21 replies to this topic

[fat4eyes]

I want to play CW. I really do. But what I don't want is to spend 5 minutes waiting for a match. Joining a pick-up 12-man doesn't really help: it just shifts the wait time from matchmaking to the usual time wasters that happen when building a group manually.

So why not just have a separate solo queue for CW, with the same ELO mechanism used by the other game modes? The matchmaker would just pick a random slot in one of the planets in contention and then start assembling a match from the pool of solo CW players. This should reduce wait times if there are enough solo players in the CW pool. To make matchmaking even faster, the constraint that all attackers have to belong to the same faction can be relaxed (of course clan/IS separation still applies).

Since the per class ELO won't be useful as the drop deck will contain different mech classes, the ELO values of a player can be initialized using his existing class ELOs (by averaging them, or getting the min or max), or just be assigned the noob ELO.

In-universe, these matches can be explained as ad-hoc opportunistic attacks that occur in the war. Since the matchmaking will try to keep the matches even, these matches wont really affect the general flow of the war. In the unlikely case that the solo queue match decides the ownership of the planet, just randomly pick an attacking faction that owns an adjacent planet to take ownership of the planet. Teams and factions that are intent on taking a planet can still concentrate their efforts on a particular planet as they do now.

The difference is that more players get to enjoy CW, instead of all the content being enjoyed by just a select few. As it is there are 3 separate game modes (CW attack, defend, counterattack) that are being used by only a small portion of the player population, which is a shame. This change may even benefit the 'hardcore' CW players: it is a lot easier to justify PGI spending resources on CW when more people play it.

[Ace Selin]

LOL no

If you dont want to wait 5 min for a match you need to join a unit and play when they are on, there is no other way unless a CW event is being held.

Seperating CW further for solos v groups would simply make the wait time longer for everyone, both solos and units. The game rewards are low for CW and many prefer the pug matches as they are quicker and often more rewarding. If you have to wait 5min for a match now when a 6man say has filled half slots and solos take 5min to fill the rest, wait till its solo only both sides and you'll wait 30mins.

You'll need to wait for 4v4 for faster matches than are currently available as those should fill much faster & interest more players i would think.

Splitting CW Q will not happen anytime soon and rightly so.

The way to increase CW usage is increase game rewards/cbills, especially for losses; make planets provide some benefit to the owner (ideally something unique and only available by this method, like unique skins, mech variants colors, warhorn etc) and this should also draw more players to units as well as only units can hold planets; make more diverse CW matches (4v4 is coming at least) & you would see a player increase and quicker matches for all.

Edited by Ace Selin, 18 July 2015 - 12:36 AM.

[o0Marduk0o]

I have no idea what a solo queue can improve, when solo players can already play CW. It's about the numbers in the player pool, not about groups or solos.

[Sagamore]

No, its supposed to be "hard mode" which is why you'll often see one-sided matches with a bunch of solos vs organized teams.

[TWIAFU]

Ace Selin, on 18 July 2015 - 12:33 AM, said:

LOL no

If you dont want to wait 5 min for a match you need to join a unit and play when they are on, there is no other way unless a CW event is being held.

Seperating CW further for solos v groups would simply make the wait time longer for everyone, both solos and units. The game rewards are low for CW and many prefer the pug matches as they are quicker and often more rewarding. If you have to wait 5min for a match now when a 6man say has filled half slots and solos take 5min to fill the rest, wait till its solo only both sides and you'll wait 30mins.

You'll need to wait for 4v4 for faster matches than are currently available as those should fill much faster & interest more players i would think.

Splitting CW Q will not happen anytime soon and rightly so.

The way to increase CW usage is increase game rewards/cbills, especially for losses; make planets provide some benefit to the owner (ideally something unique and only available by this method, like unique skins, mech variants colors, warhorn etc) and this should also draw more players to units as well as only units can hold planets; make more diverse CW matches (4v4 is coming at least) & you would see a player increase and quicker matches for all.

Agreed!

We already have pure pug groups complaining that they are getting stomped by other full pug groups.

Now, want to add pure solo groups vs other pure solo groups in the "hardcore" game mode? The crying would be legendary!

Not to mention these solo players would never be able to gain rewards from CW.

If players want to solo, play solo queue. If players want to group, play group queue. Players want a more teamwork based game, play CW. Something for everyone.

[Summon3r]

if they did anything id say a small group que (4) and a normal group que.... that would require players in CW and there are next to none for extremely obvious reasons that pgi cant figure out

[Mystere]

Just have a "Drop me on any battlerfront" option, where you will be placed in any battle available. But, don't ever dare complain about who you are dropped with.

Edited by Mystere, 18 July 2015 - 10:16 AM.

[Trev Firestorm]

I want some clarifications on the OP, because it might be an OK suggestion: Do you mean a separate solo queue or a 1 button system to get solos into the current game lobby to populate planet queues faster/easier than reading each planet's queue info one by one. The second option there is a decent idea, the first defeats the purpose of Community Warfare.

Secondly: this game's ELO system is broken and does next to nothing so its pointless to use it anyway (if the overhaul goes well /and/ we get a larger population this might be different but right now that's how it is.)

[Tuis Ryche]

I'm game. Win or lose, I'm getting points.

[Mystere]

Trev Firestorm, on 18 July 2015 - 10:39 AM, said:

Secondly: this game's ELO system is broken and does next to nothing so its pointless to use it anyway (if the overhaul goes well /and/ we get a larger population this might be different but right now that's how it is.)

I don't think it's broken. I think it's more like people just do not like it and/or they do not understand how it actually works. People constantly complaining that it's out to get them is proof enough of the latter.

