Team stacking and switching teams

[Ripper McGee]

These points have been discussed in a number of general PvP posts, but I thought they deserved their own thread:

1) The number of players required to start a match - simply put, the system is borked. The minimum required number of players on each team must be three, but the counter doesn't reset when a player drops out. This can lead to severely stacked matches (I was in a 5 vs 1 earlier). I would address this first by resetting the counter when a player leaves and secondly, by not allowing a player to join a team when there's already 1-player extra on the team.

2) Switching teams - one should not be able to switch teams. I did it earlier today, because I was the first player on my team and 4 others joined me against the sole player on the other team. Due to the faulty counting, it ended up being a 5 vs. 1 match, so I switched teams to help out. I shouldn't have to do that and I shouldn't be able to switch teams mid-match anyway! Furthermore, this leads to the possibility of being able to actually have a single-player match, which would be exploitable for raising CTF captures!

[Buster]

Well 1v1 if cnt b 2v1 were would we join?

[Ripper McGee]

Well 1v1 if cnt b 2v1 were would we join?

"not allowing a player to join a team when there's already 1-player extra on the team"

If there's a 1v1 match, then there's not already 1 player extra on any team. As such, you could join either team. If, however, there was a 2v1 match, you could only join the team with 1 player in order to balance the teams.

[Late]

Well some people leav during combat so when it's under 3 everyone should be sent back to the starting point and wait for at least 3 players on each side

[Ripper McGee]

Well some people leav during combat so when it's under 3 everyone should be sent back to the starting point and wait for at least 3 players on each side

That only penalizes players who are already playing. I'd rather see penalties against drop-outs in order to give them incentive to stay.

[Range]

They should let the match start when there is 1 player on each side plain and simple. If u don't like the odds then leave. Just my opinion

[Samhayne]

Great feedback and suggestions. Thanks Ripper!

[Otukura]

I actually really think the ability to rejoin to swap teams needs to stay. A friend and I generally will always go to the losing side, if they should end up leaving, in effort to keep things balanced.

[Ripper McGee]

I actually really think the ability to rejoin to swap teams needs to stay. A friend and I generally will always go to the losing side, if they should end up leaving, in effort to keep things balanced.

I can definitely see that scenario, but do you think the counters should be reset upon switching sides? Also, if a good system is put in place to deter drop-outs (they can't be prevented, ever, but they can be deterred), would this matter?

[Growwle]

I played a CTF game yesterday, where there were already three players on one side, so I joined the other. Three more players joined the red team and would not switch over to get the game started, so we sat and waited for 10 minutes. There should be a system that autoassigns teams, but allows you to queue as a group if you want, similar to other MMO systems.

[Ripper McGee]

I played a CTF game yesterday, where there were already three players on one side, so I joined the other. Three more players joined the red team and would not switch over to get the game started, so we sat and waited for 10 minutes. There should be a system that autoassigns teams, but allows you to queue as a group if you want, similar to other MMO systems.

Yeah, that's really frustrating. I stated in chat "you know we could have started if you had just picked <insert color>", not that it's every made any impression. Some players only want to play with friends. As far as I'm concerned, I'd rather play--either with or against friends--as long as I can actually play, not sit around waiting...

[Hullukko]

2) Switching teams - one should not be able to switch teams. I did it earlier today, because I was the first player on my team and 4 others joined me against the sole player on the other team. Due to the faulty counting, it ended up being a 5 vs. 1 match, so I switched teams to help out. I shouldn't have to do that and I shouldn't be able to switch teams mid-match anyway! Furthermore, this leads to the possibility of being able to actually have a single-player match, which would be exploitable for raising CTF captures!

I disagree. One should most certainly be allowed to switch teams. That's about the only way to balance uneven teams for crying out loud.
If you want to restrict it then restrict it so that only jumps to teams with fewer players be allowed. Your point about you not needing to do it in the first place is a faulty premise, because in online games people come people go, no matter the incentives. After that you got two options start over or even the teams. In most circumstances the latter is the path of least resistance. And this currently is indeed a problem in many fights. In many cases I would be more than happy to even the teams, but I am unable to do so, because leaving and joining through the sanctuary seems to fail more often than succeed.

(perhaps it gets easier when most active CTF players get friended and rejoining their fights is thus possible, which is essentially a switch)

But I do agree with the parallel point you made about not letting people join teams with extra players already in said teams.

[Nassar]

I switch teams to even things up when the numbers are out of whack.
Plus, if it happens mid-match, that just means more kills and goals for me. >;-)

[Otukura]

I switch teams to even things up when the numbers are out of whack.
Plus, if it happens mid-match, that just means more kills and goals for me. >;-)

Assuming you're Nassar in game, if its 3v1, why join the 3 and make it a 4?

[Nassar]

Assuming you're Nassar in game, if its 3v1, why join the 3 and make it a 4?

I don't think you read what I wrote.
Other way around.
If it's 5v3, I make it 4v4. 4v2 -> 3v3, 3v1 -> 2v2

If the numbers can't be helped, I favor red team.

[Otukura]

I don't think you read what I wrote.
Other way around.
If it's 5v3, I make it 4v4. 4v2 -> 3v3, 3v1 -> 2v2

If the numbers can't be helped, I favor red team.

I know what you wrote. And it's not what you did in game. It was 3v1, and you joined the team with 3 making it 4.

[Blaquehaaart]

Why not just make a 45 minute re-entry cool down for people that prematurely drop a match. That shouldn't effect the people that need to leave for legitimate reasons, and it would also discourage players from dropping game, to queue for another one instead.

As for the having uneven teams, add a life or damage buff for the team will less people that correlates to difference in people on the opposing team. Example if it's 2v5 (one team up by 3) than the people that are on the team short of players get an additional 300 health (100 health per additional person on the opposing team), or give them +30 damage (10 damage per additional person on the opposing team). Hell, I would want to play outnumbered just to have the buff. Also, you could maybe lower to queue number to 2, thus speeding up the wait time for matches.

Maybe you can make that buff only apply when you get hold of the cube...dunno, just another idea to throw in there. I think that would be fun. Being in a match that's 1v5 would be kinda cool, you have 400 extra health or 40 extra damage to slaughter people with. However, I don't think it would be so overpowered against a coordinated team, but strong enough to take on team that are not working well together.

I think those solutions in tandem would work pretty well, and give a new and fun dimension to the game.

[Otukura]

As for the having uneven teams, add a life or damage buff for the team will less people that correlates to difference in people on the opposing team. Example if it's 2v5 (one team up by 3) than the people that are on the team short of players get an additional 300 health (100 health per additional person on the opposing team), or give them +30 damage (10 damage per additional person on the opposing team). Hell, I would want to play outnumbered just to have the buff. Also, you could maybe lower to queue number to 2, thus speeding up the wait time for matches.

Maybe you can make that buff only apply when you get hold of the cube...dunno, just another idea to throw in there. I think that would be fun. Being in a match that's 1v5 would be kinda cool, you have 400 extra health or 40 extra damage to slaughter people with. However, I don't think it would be so overpowered against a coordinated team, but strong enough to take on team that are not working well together.

I think those solutions in tandem would work pretty well, and give a new and fun dimension to the game.

I really like this suggestion.

[Nassar]

I know what you wrote. And it's not what you did in game. It was 3v1, and you joined the team with 3 making it 4.

I can't recall though I know I was guilty of this a couple of times when I first started playing.
umad?

[Otukura]

I can't recall though I know I was guilty of this a couple of times when I first started playing.
umad?

i nerd rage @ anything hypocritical :3