I'm so frustrated with this game (Retribution)

[Zucadragon]

Because it's unbelievably cruel towards newbies like me.

I'm not new to strategy and tactics games. I'm fairly good with games like League of Legends, Starcraft 2/1 and many other games. But every match so far that I've gone into, has ended in a disaster because I (rank 180 or so) keep getting pitted against rank 1000 or higher enemies and they slaughter me, they wipe the floor with me and "that is not fun."

I can take on hard computers pretty okay, having practiced quite a few matches, trying out tactics, so I was feeling a little confident that I'd atleast do okay... But nope, getting wiped every single time.

I'm not sure how this makes the game attractive to any other newbies, if that's all you're going to get multiplayer.

I end up just playing "The Last Stand" because suprisingly, that atleast isn't insanely brutal to you.

Are there any plans to address this? Any plans to set up a matchmaking system that actually matches you with people of your own level and skill? Or am I just going to end up smashed a few more times before leaving this game in utter frustration?

If you guys could switch to more of a "server list" variant of game hosting, you could very easily set up your own games, advocating newbies to join and learn, it'd be a million times easier to deal with.

[mlai]

You actually manage to get matches with auto matchmaking? I can't even get automatches anymore, the game is so dead. So I have to deal with playing public 3v3s and FFAs.

Keep at it. The more games you play, the more accurately the computer can calculate your actual skill standing. However, maybe it's just that at the time of day you play, only veterans are automatching. Newbies usually just go play 3v3 on public.

[Zucadragon]

I don't really often see any public matches, is this game region bound as well like Starcraft 2 is? (boo on that, can't play with any friends in the US on that game)

[Caeltos]

There's a project called Learn 2 Play (Yes, It's actually called that, and I mean no offense. Check it up on steam) they could help you improve, it certainly has helped alot of other people, and they're genuially nice people.

[Codex]

The game is not region bound. You can play public with anybody else.

[comradegrumpy]

Another good tip is to read this thread: http://forums.relicnews.com/showthre...r-surviving-MP . Whilst some of it is more than a little out-of-date, Octo's tactical primer is still a very good place to get some grounding on multiplayer DoW2.

[Codex]

The thing is, the difference between DOW2 and SC2 is that DOW2 matchmaking assumes you're good to begin with and then adjusts your skill rating accordingly, and SC2 makes you work your way up from the bottom. As such, public games are the good testing grounds. Games with names like "noobs only" or "midskill only" etc... Matchmaking intentionally throws you into the deep end.

[mlai]

Most "noobs only" games are just mid-skillers trying to find gullible noobs for their preset guild-team to bash for stats/XP.
As a rule don't play against a team with a bracket like [XYZ] or [We Are A Team], while your team is just a cobbled-together bunch of noobs. Also take a look at the players' skill ratings.

[Zucadragon]

I didn't actually expect this place to be so active, hah.

I did read the guide before, but I find it hard to really relate text to an in game experience, you generally learn by playing and trying tactics out because for me at least, it's hard to remember specific words from some text on good tactics. But as I said, I'm pretty familiar with a lot of games, tactical and strategy related, games like "commandos" were a blast to me for instance. It's an interesting guide, but generally, I won't remember much of it.

I'll look out for more "noob" games in the public channels though, that seems to be my safest bet.

The guide also says that practicing against computer opponents is a good idea, but if I can beat those easily, coming out as the best player vs hard computers, and I still suck vs actually people, I'm not sure how much good that is doing, any thoughts on that?

----------

I'll check the learn 2 play thing out as well.

[mlai]

Mainly use computer opponent to try out the units/wargear/abilities so you're familiar with how they work. Cuz you don't have time for that in a real online game. That's about it. The AI for DOW2 is HORRIBLE. It doesn't play like a human at all; just a omniscient computer which can cheat by seeing everything, but doesn't have a clue how to play. DOW1's AI, both the retail version and the Skirmish AI mod version, are way superior.

[ThunderHost]

I'll do some introductionary games with if you'd like. I believe I can handle all races on a fair level to teach you their intristical strenght and weaknesses

[Codex]

Even if there's no visible activity on this board, a few DOW2 vets are still active elsewhere on RN (I'm pretty much only at General Discussions or Gamers' Lounge these days) but they would be willing to help.

[comradegrumpy]

What Codex said... I tend to only skim past the DoW2 forums on my way to Painting and Modelling these days, but I'm around to provide constructive criticism if you like. Posting replays for us to analyse can also be useful (who knows, it might breathe some life back into the Replays section).

