8 replies to this topic

[Clownwarlord]

OK there are a few topics I would like to bring up and present my opinion.

First: PSR

PSR is player skill rate or rating, and what it means is your skill rate among the rest of the player base. Can there be two or more players with the same PSR? Yes, and they can be completely different player styles being played. Which brings me to what I like about PSR. It does give you rating that covers multiple play styles, mechs, and builds; using those to compute with what you do in game to give you your result of PSR. Now what I hate about it is that it is still for the majority and almost entirely based on win/lose like ELO.

Second: Map and Game Mode Voting

This is a way to solve a problem that in theory of people wanting to have some control going into a match more so than randomness after selecting what game mode they did not want to play. Now what I like about this voting system is that as I mentioned I do get control to vote for which map and game mode. What I do not like is the repetition of the same map because it make the most since to play. That being HPG Manifold and Mining Collective which are not cold and not hot. They do not have rocks, branches, or anything in the way of impeding your movement obscenely (e.x. rock that an Atlas can't step on that is the size of its foot). So my suggestion is for PGI to work on the broken mechanics of movement on many of their maps that are not getting played when they go over them to "re-vamp" the imagery. As for the game mode I have been getting every game mode and have been getting Tourmaline and Terra Therma so it isn't map heat or game modes not getting selected; just that map design and mechanics are keeping others away.

Third: Meta

Well first off meta will always be in every game. Change the mechanics or stats of one or more weapon systems and then the meta will change to a new meta. So to the overall consensus that meta is bad I disagree on the bases that it will always be here just may be a different weapon system or load out configure. Now what I HATE is the TTK or time to kill has gone down drastically because of high damage pin point alphas. This use to be an issue with the "Splat Cat" a catapult loaded up with SRMs only and they would have an alpha of 40 to 60, but they (PGI) changed that with increasing spread for all missiles, decreased the damage of all missiles, and then increased the heat of firing those missiles. Similar things happened to PPCs for the 6 PPC Stalker with its 60 pin point alpha when PGI slowed down the shots from the PPC and ERPPC, introduced heat damage, and heat penalties. BUT when the clan mechs came out PGI broke the game and now is trying to fix it. Sadly though I do not see how they can appropriately address the issue when clan tech allows miss-matching pods to allow boating of what ever might be the meta (or flavor of the month). This allows high pin point alphas such as the recent laser meta / laser boating / laser vomiting.

Fourth: PTS

Player Test Server, recently being used to test different balancing mechanics that PGI is trying to get ready to introduce to the live servers (hopefully sooner rather than later). I like PTS it is a fun way that people can not only test possibly new mechanics but also mechs they never get the chance to test before having to purchase with your hard earned money or C-bills. Love that part, BUT what I HATE!!! Is that all your work in PTS has no pay out for the live servers other than if the mechanics get transitioned over into the live servers. My suggestion which has been suggested before by others is some reward for participating in a PTS. Example would be a medallion maybe for doing 24 drops (like operation 24 or what ever), and then to have a simple 1 million C-Bills added to your live account for doing 50 matches. Those are just some examples and what they do to help is increase the PTS player base to more accurately test the new mechanics.

Those are just some of the on going or recent debates in the forum and if PGI would like to address these issues or topics then here is my opinion.

I also have some questions:

- Why does PSR still have to be so dependent on win/lose as well as pay out rewards?

- What if for the voting of map was limited down to two choices (help preventing repetition)?

- Is there any time table for the new balancing mechanics to be introduced or other PTS to come?

- Why has PGI not done an event for a weekend to participate in PTS?

- I heard of another set of new rewards being introduced. Any time table on those and are they to help boost economy to help balance out the rewards system's issue of being win dependent?

- Off the topics but current news, is the new mech package being a single mech chassis and is that how PGI going to introduce a new mech from now on? Or are they still willing to do big packages like they have in the past?

Well those are just some questions and I wish you all happy gaming.

[Clownwarlord]

Sorry for wall of text just wanted to cover different topics.

[Darian DelFord]

clownwarlord, on 11 November 2015 - 06:14 AM, said:

OK there are a few topics I would like to bring up and present my opinion.

First: PSR

PSR is player skill rate or rating, and what it means is your skill rate among the rest of the player base.

You lost me right here. The Biggest component of PSR is a win. If you lose and still do well for your mech, you more than likely will still lose PSR. So PSR is NOT a good starting point for player skill.

The moment they eliminate a win or a loss from affecting your PSR THEN we will have a true skill rating.

Edited by Darian DelFord, 11 November 2015 - 06:25 AM.

[El Bandito]

Thoughtful post. I will attempt to answer your questions.

clownwarlord, on 11 November 2015 - 06:14 AM, said:

- Why does PSR still have to be so dependent on win/lose as well as pay out rewards?