[Kin3ticX]

Sure lets just gut CW. Units are leaving faster than they are forming anyways. A lot of the time I am just smashing randos that refuse to play CW so lets just call it what it is.

Edited by Kin3ticX, 18 July 2015 - 01:25 PM.

[TWIAFU]

Mystere, on 18 July 2015 - 12:37 PM, said:

I don't think it's broken. I think it's more like people just do not like it and/or they do not understand how it actually works. People constantly complaining that it's out to get them is proof enough of the latter.

Found it odd yet that the same that complain about ELO hell are the same ones that play solo?

Play solo and very, very slowly, raise ELO or play in a group and raise it faster.

[DaFrog]

Joining a group will only help you farm pugs. Unless you stick to a group for 2-3 years like the other biggies, you'll get farmed just the same.

[Rahul Roy]

This to me is the saddest thing about CW. Constant farming. If you are not being farmed you are farming someone else.

I really don't know how it came to this. Good teams never defend? Units always seem to go for easy fights that they know they can win? No PUG-vs-PUG fights because PUGs can never mount an attack?

So sad.

[Balilaika]

Rahul Roy, on 19 July 2015 - 09:18 AM, said:

This to me is the saddest thing about CW. Constant farming. If you are not being farmed you are farming someone else.

I really don't know how it came to this. Good teams never defend? Units always seem to go for easy fights that they know they can win? No PUG-vs-PUG fights because PUGs can never mount an attack?

So sad.

The farming happens in every single solo match as well. One side stomps the other, the majority of the time. Also very good players farm you just fine in solo Q too!
The units going for easy fights comment you might want to retract as it simply isn't true. they go where there is a fight, end of. No anti group sentiment here thank you!
Pug vs pug? I have been in many of those thanks-guess what? They are solo q with respawns=yawn. Might as well have a 4 mech drop deck for solo q instead...?

The saddest thing is the poor anti group/teamwork attitude of our players.

Edited by Karlyle, 19 July 2015 - 11:33 AM.

[crustydog]

The best CW games, IMO, are teams vrs teams, and pugs vrs pugs. Teams made of lances from separate units would also like work out well from a balance standpoint. Teams vrs solo's is not so good. Ghost drops are very bad.

Currently, I think waiting times could be vastly improved if we gave the solo's an "add me anywhere" option to their drop so the server could fill matches more quickly. Any IS solo could drop for any IS team - and same for the Clans. The Solo players could still retain the "I am dropping on this specific planet" option if they need it.

Incentives also need vast improvements - most solos and new players earn little if anything in the CW environment - some lose money - and the investments needed for proper CW decks are rather large from the grind standpoint. Ranks, especially, need to become more important from an earnings standpoint.

[TWIAFU]

DaFrog, on 19 July 2015 - 07:02 AM, said:

Joining a group will only help you farm pugs. Unless you stick to a group for 2-3 years like the other biggies, you'll get farmed just the same.

So, joining a PUG with help you farm other PUGs. Joining a team and you will do better.

This in the Group/Unit centric part of the game?

Was that loading screen correct? Teamwork = Victory?

[TWIAFU]

crustydog, on 19 July 2015 - 11:49 AM, said:

The best CW games, IMO, are teams vrs teams, and pugs vrs pugs. Teams made of lances from separate units would also like work out well from a balance standpoint. Teams vrs solo's is not so good. Ghost drops are very bad.

Currently, I think waiting times could be vastly improved if we gave the solo's an "add me anywhere" option to their drop so the server could fill matches more quickly. Any IS solo could drop for any IS team - and same for the Clans. The Solo players could still retain the "I am dropping on this specific planet" option if they need it.

Incentives also need vast improvements - most solos and new players earn little if anything in the CW environment - some lose money - and the investments needed for proper CW decks are rather large from the grind standpoint. Ranks, especially, need to become more important from an earnings standpoint.

Team = Unit
PUG = Skirmish.

CW matches Unit v Unit first, just like you want. If there is no Unit, then find the Skirmish. Your team made of different Lances from different Units are called Skirmish Teams, so Unit v Skirmish and Skirmish v Skirmish, or Team v PUG and PUG v PUG. Solos are used on Skirmish teams to fill out the 10 or 11 man. So only a couple Solo vs a Team or PUG.

Solo can also hit instant action warnings for Attack and Defend or go and look at the map and pick the planet.

CW is NOT the place for solo or new player to make money. Solo is going to have a harder time in CW by its very nature of being FOR "end game" Group/Unit play. This is known outside of game but needs to be made WELL KNOWN in game.

Yes, CW needs work and it will get it and it cannot come fast enough.

[Thunder Child]

Mystere, on 18 July 2015 - 07:54 AM, said:

Just have a "Drop me on any battlerfront" option, where you will be placed in any battle available. But, don't ever dare complain about who you are dropped with.

I once queued for a Drop on Anywhere. It wasn't till I actually looked at the galactic map that I realized Anywhere was a planet, and not a drop option. Close to Nowhere, if I remember rightly. Or maybe it was Erehwon.

Point is, a Drop Now feature for PuGs could be useful, for Solos that want a fast match. They just need to realize that if they aren't in a dedicated unit, the Stomp will happen. It's CW. It's meant to be Unit only.

[Frankenst3in]

Thunder Child, on 19 July 2015 - 01:11 PM, said:

I once queued for a Drop on Anywhere. It wasn't till I actually looked at the galactic map that I realized Anywhere was a planet, and not a drop option. Close to Nowhere, if I remember rightly. Or maybe it was Erehwon.

Hahahahahaha, that is one of the best things I have ever read regarding CW! No deeper meaning behind it, that is just pure funny right there.