Developer Blog entry from Septemver, 9th. Updated Game Development Plan.

Mercenary Center Developer Blog
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I am intrested in where this discussion will lead, so I will keep going on.

 

Right now groups are better than solo players, so that hasn’t changed. The game doesn’t favor solo players, I don’t see how it does that in any way.

I can understand, and agree that for people who used to fly with 4 man squads non-stop it has become worse, and possibly less fun. On the other hand however, for solo it has become much better for it.

In a 3 v 3 T5 match the group will likely still win, but it is less of a DeathSquad than it used to be, and now it is much easier to fight back. In a 12 v 12 match, the squad can’t solo win the entire match which they were practicly able to before if the enemy *Didn’t have* such a squad.

 

And if the people who can’t find a squad, squad up with eachother the problem would solve itself wouldn’t it. 

And perhaps I’m a bit ignorant, but why does it matter you can no longer get 2 of each corp in your squad? What does it change? In the end it is still just a person and what corp he is in changes little.

 

But in the end, you can still play with and against other people. That didn’t change. It just went down 1 person. And flying with other people hasn’t become less, nor more fun. The only difference is the squad has less an impact on matches now and that TS is somewhat less crowded.

 

And PVE yeah, I have told em so from the beginning they announced it.

 

This does come from a mostly solo person, that is true, but since the change I haven’t squadded up more or less, I just have to fight less T5 deathsquads and am actually able to enjoy my matches in T5 without getting farmed by the 4 man squads.

 

*Why the hell did I write packed there…-BrainFart-

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There’s never a good reason to favour solo players over group players in a team / group based game. Ever.

Except those solo non squad players make up the dominant amount of players, also known as paying customers.  The corps can’t sustain the game’s profits unless every corp member had to pay large dues to keep playing in a corp.  It’s still a business.

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  I do not believe people deserve an auto-win just because they are grouped and on teamspeak.

How dare you … If playing as a group and putting extra effort to communicate and be good at it is not rewarded Why not just go and play some single player game like “Freelancer” or something …

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Except those solo non squad players make up the dominant amount of players, also known as paying customers.  The corps can’t sustain the game’s profits unless every corp member had to pay large dues to keep playing in a corp.  It’s still a business.

 

I dare to state that people with a heavy emotional investment in the game (other people who keep them in the game even when things are rough) on average spend a lot more on the game than the average solo player. Just saying.

 

This is all missing the point though - the change to 3-man squads solved nothing other than inconvenience those who like flying with their friends. Sure you solo lot are happy because you think you stand more of a chance, but really you don’t. It’s the match making that’s completely out of whack which is enhancing your chances right now, squads are weighted far too heavily and get thrown against harsh opposition at times in terms of ships.

 

If the match making actually worked properly and was capable of putting squads vs each other and fill the rest of the teams with solo players in a more equal manner, none of the squad size changes would even have been necessary. 

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Evil, it has become better in T5. I was with 2 randoms with partly T5 ships against a 3 man T5 squad. And we actually won. It wasn’t that they were terribly bad, we just stood an actual chance because with 3 v 3 its easier to work than 4 v 4 where the enemies will bring another heavy-damage or high-support ship in, which they now won’t have. 

 

And one corp vs corp releases, I’m sure we can do 4 vs 4 or 12 v 12 matches :wink:

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I used to be a solo player, but one day I decided I have the need of community.

I joined a corp with mandatory TS and was uneasy at first, but later when I got to know the people I liked it as much as when I logged and saw 0-2 people from friend list and in corp online I simply did not play or just tinkered in my garage/hangar.

With the squad reduction every time I joined TS there were still 10-15ish people. And making a squad with 2 others automatically excludes the 4th to seek other players. 

 

I agree on reduction of impact of death squads, but you know what will actually kill them ? Making them NOT Facing lower tiers … (read as 0.8.0 MM)

 

Before they mentioned squad change I was going to suggest 5 man squads, but they went the other way.

 

There are more and more limitations with each patch and less and less desire to play. As I, personally, like customization in games more than the actual game sometimes. And no, I do not mean fancy rainbow stickers. I mean customizations that change gameplay.

 

My weapon is doing 20% more damage than default ? Great, but it shoots 20% slower … or I have the option to shoot 20% faster and do 20% less damage ? Great, now to think how and which will affect me …

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Evil, it has become better in T5. I was with 2 randoms with partly T5 ships against a 3 man T5 squad. And we actually won. It wasn’t that they were terribly bad, we just stood an actual chance because with 3 v 3 its easier to work than 4 v 4 where the enemies will bring another heavy-damage or high-support ship in, which they now won’t have. 

 

And one corp vs corp releases, I’m sure we can do 4 vs 4 or 12 v 12 matches :wink:

 

This pretty much makes my point.

 

The solution to the scenario above is not to punish teams and limit them to 3 people, it’s to ensure that a 4-man squad never faces a group of 4 random people. A 4-man squad should be matched against another 4-man squad, possibly with some slight flexibility to allow a 3-man squad if no other options are available - but that should be the most extreme version. After that, the match maker should add another squad to both sides - and then fill with solo players.

