31
The Lounge / Re: The Wall, take [2], Killstealer edition
« on: October 30, 2014, 10:44:27 pm »I'm dealing with kidney stones.Owowowowowow.
Feel better. D:
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Feel better. D:
32
General Discussion / Re: Question For Pilots
« on: October 30, 2014, 04:53:10 pm »
Who do I love more and express this to? Or who do I really love more but forget to express my appreciation?
Because balloon gungineer is really really vital, but I never actually thank anyone for chem spraying the balloon and keeping it topped up.
Because balloon gungineer is really really vital, but I never actually thank anyone for chem spraying the balloon and keeping it topped up.
33
The Lounge / Re: Outlandish animal questions
« on: October 30, 2014, 08:58:30 am »
With how fast technology is changing, I was beginning to fear the next wave of improvement and how hard it would be to learn and adjust, but I took a course at a local college that helped me overcome my fear of technological changes. I've now noticed my cat has similar fears, especially with any new technology that moves or makes noises. Can you recommend any classes that would help my cat embrace technology instead of fear it?
34
Feedback and Suggestions / Re: Replace Levels with Badges
« on: October 29, 2014, 06:06:38 pm »
Actually badges sounds pretty awesome. No-one looks at profiles half the time anyway, so valued badges sit unviewed. In the small space currently occupied by numbers, a badge would stand out nicely without being cluttered, and players could show off badges from events, or from levels, as they see fit. Really neat idea.
35
The Lounge / Re: Outlandish animal questions
« on: October 29, 2014, 06:04:17 pm »
Whenever I seal an envelope with a check for my bills, my pet owl steals the letter and flies out the window. None of my payments are showing up late or unpaid, so I know my owl is delivering them, but I have concerns about the security of this method of mailing. Do you have any small anklet trackers I could use to make sure my owl is only taking my payments to their posted recipient?
36
Release Notes / Re: Version 1.3.8 Hotfix Release Notes
« on: October 27, 2014, 06:13:03 pm »
I'm confused by the disparity between people saying Glicko2 doesn't work, and Muse saying matches are more balanced than ever except when people crew form or leave the lobby before the match starts.
Personally, I played a few matches with one friend and was placed in matches that looked pretty unbalanced by levels. In fact, players on both teams commented on my level. I apologized in advance expecting it to be stompy.
And then it wasn't.
The game ended up being 5-4. I won, but only barely. I was in a 2v1 situation when it ended and finished off the last kill before the other ship could really bring its weapons to bear.
That's with carro-flamer pyra vs a junker and mobula with <lvl15 crews.
Only one example, I know. But it was exciting. And had I not known the levels of the other team, the whole match would have been much more tense instead of just the ending. As it was I expected to win so it wasn't until the end when it felt suddenly very close that the game got exciting.
For the time being when I play I will be playing (and recommend playing) with some rules:
Contain crew form to 1 ship max.
Don't leave a lobby you are matchmade in to.
Don't look at levels on the other team.
Don't rematch.
Don't swap slots or teams through any means.
See how it plays and feels. You should lose more. In a balanced setting a 50% win rate should be the norm, which would be a radical change for most of us. I think that is what is going to hit veterans the hardest. It is frustrating to lose, and we aren't used to it.
Personally, I played a few matches with one friend and was placed in matches that looked pretty unbalanced by levels. In fact, players on both teams commented on my level. I apologized in advance expecting it to be stompy.
And then it wasn't.
The game ended up being 5-4. I won, but only barely. I was in a 2v1 situation when it ended and finished off the last kill before the other ship could really bring its weapons to bear.
That's with carro-flamer pyra vs a junker and mobula with <lvl15 crews.
Only one example, I know. But it was exciting. And had I not known the levels of the other team, the whole match would have been much more tense instead of just the ending. As it was I expected to win so it wasn't until the end when it felt suddenly very close that the game got exciting.
For the time being when I play I will be playing (and recommend playing) with some rules:
Contain crew form to 1 ship max.
Don't leave a lobby you are matchmade in to.
Don't look at levels on the other team.
Don't rematch.
Don't swap slots or teams through any means.
See how it plays and feels. You should lose more. In a balanced setting a 50% win rate should be the norm, which would be a radical change for most of us. I think that is what is going to hit veterans the hardest. It is frustrating to lose, and we aren't used to it.
37
Release Notes / Re: Version 1.3.8 Hotfix Release Notes
« on: October 27, 2014, 01:06:18 pm »
This is not the place for directed aggression
We can have this discussion peacefully. If you have a reply to a specific person, please make sure your reply is constructive and discussive (that's not a word) - asking and answering questions, not accusing. My thoughts on the matter aside, I hate to see people fighting - especially over a medium as easily misconstrued as the internet.
