Deathlike, on 24 April 2014 - 04:56 PM, said:
I just explained your "suggestion" would still force solo players that hate premades to play with premades regardless.
There isn't an option for solos to play exclusively with other solos as publically demanded by solo players that wish no part with premades whatsoever.
Actually this is worth expanding imo.
Here's the thing.
ATM PGI have said they are working towards a vision which is Solo + 2-4 queue (PUG queue) and a Teamplay queue (2-10)
Some people have presented they want more choice, that if they are a Solo player then they want the option to play in the group queue.
I get why "Pro Group" players would support this. On face value (PGI's stats) they face lots of "failed to find" exercises because what PGI are saying is that there is not a lot of players in the demographic. "Pro Group" players would want to have more people in the queue and would embrace anyone wanting to fill out the numbers so thay can play.
Bhaels submission in this thread focussed on the heavier number groups, MM pulls bigger groups and back fills with smaller groups / Solo's. It's not a bad system, I like it (and have previously supported it) but what it does do is force smaller groups into matches against 6+ sized groups.
We all know these groups are mainly on comms and that they are "selecting" the heavier mech classes so this forces those smaller group players to choose lighter mechs or not get a game (or wait lengthy times to get one) which is not ideal. Also the effect of those team advantages as force multipliers puts the smaller groups at a significant in game disadvantage.
Other threads identified there are many players who just want to log on and blow stuff up, they don't want to be waiting for MM or forced into particular mechs (even worse if they bought them, PGI suffers then)
So how then to ensure these players have equal opportunity to play their mech of choice and get in and out of games?
I don't like dividing the queue into 12 buckets, it puts more pressure on larger team queues and results in them getting failed MM.
We could try a system that matches 2 groups of equal numbers, back filled by solos, but I see this as only perpetuating the whole "Premade ate my baby thing".
My preference is to give the choice to the player, but have a structure that minimises risk of abuse.
A "PUG" queue for quick MM, in and out mech of your choice type players that accesses CW that is open to solo's and small groups (capped at one per side) would have some advantages. This is the demographic that "Plug and Play"
A seperate queue for the deeper / more co ordinated teamwork is also required, and I support this being open to everyone (Solo + 2-12) and accessing CW.
But if people are arguing that small group "Plug and Play" players should be second fiddle to the small number of "The evil Pre made ate my baby" complainants, then they really shouldn't have a problem with what PGI are proposing.
After all, if they are happy to force a demographic into a disadvantageous game play, they should have no problem with PGI forcing its structure. They only complaint is that they are on the wrong side of the arbitary line that PGI have drawn but as a consumer, they have the ultimate say on using the product that PGI provide.
Not that I am of this view, I want more choice.