Why I dislike the new lobby system.

(techiefive) #1

I don’t understand why we’re assigned to a team just before the game starts. The way it works now limits the effectiveness of merc selection. For example, let’s consider the map Chapel. If I’m on the attacker team, I’ll take Nader, Phoenix, and Bushwacker. I use Bushwacker to repair the EV and ramp, then switch to either Nader for additional support, or Phoenix if the team is light on medics. If I’m defense, however, I trade Bushwacker for Skyhammer because I’ll use his airstrike to disable the EV. If merc selection happened after team assignment, and you can’t switch teams after assignment, then I’d be fine with the new lobby. As it stands though, I often find myself with mercs that are less effective than the one I would have preferred to choose.

Aside from this annoyance, the update is just fine for me. The balance adjustments don’t seem to have any negatives that I’ve seen so far, and the bug fixes are much appreciated. Keep up the good work guys!

(watsyurdeal) #2

So wait, you’re annoyed that teams get balanced before the game starts. How does this affect your mercs? You pick what you need for a given map and you play them, there’s no merc limit on a public lobby and you can’t expect your team will just fill the gap for you. You’re still going to need a Medic and an Assault at some point anyhow. And it’s not as if this isn’t a similar problem that happened with Stopwatch games already.

In an organized game or competitive I can see the problem, but…people were bitching about the “matchmaking” before the update. Now they’re complaining that they can’t change their mercs after teams are balanced?

I say keep the balancing of teams but introduce a 5 card limit, 5 loadout card of whatever you want, so it’s possible to have 5 different mercs, or 3 mercs plus 2 loadout cards for the same merc depending on the situation.

(DMaster2) #3

This change is a blessing. No more stacking, finally more balance. Pick your three mercs and stick with them, be it attacking or defending on whatever map it is.

(LifeupOmega) #4

I have no idea how people can just play 3 mercs and not want optimal ones per map.

(Gi.Am) #5

The reason is, to get slightly better balanced teams. before the change teams where sorted at lobby start. Based on the performance of the last couple matches everyone played. Unfortunaly right after the sorting half the people usually leave the server and the ones that fill their spot are not sorted by skill but to ensure even numbered teams. Resulting in fairly unbalanced teams by the time the round started.

This new way shifts the skill based sorting to the point when the match starts, ensuring atleast a little bit of balance at start up (everyone joining/dropping out midmatch will still fuck up the balance).

(Harlot) #6

[quote=“Watsyurdeal;85353”]So wait, you’re annoyed that teams get balanced before the game starts. How does this affect your mercs? You pick what you need for a given map and you play them, there’s no merc limit on a public lobby and you can’t expect your team will just fill the gap for you. You’re still going to need a Medic and an Assault at some point anyhow. And it’s not as if this isn’t a similar problem that happened with Stopwatch games already.

In an organized game or competitive I can see the problem, but…people were bitching about the “matchmaking” before the update. Now they’re complaining that they can’t change their mercs after teams are balanced?

I say keep the balancing of teams but introduce a 5 card limit, 5 loadout card of whatever you want, so it’s possible to have 5 different mercs, or 3 mercs plus 2 loadout cards for the same merc depending on the situation.[/quote]

They have said this over and over and over, they will NEVER introduce a 5 merc squad. Period. This creates strategy. Otherwise everybody takes Fragger, Ammo, Medic, Engineer, Vasilli. So let’s just forget this idea. It won’t ever happen.

And yes, some of us play different things depending on if we’re offense or defense. On Chapel, I’d prefer Skyhammer for defense and Fletcher for offense. So it is pretty shitty that it chooses teams and you can’t switch your mercs accordingly. Especially because that’s the whole point of the squad; to bring a team that benefits what you’re playing.

And I really, really don’t get why everybody is whining about stacking. Maybe it’s a bigger issue than I think, but even when the other team was stacked, I still performed just fine. Sure, my team still sucks, but at least I’m getting my kills and EXP, so who gives a shit? Maybe stop blaming the other team for being stacked and work on ways to improve you game.

(DMaster2) #7

Because no one like to get stomped. Until now in objective it worked this way (most of the time): people stack on one team, said team overwhelm the opponent, oppo team start to lose players, balance is out of the windows and spawn killing starts, which in turn make more people quit the round. It’s seriously not fun. You can still do your strategic play, you just need to play stopwatch more.

(shatteredhalo0) #8

Because no one like to get stomped. Until now in objective it worked this way (most of the time): people stack on one team, said team overwhelm the opponent, oppo team start to lose players, balance is out of the windows and spawn killing starts, which in turn make more people quit the round. It’s seriously not fun. You can still do your strategic play, you just need to play stopwatch more.[/quote]

People don’t like to lose? Whoa!

They probably shouldn’t play a PVP based video game, then. There’s generally a winner (team) and a loser (team).

(Borganism) #9

I agree with original poster. I have an offense lineup, and a defense lineup depending on map and what role I want to play. Forcing merc selection before team selection ruins this for objective mode.

