42 replies to this topic

[Papaspud]

I am tired of playing the" big 3" over and over- you know what I am talking about- canyon, mining, and the worst HPG. These 3 maps seem to make up about 85+% of the matches and it is just getting old. I am to the point I really don't even try most of the time anymore I am just so tired of those maps, especially HPG which is 50% of my matches.

I was all for map voting, but after seeing the results, I am ready to go back to random match and mode selection, I think it would be better than what is playing out now.. Am I alone here and just an old whiner or what? Man, this is getting very old, very quick.

[Pineapple Salad]

I think the matchmaker should pre-seed the map selection with 12 votes on random map. That gives us the best of both worlds, players could essentially veto the random map selection if nobody really wants to play the map that was pre-selected.

[Valkyrie73]

agree totally. random means less specialised builds

[Zeoraimer]

Random Maps = More Content.

Currently, with the bias towards a few selected maps, thats effectively LESS game content...

Additionally, I want MORE maps = even MORE Content.

[PyckenZot]

Seconded

[Grimlock Magnus]

How about this one:

1. Randomize maps

2. Add dropdecks to PUG/open matches, similar to those of scouting (meaning 4 decks of 1 mech each) allowing people to have a set of preselected mechs they can choose from, based on whatever is appropriate for a give map.

Bonus:
3. Re-introduce the old maps (or use downsized versions of the current ones).

[Pariah Devalis]

Map voting is still the way to go. However PGI made three mistakes in the implementation.

1) No more than 3 maps should be provided at any one time. This increases the forced variety by reducing the chance one of the overplayed maps are even given as a possibility.

2) The vote % should not be taken as an absolute, but instead be utilized as "loaded dice." It skews the favor for the map, but the server still randomly decides which gets selected. The higher the percentage (up to 100%) the more weight it gives any one map. However, by keeping it random, the possibility exists, no matter how remote, for an under-voted map to still be played on so long as one person votes for it.

3) The randomized map options should dynamically change based on map vote popularity. That is to say, if map X consistently keeps getting voted on, it should be provided as an option less often than maps Y and Z. Essentially, overuse of a map will rotate that map out of mass circulation. It will still be offered, but not quite as often.

Another game tends to do this, already, for the PvP matches. A demo of it in action can be viewed here, though obviously the UI doesn't need to be altered any more than what we already have in game, sans one less map:
http://codepen.io/suez/full/myxGZJ/

Edited by Pariah Devalis, 17 October 2016 - 06:42 AM.

[GBxGhostRider]

The map vote (IS SHITTT HATE IT) PGI needs to get rid of map voting and go back to random map choices.

Plus I'm so sick of just 3 game modes where is the stock mode? where is a siege mode or other game modes ? PGI is so lame at reality they remind me of MekTek and MechWarrior4 Mercenaries all talk and no content except more mechs to buy.

Edited by GBxGhostRider, 17 October 2016 - 06:46 AM.

[Dimento Graven]

No, keep map voting in.

Allowing some player control over the gaming environment is a good thing.

HOWEVER, please ensure that no maps are over/under weighted in how often they are a choice to the players.

So far as I've tracked it:

HPG has the highest probability of being an option for voting.
Next Canyon Network and Nexus are each in the second highest probability.
The next is Crimson Straight and Tourmaline Desert.
All the rest of the maps have about the same level of being an option, except for Alpine Peaks, which very obviously has been put at the very bottom of probability.

Me? I like Alpine Peaks. I like hearing the players in their SPL/SL/SRM/SSRM boats whine and cry, and I like the moans and groans of everyone else who refuses to learn how to aim, BUT, this map is VERY OBVIOUSLY weighted to show up a lot less than HPG, CN/Nexus, TD/CS. I know this because I typically build up my modifier, to around x8, so AT LEAST 8 matches in a row where Alpine Peaks won't show up, and after that I hold on to voting mods, voting for game mode only (or I'll vote on one of the other maps I >>KNOW<< will not be picked because HPG and/or CN is an option), and it could be another 8 or more games BEFORE Alpine Peaks is an option to vote on.

This is my experience night after night after night after night after night after night... It never varies, so I know beyond any shadow of doubt some maps are weighted to show up more frequently than others.

If you've MAGICALLY somehow have a voting round where HPG, CN, TD/CS are NOT one of the voting options, well, you've practically won the lottery, THOSE MAPS, are very heavily weighted to show up.

Next, incredibly, I've noticed that when Alpine Peaks shows up there's a very HIGH probability that the only game modes to choose from will be Conquest, Skirmish or Domination. Very rarely will AP show up with Assault being an option (which for assaults AP on Assault provides the most interesting, and quickest to combat options).

Anyway, keep map voting in.

As far as YOU are concerned OP, don't vote, and it'll be just as apparently random as it always has been.

[Ruccus]

How about a hybrid of the two systems?

Instead of having to choose one of four maps, you have a choice of three maps plus the fourth slot would be the option to pick a random map between all the maps minus the three that were an option in the initial voting.

[Mystere]

Papaspud, on 16 October 2016 - 10:53 PM, said:

I am tired of playing the" big 3" over and over- you know what I am talking about- canyon, mining, and the worst HPG. These 3 maps seem to make up about 85+% of the matches and it is just getting old. I am to the point I really don't even try most of the time anymore I am just so tired of those maps, especially HPG which is 50% of my matches.

I was all for map voting, but after seeing the results, I am ready to go back to random match and mode selection, I think it would be better than what is playing out now.. Am I alone here and just an old whiner or what? Man, this is getting very old, very quick.

Hold on a second! Don't you go stealing my thunder.

Ruccus, on 17 October 2016 - 07:03 AM, said:

How about a hybrid of the two systems?

