Force Open WBs to be 2/2/2s
Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2024 3:29 am
I think it would go along nicely with the Dev's plans for Scenarios, published last August - "The primary focus of this redesigned system will be on optimizing team formation". The same care for team composition should be applied to Open WBs.
It will be an improvement for the game in a few ways:
- It makes the easiest to join content a better experience, helping with player retention. Most of the game's content is player created, but if there are no pugleaders out on the lakes when you log in, oRvR is essentially "locked" for most players who don't want the hassle of making and leading their own WB, or don't have the skills to do it.
- Open WBs as they currently are just aggravates blobs and makes the winning side stronger. Since a lot of this game's basic mechanics requires, for the most part, a basic distribution between classes - Guards, limited self healing, limited dmg by non dps specs - an Open WB with a random composition have no chance against a 2/2/2 WB, even if its also a "pugband" that aren't in Discord comms. So all an Open WB does - cuz its all it can do - is follow organized WBs and leech a tiny bit of renown.
- It will diminish the gap between organized WBs and pug WBs. How much so is hard to say, but as it currently stands, an open WB lacking Tanks and Healers will never beat a 2/2/2 WB.
- Will make the lakes more active during "low pop" time zones. Again, most of the game is player created content, by making the "Click and Play" WBs more capable of fighting on their own, it diminishes the necessity that specific players - the pugleaders - be present for there to be content in the game when there aren't 10 different guilds playing.
And it will not exclude stubborn players that abhor the basic idea that this is a team game. If they really don't want to play a Tank or Healer to fill in whatever 2/2/2 Open WB is out there, they can just make their own DPS heavy Open WB to feed proper enemy WBs or leech a tiny bit of renown, just like it is in the current system. Nor will it impede WB Leaders from making whatever composition they want, just don't click on the "Open WB" button and you have total control.
Also, hopefully its possible to make the game distinguish between a Healer and a Healer Class that is specced for DPS. You can become the Ranged Champion in City by slotting a "dps tactic" before the end of phase 2, so maybe this means it can be done here too.
It will be an improvement for the game in a few ways:
- It makes the easiest to join content a better experience, helping with player retention. Most of the game's content is player created, but if there are no pugleaders out on the lakes when you log in, oRvR is essentially "locked" for most players who don't want the hassle of making and leading their own WB, or don't have the skills to do it.
- Open WBs as they currently are just aggravates blobs and makes the winning side stronger. Since a lot of this game's basic mechanics requires, for the most part, a basic distribution between classes - Guards, limited self healing, limited dmg by non dps specs - an Open WB with a random composition have no chance against a 2/2/2 WB, even if its also a "pugband" that aren't in Discord comms. So all an Open WB does - cuz its all it can do - is follow organized WBs and leech a tiny bit of renown.
- It will diminish the gap between organized WBs and pug WBs. How much so is hard to say, but as it currently stands, an open WB lacking Tanks and Healers will never beat a 2/2/2 WB.
- Will make the lakes more active during "low pop" time zones. Again, most of the game is player created content, by making the "Click and Play" WBs more capable of fighting on their own, it diminishes the necessity that specific players - the pugleaders - be present for there to be content in the game when there aren't 10 different guilds playing.
And it will not exclude stubborn players that abhor the basic idea that this is a team game. If they really don't want to play a Tank or Healer to fill in whatever 2/2/2 Open WB is out there, they can just make their own DPS heavy Open WB to feed proper enemy WBs or leech a tiny bit of renown, just like it is in the current system. Nor will it impede WB Leaders from making whatever composition they want, just don't click on the "Open WB" button and you have total control.
Also, hopefully its possible to make the game distinguish between a Healer and a Healer Class that is specced for DPS. You can become the Ranged Champion in City by slotting a "dps tactic" before the end of phase 2, so maybe this means it can be done here too.