We can have this discussion peacefully. If you have a reply to a specific person, please make sure your reply is constructive and discussive (that's not a word) - asking and answering questions, not accusing. My thoughts on the matter aside, I hate to see people fighting - especially over a medium as easily misconstrued as the internet.
38
Feedback and Suggestions / Re: Problems with matchmaking
« on: October 25, 2014, 01:53:25 pm »
A proposal.
2 Systems. Matchmaking and Custom Games (MM and CG).
In Matchmaking, you can queue up alone or with friends to be placed in a new somewhat balanced match. You are stuck where you get placed. You can leave, but it penalizes you (experience or lockout from MM or something). You play the match. Afterwards, it throws you back in the main menu every time.
From there you can reform your crew (plus or minus any new friends) and rejoin the queue for a new match. You can specify specific criteria like game type and class, and if you do you will eventually get them, though it will take longer.
If someone wants to join you, there are spectator slots where they can join and watch you play until the match ends. Then they can join your crew form for the next game.
It is a simple way for a person to go online and play a single game with little to no hassle of having to look through a list of lobbies and hope something interests them. Maybe the MM can have the tab flash so you can tab out and browse the internet until you get placed in a match.
In CG you can create a custom game with all of your own settings. You can invite friends. Friends can join on you. You can advertise in global chat and people can join on you from there. In all aspects, it is an old style lobby from the lobby list, you just don't have a lobby list to pick from. People have to actively join on you.
The MM will never place people in your match. This is your custom game. You are responsible for filling it if you think you really need a lobby just for yourself or your idea.
After your match ends, you go back to your lobby just like you used to, to play another round of your custom game. You still won't be part of the MM system, and you won't be. Matchmaker is not responsible for taking care of your custom lobby.
In essence, matchmaking is for when you just want to play the game. You can socialize. You can try to play with friends when you can. You can have fun. But you are joining up because you explicitly want to play the game, and you can expect matches to start in a timely manner.
Custom games would be for when you have some idea that you think would be fun, or you want to have a match between 2 teams (competitive), or you want to do something goofy or want to try something. Custom games will have no restrictions other than you have to fill them yourselves.
2 Systems. Matchmaking and Custom Games (MM and CG).
In Matchmaking, you can queue up alone or with friends to be placed in a new somewhat balanced match. You are stuck where you get placed. You can leave, but it penalizes you (experience or lockout from MM or something). You play the match. Afterwards, it throws you back in the main menu every time.
From there you can reform your crew (plus or minus any new friends) and rejoin the queue for a new match. You can specify specific criteria like game type and class, and if you do you will eventually get them, though it will take longer.
If someone wants to join you, there are spectator slots where they can join and watch you play until the match ends. Then they can join your crew form for the next game.
It is a simple way for a person to go online and play a single game with little to no hassle of having to look through a list of lobbies and hope something interests them. Maybe the MM can have the tab flash so you can tab out and browse the internet until you get placed in a match.
In CG you can create a custom game with all of your own settings. You can invite friends. Friends can join on you. You can advertise in global chat and people can join on you from there. In all aspects, it is an old style lobby from the lobby list, you just don't have a lobby list to pick from. People have to actively join on you.
The MM will never place people in your match. This is your custom game. You are responsible for filling it if you think you really need a lobby just for yourself or your idea.
After your match ends, you go back to your lobby just like you used to, to play another round of your custom game. You still won't be part of the MM system, and you won't be. Matchmaker is not responsible for taking care of your custom lobby.
In essence, matchmaking is for when you just want to play the game. You can socialize. You can try to play with friends when you can. You can have fun. But you are joining up because you explicitly want to play the game, and you can expect matches to start in a timely manner.
Custom games would be for when you have some idea that you think would be fun, or you want to have a match between 2 teams (competitive), or you want to do something goofy or want to try something. Custom games will have no restrictions other than you have to fill them yourselves.
39
Feedback and Suggestions / Re: Problems with matchmaking
« on: October 24, 2014, 04:12:41 pm »
Rematch - Shouldn't be needed. If I really need this we can make a custom game.
Crew Form - Necessary to play with friends. This one is good.
Friend Join - Just wait for your friend to finish their match. You should really only be able to join a friend if they are in a lobby before the match has started and there is an empty slot, not join mid-match.
Ship/slot swapping - Not necessary. If I want to be on someone's team/ship I will crew form with them.
Spectator swapping - Not sure what you mean by this... The ability to become a spectator? I'm not sure I'm really a fan of this. I imagine spectator in a different role...
