Being forced to play only 3 mercs in your squad means people often can’t choose the right merc for the situation. You get games where there is a lack of medics or engineers. Also often players have 1 or 2 mercs in their squad just because of missions they have to fill.
I’ve played Overwatch beta and there you can switch to any hero. Why don’t we do this in DB too? Just be able to switch to a preferred merc whenever needed. Without having squads.
Because it forces players to specialize. Playing a game and being alright with everyone is great, but it’s far better to be a master with one or two mercs instead.
It also leads to more interesting matches when players are forced to “improvise”, which is part of the reason I prefer systems like this over that of Overwatch.
You just have to know what to expect, really. Don’t put yourself in a position where you might not have the right class.
Similar to how MOBA games work, it adds the idea that you must counter-pick your enemy. Of course this mainly applies to competitive play, which Dirty Bomb has the intention to revolve around. DotA 2 for example simply would not be the same if you were able to change which hero you were playing at your own leisure (far-fetched example, but you get the idea).
because in an ideal world, your team composition is balanced. So you’ll get teammates who enjoy playing med, or engi or other stuff, so they’ll each have those selected mercs in their squad. Then every now and then, you’ll get a great team composition. But more often than not, you’ll get 3 vassilis, 3 auras who put their healing stations right on top of each others, and about 4 ppl playing skyhammer on underground.
By only being able to have 3 slots, you have to take a gamble on what your going to use, and what others are going to have. Although, i dont believe you know if ur attacking or defending until after you choose the mercs, which should be changed imo. I kinda like this aspect of the game, but i have no doubt i’ll be on the minority on this one.
[quote=“STARRYSOCK;182078”]Because it forces players to specialize. Playing a game and being alright with everyone is great, but it’s far better to be a master with one or two mercs instead.
It also leads to more interesting matches when players are forced to “improvise”, which is part of the reason I prefer systems like this over that of Overwatch.[/quote]
If I happen to bring Phoenix instead of any other medic and everybody in my team brought Phoenix as well, I can’t help but feel like it would be nice to change to Sparks or something… but nooooo.
Why did I bring Phoenix instead of any other medic? Because at the time I get to know what mercs my teammates are bringing, I can’t change mercs anymore.
[quote=“SereneFlight;182084”]-[quote=“STARRYSOCK;182078”]Because it forces players to specialize. Playing a game and being alright with everyone is great, but it’s far better to be a master with one or two mercs instead.
It also leads to more interesting matches when players are forced to “improvise”, which is part of the reason I prefer systems like this over that of Overwatch.[/quote]
If I happen to bring Phoenix instead of any other medic and everybody in my team brought Phoenix as well, I can’t help but feel like it would be nice to change to Sparks or something… but nooooo.
Why did I bring Phoenix instead of any other medic? Because at the time I get to know what mercs my teammates are bringing, I can’t change mercs anymore.[/quote]
Well what does it matter if your team already has medics then? Just play another merc. Two Phoenixes aren’t necessarily bad anyways, but that’s just part of the game. You can always switch to your other two mercs, or just play as a second Phoenix and make do with it.
@SereneFlight
to further you point, I think it would be good if the first thing that happened was we are told whether we are attackers or defenders. then we have 30 or so seconds to change out teams and see what our teamates are changing to as well, then without really communicating, you might still be able to get a good team composition.
@BufflordAFK then the problem is if the team shuffle, so you have a squad which can defend and you’re playing on the attacker side because of shuffle during the match.
Personally, I adapt my squad around maps rather than sides. For Eg: if the map is chapel then I take arty proxy/Fletcher sparks.
@BufflordAFK
A standard lineup should consist of:
Air Support & Engineer can be decided once the map is voted on. As for example, you are not required to have an Air Support Merc on Trainyard or Underground, so for these maps an Engineer would be better. With this system, you can’t exactly have a “bad squad”, simply pick what your team is lacking.
If you’re more of a solo player, then it would not be a problem if you have “a team of Phoenix’s”, as what you and your team do are separate.
Because this isn’t “Overwatch!” Just because 1 game does things differently doesn’t mean that every game should follow in suit! That’s like saying, “Why doesn’t Overwatch/Dirty Bomb have HATS? TF2 has them!”
When games start all looking and playing the same as far as interface, then the problems that stem from lack of diversity start creating more issues with players than need be. Granted, this game does pull alot of its interface qualities from MOBA’s, but still has enough flair to stand on its own.
So a bit about my experience gaming:
I’m in my 30’s now, and have been gaming for 17+ years! I have seen games have unique interfaces/control schematics and then just cave into the casual aspects of what’s the current expected. For example; Socom II had the most authentic control scematic out there on consoles and was the pinnacle of Online Gaming during the PS2 era. Then came the PS3 years later and redefined controls with popular games like COD, MG4, MOH, etc…etc… Along with that, games started adapting concepts that weren’t in last gen shooters like health regen, mini-maps, killstreaks, perk systems, and level/reward systems.
Before that, games had no KDR, killstreaks, perks, blood on the screen regen garbage… Games have become so linear now in development, that when someone like you points out that “Such and such has this, so the latter should have it also!” You basically denounce everything that made this VS. that special about said franchise/product.
I’m not against keeping certain features in a modern trend in gaming, but just because the wheels not broken, doesn’t mean that someone else has to conform to it always being round! Some like a less linear approach. I myself included. I like this game due to it not being like Overwatch or like TF2.
