (must have a stock or trial mech selected) would be easy to do and still allow players to easily switch between as they choose.

The exception is a public test server which will be using different code to test it. This is a seperate issue in my mind and yes they are doing it, and it is needed since the game will not be finished before launch.

___________________________________________________________________________________

All that said I am strongly for a stock mech only mode.

PROs

It would allow new players to go up against people in mechs that are of similar quality to their own.

It would allow all players to have a fun place to play a newly bought mech before they have all their pilot skills.

It would make everyone that wants a roleplay or that likes to play stock mechs happy.

It would remove most newbies and brand new mechs from the more competitive min/max battles thus making for fewer steamrolls.

It would be down right simple to implement (should be under 1 hour of programming).

Based on forum threads it would bring many players that have quit back to the game, thus raising server populations

CONs

It would split people into separate groups thus possibly reducing pools for matchmaker to draw from.

Edited by Ningyo, 24 June 2013 - 08:54 AM.

[Roland]

There is literally no point in having separate shards for a game like MWO.

Every match is essentially taking place in a separate server.

[Cybermech]

VonRunnegen, on 24 June 2013 - 08:08 AM, said:

Can't vote no without selecting something in the second question, need a 'none' option!

THIS

[Lukoi Banacek]

Roland, on 24 June 2013 - 08:41 AM, said:

There is literally no point in having separate shards for a game like MWO.

Every match is essentially taking place in a separate server.

There will already be a Test server. The rest is wholly unneeded and will further segment the player population. A population that we cannot be sure is stable enough to support the game as it stands now. Further divisions are not helpful in the manner described imo. And Roland's comment regarding separate servers essentially mirrors the suggesting regarding splitting by MM category.

[jakucha]

Lukoi, on 24 June 2013 - 09:02 AM, said:

There will already be a Test server. The rest is wholly unneeded and will further segment the player population. A population that we cannot be sure is stable enough to support the game as it stands now. Further divisions are not helpful in the manner described imo. And Roland's comment regarding separate servers essentially mirrors the suggesting regarding splitting by MM category.

Though a decent amount of new players are sure to come whenever they decide to release on Steam, probably closer to launch after the bigger balance issues are fixed. They already have some files in the Steam database so it seems like it will happen.

[Jestun]

No.

It makes sense in a persistent world, it does not make sense in a matchmaker/lobby-based shooter.

I don't even want it split by region (but it will be due to different publishers in different regions).

Edited by Jestun, 24 June 2013 - 11:43 AM.

[Wildstreak]

Added options None, Regional and Stock to Question #2.

[Hellcat420]

would only work if the game had a planetside style setup. in the current setup seperate servers are worthless.

[Deathlike]

I'd have to think about it.

The unfortunate fact is that I would need #s to make an informed decision... because that would have the biggest impact regardless of what I thought of splitting the queues.

[Dude42]

I think the OP meant "queues", not "servers". Well, except the test server, which would likely have to run on a different one.

With that in mind, I believe a "New Player" or "Practice" or "Unranked" queue is a great idea. A Stock queue would be great(at least until they fix Pinpoint Alpha Warrior Online), and groups should definitely play against other groups(at least until they add true integrated voice communications, and a working ELO/Skill rating system). Voted to reflect that.

In theory the ELO system they're using should take care of the "Matchmaking" option, but it's currently somewhat broken.

What I'd like to see are some tabs at the top where you can select "Practice(the only available option for new players, no effect on ELO/Rating)", "Normal", and "Stock", and within each of those tabs you could choose the game type(assault, conquest, etc). The same options would be there for groups as well, except that internally the matchmaker would only match premades against other premades. (mix and match to achieve the correct number of players).

Oh, and an "Arcade" mode for people what wanted 3rd person view. Didn't see that one in the poll.

I guess I can dream.

Edited by Dude42, 25 June 2013 - 02:48 PM.

[Victor Morson]

The ONLY reason I'd accept this is if Hardcore players could be on a separate server for absolutely no 3rd person garbage.

[Petroshka]

I like the RP call of duty servers myself.