3 PART SOLUTION
- Level playing fields
- Rankings divided by those on the same playing field
- Solution to consistent game play (while small in numbers)
These are just some ideas... let's have a discussion.
Some stuff are just fun random ideas and some is more foundational stuff.
The game creators have wonderfully shown they are willing to listen to the game player base... they have also said they are going to work on a solution so I'm not worried about it... I just thought i'd share my thoughts
THE FOUNDATIONS OF A GREAT SYSTEM
- Ranking true capability through controlling capacity
- Free choice
- Economic and game incentive models
I am never short of words so assuming you want my validation of my points listed above I have provided just a bit of my thinkings. However I think the main points are look at all sports and most games... I am only making the suggestion that we do what hundreds of years have suggested is the best solution. Rank capability when the capacity is similar.
THE POINTS
1. GAME PLAY BY LEVELS
- I think hundreds of years of sports games and the human evolution has shown us that GAME PLAY divided by LEVELS is the way life always goes!
2. Leagues are a consensus understanding for humanity
- We have Little League, then Highschool, then college, then semi-pro, then pro
- You don't have professional calliber players playing against highschool kids just because they just started... and you don't have pro players ranked higher than kids league... they have separate rankings entirely.
3. LET THE PLAYER DECIDE
- I think that any player can do whatever they want... if they have level 1 cards they should be able to play in the top level games if they CHOOSE. They understand the odds and are choosing them of their own free will.
4. LIMIT BY CAPACITY
- I also think that if a max level player wants to play in the lowest level games because the strategy is different I think they should be able to if they Choose. However i think they should understand the limits of that league... only level 6 cards can play in a league that allows a cap of level 6.
5. REWARD ACCORDINGLY
- I think people will completely understand that higher stakes competitions among the best players with the biggest fastest cards are going to be incentivized and rewarded the best.
- This means each league should have a scaled reward system and I think every player will understand. Best highschool team in the country will not get you the same reward as best pro team in the country.
6. SUCCESS MOTIVATES
- As someone succeeds in their little pond they often want to test their skills in a bigger pond.
- This leads to them perhaps buying or working hard to earn rewards in their league and then being able to play at the next level.
7. STOP PENALIZING SUCCESS
- Right now success means playing being forced to play those who have a much higher capacity than you... that should be a choice not a punishment.
- I know for a fact many people stop or slow down their playing the higher they go in the rankings when they start playing people they can't beat but could beat if it was a level playing field.
8. ELO RANKINGS ONLY WORK FOR SKILL BASED GAMES
- In blind drafting everyone tends to have the same statistical amount of luck this means everyone will go up in ELO in mass and ELO will not do a good job of separating actual capability... right now it greatly separates capacity and barely separates skill and a bit more separates tenacity.
9. KNOW YOUR COMPETITION
- Max players understand who they're playing against... but lower levels are mostly in the dark... one moment they're playing someone with cards way more capable than them and other moments less capable.
- You want to know who's in your competition and where you stand.
10. UN-MAXED PLAYERS FEEL LIKE STEPPING STONES
- Right now a maxed player goes through the process of winning 40-50 games perhaps in a row just to get up to the rankings where he's playing people with the same capacity.
- I don't think the lower card players enjoy being used like that nor do us max players have any sense of accomplishment beating them.
MULTIPLE LEAGUES = MULTIPLE RANKINGS
- Likely the solution is to have 4 Leagues
- Impliment an Elo rankings board for each of the 4 leagues.
- Anyone can select and play in any league they want
- However your cards are limited to play at a league cap
- You want to know the teams you're playing against and plan to play against them... Max players are the ONLY ONES that know who they are likely to play against.
- Mid-level card players have no idea who they're about to play...
A. it could be a max level player who's started an account and is just passing through with their 35 game win streak (yep i've done it ... i feel bad ruining their scores when it was never going to be a contest)
B. It could be a max level high ranked player who just didn't have someone else to play against and so now they get pegged against you with an "auto-win" just because there was a lull in the action
ALWAYS BE ABLE TO PLAY - MATCHMAKING TWEAK
The big problem right now with dividing into leagues is the belief more people will not be able to find someone to be matched against.
- I think if this is a main concern of SteemMonsters that they should solve this and here's how i'd do it.
NPC automatic teams
Create 5 teams for each of the 4 leagues
Make the selection random
Trigger the NPC to play ONLY when the matchmaking timer runs out
Make the NPC/BOT not ranked
Make the NPC not get rewards
Make a win against the NPC worth a different set amount in ELO
Now all players know they always can play but if no other humans are playing then it may take longer.
But the point is they have assurance and game play is consistent
What will happen is that people will know they'll always always get a team to play against and more people will be willing to play and therefore the computer shouldn't actually be used that much.
And eventually we'll have enough players this will rarely if ever be used.
USERS CAN'T SOLVE IT THE SAME WAY STEEMMONSTERS CAN
- Perhaps someone can figure out how to wait until matchmaking is about to time out... however only SteemMonsters can decide to give a set ELO score.
- The biggest point is that this is a SteemMonsters issue and they should solve it.
YES THIS IS PRIORITY
- I think this is not only priority but perhaps top priority much more important right now than developing tournament play or delegation of cards.
- I enjoy the game a ton but wouldn't invite friends to play until I know there is a clear path for them to progress and to be ranked accordingly.
And these are of course my own opinions... so share yours in the comments.
THANKS
- Thanks @yabapmatt and @aggroed for making a great great game with TONS of potential.
- Hopefully you liked the insights.
And as always @peakmonsters is a great place to see information and make purchases on the market and for packs of cards
K after a discussion with @Yabapmatt most all of my concerns about the issues we are facing in our elo/ladder play seem theoretically solved with the next idea he has... I'm looking forward to next season and letting him hit it hard for the next 4 days of development to hopefully have the next step ready. Then tournaments can be an even bigger better step.
At first I didn't get it but the more I think about it the more I like it.
I think this is great feedback and am sure they are taking it all into consideration. The highest priority is matchmaking for sure as there is definitely a balance needed and your idea on NPCs is great!
I'm totally onboard with tiers. As I see it there could be 3 we operate with.
Level 1 - Noobs
Level 6 - Still Affordable and many abilities kick in
Max - High Rollers
In fact, we could test out the Level 1 in this current season by limiting the games to level 1 for all summoners. Hence, getting everyone playing everyone again and not leaving a sour taste of 'pay to win' in the minds of many.
Regardless Level 1 is a must and will accommodate the lowest level of players wanting to give this a try.
Let's get this back to a game of skill rather than how much you're willing to spend.
We need to grow the user base first, and over time more will level up. But it will take time.
So let's have some fun along the way.
It is good the see people sharing thoughts and that they are open to them. I am excited for a new way to play. It was fun till I got put against the highest players and now I loose just about every time. I am ready for an update for people that aren't maxing out.