85 replies to this topic

[Koniving]

Sent an add request. Ready when you are.

[Tarl Cabot]

Canned Beans, on 01 September 2017 - 09:25 PM, said:

Me and my buddy are really getting tired of the match making.

When we solo que, we almost win every match. When we group que it is extremely rare to win even a single match the entire day.

How can it be this bad, I know there are different ques but how? How can two people lose >90% of matches.

Group play. Too often the smaller groups short themselves on the weight allowance. Also the MM, iirc, uses Tier average where there is only 5 tiers so... Larger groups tend to be, not always though, more coordinated, so PGI thoughts is they should be more effective with less weight. Now Faction Play is a MIX of solo+groups....need 4 faction mechs (all Clan or all IS). You will face units but it is a different.. feel than group queue, and depending on what is happening you are more likely to face an adhoc of group/pugs than pure units.

[Canned Beans]

Tarl Cabot, on 02 September 2017 - 07:42 PM, said:

Group play. Too often the smaller groups short themselves on the weight allowance. Also the MM, iirc, uses Tier average where there is only 5 tiers so... Larger groups tend to be, not always though, more coordinated, so PGI thoughts is they should be more effective with less weight. Now Faction Play is a MIX of solo+groups....need 4 faction mechs (all Clan or all IS). You will face units but it is a different.. feel than group queue, and depending on what is happening you are more likely to face an adhoc of group/pugs than pure units.

I just went up against a 10 stack from a unit called EVIL, killed most of us in a single shot or something. It was really awkward. Honestly this game seems like it isn't worth playing unless you can get a massive group of friends together to play it.

[Tarl Cabot]

Canned Beans, on 02 September 2017 - 10:07 PM, said:

I just went up against a 10 stack from a unit called EVIL, killed most of us in a single shot or something. It was really awkward. Honestly this game seems like it isn't worth playing unless you can get a massive group of friends together to play it.

That is called FOCUS fire. And yeap, it can be "awkward" Make friends, drop by on the Faction/Unit Teamspeaks. Yes, MWO should have a more flexible lobby system setup, but that is... PGI for you...

That is group play. It is also like that in Faction Play when PUGS (small groups/solo pugs) are facing units like them but imho it happens less often in FP than in Group Queue. Also they and similar units generally drop with a predetermined set and assorted tactics, working with a synergy that thrown together co-ops can not match Then they have dropped and trained together so often that units like them do not require as much communicate as a co-op. I could go on, that there used to be more active, fuller units but PGI failed to bring many aspects of the game they initially promised, instead it is simply a minimal viable product, and sadly it is the only one available that revolves around the Battletech/Mechwarrior universe as a FPS (not quite the simulation).

Sadly, even though FP is supposed to be the end to end all things, if I was dropping with friends and hopefully they are the same faction (or I drop in my alt), I would more likely drop with them in Faction Play instead of Group Queue, simply because FP is both Group/Solo environment, and many groups prefer Group to Faction. But if really new, I would make sure to take them to the Private Lobbies first, even in Trial mechs then release them into Solo Queue to get their 25 Cadet payday drops.

Edit - many of us in both environments would like things to be difference, most of the time, but many are here if not for the friends/connections, they are because it does revolve around the BT/MW franchise. I have been playing since the early '90s.

Edited by Tarl Cabot, 03 September 2017 - 08:16 AM.

[Prof RJ Gumby]

Canned Beans, on 02 September 2017 - 10:07 PM, said:

I just went up against a 10 stack from a unit called EVIL, killed most of us in a single shot or something. It was really awkward. Honestly this game seems like it isn't worth playing unless you can get a massive group of friends together to play it.

That's the disadvantage of a team-oriented game. Teamwork and organisation win you games.
I often 2-man the group Q, and yes, when you see a large good team on the other side, you better prepare for a brutal encounter. 2-man GP is tough mode. Worse is only playing in a bigger group of people that can't play , because that's when you actually loose almost every time.

But it isn't always bad. Actually, since you played in a 2-man, you got 50% chance to be on the team WITH those EVIL guys and watching the enemy fold before you.

Also, GP requires a bit different things from the player. Lone wolfing isn't that effective, since often people you fight against operate together, so you end up dueling 1vs2 or more. But it works both ways. You should try and coordinate with your friend. Take mechs that synergise with each other (similar speed, similar range bracket, similar combat style). Move together. Learn to peek together and shoot the same target at the same time (if you didn't notice yet, game sorts enemy mechs as they are locked on the first time in battle by letters of the alphabet that are displayed above them when they are locked - this allows for calling targets). Share the armor (the one less damaged stays in front), share the information about the enemy (i.e. Alpha Timberwolf right torso cored) etc. This is how those organised teams fight, because that's the way to fight together effectively.

Edited by Prof RJ Gumby, 03 September 2017 - 05:35 PM.

[Koniving]

Canned Beans, on 02 September 2017 - 10:07 PM, said:

I just went up against a 10 stack from a unit called EVIL, killed most of us in a single shot or something. It was really awkward. Honestly this game seems like it isn't worth playing unless you can get a massive group of friends together to play it.

Ever played a strategy game like Starcraft or Homeworld?

If you let all the units fire at will, battles can last a really, really long time.
Or you can tell every single person to fire on a single target, instantly obliterating it.

Currently I'm playing X-Com, and that moment when you realize you just ran into a room full of enemies set to Overwatch...and having to watch in slow motion as they all get to fire at once and instantly kill your guy because he kicked down the door is painful.

From the sound of it you got to be 'that guy'. Like in the newer X-Com games, cover is very important. Find it, use it. Be aware of flanks. Don't go out alone. If the team advances; everyone needs to or they will get singled out and obliterated.

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As an alternative, you and your friend can try to sync drop in quickplay. That is to say drop at the same time. Sure you might end up on opposite teams or in completely different matches. But you'd be in quickplay where the matchmaker puts forth an effort.

Alternatively, consider Faction Play. Chances are reasonable that they are less organized there. You also have the merit of four mechs per player instead of just one. (Or go into the scouting missions; limit 55 tons and it'd be a 4 vs 4 with one mech per player).

(You can use "E" and move the mouse to click on Spot. This will announce the target, its location, and mark them. This is the easiest way to coordinate an attack as anyone who can fire on it should fire on it.)