27 replies to this topic

[XX Sulla XX]

After playing 4 man drops on the test server something hit me. 4 man drops would be a great way to introduce new players to the game. If the match making is good and its really new or low level players on each side I think it would work well. I also think having a 4 man option would give it a wider appeal.

I know they are putting some kind of 4 man for CW at some point. But what I am thinking is that if 4 man really is the best for new players and casual players. (At least before single player.) Should they try and funnel these people into this game mode?

----- Why I think its better for new players

In 4 man games you can normally figure out what is going on if you are a new player. There are the 4 mechs. This mech is shooting me with that weapon. This is where they are moving and where our team is moving. I think for many new players there is just to much going on in 12 man drops.

Any way I could be wrong but just curios what every one thinks.

[Gamuray]

I agree with you. I played a few drops and found that it was much easier do get where I wanted to be. The game didn't stagnate and mistakes were generally less deadly (unless that mistake was running into an atlas). I feel that a 4 man launch overall has a better feel from casual play and allows players to move more freely and lends itself more to tactical thinking, since a single mech CAN and WILL sometimes crush the other lance with the right manuever (unlike in 12v12 where flanking alone or in a small group is a death sentence).

It really allows the player to have exciting, lasting engagements, since you don't get concentrated by 8-12 people when you start firing on one. Instead it's 2-3 people.

Last thing to note: Every playstyle as far as I could tell was fairly easy to use in the 4v4 environment. Some were better for late game than others and some were better for quick matches than others. I found that my attrition-based mechs that normally landed me 400 damage weren't doing so, not because there were less enemies, but because the freedom to maneuver led to fast paced engagements, even though mechs still took longer to die (may have been helped by lack of quirks)

[cSand]

LIKED

excellent suggestion sir

[WarZ]

I take it a step further and request it as a regular game mode. 4v4 actually feels like what this game is meant to be. Even more so than 8v8 was (which is better than 12v12).

[Screech]

I think a new player would prefer a larger group so any errors they might make are not as highlighted as they would be in a small group. I am speaking only of the solo queue. I just fear putting new players into smaller groups would just lead to more grief as they would not live up to the expectations of others and would be singled out and chastised for a group's failure.

Sure it sounds a little pessimistic about the community but that is only because I have been around for a bit.

[Inkarnus]

Screech, on 05 November 2015 - 03:43 PM, said:

I think a new player would prefer a larger group so any errors they might make are not as highlighted as they would be in a small group.  I am speaking only of the solo queue.  I just fear putting new players into smaller groups would just lead to more grief as they would not live up to the expectations of others and would be singled out and chastised for a group's failure.

Sure it sounds a little pessimistic about the community but that is only because I have been around for a bit.

big groups tend to carry players yes but i doubt a new player can  learn anything in the clusterfuckwe have. He is better of slowly learning the controls in a not so high TTK enviroment. Where he can pan out the mechanics, instead of beeing focused down by 4-8 mechs because he just misstepped.

Edited by Inkarnus, 05 November 2015 - 03:54 PM.

[Uncl Munkeh]

I endorse this view. 4x4 would extend the game out enough that the new guys would get a chance to play longer and get the experience.

[Bonger Bob]

yup, and with the random disco's and afk's, you'll feel it so much more in a 4 man.

starting a round at 75% team strength is going to be a real incentive for new players who already don't have a clue, roflstomp 1 min matches here we go.

if there was stability on connecting to game rounds, a level of a guide on the web site ( game modes section of the main page still displays only one match mode, conquest, with no description ) etc etc etc, there is to much unfinished / bad coding in place currently to allow for this to be a smooth option.

Edited by Bonger Bob, 05 November 2015 - 04:14 PM.

[Ex Atlas Overlord]

4v4 drops Pros and Cons

Pros:
Individual player skill actually becomes important for the match result...
Matches could be made of exactly matching Tiers...
Mechs don't die instantly to tons of focused fire...
Players have fun playing...
Shorter wait times...
No more giant Death blob...
TTK becomes longer...

