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Based on assumption that T1 and T2 players will have better match scores than T3 players and that PSR is relative to performance of other players in a match, shouldn't most matches be T3-T5 in order to maintain a somewhat decent T3 population?
In any match where there are minimal T3 and below players with a lot of T1 or T2, then it's safe to assume that the lesser skilled/experienced player will be at the bottom of the match score ranking and pushed down in rank. Some system maintenance and balance in matches should be taken into account to maintain more T3 players.
If there are say only 4-6 (just pulling numbers out of my ***) T1 and T2 players in a match and the rest are T3, then it shouldn't be so bad as the spread allows for more T3 players to gain or break even in PSR. If the majority of the players are T1 and T2, the T3 player is relegated to losing PSR.
Without major overhauls to the current system, the only way I can think of is to break down each tier into segments and introduce some bias to matchmaking based on how much or how little the bar is filled.
Let's say you generally want to keep a casual player's bar at 25% to 75% of T3. This means the MM has to recognize players as T3 (0%-24%), T3 (25%-49%), T3 (50%-74%) and T3 (75%-99%). Let's designate them as T3.1, T3.2, T3.3 and T3.4.
To keep players in T3, the MM should generally place T3.1 players into T3-T5 matches for the majority of their games to allow them a better chance of rising in PSR. Let's pick an imaginary number where T3.1 players will be placed in T3-T5 matches 85% of the time so they have a chance to gain PSR.
T3.2 players are a bit safer so maybe they can be placed in T1-T3 matches 30% of the time. T3.3 players are in a safe zone so we can go with them being in T1-T3 matches 50% of the time.
T3.4 players are probably a little better than average and can be matched in T1-T3 matches 75% of the time. If they can't cut it, no problem, the bias in match making if they drop to T3.3 or T3.2 will kick in and keep them in the bracket.
Given that new players start in T5, there should be more than enough (ideally?) T3-T5 matches to keep going and T1 and T2 players get to have the "better" T3 players more often so they have to carry less bads.
This isn't a fully detailed system, but it's a generally idea why other games break down tiers into smaller sections like Gold, Super Gold and Ultra Gold. They're all Gold, but Ultra Gold is better than Gold and is matched to higher ranks more often.
The same can be applied to T4/T5 where they are mostly matched with bottom tier T3 players who have to at least prove that they are better than T4/T5 players to maintain their rank and allow better T4/T5 players to rise up to T3 if they are deserving.
Anyway, those are just my thoughts. All comments about release valves, T1-T5 matches all day, shut up low tier scrub and PGI sucks may now be posted in response.
Edited by Elizander, 09 January 2021 - 11:51 PM.
