Idea to remove smurfing

I hate smurfs with a passion.

But making all accounts on the same pc/console the same rank has an unintended consequence. Namely what if two or more people are using the same pc/console to play? For example a parent and their child. One could be really good, the other absolute garbage. Each playing on their own account would now be unjustly punished due to this method.

Sadly this is not the way forward.

This is exactly the thing I was also discussing with my friend, but I wanted to get the discussion started to see if there is a way to avoid this forthcoming issue (your example father/ child).

I think there should be something that's possible, and where we get to a better sbmm. 

Not sure that lots of smurfs are paying for their account though...

About the performance indicator, I think, if the sbmm is better the player count will in the end be higher because people won't quit due to a faulty sbmm system. 

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@Xubunnytwo wrote:
@AnjunakrokusI have only been here about a month but I agree 100%, you cannot ban consoles and PCs with multiple accounts. However you could stipulate in the TOS a limitation. For example; let's assume you monitor a device using the internal signature. The sever database returns they have 3 accounts, on the one device. When they sign up for the 4th, it tells them sorry we cannot allow 4 accounts on the same device, without proper sanctions. Which means they have to provide proof they need the 4th account.

But here is the problem with this solution as well...

They could be running more than 1 device, PC, XB1, PS4, and PS5 would be 12 accounts. Spoofing your IP is all too easy on PC, with the correct broadband connection, you can run a PC on Stadia, GeForce Now, etc.. Streaming will report the machine ID of the streaming server and not the proper user device. Then even banned machine ID is no good, because you didn't ban 1 player, you just blacklisted an entire server.

This has been a thorn in the side of all programmers, since the internet started hosting games. We can build a better shields to defend, then a person on the other end makes a better spear to penetrate our shields. EAC has some good usage but it can only tell you so much, it can't read your mind... yet. The good guys are still working on it. ;-)

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Hmm, yeah I get your point. It s a difficult topic I guess. 

What about a workaround?

For example:

A pred player makes a smurf account to get into lower ranked (or pubs) lobbies.

The SBMM actively tracks the games (based on length of match, damage dealt, kills or kill points on a steady basis over several games) and puts those smurfs (read, non pred /master lobbies, but for example bronze, to diamond lobbies) correctly into parallel ranked lobbies with other similar skilled players?

So this way, even in the ranked system, there is a split between the normal players who want to enjoy the game ranking up against equally skilled players while the smurfs also plays against equally skilled or smurfs, in parallel ranked servers?

This should be a possibility of a workaround imo?

Improve the game design so that people become less interested in smurfing. Stop thinking of ways to patrol it. Come up with solutions that would persuade people to not do it. 

The game gets boring when you solo que at Diamond and keep getting potatoes for teammates. Either they don't do damage, don't communicate, or just push everything and die quickly after the first fight. It's the same story throughout all of ranked, but my patience wears out by that time. I play because its currently the best shooter. I love Battlefield, and loved Destiny 2, but those games are stagnant and are clueless with direction (that's whole other topic). It's an escapism from boredom and every day life. Ranked plays much different the pubs, and you are working towards a goal. It's far more rewarding to play ranked.

With the new improvements to Season 13 maybe those changes will help. I really do think it's too easy to climb and some people get carried far beyond their skill level. The game is designed to reward people that get some kills with good placement. You should have both skills to progress. Be able to win some fights, but also learn how to get decent placement. Play the circle and defend your position. Aiming is one skill, game sense is another. You should have both to progress. 

In my opinion, the climb should be more linear and lower ranks should have similar point distribution as the higher tiers. 

In Ranked, just increase the level minimum.  Seems so obvious and simple, not sure why Respawn hasn't experimented with it.

Otherwise, I think they'll need to change how they measure 'skill' in their SBMM.  They'll never tell how they do it because they consider it a 'secret formula' but moving players up quickly in lobbies (i.e.-dropping a 20 bomb at < level 100) might limit the issue.

I don't really know how to fix it.  All I know is that I absolutely hate smurfs.