Lobby leaving without penalty - There should be a penalty, but only if rematch is not a thing. I can explain that if need be.
Custom matches - Custom matches should be fine if you can open them to the public freely and it gives you a warning if the current population won't support your custom lobby (100 players are online and 50 make custom matches).
Server Location - Necessary - I'll come back to this.
Speed of matchmaker - Let's come back to this too.
My catch on this is the match options you can set when you ask matchmaker to put you in a game.
If I take the time to ask for a specific set of circumstances for my match, I should never be put in a match that does not meet those circumstances no matter how long it takes.
I view entering the matchmaking queue as a contract. I am telling the matchmaker "Here is what I want. Find this for me, no matter how long it takes, and place me in a semi-balanced match. If you do this, I will trust you and play the entire match and will not leave the lobby."
If I want to join with a crew, I am giving my own restrictions. If I want to play in a nearby server for better ping, I am giving my own restrictions. If I want to play pilot, 2v2, no CP, then I am giving my own restrictions. I am happy to wait, but if I wait only to be placed in a 3v3 CP as a copilot, then I will be upset and feel justified in leaving.
Spectator slot should be a waiting queue for people who want to play with a specific person but that person is in a match already. I can go watch them play and spend my time viewing until they finish.
A lobby should open and close for each matchmade match so a player gets placed, plays a game, and gets moved back out into the main menu to find another match. From there they can play with the same people, or go alone. The current system for that works well, but the option to rematch creates half-empty lobbies that are best matched by placing the same people back in.
Currently I don't trust the matchmaker to put me in a game I want. I will watch the details and if it mentions that it is loosening restrictions, I have to leave the queue and rejoin to make sure I actually get what I want. Not good.
I guess I'm imagining the Awesomenauts matchmaker except with the ability to find and spectate friends that are mid-match, and with the ability to specify game types and character classes etc.
Crew Form - Necessary to play with friends. This one is good.
Friend Join - Just wait for your friend to finish their match. You should really only be able to join a friend if they are in a lobby before the match has started and there is an empty slot, not join mid-match.
Ship/slot swapping - Not necessary. If I want to be on someone's team/ship I will crew form with them.
Spectator swapping - Not sure what you mean by this... The ability to become a spectator? I'm not sure I'm really a fan of this. I imagine spectator in a different role...
Lobby leaving without penalty - There should be a penalty, but only if rematch is not a thing. I can explain that if need be.
Custom matches - Custom matches should be fine if you can open them to the public freely and it gives you a warning if the current population won't support your custom lobby (100 players are online and 50 make custom matches).
Server Location - Necessary - I'll come back to this.
Speed of matchmaker - Let's come back to this too.
My catch on this is the match options you can set when you ask matchmaker to put you in a game.
If I take the time to ask for a specific set of circumstances for my match, I should never be put in a match that does not meet those circumstances no matter how long it takes.
I view entering the matchmaking queue as a contract. I am telling the matchmaker "Here is what I want. Find this for me, no matter how long it takes, and place me in a semi-balanced match. If you do this, I will trust you and play the entire match and will not leave the lobby."
If I want to join with a crew, I am giving my own restrictions. If I want to play in a nearby server for better ping, I am giving my own restrictions. If I want to play pilot, 2v2, no CP, then I am giving my own restrictions. I am happy to wait, but if I wait only to be placed in a 3v3 CP as a copilot, then I will be upset and feel justified in leaving.
Spectator slot should be a waiting queue for people who want to play with a specific person but that person is in a match already. I can go watch them play and spend my time viewing until they finish.
A lobby should open and close for each matchmade match so a player gets placed, plays a game, and gets moved back out into the main menu to find another match. From there they can play with the same people, or go alone. The current system for that works well, but the option to rematch creates half-empty lobbies that are best matched by placing the same people back in.
Currently I don't trust the matchmaker to put me in a game I want. I will watch the details and if it mentions that it is loosening restrictions, I have to leave the queue and rejoin to make sure I actually get what I want. Not good.
I guess I'm imagining the Awesomenauts matchmaker except with the ability to find and spectate friends that are mid-match, and with the ability to specify game types and character classes etc.
40
Release Notes / Re: Version 1.3.8 Release Notes
« on: October 23, 2014, 05:05:25 pm »
Did something get messed up with ramming? I got insta-killed by ramming the side of a pyramidion (with a pyramidion) and I hadn't taken any damage yet. Then later in the match I went nose-to-nose with a spire and barely survived. It felt like we clipped through and were doing a bit of rebounding against the other ship.
