Is it too late to change the Discordant soloQ mindset?

[illumius]

Was it really a thing that premates queued into discordant skirmishes?

If the scenario is in the regular roster, you may be drawn into the premade even when registering for skirmish.

[Culexus]

Just to save me typing out something similar again, I'm gonna be that guy and quote myself from another thread:

People talk a lot about rewards as an incentive to direct player behaviour, and this is true, but rarely is effort taken into consideration as a factor in player behaviour. Players will happily accept a lesser reward that requires little effort to obtain over a greater reward that requires more effort. It's why AAO doesn't work as an incentive and players keep solo queuing in scenarios when they're full of premade groups. The rewards are greater for switching to the side with AAO or joining a group for scenarios, but it requires more effort than joining the zerg or queuing solo, so players don't do it.

Imo, the way to get solo players to queue solo sc, is to tip the effort/reward balance in favor of doing so. The effort-to-reward ratio is in favor of clicking 'join all' over selecting the solo queue, as there is a higher pool of sc popping, so there is an increased chance of one of them being a win. If it isn't a win? Just quit after 4 min and roll the dice again. The effort/reward skews even more if you know there is a premade already in the queue on your side, as a solo player can join in the farm without the effort of being in a group themselves. On the other hand, if you know there are many enemy premades in the queue and you don't have any on your side, the rewards are less than the effort of queuing, so players stop queuing at all. The weekend sc is the exception to this, as the increased rewards from the event means players are willing to roll the dice in the hope of a win for longer than they normally would, as the potential rewards are higher than the effort of queue grinding.

We know from human psychology that adding even one extra step in a system will stop people from engaging with that system. This can be used to drive player behaviour into a more desirable outcome without them even realising it, and as they feel like they're making the choice themselves, they're happier with the system.

How to do this?

- Split the normal queue and solo queue from the same scenario window into two separate buttons right next to each other, with the solo button above the regular sc button. Label one "Solo player scenarios", and when you hover over the button, it will read: "Solo player scenarios. These scenarios are designed for a single player to queue at a time". Next, change the regular sc button to " Group scenarios", and when you hover over the button, it will read: "" Group scenarios. These scenarios are designed a group of 2 or more players".

- Once a player selects one type of sc, they are immediately dropped from the queue of the other, so they can only select to be in one or the other. Any duo+ of course wouldn't have the option of queuing the solo sc anyway, so it only really affects solo players.

- But how would this stop solo players from doing what they do now and just joining the group queue? Every time a solo player selects to join the group, they're met with a pop-up that could read something like:

You have joined the group scenario queue without a group. These scenarios are designed for 2 or more players. Please join the solo scenario queue or continue at your own risk!

To remove the pop-up and join the queue, players would then be presented with 2 options to select:

(1) Switch to solo scenarios (2) Continue to group scenarios

Why would this work? An extra step has to be taken each time a solo joins a group scenario over a solo scenario, and it makes the player aware that they are accountable for their actions, with the game even providing them with an instant way to correct their action and go to the solo queue that requires no more effort than clicking to continue to the group queue.

A system like the above will leave solo players with a choice that doesn't just restrict them to one queue. If they choose the group queue, they have to jump through more hoops to action that choice, and are aware that if they get farmed by a premade, they are fully accountable, as they made the decision to join the group queue solo, with the option to go back to solo queue provided to them each time.

A scenario weekly based on wins (not kills) will encourage more people to queue in both queues, with both queues providing influence to the weekly equally.

But, and this is very important, the weekend scenario event should be tied to the group queue exclusively. Solos can still join, but have to go through the system above to do so. Why? If the weekend event goes to the solo queue, there will be endless complainants from solo players crying "premades are queueing the event" every time they see two DPS hit the same target. The quality of many of the solo players in the game is so bad that even the slightest hint of group coordination is an '80+ BiS discord premade' to them. They simply don't understand how players can focus on the same targets without that being the case. It will also promote the idea of grouping up and provide rewards for doing so, just as it is intended to do now. The more encouragement players have to group with others and learn the game, the better.

[Stimpz]

Was it really a thing that premates queued into discordant skirmishes?

If the scenario is in the regular roster, you may be drawn into the premade even when registering for skirmish.

Ah yes, thank you! I remember that being a thing. So we know there was a bug. But is this the real answer? I doubt they changed duo to solo because of a bug, or did they?

[nocturnalguest]

Very great post.

Also i do support small&simple steps like Culexus describes, they may not seem like a proper fix but imo definitely steps into proper direction. If system would beforehand provide information about the risks, it may make some newcomers think twice.

Also, as i see the answer to a question of why discq is so bad - stomps are still happening, its actually enough for 2 proper, geared DPS who knows the drill to spawn in a same SC so they assist each other and do PROPER GAMEPLAY LIKE IT WAS DESIGNED. This, for an average solo enjoyer/pug hero feels like a scary PREMADE and a stomp happening cause they even without proper group/composition start to just own a thing. Stomp happens alot in discq too, even after duo's were removed (which was actually the most great thing to play if you dont have time or people to form competent group).

"There are not enough solo/pug players to support soloq" (c)

Despite it being a local meme, its actually not far from truth. I did enjoy discq myself while duo q has been allowed. I have never ever witnessed any kind of abuse myself. Nor actually even Wargrimmnir ever confirmed they have ever encountered such case with solid proofs. Altho i do clearly understand it was possible to game the system. Truth. But i dont know a single person who did it, while i do know lots who just duo q'ed as by design and had fun.

[illumius]

Was it really a thing that premates queued into discordant skirmishes?

If the scenario is in the regular roster, you may be drawn into the premade even when registering for skirmish.

Ah yes, thank you! I remember that being a thing. So we know there was a bug. But is this the real answer? I doubt they changed duo to solo because of a bug, or did they?

only solo q