 

It should NEVER put a squad against only solo players, period.

 

What the change to squads did, is give a giant middle finger to corporations who managed to put time and effort into developing good squads and strategies. All team-based games contain teams which are more successful. What on earth is the point of trying to make a competitive environment if you subsequently punish those who manage to become competitive?

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What the change to squads did, is give a giant middle finger to corporations who managed to put time and effort into developing good squads and strategies.

This.

 

It should NEVER put a squad against only solo players, period.

And a simple solution. 

And I am still standing by suggestion to allow quick forming pug squads once the game starts (anybody just clicks join squad 1, squad 2… and you’re in for the game. Very simple.)

And again, why are people defending solo players? Now, seriously. Take a good look at this game. Does it look like a free for all deathmach maybe? Where is the point to solo? In what multiplayer game with only team based game modes, would you want to play by yourself? Please, enlighten us. What is the advantage being by yourself? People will always group up, whether you like it or not. Basic principle of team based games is advantage in numbers, thus you should never be alone. Or you will die. It is simple as that.

Basic principles guys. Stay with the pack. Yes, you can solo backdoor a beacon with a recon and things like that, this is what light classes in every game do. But in general, you want to stay with the pack if you want to survive and win. This applied to every multiplayer game I ever played and is, well… a very simple, logical life scenario. Soloing is so completely off the table here that I cannot find any more words to express as to how wrong this is. In your defense against better teams, you just put it as if you are being “forced” to group up, like it is such a horrible thing to do. This is a team based game, so start improving your teamwork cooperation and awareness, it is one of the essences of the game! You are understanding this wrong and any arguments that support solo behavior are invalid.

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You are understanding this wrong and any arguments that support solo behavior are invalid. 

 

I agree with my good buddy Neo. This is a team game, and they are ruining it for everyone that is actually formign good effective teams, cause in a sense, a squad is an unstoppable force. Says so on the loading screen…

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I agree with my good buddy Neo. This is a team game, and they are ruining it for everyone that is actually formign good effective teams, cause in a sense, a squad is an unstoppable force. Says so on the loading screen…

A little offtopic : Also says “Destroys everything in its path” on Singularity cannon :wink:

 

But some new players are just sad that they can not equip their 6km range no overheat no aim needed hitscan weapon and just safely kill 6 frigates on their own before they even go in range to hit him once.

 

And once game is launched they care to hook alot of new fresh blood (13yo with big parent’s wallet) that want all and do not want to care about team. Just to pew pew stuff and spend money on T1 Mk premium modules ammo missiles and stuff. then switch to T2 all to T5, spending $1000+.

 

That is why the loyalty system was scrapped as it was too easy, not “encouraging” people to spent real life cash on premium modules and weapons.

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Neo, please tell me what the use is in having a squad in a PUG team…It has 0 use AT ALL. If they didn’t work together before they sure as hell won’t when auto-squadded, not to mention you won’t have the right ships combined which a pre-made squad will have. Thus it is a terrible and non-working solution.

 

And team game or not, it should be fun for EVERYONE, not just the 4 man death squads farming everyone who isn’t a 4 man death squad.

Not everyone wants to team up just to have fun. I like to get on, play some matches solo or with a squad(Though I kinda hate going on TS since I prefer listening to music :P) and that is it. Solo is nothing wrong with. Multiplayer or not, solo should be a viable option. Right now it is, with 4 man death squads we are right  back at invincible death squads and T5 will be abandoned once again, while right now more and more people are getting in there.

 

I understand what you guys mean, and agree to a certain point. But you should also realize this game is not “Squad or go F yourself” and solo should be viable and fun in all tiers.

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[…]

And team game or not, it should be fun for EVERYONE, not just the 4 man death squads farming everyone who isn’t a 4 man death squad.

Not everyone wants to team up just to have fun. […]

100% true. Solution:

 

Give us arcade mode back: You want play alone? You are not in a corp? No benefits of Sector Conquest. Just shooting other pugs. This is obviously the only thing they are interested in.

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Funky do you think larger squads would still be a problem if they didn’t have teamspeak ? Just curious.

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And team game or not, it should be fun for EVERYONE, not just the 4 man death squads farming everyone who isn’t a 4 man death squad.

Not everyone wants to team up just to have fun. I like to get on, play some matches solo or with a squad(Though I kinda hate going on TS since I prefer listening to music :P) and that is it. Solo is nothing wrong with. Multiplayer or not, solo should be a viable option. Right now it is, with 4 man death squads we are right  back at invincible death squads and T5 will be abandoned once again, while right now more and more people are getting in there.

 

You missed my response and the true nature of the problem. Squad size is not it - it’s the fact that a squad can be matched with a group of only randoms that is a problem. E.g. the match maker. Similarly, a squad of R15’s should simply not be matched with T4’s, regardless of how good those T4’s are. Let the R15’s sit by themselves with nobody to play against until there are more people with those ships - to be honest. The player base shouldn’t be punished for the fact that T5 was introduced too early and only at the benefit of a tiny portion of the players.