41
General Discussion / Re: I played with X
« on: October 15, 2014, 02:53:16 pm »There is actually a handle at the bottom of the bowl that you lift the bowl to your mouth with, then pour the popcorn straight into your mouth.But...if the hand is in the bowl of popcorn ALL the time, how does the popcorn get into your mouth?(And have one of my hands in a bowl of popcorn all the time.)
fixt
42
Gameplay / Re: Is Moonshine superior to Kerosene?
« on: October 15, 2014, 08:54:50 am »
Kerosene for ramming.
Why?
Moonshine is burst only. There are plenty of times where I get someone's side and will proceed to ram them for the next 30 seconds on 1-2 second intervals. Without one of the two active, my ship will lose the proper angle. Good luck balancing those repairs if moonshine is used.
It isn't so much about speed as it is about the ability to constantly and consistently prevent your ship from losing the angle you want. You just can't do that in a prolonged battle with moonshine.
Why?
Moonshine is burst only. There are plenty of times where I get someone's side and will proceed to ram them for the next 30 seconds on 1-2 second intervals. Without one of the two active, my ship will lose the proper angle. Good luck balancing those repairs if moonshine is used.
It isn't so much about speed as it is about the ability to constantly and consistently prevent your ship from losing the angle you want. You just can't do that in a prolonged battle with moonshine.
43
The Lounge / Re: The Wall, take [2], Killstealer edition
« on: October 13, 2014, 12:12:30 pm »
I look between my kerosene and the computer. Back and forth. Back and forth. Reading one line.
Quote
d4 DodgeI reach out and attempt to poke my bottle of kerosene.
44
The Lounge / Re: The Wall, take [2], Killstealer edition
« on: October 13, 2014, 09:48:29 am »
I head over to the computer and research the kerosene bottle. What is the internal pressure? If it can release infinite kerosene, does it build up inside increasing the pressure, or does it just create more as it is used? Is the valve at the end directional? Can I adjust how open it is or is it just a binary open/not open?
Lots of research. I'll take a full turn to do it all.
Lots of research. I'll take a full turn to do it all.
45
Feedback and Suggestions / Re: Hull and armor system overhaul
« on: October 10, 2014, 04:43:10 pm »Please point me to the ones that i've missed.
Do you have anything to say in its defence?It gives me a way to fight back and validates the efforts of the pilot, gunners, and engineers.
[...]
Nothing is worse than feeling helpless. In the current system you can always escape through skills and excellent play. The proposed changes here would take away that capability and leave damaged ships feeling helpless.
Consider - you are an engineer rebuilding the armor. You finish rebuilding it and hit it with your mallet. Would you rather know that you just bought your ship several seconds of immunity from permanent damage, or would you rather watch your permahull continue to drop despite the effort you just put in?
It is an interesting thought experiment, but I would basically refuse to play main engineer on any ship ever. The main redeeming quality of main engineer gameplay (for me) is the moments you save the ship. This change would remove that option.
Additionally, I guarantee that a weakened ship could and would hide for as long as it took to heal up before entering another engagement. There are no time limits, no outside factor urging players to engage. A weakened ship has nothing to lose by hiding for 30 minutes (okay, even just 5). Pick any map and if you want I can give you the run-around for 30 minutes.
Some of the resistance you are meeting comes from the tone you take in many of your posts, stemming from experiences you have had that many on here have not had, or disagree with. It is hard to calmly enter a discussion when you start off by denying that a tactic regularly used by many posters here doesn't currently exist (retreat).
What you did post that got drowned out was something interesting:
Quote
But inexperienced teams would not be punished so hard for the imperfect performance.
You sort of poke this once in a while but for the most part you leave it alone, even though it is something that has been discussed in other threads and is an open discussion.
Currently if I pay attention to my armor and hydro out of a situation every time my armor starts to get low, I can go a match against an inexperienced pilot without taking any permanent damage. This is cool for me, but probably discouraging for the other team.
Your system would change that so, assuming I didn't hide to fully repair after every engagement, I would probably be slowly whittled down over a match and killed, though this doesn't change the outcome of the match at all.
As a tool to balance the skill level between teams, this is interesting, but only if I ignore logic and don't ever hide and repair. So now instead of a quick 5 minute 5-0 match it becomes a 20 minute 5-0 match with lots of time spent staring at a wall in a corner.
You have recognized a problem and proposed a solution, but it wouldn't actually change any of my matches against less experienced teams for the better. Personally it would make the matches less fun and more drawn out. I can't imagine it being more fun for the enemy team.
Look at it from a different perspective. There have been a lot of criticisms of different factors of your system. What changes could you make/implement in it to neutralize some of those criticisms? If you think you are on to something but everyone disagrees, maybe there is a middle ground that actually has a solution?