Because good players in general win more. Just as in all other games, it is Victory that brings most rank increase. If there was no "Win" condition, people will only think of maximizing points for themselves, and forget about winning. Also, PSR needs to be removed from Group-Queue, as that place is riddled with MM exploits and team quality/quantity difference.

clownwarlord, on 11 November 2015 - 06:14 AM, said:

- What if for the voting of map was limited down to two choices (help preventing repetition)?

Let's try with three choices first. Two choices are too limiting, IMO.

clownwarlord, on 11 November 2015 - 06:14 AM, said:

- Is there any time table for the new balancing mechanics to be introduced or other PTS to come?

There will be another PTS balancing patch, this time with weapon quirks enabled/changed. Otherwise, it won't make sense.

clownwarlord, on 11 November 2015 - 06:14 AM, said:

- Why has PGI not done an event for a weekend to participate in PTS?

Oversight. Something PGI is known for.

clownwarlord, on 11 November 2015 - 06:14 AM, said:

- I heard of another set of new rewards being introduced. Any time table on those and are they to help boost economy to help balance out the rewards system's issue of being win dependent?

Yes, Russ said new rewards will hit the servers later this month, around the 20th. Personally, I think he is trying to rip us off again.

clownwarlord, on 11 November 2015 - 06:14 AM, said:

- Off the topics but current news, is the new mech package being a single mech chassis and is that how PGI going to introduce a new mech from now on? Or are they still willing to do big packages like they have in the past?

Depends.

Darian DelFord, on 11 November 2015 - 06:23 AM, said:

The moment they eliminate a win or a loss from affecting your PSR THEN we will have a true skill rating.

Great, that way people just can hang back and farm points at the expense of their teammates, and victory. Just for raising their skill bar. I remember how stupid the old events were without "Win" condition. People's selfishness reached its zenith back then.

Edited by El Bandito, 11 November 2015 - 06:34 AM.

[Clownwarlord]

Darian DelFord, on 11 November 2015 - 06:23 AM, said:

You lost me right here. The Biggest component of PSR is a win. If you lose and still do well for your mech, you more than likely will still lose PSR. So PSR is NOT a good starting point for player skill.

The moment they eliminate a win or a loss from affecting your PSR THEN we will have a true skill rating.

You inability to continue reading is annoying. I suggest you continue reading because I bring that up.

[Darian DelFord]

clownwarlord, on 11 November 2015 - 06:29 AM, said:

You inability to continue reading is annoying. I suggest you continue reading because I bring that up.

And I was providing insight into why along with what you posted my friend.

[MeiSooHaityu]

Ain't gonna lie, I thought it was an off-topic thread about a new Twisted Metal game . Kind of bummed it isn't now .

PSR is only going to be a tool to help. There are too many factors in this game IMO to come up with a truly effective matchmaker. There isn't going to be a good system that knows your skill plus: play style that day, whether you are grinding a mech or on your favorite machine, if you're sober lol, if the team plays in a way that puts you in a favorable position to be effective/ineffective, or if you are playing a serious build or a fun build, etc... The matchmaker is only going to be so effective and even with a perfectly matched team, go one man down first, and you are naturally going to be undergunned and the effects could result in a huge cascade of dead friendlies and a big loss.

Voting is ehhh, but if it stays I won't sweat it. I think it should be a bit more limited (maybe 3 maps instead of 4 and a game mode randomly assigned to each presented map), but that is just more personal preference.

There will ALWAYS be a meta setup. Even if the devs nerf certain weapons, add more ghost heat, or try to incentivise mixed builds, there will always be that one defacto combination that is superior over all others. Maybe if a real effort towards mixed builds happens, it will lower TTK overall. Still, everyone will find the quickest most effective combo to kill that much faster and everyone will try and run it.

Yea, I have no real desire to participate in PTS. Now in all fairness, I'm on the way out with MWO (at least close to an extended leave), so incentives still don't look as appealing to me as a newer player trying to build up his/her arsenal. Overall though, I think PGI should consider it. Maybe a tiny cosmetic package (hanging item or mounted item) that says..."I'm a PTS tester". Wouldn't be bad.

Edited by MeiSooHaityu, 11 November 2015 - 07:32 AM.

[AbyssalTyrant]

Gentlemen. I am going to have to insist that you stay focused on what really matters. Sweet tooth special in black was that his truck turned into mech, would it be an IS or a clan mech? Also if memory serves it was a MG and SRM boat , what would it take to make it viable in MWO.

Edited by AbyssalTyrant, 11 November 2015 - 07:37 AM.

[PurpleNinja]

- PSR isn't really a "skill" rating, you must perform really badly in a long streak of matches to lose some significant rating.
- Voting was another of those ideas that looked pretty in theory, but end up hurting everyone, should arealdy be removed, but PGI.
- Clan weaponry is superior, period. If you balance the weapons, Battletech fans will leave, and lets be honest, only Battletech fans will pass the 30 hours mark.
- PTS will be a ghost town unless you throw some rewards in it, even cockpit items will do the job.
- I miss the events too, but looks like PGI is on vacation, no events, almost no uptade to main page, no patch.