 

I disagree with you that more people are going to T5. If anything, people are abandoning T4/5 in droves and dropping to T3. That’s why you’re seeing matches which seem more fun, not because of the 3-man squads.

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You missed my response and the true nature of the problem. Squad size is not it - it’s the fact that a squad can be matched with a group of only randoms that is a problem. E.g. the match maker. Similarly, a squad of R15’s should simply not be matched with T4’s, regardless of how good those T4’s are.

 

There is the underlying problem. If we went with strict Teir locked games and then added a “Ranked” MM, where ranked only should concern sector conquest, then we will have a solution. 

 

 

Let the R15’s sit by themselves with nobody to play against until there are more people with those ships - to be honest. The player base shouldn’t be punished for the fact that T5 was introduced too early and only at the benefit of a tiny portion of the players.

 

The devs wanted to cater to the small, abiet, VERY SMALL, people who had max everything. 

 

I disagree with you that more people are going to T5. If anything, people are abandoning T4/5 in droves and dropping to T3. That’s why you’re seeing matches which seem more fun, not because of the 3-man squads.

 

I can say that more then half of the officers of my Corp are in T3, just for the sake of having fun. Then you have people like me, who want to constantly test there limits and ships, but be pushed to the breaking point due to bad games, MM times, and retarted 3 v 3’s

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I can say that more then half of the officers of my Corp are in T3, just for the sake of having fun. Then you have people like me, who want to constantly test there limits and ships, but be pushed to the breaking point due to bad games, MM times, and retarted 3 v 3’s

^ this

Really considering quitting now… Gonna get the last 5th day bonus and i’ll probably go off till october or release. If nothing changes till then i’m out.

Sorry WPK, i said i’d be joining you guys, but the game is losing it’s worth at a rather fast pace. You are always fun to fly with, which ever side we end up on!

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@ Astraal, I’m taking a small break of the game to wait for things to settle down a bit. Maybe you should do the same.

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I say everyone take a small break, Mabye we all need it. It will allow us to breath, clear our minds, and come back in a fresh state. I say take this opportunity to do a reformat, read a book, clean, or do something to get your mind off this game until the next patch. 

 

EDIT: My damn PC CAUGHT FIRE. I have pics soon…

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JPhack WTF did you do to your PC…

Also: OMG MY PC IS ON FIRE!!! Better take pictures!!! *House burns down*

 

And I read books and clean my room already, so that won’t work for me :stuck_out_tongue: I don’t need a break anyway >:) I just hope the devs realise the balance right now is a joke and that some dev needs to spend a full week fixing it, because 1 week is what is needed at most if he knows what he is doing…

60

Sure you solo lot are happy because you think you stand more of a chance, but really you don’t. It’s the match making that’s completely out of whack which is enhancing your chances right now, squads are weighted far too heavily and get thrown against harsh opposition at times in terms of ships.

 

If the match making actually worked properly and was capable of putting squads vs each other and fill the rest of the teams with solo players in a more equal manner, none of the squad size changes would even have been necessary. 

I know I don’t fair we well solo.  I do it for life reasons.  I play a couple games in a row, take a break, come back later maybe.  A week or two ago I clicked launch, and it triangulated.  Then my girlfriend starts talking to me about something, and I see “You are the captain, try not to die.”  Throw in the five year old, and squading can get complicated.  I’m not against it, but I also don’t want to waste others time by me going in and out of matches while dealing with everything in life.

 

Matchmaking was a huge issue with squads, but now not seeing a squad in an hour of playing is common.  Things have changed.  Too many details as to why.

 

This.

 

And a simple solution. 

And I am still standing by suggestion to allow quick forming pug squads once the game starts (anybody just clicks join squad 1, squad 2… and you’re in for the game. Very simple.)

And again, why are people defending solo players? Now, seriously. Take a good look at this game. Does it look like a free for all deathmach maybe? Where is the point to solo? In what multiplayer game with only team based game modes, would you want to play by yourself? Please, enlighten us. What is the advantage being by yourself? People will always group up, whether you like it or not. Basic principle of team based games is advantage in numbers, thus you should never be alone. Or you will die. It is simple as that.

Basic principles guys. Stay with the pack. Yes, you can solo backdoor a beacon with a recon and things like that, this is what light classes in every game do. But in general, you want to stay with the pack if you want to survive and win. This applied to every multiplayer game I ever played and is, well… a very simple, logical life scenario. Soloing is so completely off the table here that I cannot find any more words to express as to how wrong this is. In your defense against better teams, you just put it as if you are being “forced” to group up, like it is such a horrible thing to do. This is a team based game, so start improving your teamwork cooperation and awareness, it is one of the essences of the game! You are understanding this wrong and any arguments that support solo behavior are invalid.

You’re confusing solo with loner.  A solo player can be a team player.  A loner is like the four LRF’s huddled together right after spawn.