Cons:
PGI has to spend some money for servers...(Shouldn't they be upgrading these for steam release anyway?)

Seems like a no brainer

[Bonger Bob]

The Atlas Overlord, on 05 November 2015 - 04:17 PM, said:

4v4 drops Pros and Cons

Pros:
Individual player skill actually becomes important for the match result...
Matches could be made of exactly matching Tiers...
Mechs don't die instantly to tons of focused fire...
Players have fun playing...
Shorter wait times...
No more giant Death blob...
TTK becomes longer...

Cons:
PGI has to spend some money for servers...(Shouldn't they be upgrading these for steam release anyway?)

Seems like a no brainer

they put the oceanic server in singapore, and you think they're going to spend real money on proper equip ??? gg

[XX Sulla XX]

Screech, on 05 November 2015 - 03:43 PM, said:

I think a new player would prefer a larger group so any errors they might make are not as highlighted as they would be in a small group. I am speaking only of the solo queue. I just fear putting new players into smaller groups would just lead to more grief as they would not live up to the expectations of others and would be singled out and chastised for a group's failure.

Sure it sounds a little pessimistic about the community but that is only because I have been around for a bit.

With small groups it would be easier to match new players with other new players so might offset.

[l33tworks]

it should be 4x4 or 8x8 for all. 8x8 was very fin dont know why they felt the need to go 12v12

[Mister Blastman]

I wish people would actually play on PTS. It is fun. But ten minute waits are not. Get your asses on PTS!

[Fiona Marshe Pureborn]

4v4 would certainly help those still getting their beginner bonus cash.
HOWEVER,
The end-of-round screen (or start screen) need to explicitly tell the player that this is 'learning mode' and they will be thrown to the wolves after 25 matches.

[Tarl Cabot]

l33tworks, on 05 November 2015 - 05:12 PM, said:

it should be 4x4 or 8x8 for all. 8x8 was very fin dont know why they felt the need to go 12v12

I would forgo the 4vs4 and make it a 6vs6 (Comstar's Level 2 / Demi-Company) and 12vs12.

Right now with 4vs4 both sides are racing towards each other, there are no "range" fights, I would be surprised many notice the sensor ranges. What is noticed is the Skill Tree nerf on mech movement, more so in heavier mechs.

It falls in the same vein as jump jets. Lights and meds did not suffer much, was okay for the lighter heavies but other heavies and assaults took the big bite.

Edited by Tarl Cabot, 05 November 2015 - 06:47 PM.

[Lorian Sunrider]

http://mwomercs.com/...se/page__st__20

[Lyoto Machida]

Fiona Marshe STOCK, on 05 November 2015 - 06:00 PM, said:

4v4 would certainly help those still getting their beginner bonus cash.
HOWEVER,
The end-of-round screen (or start screen) need to explicitly tell the player that this is 'learning mode' and they will be thrown to the wolves after 25 matches.

As someone who started in a much more noob-friendly era of the game, 25 matches seems way too short for anyone to gain decent skill at the game.

New players should start in Tier 5 and get 100 games against other Tier 5 players only. Maybe keep the cadet bonus in place for the first 25 games of the 100. Sure, there would be some veterans farming on alts or whatever but 25 games before hitting the shark tank is minuscule in the grand scheme of things.

Haven't tried 4v4 yet but it sounds like a good idea for new players to get their feet wet without massive amounts of focus fire.

[Vaniyz]

+1 For 4v4 training and that 8v8 overall made for better gameplay than 12v12.

[Xetelian]

I'm against further dividing the pool of players. Yes, I like 4v4 but I don't like the effects it will have on the game queues.


More game modes for the main queue in the game would be better in my opinion.

[l33tworks]

Xetelian, on 05 November 2015 - 07:12 PM, said:

I'm against further dividing the pool of players. Yes, I like 4v4 but I don't like the effects it will have on the game queues.


More game modes for the main queue in the game would be better in my opinion.

You dont need to to. Make Public que 8v8 or 6vs6 and make group que 12v12. They are already divided.