Level-up Arenas.

[Vinkman]

I would like suggest arranging Arenas by Pilot rank, or Level-up arenas. Noobs all start in the Noob arena. Once you've demonstated you're in the upper percentile of Noobs you are allowed to enter the MODERATE arena, after that the EXPERT arena. Of course once you level up, no going back to the less skilled arena unless your score tanks in the next up Arena. This way the experts don't have to waste their time, and run their scores up, chasing after running noobs, and Noobs don't have to get discoraged that they are not having any success which leads to them quitting the game before they have developed the skill-set to be competitive. Then Titanic Tuesday could be the one night when everyone flies together. I think the K/D distribution the Lusche posted is so left shifted because of the talent disparity in the MA.

Leveling up can be due to many criteria not just the current 'pilot rank', I'm just using that as a catch all phrase for sake of concept.

I also think this would help retain a lot of new pilots and help grow the business.

[Saxman]

We already pretty much have a Noob arena. It's the cesspool called Furball Lake in the DA.

[Anaxogoras]

What about the fact that two people with the same score can be leagues apart in skill?  For instance, let's say a K/D of 1 is the threshold to be considered somewhat skilled (and even then some great sticks are below 1).  All too frequently you will have pilots with K/D ratios of 1-1.5 who are better combat pilots than those with K/D ratios of 2, 3 or even 4+.  If you spend any time at all flying base defense in this game, your K/D will suffer.  If you routinely stall fight better turning aircraft because you want to see how long you can last, your K/D will suffer.  If you fly higher ENY aircraft, for the most part, your K/D will suffer.  In other words, in order to implement your idea, you'd have to have some way to determine skill from score stats alone, but score stats tell us nothing about skill past a K/D of ~1.

[Lusche]

You hardly can get better if you're not fighting better opponents.

Of course once you level up, no going back to the less skilled arena unless your score tanks in the next up Arena

Rank is easy to manipulate - in both directions. It has very, very little to do with actual skill.

[Krusty]

Forget that... What is "better"???


Score?

Hell most of the top 5 ranked "score potato" pilots can't fight their way out of a paper bag. They'd be all alone in the empty "expert" arena.


No, wait, that's GREAT!! Let them milkrun all they want in there!!! Keep them out of the majority arena!


EDIT: Lusche posted the gist of my reply already, heheh

[Vinkman]

What about the fact that two people with the same score can be leagues apart in skill?  For instance, let's say a K/D of 1 is the threshold to be considered somewhat skilled (and even then some great sticks are below 1).  All too frequently you will have pilots with K/D ratios of 1-1.5 who are better combat pilots than those with K/D ratios of 2, 3 or even 4+.  If you spend any time at all flying base defense in this game, your K/D will suffer.  If you routinely stall fight better turning aircraft because you want to see how long you can last, your K/D will suffer.  If you fly higher ENY aircraft, for the most part, your K/D will suffer.  In other words, in order to implement your idea, you'd have to have some way to determine skill from score stats alone, but score stats tell us nothing about skill past a K/D of ~1.

As I stated "rank' or 'Level' would need some thought as you discribe. I think the smart minds of the BBs could propose something not too restrictive but still met the basic purposes which are:
1. Keep noobs in the game by creating a safer arena for them to cut their teeth in
2. create better competition for more experienced pilots.
3. control some of the 'squeakerness' that seems to piss off the veterans, by allowing them to develop situational/communication maturity before upon entering the Expert Arena.


Time and kills might be enough as well. If I guy flys for 1 year, and has 100 kills, I think he's pretty much ready for the next level regarless of K/D etc, because he clearly is a fan of the game and will stick with it.

[Bruv119]

Forget that... What is "better"???


Score?

Hell most of the top 5 ranked "score potato" pilots can't fight their way out of a paper bag. They'd be all alone in the empty "expert" arena.

Lets see top 5 pilots in fighter mode.   Grizz,  Sharp, snailman (he doesn't really count as he has no backbone of his own admission), Devour and wmaker.

So Krusty can you outfly any of the above so easily?

the argument was based on K/D hence the use of  Fighter stats.

[Lusche]

snailman (he doesn't really count as he has no backbone of his own admission)

And his top 5 ranking is just a result of almost exclusively flying the Tempest the whole tour.   

[Krusty]

You forgot a lot of others, too. Names that I have regularly killed whenever I can get them alone without their "escorts" ...


Kills/deaths is no measure of skill. It's a measure of how you fly (not how WELL you fly).

[Anaxogoras]

Bruv, I'm pretty sure krusty was talking about overall-rank, not fighter category.

Oh, now this is too funny.  You were ranked #1 overall last tour.  Now, I know you fight like a demon, but I don't want to know what you did to get a good rank in ground vehicles and bombing.  Well, actually, I know what you did to get those ranks because I've done it myself just to see.

[Lusche]

Stats can be fascinating. Score can be a fun thing for some of us . Rank can give you a nice "look at me feeling" that nobody else cares about.


But giving score & rank a "true" meaning beyond a necessary evil for controlling task groups is most probably not a very good idea for gameplay.

Arenas divided by any kind of "success"? There's already way too much EGO in this game.

[Bruv119]

I was just trying to point out the top 5 guys in fighter rank usually are pretty decent sticks.

As it accounts for KPH / total kill points and hit %  etc  that usually weeds out the lame boring pickers.  Of course I know how to game the scoring system better than most  .  

The OP idea isn't that bad I think an arena for 2 weekers (or guys who cant fly very well) to learn and fight or at least get proficient amongst others of similiar skill level will help reduce the cries of HO etc.

I still would much rather  see a dueling ladder system that would accurately reflect the better sticks.

[Krusty]

Lusche, I generally agree, but what about giving rank and score the artificially inflated meaning it already has?

I'm all for score reform, so that it's less of a crutch or bragging point for many players. I think it should be toned down, rather than blown up.

I think this thread's idea blows it up even more, so I am against it.

[Lusche]

The OP idea isn't that bad I think an arena for 2 weekers (or guys who cant fly very well) to learn and fight or at least get proficient amongst others of similiar skill level will help reduce the cries of HO etc.

It would actually reinforce "bad" habits. See furball lake. Who will those "noobs" learn from? And one can only guess the frustration of those being stuck in the kiddy arena for lack of talent.
I really do not see the point in trying to split the arenas in any way like this. Why shouldn't Mr. Godly and Mr. Suck have fun together in the same squad?

[Lusche]

Lusche, I generally agree, but what about giving rank and score the artificially inflated meaning it already has?

I'm all for score reform, so that it's less of a crutch or bragging point for many players. I think it should be toned down, rather than blown up.

I think this thread's idea blows it up even more, so I am against it.

I do not see any difference in our viewpoints on that topic?