48 replies to this topic

[arcana75]

Am watching the SWAccelerated 24 hour stream, and at one point the folks in the chat were split up into opposing teams, and one side was feeding intel to the other side via their private voice chat.

This intrigued me... is this a common thing in QP?

[Bombast]

Welcome to sync drop scumming.

It's not very common, but it's an occasional problem. Every time I see 4+ identical tags in a QP match I groan.

EDIT: In other words, sync dropping is depressingly common, but actually being poor sports about it and sharing intel is not as common.

Edited by Bombast, 21 October 2017 - 06:53 PM.

[arcana75]

Bombast, on 21 October 2017 - 06:22 PM, said:

Welcome to sync drop scumming.

It's not very common, but it's an occasional problem. Every time I see 4+ identical tags in a QP match I groin.

EDIT: In other words, sync dropping is depressingly common, but actually being poor sports about it and sharing intel is not as common.

You groin?

Yeah ok, but this 24 stream is sponsored by NGNGTV whose founders are PGI employees. They are indeed what you call sync dropping: they count on chat 3,2,1 then press QP at the same time. So they are encouraging and endorsing such behaviour, as fellow mechwarriors like me are watching this stream, and these guys are giving away MWO codes, most given by NGNG, indirectly rewarding such behaviour.

[Bombast]

arcana75, on 21 October 2017 - 06:48 PM, said:

Yeah ok, but this 24 stream is sponsored by NGNGTV whose founders are PGI employees. They are indeed what you call sync dropping: they count on chat 3,2,1 then press QP at the same time. So they are encouraging and endorsing such behaviour, as fellow mechwarriors like me are watching this stream, and these guys are giving away MWO codes, most given by NGNG, indirectly rewarding such behaviour.

Unfortunately, sync dropping is not really considered a 'gaming sin' by the community at large, so people engaging in it and abusing it is ok.

Honestly, I think you are the only person, other than me, I've seen get irked by this sort of thing. Everyone else thinks its cool because, by and large, they do it too.

[MischiefSC]

KCom almost exclusively plays FW, however we only play when there's enough people to largely fill a drop. So the rest of the time we QP and so it regularly happens that we're in the same tier and playing the same time so we end up in QP together or on opposite teams.

The difference however is that we would never, ever sync drop (I don't think it's in the unit rules, in the same way 'don't stick a bean up your nose' isn't in the unit rules, since not being a total **** is assumed) and my primary target in any QP match with a unit mate on the other side is to get my team to kill that guy first. Knowing he's probably doing the same.

Why someone would stream themselves doing that I just... I don't even. Uncool.

[Rovertoo]

Is group QP que that bad? Whats the point in sync dropping, literally the only reason I see for it is so I could fight my friend on the other team.

[Bombast]

MischiefSC, on 21 October 2017 - 06:56 PM, said:

...'don't stick a bean up your nose' isn't in the unit rules...

Wait, I'm not supposed to be sticking beans up my nose? But where do I store them while waiting for the right moment to fry them?

Rovertoo, on 21 October 2017 - 07:00 PM, said:

Is group QP que that bad? Whats the point in sync dropping, literally the only reason I see for it is so I could fight my friend on the other team.

I'm heard some people try to say its to play with friends while not getting banged by super units, and maybe that's true for some, but I'd put money on most people doing it for seal clubbing purposes.

Edited by Bombast, 21 October 2017 - 07:02 PM.

[Natred]

I can not speak for other units but if this happens we make it a point to try to out play the opposing team and our unit mates. Pretty much a challenge who can do better than who. We also take respect and honor very seriously. We have been known to do private lobbies with spectators where the spectator out of respect says nothing until the match is over. Its a good feeling when other units respect is so high of us they trust us to do this.

Honestly we play the game to get better so anything that would give us an unfairadvantage would be greatly frowned upon and seen as a crutch.. legit or nothing. We are pretty picky about who we play.. hence why we have good unit cohesion. Eyez.

[Kiiyor]

arcana75, on 21 October 2017 - 06:48 PM, said:

You groin?

Yeah ok, but this 24 stream is sponsored by NGNGTV whose founders are PGI employees. They are indeed what you call sync dropping: they count on chat 3,2,1 then press QP at the same time. So they are encouraging and endorsing such behaviour, as fellow mechwarriors like me are watching this stream, and these guys are giving away MWO codes, most given by NGNG, indirectly rewarding such behaviour.

Yeah, that's not on. Poor sportsmanship at the very least, especially synch dropping, though I do understand why they're doing it, - as playing smaller groups in the group queue can suck.

I would love for 2 man teams to be able to drop in the QP queues though.

[El Bandito]

Not only on QP, but scummy stuff like stream sniping is common in FP matches. When MS was fighting for IS, almost every big unit on the Clan side had sniped our unit leader/members' stream and learned of our positioning and proposed tactics. Which was real ****** thing to do. Our leader had 5 minute delay on his stream but that didn't matter in a 25 minute FP game.

Edited by El Bandito, 21 October 2017 - 07:24 PM.

[James Argent]

In my opinion, there's nothing wrong with synch-dropping per se. But it gets really wrong really fast when someone starts feeding intel to the other team, or even to just the one person on the other team with whom they've synch-dropped. My unit synch-dropped back when the group queue was broken for a day, and the only info shared over our TS was good-natured taunting when one of us happened to hunt down and kill one of the others. It can be really fun if you play it legit.