However, I really do think they need to do something about small groups of friends playing together in casual lobbies and deliberately stacking because ‘its fun for us yo’. I played 7 matches in a row last night where there was a massive stack each game due to 3 friends playing together. When I called them on it and said they were ruining the game balance they just started insulting me, and called me cheap for using nader. I lolled and marty’d their head off.

My vote for how to solve the problem goes to small parties (no more then 3) for casual games. The auto balance can then adjust as best as it can for this and you wont have people team swapping. All that I expect with this current solution is that people will team swap as soon as they can to get back with their friends so they can circle-jerk each other and inadvertently ruin the balance.

(DMaster2) #10

Because no one like to get stomped. Until now in objective it worked this way (most of the time): people stack on one team, said team overwhelm the opponent, oppo team start to lose players, balance is out of the windows and spawn killing starts, which in turn make more people quit the round. It’s seriously not fun. You can still do your strategic play, you just need to play stopwatch more.[/quote]

People don’t like to lose? Whoa!

They probably shouldn’t play a PVP based video game, then. There’s generally a winner (team) and a loser (team).[/quote]
Big shocker huh? That’s how it is tho. The issue isn’t losing anyway, the issue is spawnkilling. I’m sure this new system will help a lot in that regard.

(Jostabeere) #11

Rather have balanced teams than some special snowflakes who need special mercs for special maps. Learn to play your merc on every map.

(JLeon15) #12

This change was actually the best they could’ve done. Games are now a lot more compared and interesting, no more stacking teams.

(Yes) #13

It’s pointless disabling team switching in the lobby but still allowing it in-game, oh no, now those people that stack teams will have to wait till after they load. There’s also no reason why they can’t show you which team you are on and still allow you to change mercs, but still have team switching disabled.

Also, has anyone checked if the switchteam command still works? It worked in the old lobbies when team switching became disabled. I wanted to check, but the game put me on the team with 1 less person every time.

(Jurmabones) #14

So it’s now literally impossible to play with friends. Terrible change.

(K1X455) #15

[quote=“Harlot;85390”][quote=“Watsyurdeal;85353”]
I say keep the balancing of teams but introduce a 5 card limit, 5 loadout card of whatever you want, so it’s possible to have 5 different mercs, or 3 mercs plus 2 loadout cards for the same merc depending on the situation.[/quote]

They have said this over and over and over, they will NEVER introduce a 5 merc squad. Period. This creates strategy. Otherwise everybody takes Fragger, Ammo, Medic, Engineer, Vasilli. So let’s just forget this idea. It won’t ever happen.[/quote]

Problem with this is that new players who haven’t got enough choices for mer in the 3 merc squad are stuck with what’s on free rotation + Skyhammer and Aura. Now imagine a pub game where this instance occurs on 5 players… and you’re the sixth. Good luck. How you strategize team play in pubs is totally different with organized team play.

(Borganism) #16

[quote=“favoriteKnife;85483”]I agree with original poster. I have an offense lineup, and a defense lineup depending on map and what role I want to play. Forcing merc selection before team selection ruins this for objective mode.

However, I really do think they need to do something about small groups of friends playing together in casual lobbies and deliberately stacking because ‘its fun for us yo’. I played 7 matches in a row last night where there was a massive stack each game due to 3 friends playing together. When I called them on it and said they were ruining the game balance they just started insulting me, and called me cheap for using nader. I lolled and marty’d their head off.

My vote for how to solve the problem goes to small parties (no more then 3) for casual games. The auto balance can then adjust as best as it can for this and you wont have people team swapping. All that I expect with this current solution is that people will team swap as soon as they can to get back with their friends so they can circle-jerk each other and inadvertently ruin the balance.[/quote]

You make a good point @favoriteKnife as well as the fact that you cant see what mercs your team are choosing. Since I have most mercs unlocked, if I see my team not having enough medic, engie or ammo classes I’ll make sure to include some in my roster even if its not my favourite class. Since team is decided after mercs there is no way to tell what you are working with.

(Jarppa) #17

[quote=“favoriteKnife;85483”]
My vote for how to solve the problem goes to small parties (no more then 3) for casual games. The auto balance can then adjust as best as it can for this and you wont have people team swapping. All that I expect with this current solution is that people will team swap as soon as they can to get back with their friends so they can circle-jerk each other and inadvertently ruin the balance.[/quote]

Agree, there’s a up side and down in this change. There has to be something that devs can do to make small parties happening. With this latest change, it’s lottery to get to same side… I do love kick my friends a$$ and get stomp down by them, but still it will be more fun to be able to play with your friends in the same side.

(CCP115) #18

When I play Bridge offense, Fragger is a must thank you very much.

Now? Eh, it’s not a major gripe, but still kind of annoying.

(Atherel) #19

You can still play with optimal mercs per map, but not specialized for offense or defense. DB is balanced for stopwatch / competitive, where you have to attack and defend on one map with the same squad.

(MarsRover) #20

Play stopwatch.