[quote=“BufflordAFK;182091”]@SereneFlight
to further you point, I think it would be good if the first thing that happened was we are told whether we are attackers or defenders. then we have 30 or so seconds to change out teams and see what our teamates are changing to as well, then without really communicating, you might still be able to get a good team composition.[/quote]
Yeah, this is exactly what I’ve been wanting. So many times I bring a certain merc with a hope I would be in attacking or defending team but the game decided to throw me into the other one… oh great, I brought Arty into Bridge… and I’m in attacking team…
Ooor when I bring Proxy and everybody else in my team brought Proxy… minefield is cool and shit (well, it’s cancer really) but you know what would be even better? Slightly smaller minefield with a turret!
[quote=“STARRYSOCK;182086”]If I happen to bring Phoenix instead of any other medic and everybody in my team brought Phoenix as well, I can’t help but feel like it would be nice to change to Sparks or something… but nooooo.
Why did I bring Phoenix instead of any other medic? Because at the time I get to know what mercs my teammates are bringing, I can’t change mercs anymore.[/quote]
Well what does it matter if your team already has medics then? Just play another merc.[/quote]
Another merc that doesn’t get the mission or missions I have done as effectively.
And while two or three Phoenixes ain’t necessarily bad but if you take one of those Phoenixes away and replace him with any other medic, your team will suddenly have means to more effectively to heal individual teammates or revive teammates without having to go to hell and back all the time.
[quote=“Cam;182095”]@BufflordAFK
A standard lineup should consist of:
I’m just sitting here, in my garage. with my squad of Vassili, Aimee, and Thunder.
You’re just going to have to be a good person and have a balanced squad
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CjII2dMWYAAUhea.jpg:large
(i.e at least a medic and objective specialist and on EV maps fire support in-case you need a reminder).
Squads are fine.
But what is not okay is…
The fact we only have 35 seconds to pick our squad in Ranked, and also that we can’t change squad in half-time in Stopwatch
And the fact we can’t know which team we are on (defenders or attackers) in Objective mode until the squad is auto locked.
We need to have at LEAST 2 minutes to discuss the squads with teams. I think there should be a 2:45 minutes lobby time after all players connect (when the timer reaches 0:15 it will get locked). After half time we should get another 1:45 minutes to pick squads (again, at 0:15 it gets locked).
And in Objective we need to know what team we are on before the game starts, just like in Stopwatch
For Ranked play, this means we have an interesting dynamic where people have to pick to compliment their team’s choices. There definitely ought to be a little more time to choose mercs though (also a more obvious team chat so people don’t stay silent when I ask them pick something). I don’t understand why pub games don’t let you choose your mercs after the teams are chosen, just winging it is really annoying.
[quote=“BufflordAFK;182091”]@SereneFlight
to further you point, I think it would be good if the first thing that happened was we are told whether we are attackers or defenders. then we have 30 or so seconds to change out teams and see what our teamates are changing to as well, then without really communicating, you might still be able to get a good team composition.[/quote]
If you’re playing stopwatch (and you should be playing stopwatch of course) you need to consider both your offensive and defensive choices, which I feel adds to the tactical element of your selections. Sure, you could ditch your Skyhammer for a Fragger on attack, but what about when the team swaps and nobody else bothered to bring a fire support merc?
That was quite a recent change in the grand scheme of things, you used to be able to see what team you were landing on, attackers or defenders, but I think the game is stronger the way it is now.
Objective is supposed to be the quick casual mode. If your team has bad composition the match will end quickly and you can move on. Adding 2 minutes between matches would be ridiculous - people would leave the server to find another match quicker even more than now. With casual MM you will know your side immediately. 30 seconds and let’s go. At least with a snappy UI that loads your cards immediately.
I’m not opposed to more time in Stopwatch, as in this mode a match is expected be 30min.
Because this isn’t “Overwatch!” Just because 1 game does things differently doesn’t mean that every game should follow in suit! That’s like saying, “Why doesn’t Overwatch/Dirty Bomb have HATS? TF2 has them!” [/quote]
Well obviously, that’s not what I’m saying. I give the example of Overwatch, because switching there WORKS. It makes the game much more dynamic and much more tailored to what your opponent is playing.
Of course opponents can respond to this by also switching, so it’s a kind of cat and mouse like approach. If I look at my own games I would switch and try out mercs much more.
I don’t want this to be a copy of TF2 or Overwatch, certainly not.
In many cases:
-If you’re a low level, you on my have 2 mercs + 3 in rotation merc. So you don’t need any change in your squad during the match because you have not the choice.
-When you have few more mercs you beg in n to specialise in one or 2 mercs, so you don’t play many mercs.
-When you have all the mercs, you know how to compose your squad so you’ll always be able to deal with any situation with your 3 mercs…
This game is on tactics, if you pick vassili Aimee redeye, you’re not able to adapt at any situation. If you want to test some mercs, put 3 mercs in your squad and test them during 15mn, if it does not fit, change at the next match.
Squad add more consistency to the game, you have to choose it carefully, even if you don’t know on which side you are.
This game is competitive, overwatch is casual.
Lol imagine 8v8 servers when the EV is repaired. Everyone chucks Skyhammer on and goes nuts.
There’s a good reason they don’t allow all mercs. Couldn’t think of a worse idea imo.