4 replies to this topic

[Protection]

I would just like to point out the absolute abuse of anecdotal evidence in any sort of discussion or debate on the MWO forums, especially where balance is concerned. Whenever a topic is brought up for discussion, there is invariably, without fail, a response dismissing any argument or point - no matter how well constructed - by pointing out that they had a good round once with said mech or said weapon. Or that they saw someone else have a good round.

examples:

"I don't know what you are talking about, I just got 6 Kills with the 4-Mgun Spider. It's totally fine and balanced and a great viable light mech."

"The 3xPPC Cicada is great. I just saw a guy get 8 kills with it!"

This is not evidence.

This is not evidence; nor is it any kind of acceptable substitute for evidence.

This in an anecdotal story. It contributes nothing to the discussion other than to share a story. It does not chow what kind of opponents you were up against. It does not show what kind of game was played or how. Pretty much every single player who has put time into this game has seen a stupid, silly, or terrible design score all 8 kills in one match or another -- and this isn't supplement for argument or analysis. It's just something that happens once in a while, often by chance, or occasionally from a wide disparity in skills.

If you want to make an argument that mech chassis-X or Y with loadout Z is good, and to convince us that it really is viable: MAKE A VIDEO. Put it on Youtube or elsewhere and share it, and even add a voiceover explaining what you did and why it worked and will work on a regular basis. Let us see who you were against and whether or not the opposing team was competent. Let us see how effective the build was in action.

But please stop posting: "I saw a 2 ER Large Laser Death's Knell get 4 kills, therefore it is a great mech and totally viable in the current meta!" These anecdotal pieces of evidence are nothing more that stories, and contribute nothing to the discussion. Bring evidence, or construct a good counter argument, or counter-analysis, but stop expecting your short story about that one mech doing well this one time as a viable argument.

[Chavette]

Threads like this have no use, I started two the other day.

[Solis Obscuri]

I heard tell of a guy who read a story that some guy told in a thread on an internet forum somewhere, and everything in it was true and matched his own experiences perfectly.

[Texas Merc]

i LOGGED IN AGAINST 8 GUYS MY TEAM HAD 4

COOL STORY BRO

Also

communication is Key

[Thirdstar]

Texas Merc, on 23 January 2013 - 09:06 PM, said:

i LOGGED IN AGAINST 8 GUYS MY TEAM HAD 4

COOL STORY BRO

Also

communication is Key

That actually did happen to me several times. 6 vs 8 and then 2 DCs. Fun times.

And that's my anecdotal story for this thread. Do I get cookies?