Probably not a good place to go into my opinion of streaming matches without considering anyone's preferences regarding being streamed, but I guess stream-sniping is just one of the prices to be paid if you insist on doing it.

[TLBFestus]

If PGI ever came up with a workable option for small groups of 2-3 players to play together that wasn't part of group play, you would see much less of this. However it would mean more splitting of the player pools and that's not a good thing.

My buds and I do it on occasion, but NEVER deliberately give our friends on the other team any intel. That's douchbaggery right there, so if NGNG guys are doing that they need to stop or be stopped.

[Bud Crue]

James Argent, on 21 October 2017 - 07:55 PM, said:

In my opinion, there's nothing wrong with synch-dropping per se....

A couple years ago there was a sync-dropping thread and I said much the same because in my innocence I did not understand what the issue was or that such a thing actually occurred.

I was subsequently informed by a mod that yes indeed sync-dropping is a violation of the COC.
I asked support for clarification as I had reviewed the COC in some detail and was not clear on where this prohibition was stated or what clause covered it. Tina Benoit followed up and reiterated what the mod had said and pointed to:

The following actions are strictly forbidden:

• ‘Injecting’ third-party files that may not directly modify game files.
  
• Using a Bot application to carry out gameplay actions without user participation.
  
• Engaging in the use of hacks, scripts, or cheats.
  
• Discussing the use of hacks, scripts, or cheats.
  
• Misrepresenting your use of hacks, scripts, or cheats.
  
• Accusing other players of using hacks, scripts, or cheats.
  
• Disrupting or threatening the integrity, operation, or security of services.
  
• Attempting to defraud the MC, C-Bill, or XP systems.
  
• Attempting to misrepresent a situation or defraud Support services.
  
• Showing unreleased content that has not already been officially posted or approved.
  
• Displaying or discussing the results of altering or tampering with game client files.
  
• Displaying or discussing the results of injecting third-party files.
  
• Sharing any data not available through normal gameplay or official public release.
  
• Exploiting game bugs or mechanics to gain any unfair advantages or benefits, either for yourself, your teammates, or players on the opposing team.
  
• Exploiting or manipulating the matchmaking system.

[HGAK47]

Well it could be worse...

Everyone in QP could play like me in silly mechs, stupid lol builds and just for the fun of it 24/7!

(How many Spider 5V`s, AC20 yen lo`s and lol panther builds do you want in your match? )

[C E Dwyer]

Wondering if this will lead to temp or perm bans of the people involved..

It should invoke at least a warning, but I'm pretty confident that even if a MoD looks at this thread, no action will be taken

[Mr Snrub]

TLBFestus, on 21 October 2017 - 08:02 PM, said:

If PGI ever came up with a workable option for small groups of 2-3 players to play together that wasn't part of group play, you would see much less of this. However it would mean more splitting of the player pools and that's not a good thing.

My buds and I do it on occasion, but NEVER deliberately give our friends on the other team any intel. That's douchbaggery right there, so if NGNG guys are doing that they need to stop or be stopped.

I watched some of Critical Rockets streams and while they're not world class pilots - no offence to anyone involved, thanks for the entertainment - many / most matches seem to be relativley close.

Of course you can run into a good 12 men premade, but that seems to be rare and the quality of the matches not too high for 2 or 3 friends to enjoy.

I don't understand this criticism tbh.

[MadRover]

Rovertoo, on 21 October 2017 - 07:00 PM, said:

Is group QP que that bad? Whats the point in sync dropping, literally the only reason I see for it is so I could fight my friend on the other team.

Group que is terrible past 4ppl. While red team can have upwards to 700tons+ your group will most likely over 4 people will be stuck playing gimped or forced into heavies and eventually into mediums just to be able to stand a fighting chance and only if you’re going for legs.

[Jun Watarase]

Anyone else remember when QP used to allow 8 man teams to drop vs pugs, and then PGI implemented a group queue and limited QP to 4 man teams?

Plenty of units were sync dropping in QP to bypass the 4 man team limit instead of using the group queue. Because you know, "playing to win" means bypassing the matchmaker to club seals.

[MadRover]

Jun Watarase, on 22 October 2017 - 06:34 AM, said:

Anyone else remember when QP used to allow 8 man teams to drop vs pugs, and then PGI implemented a group queue and limited QP to 4 man teams?

Plenty of units were sync dropping in QP to bypass the 4 man team limit instead of using the group queue. Because you know, "playing to win" means bypassing the matchmaker to club seals.

The sad part that one lance is still clubbing seals so why bother changing the group size?

Answer: because it’s PGI. Would you like a mech pack?

[Mike McSullivan]

Mr Snrub, on 22 October 2017 - 06:25 AM, said:

I watched some of Critical Rockets streams and while they're not world class pilots - no offence to anyone involved, thanks for the entertainment - many / most matches seem to be relativley close.

Of course you can run into a good 12 men premade, but that seems to be rare and the quality of the matches not too high for 2 or 3 friends to enjoy.

I don't understand this criticism tbh.

It works for buddies if they are on a good level of understanding the game and its mechanichs, aka experience.
If you just want to show new players MWO they quit faster than you can say Urbie.