Matchmaking Idea (On Norms)

(S1urp33) #1

Currently In DB the matchmaking is pretty bad. I mean Level 40s going against Level 10s is simply not fair, but I have an idea that Splash Damage can use if they add a matchmaking system to DB. Instead of using Levels, use the average KDA the player has to match with other people with similar KDA. What are your thoughts about my idea

(Cletus_VanDamme) #2

Honestly mate…

Horrible idea. Firstly there’s no matchmaking other in pubs.

Secondly this is an objective and teamwork based game, KDA is not the defining statistic in determining a good player.

And the whole level thing is rather overrated. There’s many level 10 players that are quite as competent as level 40 players. Trust me, I get my ass handed to me daily by people with much lower levels than my own.

Also, there’s been a huge influx of new, or as some call them ‘smurf’ accounts, due to the humble bundle promotion, where you can get the previously $29.95 starter pack for $1. So lots of level 5 guys who are actually level 20+.

(doxjq) #3

Yeah the humble bundle deal was a real problem for smurf accounts. I really don’t think anyone considered that before hand. The amount of people trolling around with alternate accounts is absurd, but there isn’t much you can do about it now.

Also I believe there is some kind of matchmaking system. Apparently it goes off your last 5 or 10 games or something, but I dunno what it actually looks at when it finally balances the players out, because I’d say approximately 75% of pub games are totally stacked right from the get go.

(Cletus_VanDamme) #4

I apologize, I didn’t think about the system used to sort the teams before a match has started, good point.

Still, using KDA as the basis for team selection isn’t appropriate.

And yes, @rancid you’re probably right about 75% of pub games being unbalanced from the get go. But in my opinion, that’s usually the fault of the people playing the game.

Failing to select the correct merc for the map, failing to press TAB and notice that your team doesn’t have a medic or engi and failing to make adjustments on the fly once you’ve seen your opponents tactics contribute more to uneven matches, IMO.

Defending on Chappelle? Bring Skyhammer, or Arty, leave Stoker for Underground.

Attacking on Chappelle? Bring Kira, her laser is brutal on the final stage of the map. Sparks is also super effective on that stage of the map. Thunder or Phantom? Not a good choice. (Although that could be said about those mercs on any map)

(doxjq) #5

Yeah it’s completely situational, but the point I was trying to make is if it does use some kind of previous match system then I can only assume it shuffles players based on a win/loss ratio or something.

I’m just speculating of course. I have no idea how it actually works.

But it seems like the player balance is totally out of sync sometimes. The amount of games I have where I have 4 players on my team who hit a 4/20 KDR with a 2000 score and shocking aim / movement and no idea how to play the game or what to do when the other team has 3 or 4 people with 35/10 KDR’s and 10,000+ scores with excellent aim / movement / tactics just shows it doesn’t actually balance people based on skill. It must be some kind of weird elo system based on wins and losses I think.

But yeah you’re right, people genuinely not knowing how to play the game is another problem, but not one that can be easily fixed haha. It’s shocking when your team has no engineer and you politely ask someone who has an engineer in their squad to change and they basically tell you “STFU I will play what I want”

(n-x) #6

Why just not play ranked? I know it is far from perfect, but there is a matchmaking system in ranked, people take it more serious, people change to mercs according to how the game is going. Of course there will be some stomps and people quit mid game making it a 5vs4. But if your main concern is to have a balanced game your chances to get one is way higher in ranked than in normal mode.

I only had 2 stomps in season 1 so far, and those were on the second day in my placement matches. Bad luck for me, but cobalds and elites have to play placement matches too.

Grab a friend and queue for a game. Playing during the evening/night CET, I didnt have to wait longer than 4 minutes.