Anomalocaris, on 24 April 2020 - 12:17 PM, said:
It's quite simple. You make sure that each team has as equal a level of _overall_ skill as possible. For example, let's say that you and I are in the matchmaking pool of 24 players and we happen to be the top ranked guys by average match score. The MM would look at that and place us on opposite teams. It would then look at the next 2 highest match score players and put them on opposite teams and so on. It doesn't matter if the bottom 2 players in the group of 24 are 150 MS score players. They'd be split as well. There is also the requirement to balance mech classes and tonnage, so you have to switch some guys around, but you end up with a pretty good balance of skill.
Balanced matches don't mean that only people like you and I end up in a match. It just means that the skill distribution is as equal as possible on each team. Yes, there will be low skill players on both sides, but that's the price of low population. But at least both sides get equal amounts. And if the top tier players neutralize each other, it can be the play of those low skill pilots that swing the outcome of the battle.
As the matchmaker works right now, you and I and another top 3% player could all end up on one side of the match in meta assaults while the other side gets 3 250 MS players in LRM Stalkers. And that's perfectly fine according the parameters the matchmaker uses.
You are forgetting about mechs.. the MM also has to deal with tonnage.. One side shouldn't have 5 assaults while the other has 2.. it's more complicated than you think and that is why it takes more than 24 players to make a good match..
PS. what if a skilled player takes a 'fun' or troll build out for a spin.. (like I do on occasion) and it does poorly.. is that MM's fault? A great MM will take your experience in each individual mech into consideration as well..
Edited by DAEDALOS513, 24 April 2020 - 05:58 PM.