Suggestion for balanced multi player. . .

[tarvitz]

I just started in dow2 and am having a great time learning the new game, its pretty good. But I just started playing the auto match up games and keep getting slaughtered. (big surprise =)) But this last match was a 2 on 2 it was two level 1 players a level 56 and a level 54, so what does to computer do? You guessed it, links up the two level 1s on a team?????

That was AWESOME!!!!

Maybe the comp could try and even out the rank. . .

[Codex]

not sure how this is a suggestion rather than a rant, but here goes.

matchmaking is done by TS. TS=/= rank. rank 60s might have a lot of experience with the game but i've seen TS24 rank 60s before.

the problem is, when you first play the game, your TS is 0 with an uncertainty of 30. that means that you can get matched up with anyone between -30 and +30 TS. since there isn't any negative TS you can match up between 0 and 30. uncertainty decreases when a prediction is correct and increases when a prediction is wrong.

so a TS30 guy is expected to beat a TS20. if he does, perhaps TS30 goes up to TS30.5 and TS20 goes down to TS19.5, and both their uncertainties go down (since this was a predicted result). on the other hand, if the TS20 wins, TS30=> TS26, TS20=> TS24, and uncertainty for both players go UP, since this was an upset.

this system is to stop smurfs from being able to keep bashing noobs for ages. it works, for one. my alternate accounts get matched up with very good players quickly and my TS for the races shoot up, which gives me an estimate of my TS quite well (i hope). the thing is that until you've got a few games under your belt your TS uncertainty will be high so will match you will all but the top players without question. when you get about 30 games you'll get better.

plus, you were probably playing an arranged team.

[Sword_Monkey]

Welcome to the game tarvitz. Matchmaking and TS is a hot topic for sure, it's love or hate to many. But as OMGClayAiken says it works to a certain degree, you'll just find it horrible and frustrating at first as you get into online play. If anything Relic should look at making the TS system work for newbies, making it more useful for gauging their skill and pairing them with new players. (Personally I see the initial uncertainty leeway slightly ridiculous)

I'm locking this because we've seen it before, and is a continued issue. We have a big update coming soon, and though it's unlikely we might see a matchmaking restructuring that'll allay some of these worries.

Thanks!