Group Queues and Solo Merc Queues?

To many, the frequency of imbalanced matches in Dust 514 at this early stage is concerning. The amount of redline matches is excessive. They see a system where poor matchmaking too often allows games that are grossly imbalanced and one sided. We've come to the conclusion that this has more to do with blending games together with casual and hardcore players than anything else. That in addition to not using a mechanic that seeks to balance teams seems to be blame for a lack of competition in these instances. One of the solutions might lie in allowing newer players and those interested in solo play a separate queue from the hardcore players itching to test out larger groups and team play. Some would argue that this is what Corp Battles are for. Unfortunately though, no one actually uses corp battles. We've sent 'reporters' out to observe no less than twenty corp matches and exactly one was coordinated well and started on time. The global nature of the playerbase and real life commitments still make online scheduling more of a crap shoot than anything else.


At the same time, its important that newer and solo players have the option to avoid playing against large numbers of experienced players and corps interested in large-scale carnage. This post from Kellyn Whiteheart of Zion TCD got us to thinking of a way to please everyone: "what about a separate queue one for just small squads of 4 and randoms and then another queue where 2 or more squads can queue up and be on the same team. kinda like corp battles but the corp doesnt get money and that queue is matched with other squads for instance."

Argo Filch of Betamax was even more specific: "If the matchmaking system is even a bit worth it's name there will be not that much pubstomping going on in pub matches. If a corp or even just random dudes organizing in chat channels sign up as a group of 8 or 16 or whatever then i'd bloody well expect that matchmaking system to match them against people other groups that size and sprinkle perhaps only a few others in." Here's what we propose:

Standard Queue - This one is simple. Players interested in quick solo games would use this option. This queue would only consist of single players and no one grouped up with other players could use this option to locate matches. This queue would also better balance the teams using War Points or other useful criteria. Most importantly this would provide an avenue for newer players without being matched against organized groups of elite players.

Group Queue - The general understanding here is that groups would play against groups of similar sizes as much as possible. That said, players that go into this queue should be prepared for groups as small as 2 players to as large as 24. While we hope matchmaking will be smart enough to put small [2-4 players] medium [8-16 players] and large [20+ players] groups in games together, or even merge groups [a large group with two small groups for instance] there would obviously be no guarantee based on trying to avoid long wait times.

Some of the organized, larger corps are voicing their frustrations with not being able to play together. Here are some of the quotes we've seen from beta testers regarding the lack of larger scale grouping and a queue that matches up groups of similar sizes:

"Nobody corpbattles though. CCP should just create a mercenary Q in the same vain as COD for the people that don't have others to play with."

"The game is already a usual redline fest or boring matches between randoms..."

"There are numerous ways to do this and there are many threads for this. Randoms should have their own little Shire. Mordor is for the hardcore."

"I'm tired of playing against my corpmates. it's ridiculous that we are given absolutely no control over who we play alongside, unless we forgo advancing our characters (no SP in corp battles) or play a different game."

"I agree there is no reason to not allow bigger groups because you are worried about "clans pwning randoms" this is happening anyway." 

" Pub matches are normally pretty one sided anyways. The only time I normally get a good fight is when our squad gets paired against another corp squad. And hell the outcome is normally decided on what team has the better blue dots (more corp players)"

"All kidding aside,I think that if the next build(whenever that may be) comes out,there absolutely has to be bigger squads,even if it means just two squads of eight,to fill the 16 player side."

"Personally, I'd rather lose a match because of bad strategy than because of no strategy at all--which is what happens in pub matches with randoms."

"if the devs want this game to actually go someplace, at somepoint, they have to open the cages and let the monsters out. that's just the long and short of it."

"I came to this game as a team based shooter. I will not be wasting my time on playing a team based game with only 4 people."

As always, we'll continue to attempt to help push and publish ideas that help establish and grow the Dust 514 community as much as we can. Have any ideas that need sharing? Be sure to contact us at magww@live.com