JavaScript is required to use Bungie.net

Destiny 2

Discuss all things Destiny 2.
Edited by Skim Jong-milk: 6/13/2022 8:14:02 PM
2

Casual and Ranked Playlists + SBMM

[b]SBMM was never the problem, its implementation was.[/b] The top argument against skill-based matchmaking is that top players have to "sweat" too hard in every game, but the top players this system pleases seem to miss three key points: [b]1)[/b] By [i]definition[/i], half of the player base qualifies as "casual" because, for every 3.0 KD player, there is a 0.33 KD player. [b]It is a reciprocal relationship[/b], so claiming that casuals are a minority or aren't as crucial to the game's health is completely invalid. [b]2)[/b] Favouring the top 1% will drive away the bottom 50% of players because no one wants to be stomped. As the bottom 50% keeps getting driven away, the game will eventually be comprised of solely sweaty players. This means that [b]the top players will have to try hard to win anyway[/b], but without the benefit of a larger player base. [b]3)[/b] [b]Most players [i]want to win[/i], and most players will [i]try to win[/i]. As a result, you must also [i]try to win[/i].[/b] To say that you shouldn't have to try to win is to say that your opponents either also shouldn't try to win, or they shouldn't have a fair fight. So if every player wants to win and tends to try to win, why shouldn't they all have an [b]equal chance of playing against someone with the same skill and drive to succeed?[/b] This is the fundamental goal of SBMM, to give every player an equal chance to win against someone of an equal skill level. But streamers and their fans get in the way of this goal because of their desire to stomp inexperienced players. Their top arguments are: [b]"You shouldn't have to sweat every game,"[/b] and [b]"Playing against better players drives you to improve."[/b]. But these arguments are faulty for a variety of reasons. [b]"Top players shouldn't have to sweat every game"[/b] This argument is based on the false premises that you only need to sweat if you are good at the game and that trying to win is bad for casual play. The point made by the argument of not having to sweat is that [b]only good players need to sweat[/b]. But critics of a fair matchmaking system seem to ignore the fact that if a bad player is in the same lobby as a good player, the bad player will have to "sweat" to win the good player. [b]Every effortless win comes at the cost of an inevitable, sweaty loss for someone else.[/b] It's a zero-sum game. The second premise, that "having to sweat is bad for casual play" is false because the notion of "sweating" is literally just [i]trying really hard to win[/i]. There is nothing wrong with trying to win, and in most other competitive activities, people will "sweat" even in casual settings. Such is the nature of competition. Sweating is perceived negatively because people (especially streamers) don't like to take the blame for losing, so [b]putting in minimal effort reduces personal responsibility[/b]. If you need to sweat it means that the person you're playing against is equally skilled. It means that you have to cope with the fact that you actually lost, not because of lag or luck, but because [b]they were simply better.[/b] [b]"Playing against players who are better than you drives you to improve"[/b] To an extent this is true. A player who challenges your skills and makes you have to try to win is a player who makes you improve. But an equally skilled player can do this. What an overqualified player [i]does[/i] do is kill inexperienced players' hope to ever be good at the game and force-feeds them [b]loss after loss[/b] until they either "git gud" or quit. LeBron James doesn't need to play against high schoolers to feel good about himself, he needs other pro ballers to challenge his skills and have a fair game. [b]The gaming community is the only place where stomps are celebrated.[/b] The other part of this problem is that [b]players aren't given proper metrics to measure their skill[/b] so they compare KD ratios, even though [b]all KDs should be around 1.0 in a balanced system.[/b] Most real competitive games don't have this problem. There are clear ranks and you get rewarded for them while winning someone in a lower rank is nothing to brag about. [b]Developer-Side Solutions[/b] A solution for this that could be implemented in Destiny is a Ranked and Casual playlist. Ranked is openly skill-based while [b]Casual would also have SBMM, but it's kept a secret[/b] so that it fosters a non-competitive environment. Casual also rewards wins and losses equally and hides rankings while Ranked offers greater rewards for highly-ranked players, makes rankings easy to see, and rewards players for defeating higher-ranked opponents. This would give players a new progression metric (ranking) and help eliminate "stomp-culture." Another aspect of this is to stop encouraging unbalanced matches. That means the removal of "We ran out of medals" and "Seventh Column" because they encourage skilled players to take advantage of casuals just looking to have fun. Instead, the Crucible needs medals that reward [b]shutting down streaks, defeating players with a higher ELO, and completing objectives as a team.[/b] There may be some pushback to the sunsetting of fan-favourite medals, but it is necessary to promote a culture of fair competition. [b]Conclusion[/b] The suggestions and opinions given above are just a few of many solutions to the problems with PvP. [b]The fact that so many gamers are so quick to attribute their losses to external factors is a sign of low self-confidence, not a broken system.[/b] It's easy to antagonize SBMM when we look at examples where it has failed or has been implemented poorly (ex: COD), but it has the potential to be an ideal system if we only took the time to think critically and look at ourselves first. I believe that [b]the first step to solve this issue is a Casual/Ranked split and a change of perspective.[/b] Perhaps others will believe the same.

Posting in language:

 

Play nice. Take a minute to review our Code of Conduct before submitting your post. Cancel Edit Create Fireteam Post

View Entire Topic
  • Edited by Skim Jong-milk: 6/13/2022 8:12:51 PM
    Also please note that I'm not insulting streamers. I care about PvP just as much as everyone else and only want to see productive solutions brought to the table. If you came here to boast your 3.0 KD or tell the bottom 50% to "git gud," kindly downvote and move along. Thank you.

    Posting in language:

     

    Play nice. Take a minute to review our Code of Conduct before submitting your post. Cancel Edit Create Fireteam Post

You are not allowed to view this content.
;
preload icon
preload icon
preload icon