4 replies to this topic

[TheMagician]

Problem:
Currently MWO does not encourage the use of all mech class types. Assaults are almost always better than Heavies, which are almost always better than Mediums. Thus, typically drops, especially at the higher Elo range and in 8v8s, tend to be assaults and lights.

Recommendation:

To encourage a greater diversity of play (which is what the leagues do at a moment, but most play is not done through organized means), it is recommended that PGI adds lance types to the queue system.

Description:

MWO integrates 3 types of lances to the queue system, both for the open-queue and the 12-person queue.

Light Lance: 4/4/2/2
Medium Lance: 2/4/4/2
Heavy Lance: 2/2/4/4
Open: any/any/any/any

Players will be provided with queue timers for each bracket, as well as if queueing up solo, for their chosen weight class within that type.

Potential Problems:
Not all mechs within a weight class are equal. However, this is still best for creating diversified battles of different weight classes. In pure tonnage situations, you'll see less diversity, as teams will go for bulk of certain chassis to fill up the tonnages. However, with Elo factoring in, at the proper brackets, you should, overall, get fairly equal matches per side.

It is possible that the Open will end up most popular anyhow, if this is the case, either it means that the players don't want balanced fights, or that adjustments will need to be made.

Opportunities:
To encourage people to queue in the least popular type, PGI could give temporary bonuses for those types in terms of GXP and Cbills.

[Calidus]

I read this as Query Integrated Lance Types. Like LINQ but for mechs!

[piracetam]

You could avoid splitting the queue by having each lance type be the rule for a particular time. For example, next monday will be a 2/2/2/2 day, so everyone has to bring that composition for that day. I doubt people would mind that much - they didn't in RHoD, it was mostly interesting and added depth there.

[Gwaihir]

That's a cool idea. It's sorta like the events they run, except in group form to shake things up and make it interesting for people.

[TheMagician]

I don't know about just having PGI rotate one mode. I think several options would be useful. But, either way, this would help with forming balanced teams.