6 replies to this topic

[NoiseCrypt]

Hi

A bit inspired by MTG formats, and the latest NGNGtv podcast, I have been toying around with alternatives to the current QP implementation/experience.

This idea is pretty simple and an attempt to group players based on "play style" rather than "experience" or game time. So as an alternative to the current PSR system and split solo/group queues, I propose the three following formats.

Stock format:
Stock mechs.
Trial mechs.

Custom format:
Customized mehcs.
Stock/Trial mechs in groups.

Competetive format:
Customized mechs in groups.


I think that the Stock format could work based on the following assumptions:

• Players who enjoy stock/lore mechs are typically casual players. Which is often also the group of players that provides the best experience for new players.
  
• Players who want to "power-game / minmax" probably wont be drawn to this format.
  
• If a stock/trial build should prove "broken", it would be very easy either adjust it or ban it.

I think that the Custom format could work based on the following assumptions:

• The difference in efficiency between custom and stock/trials mechs, should outweigh the efficiency coming from groups being "coordinated".
  
• It would give casual players the option of teaming up, without the hazard of being stomped by big competitive teams.
  
• As with the Stock format, it would be very easy to adjust or ban builds being "broken" in groups.

The Competitive format is basically the group queue that we have now.

Everything legal for the Stock format will also be legal for the Custom and Competitive formats. Everything legal for the Custom format will also be legal for the Competitive format.

So what are your thoughts on this ?

[Bombast]

Combining groups with solos creates a massive imbalance inside of each 'format,' and the MWO player base does not appear to have significant enough numbers to fracture the player base in this manner, and across groups.

So no thank you.

[NoiseCrypt]

Bombast, on 13 January 2017 - 09:57 AM, said:

Combining groups with solos creates a massive imbalance inside of each 'format,' and the MWO player base does not appear to have significant enough numbers to fracture the player base in this manner, and across groups.

So no thank you.

How is this fracturing anything ?
QP would be going from 6 buckets (PSR 1,2,3,4,5 and group queue) to 3 buckets.

And as i stated, i cant see groups of trial/stock mechs outperforming optimized solo mechs.

[Bombast]

NoiseCrypt, on 13 January 2017 - 10:03 AM, said:

How is this fracturing anything ?
QP would be going from 6 buckets (PSR 1,2,3,4,5 and group queue) to 3 buckets.

And as i stated, i cant see groups of trial/stock mechs outperforming optimized solo mechs.

QP isn't really 6 buckets though. Group is one queue, and solo has a soft team construction (Assuming Solo queue is working again). Tier 5 groups up with 3-5, Tier 4 groups up with 2-5, and so on. So the MM can compensate for a drop in any particular 'soft bucket.'

And Stock mechs are not just one group, but at least two - Tech 1 and Tech 2. And then you get into the difference between IS and Clan mechs, because lets be honest, while one may argue about custom mechs, most of the Inner Sphere stock Tech 2 mechs are absolute garbage, while their Clan counterparts are almost always better optimized and use more consistent tech.

So really, at minimum, if we keep Group queue separate (And I really think that's mandatory at this point), your way has...

Stock 1
Stock 1 Group
Stock 2
Stock 2 Group
Custom
Custom Group

And I don't really think Trial mechs being their own thing makes sense. Aren't they all player customized? And again, that's not even addressing the disparity between stock Clan and stock IS Clan Invasion era mechs.

[NoiseCrypt]

Bombast, on 13 January 2017 - 10:15 AM, said:

QP isn't really 6 buckets though. Group is one queue, and solo has a soft team construction (Assuming Solo queue is working again). Tier 5 groups up with 3-5, Tier 4 groups up with 2-5, and so on. So the MM can compensate for a drop in any particular 'soft bucket.'

And Stock mechs are not just one group, but at least two - Tech 1 and Tech 2. And then you get into the difference between IS and Clan mechs, because lets be honest, while one may argue about custom mechs, most of the Inner Sphere stock Tech 2 mechs are absolute garbage, while their Clan counterparts are almost always better optimized and use more consistent tech.

So really, at minimum, if we keep Group queue separate (And I really think that's mandatory at this point), your way has...

Stock 1
Stock 1 Group
Stock 2
Stock 2 Group
Custom
Custom Group

And I don't really think Trial mechs being their own thing makes sense. Aren't they all player customized? And again, that's not even addressing the disparity between stock Clan and stock IS Clan Invasion era mechs.

I basically disagree with everything you say

Calling the 5 PSR ranks one bucket is just wrong.

I also believe that when looked at in isolation, stock/trials mechs have better balance now than customized mechs have. So your point about those mechs really being different tiers is just nitpicking compared to the in-game balance at the moment.

And as i said in the last two posts. I don't believe that stock/trial groups will ever outperform solo players in customized mechs.

[Aescwulf]

Assuming the PSR was meant to separate high skilled and low skilled pilots, you'd still need something like it, but make the PSR go up and down by how you perform not by victory or defeat because you could be carrying but lost because everyone else died.

Why not have QP solo like 5-4 together then 3-1 together or 5-low half 3 and upper half 3-1
Then have groups together. ?

[Bombast]

NoiseCrypt, on 13 January 2017 - 10:57 AM, said:

Calling the 5 PSR ranks one bucket is just wrong.

It isn't though. That's exactly how it works. The only tiers that are never supposed to see each other are 1 and 5 (Not sure if that's still 'broken' at the moment). Everything else is fluid. That's how it works.

Beyond that, I guess we're done. You're ignoring the power of groups in this game (Which is pretty much absolute). You're ignoring tech disparity. You assume that certain groups you've constructed will be 'self policed' by the userbase, the casual (Bad) ones living only in one and the serious (Good players) living in another, something that a look at CW should show you is foolish - Players will never self balance. Ever. Good players will find ways to be better, and then they'll get bored and find something to farm. Anyone who's played more then 15 matches in WoT can tell you that.

And you still haven't said anything regarding tech tiers, or how you have trial (Player Optimized, IE Custom) mechs grouped with stock mechs.