Open letter to Pixo
Mar 4, 2017 4:06:31 GMT -5
sochilli (Saltesers), [AurN] perfectlyGoodInk, and 6 more like this
Post by frunobulax on Mar 4, 2017 4:06:31 GMT -5
I've sent this letter to Pixo. Feel free to do the same, and use parts of my text if you like.
Hi,
I'm writing to you because I think that the new matchmaking system with leagues has damaged the game, way more than you may realize. And it is time to do something about it, quickly. I'm seeing several effects, all to the worse.
(1) As a performance based system, you will get easier opponents if you lose. This causes many players to lose intentionally, or give up very quickly if the game is behind. We have now a very high "value" on a loss, because it will help you in the long run, and allow you to earn more gold and silver in the next match. If you continue fighting till the end, you will lose but finish in the top 2 and get more points, resulting in even tougher opponents.
As a result, many games where one side is behind but which are still very close will be sealed by players quitting. This has to stop. You can't have more value in a loss than in a victory. Players need an incentive to continue to fight till the end.
(2) The new system does not achieve the desired objective. Instead of seeing fairer matches, we're seeing a lot of very unfair matches, pitting players with a 6/7 hangar against near 12/12 players. Also tanking is very easy and done systematically by many players. Just yesterday my daughter, who hardly knows how to play, was destroyed by this guy with level 12 Gepards, just like old time seal clubbing. Players use systematic tanking by entering games and not playing, forcing many 4-on-6 or 5-on-6 games where one side never has a chance to win. This of course is closely connected to (1), the incentive in winning - if you lose enough games, you will eventually be matched up against Spiral Molot Destriers. This has to stop.
(3) We also lost the ability to choose our tier. Many of us enjoyed playing in a certain group ("low silver", "high silver") with a certain playing style. Now, medium robots have lost all value and are no longer seen except in newbie leagues, and the fast paced style going with it (along with Cossack dogfights and the like) are no longer possible. Instead, we have to put up with the new midrange meta even for low hangars (I run a 7/7is hangar), where the players with the most Trident Furys or Trebuchet Furys wins. Standing back and firing from 1000m or 600m on everything that moves is the most boring play style I can imagine, unfortunately it is currently the one that gives you the best chance to win.
(4) We also see the trend that players who want to move up in their league go only for damage and no longer for beacons. This leads to games where beacons will be left unprotected - if you play on Springfield, it will take you a minute just to get to the far beacon, and another half minute to find the nearest enemy, 90 seconds left where you will do no damage. Or if you are in an unfavorable matchup, say Plasma Britbot vs. Plasma Britbot, players will just give up a beacon because defending it may result in a minute without damage.
All this has damaged the game, and many experienced players are frustrated. Please make sure the damage does not become permanent. All of this could be fixed by returning to a hangar-based matchmaking, possibly with an adjustment for player performance. But we must ditch the matchmaking system where there are strong incentives to losing.
Leagues may remain as they are, but must be independent from matchmaking - a player with a 12/12 hangar must be matched up against 12/12 hangars regardless of whether he plays in silver III or diamond.
Best, F.
Hi,
I'm writing to you because I think that the new matchmaking system with leagues has damaged the game, way more than you may realize. And it is time to do something about it, quickly. I'm seeing several effects, all to the worse.
(1) As a performance based system, you will get easier opponents if you lose. This causes many players to lose intentionally, or give up very quickly if the game is behind. We have now a very high "value" on a loss, because it will help you in the long run, and allow you to earn more gold and silver in the next match. If you continue fighting till the end, you will lose but finish in the top 2 and get more points, resulting in even tougher opponents.
As a result, many games where one side is behind but which are still very close will be sealed by players quitting. This has to stop. You can't have more value in a loss than in a victory. Players need an incentive to continue to fight till the end.
(2) The new system does not achieve the desired objective. Instead of seeing fairer matches, we're seeing a lot of very unfair matches, pitting players with a 6/7 hangar against near 12/12 players. Also tanking is very easy and done systematically by many players. Just yesterday my daughter, who hardly knows how to play, was destroyed by this guy with level 12 Gepards, just like old time seal clubbing. Players use systematic tanking by entering games and not playing, forcing many 4-on-6 or 5-on-6 games where one side never has a chance to win. This of course is closely connected to (1), the incentive in winning - if you lose enough games, you will eventually be matched up against Spiral Molot Destriers. This has to stop.
(3) We also lost the ability to choose our tier. Many of us enjoyed playing in a certain group ("low silver", "high silver") with a certain playing style. Now, medium robots have lost all value and are no longer seen except in newbie leagues, and the fast paced style going with it (along with Cossack dogfights and the like) are no longer possible. Instead, we have to put up with the new midrange meta even for low hangars (I run a 7/7is hangar), where the players with the most Trident Furys or Trebuchet Furys wins. Standing back and firing from 1000m or 600m on everything that moves is the most boring play style I can imagine, unfortunately it is currently the one that gives you the best chance to win.
(4) We also see the trend that players who want to move up in their league go only for damage and no longer for beacons. This leads to games where beacons will be left unprotected - if you play on Springfield, it will take you a minute just to get to the far beacon, and another half minute to find the nearest enemy, 90 seconds left where you will do no damage. Or if you are in an unfavorable matchup, say Plasma Britbot vs. Plasma Britbot, players will just give up a beacon because defending it may result in a minute without damage.
All this has damaged the game, and many experienced players are frustrated. Please make sure the damage does not become permanent. All of this could be fixed by returning to a hangar-based matchmaking, possibly with an adjustment for player performance. But we must ditch the matchmaking system where there are strong incentives to losing.
Leagues may remain as they are, but must be independent from matchmaking - a player with a 12/12 hangar must be matched up against 12/12 hangars regardless of whether he plays in silver III or diamond.
Best, F.