[Vintage]

Even if there's no visible activity on this board, a few DOW2 vets are still active elsewhere on RN (I'm pretty much only at General Discussions or Gamers' Lounge these days) but they would be willing to help.

It's true. I'm a dusty old veteran but I am willing to share my experience with the new generation. If you are interested Zucadragon.

http://steamcommunity.com/id/mikeymouse/

[Pocari]

I don't really often see any public matches, is this game region bound as well like Starcraft 2 is? (boo on that, can't play with any friends in the US on that game)

No but most players seem to be from Europe so your time zone may be bad generally.

The thing is, the difference between DOW2 and SC2 is that DOW2 matchmaking assumes you're good to begin with and then adjusts your skill rating accordingly

I think the more important thing is, there's not so many DoW2 players around anymore so you just get whoever's available...

[ph03nIXx]

*laughs* Well, obviously we ARE way more active than even I thought... just wanted to say +1 for Thunders and all the other offers... don't get to play much these days with finally getting something akin to a fulltime job, but still, I am all up for some distraction in the evenings.

[Alpha_1]

Correct me if I am wrong but doesn't everyone get pitted against 1000 to start? Isn't it after like 10 or 20 games that you get a score and if it is less than 1000 you can still get pitted against 1000?

[Zucadragon]

I'm quite interested in that, so I added you

[ph03nIXx]

Hmmm... totally unrelated, but still: anyone here that know how this "steam profile" addin button below my avatar works? cause no matter what I do, displayed profile is wrong - using my steam account name doesn't find a thing, using my community profile name spits out something different alltogether... just saw that as I never bothered to check before...

[Maktaka]

If you've setup a Steam URL at some point, put in the name used for that (which may not be your username!). If you haven't, you'll need to get the number string from the URL bar when viewing your profile and put that in. Assuming this is you, then you'll need to use the code 76561197976502257. Steam usernames aren't unique so you can't use those, the URL piece IS, so that's what's used by the Steam widget.

[Zucadragon]

So I've been playing imperial guard for a bit, I can take down the computer easily, but no matter what I try, I seem to get my ass kicked in player to player battles each and every single time.

I'm trying to find a balance between attacking and retreating, but at times the enemy will just come in so fast, that I lose full groups before I even have a chance to really react. On top of that I've found instances where my retreating groups go right "through" enemy lines instead of around, basically resulting in a dead army.

How do I deal with those?

[Arbit]

It would be best if you could post a replay so we can see exactly what is happening.

If your opponent already has squads in your retreat path there's nothing much you can do about it. The best thing to do is scout and try to anticipate where he is so it doesn't happen in the first place. Maneuvering and map awareness are a very big part of 1v1 so it'd be best to work on both... watch that minimap.

[Zucadragon]

Alright, I'll see about saving a replay next time.

One other question, I recently had a match, 2 vs 2, Tyranid and imperial guard (us) vs chaos space marine and imperial guard. It was going back and forth a bit, right up to the point a chaos dreadnaught came into play, no matter what kind of units I had (tier 1 or 2), it took basically everything we both had to take it down, losing us a ton of time and points.

How does the imperial guard deal with a dreadnaught when their only real heavy weapons come into play tier 3?

[Ra owa]

Lascannon + melta stormtroopers is a good starting point, using the melta charge that the upgraded stormtoopers get, and then finishing it off with their melta guns. IIRC they can cloak, making easier to ambush the dreadnaught. The lascannon will help to snare the dreadnaught, while doing some nice damage, also.
This goes for most vehicles, really.

[Zucadragon]

How do I add a replay?

[ph03nIXx]

If you want to post a replay, go to the Battle Archives subforum and attach said replay via the Manage Attachements Button at the bottom of the Thread creation interface.

Afterwards, just link the thread here.

@Mak

Thx for the info - seems those URL Pieces aren't perfect though - while the widget now gives the correct profile, clicking them in the widget results in Steam telling me that the profile does not exist. Gotta go through Steam settings to set up a steam url, it seems...

EDIT: And that did it.

[Zucadragon]

tinyurl.com/cgeqfw3

(I can't post the normal link, so had to make it tiny to compensate.)

And here it is, a view of the mind of a noob or something like that. In the meantime I have won my first ever match, though I feel it doesn't really count because one player (not this match) who was playing Eldar actually just parked his whole army at one of the points for a few minutes, without doing much else, allowing us a ton of time to stick to, and keep the other two points with ease. (2 vs 2 match)

Anyways, yes, a replay :P