Instead of having to choose one of four maps, you have a choice of three maps plus the fourth slot would be the option to pick a random map between all the maps minus the three that were an option in the initial voting.

Why make things complicated? Sometimes, the simplest things is best.

[Quicksilver Aberration]

There are two reasons map voting is necessary:

• Many maps are bad, whether the DZs are unbalanced, the map in general has issues (terra therma for example), or just has the annoying haze that permeates many maps.
  
• There is no way to select mechs based on the map, allow us to pick from 4 mechs or something.

Fix at least one of those and we could easily remove map voting.

[Mystere]

Quicksilver Kalasa, on 17 October 2016 - 07:53 AM, said:

There are two reasons map voting is necessary:

• Many maps are bad, whether the DZs are unbalanced, the map in general has issues (terra therma for example), or just has the annoying haze that permeates many maps.
  
• There is no way to select mechs based on the map, allow us to pick from 4 mechs or something.

Fix at least one of those and we could easily remove map voting.

Adversity is good for the soul ... or something like that.

[Mawai]

Papaspud, on 16 October 2016 - 10:53 PM, said:

I am tired of playing the" big 3" over and over- you know what I am talking about- canyon, mining, and the worst HPG. These 3 maps seem to make up about 85+% of the matches and it is just getting old. I am to the point I really don't even try most of the time anymore I am just so tired of those maps, especially HPG which is 50% of my matches.

I was all for map voting, but after seeing the results, I am ready to go back to random match and mode selection, I think it would be better than what is playing out now.. Am I alone here and just an old whiner or what? Man, this is getting very old, very quick.

If you and everyone who feels the same way voted for the under utilized maps every game then you will quickly find these maps turning up far more often. I do this all the time and it works for me.

All it takes is about two out of 24 people with a high multipler trying to get an under utilzed map to turn the tide.

In my opinion, the worst thing to do is not vote since you simply guarantee that you'll get the popular map of the moment AND you avoid building up your multiplier so you get something interesting in the next map.

Anyway, by doing this specifically, directly voting for under-utilized maps ... Viridian, Forest Colony ... Grim Plexus, Tourmaline or whatever I prefer ... it does seem to work.

Finally, if players think more variety is required then I'd suggested a weighted offering system. At the moment the chances for any particular map showing up in the rotation is likely equal. Maybe consider adjusting the selection weight so that the most popular maps get a little under-represented in the selection for a while and the least popular ones get a little over-represented. Have the weights adjust on a running basis ... combined with the current system we should see some of the less common maps come up more often.

[Mystere]

Mawai, on 17 October 2016 - 08:22 AM, said:

Finally, if players think more variety is required then I'd suggested a weighted offering system. At the moment the chances for any particular map showing up in the rotation is likely equal. Maybe consider adjusting the selection weight so that the most popular maps get a little under-represented in the selection for a while and the least popular ones get a little over-represented. Have the weights adjust on a running basis ... combined with the current system we should see some of the less common maps come up more often.

I'll just quote myself:

Mystere, on 17 October 2016 - 07:46 AM, said:

Why make things complicated? Sometimes, the simplest things is best.

[Pjwned]

Papaspud, on 16 October 2016 - 10:53 PM, said:

I was all for map voting, but after seeing the results, I am ready to go back to random match and mode selection, I think it would be better than what is playing out now.

How did you not see this exact result coming long before voting was a thing?

[WarHippy]

Death to voting!

[Dimento Graven]

I find it odd, this thread.

Thinking back on all my matches where people have bitched about ending up on some map that they hate, generally, you'll see numbers of players easily approaching half responding how they didn't even vote.

I mean... C'mon, if half the people aren't voting, aren't applying a strategy to vote themselves onto different maps, you honestly get what you deserve and there's absolutely nothing to complain about.

Again, I like playing on AP, I build up my modifier to x8, at least, and save it until AP comes up as a voting option, and about 80% of the time I get AP, if I don't, I save the modifier for the NEXT time it shows up. Typically a single person having a 8x modifier voting for a map means that the map will be selected, ESPECIALLY if half the players aren't even voting at all.

Non-issue, let's move on to something important, like... I dunno, I haven't seen a thread bitching about the lack of an Urbie hero (The Urbie NEEDS NO HERO! THEY ARE ALL HEROS GODDAMNIT!!!)

[ChapeL]

Pariah Devalis, on 17 October 2016 - 06:41 AM, said:

Map voting is still the way to go. However PGI made three mistakes in the implementation.

1) No more than 3 maps should be provided at any one time. This increases the forced variety by reducing the chance one of the overplayed maps are even given as a possibility.

2) The vote % should not be taken as an absolute, but instead be utilized as "loaded dice." It skews the favor for the map, but the server still randomly decides which gets selected. The higher the percentage (up to 100%) the more weight it gives any one map. However, by keeping it random, the possibility exists, no matter how remote, for an under-voted map to still be played on so long as one person votes for it.

3) The randomized map options should dynamically change based on map vote popularity. That is to say, if map X consistently keeps getting voted on, it should be provided as an option less often than maps Y and Z. Essentially, overuse of a map will rotate that map out of mass circulation. It will still be offered, but not quite as often.

Another game tends to do this, already, for the PvP matches. A demo of it in action can be viewed here, though obviously the UI doesn't need to be altered any more than what we already have in game, sans one less map:
http://codepen.io/suez/full/myxGZJ/

This whole post needs repeating. It makes far too much sense for PGI.

Edited by ChapeL, 17 October 2016 - 09:58 AM.

[Red Shrike]

Quicksilver Kalasa, on 17 October 2016 - 07:53 AM, said:

• There is no way to select mechs based on the map, allow us to pick from 4 mechs or something.

World of Tanks doesn't allow it either, yet people don't whine about it. Even if they end up playing artillery on Himmelsdorf.