Re: Explaining how the matchmaking works
My view on all of this changed drastically this split - managed to finally find a solid 2 players (D4 level on average) to play with on daily basis and we just swooped through G2 to D4 in sub 1 week getting us now into ex-Master/Pred lobbies aka current Diamond lobbies.
One thing I noticed right away after playing a few games with randoms when my mates were offline was that randoms at this level 8 out of 10 times are actually very decent - no need to talk basics, they use in-game mic every damn time, coms are super clear.
Yet given all of the above, I still struggle in Diamond lobbies and mainly because I am just not good enough, that is clear and matchmaking can't really fix it in my opinion. Only easy games I get is when somehow after playing Master/Pred lobbies I get into Diamond/Plat (for whatever reason), those games are significantly easier in comparison yet no pushover either, I die yet with a fighting chance vs being instakilled in Master/Pred ones.
Suggestions regarding matchmaking out of this experience:
- have different systems, rules for each mode given all 3 are not really comparable, I can't get pushed into Pred lobbies because I just won a public game during warmup with my set squad, our win rate in pubs is like 20%+ while in ranked I struggle to break 5% at any level above Gold really.
- remove matchmaking from pubs entirely - pubs always, in my opinion, has been a fun free for all and there are too many stats to compile, matchmaking in pubs will be waaaay off anyway which is the current experience for most. Just remove it.
- in ranked I would again suggest 3 different systems or rules
a) ranks Gold 1 and below - take last X game performance (damage, placement, RP gained or lost) and match people based on that
b) Plat 4 to D1 - take last X game performance yet also ranks into account, meaning that at first all Diamond players are matched with Diamond, Plat with Plat and only then there is a room for mixed lobby
c) Master/Pred - should be matched only vs Master/Pred and only say after 15-20 min queue time (average time for the game to take place) there should be a rule to push Diamond players into such lobbies indicating that there are lack of players online. Plat players should not be present in Master/Pred lobbies period
d) set squads should not be viewed as an advantage - there is no point really in pushing set squads into higher tier lobbies. The set squad is an advantage in this game and you should reap the benefits not get punished for it. Also when you play with a set squad of random players from say Discord it is still random matchmaking - the game can't distinguish between two yet there is a hug difference.
The logic behind above said - Gold and below lobbies are just bad enough / forgiving enough to be able to have fun, play your own style, see if you want to improve. MM should ensure just somewhat decent distribution yet not play a critical role because let's be honest even the best Bronze players (unless smurfing or from other BR games) will be still much worse than Gold players meaning that either we get back to +/- 1 Rank limit for MM or just don't care much about such lobbies.
Plat/Diamond level lobbies I think are the ones to focus on the most because the margin for error in Diamond is so much smaller than Plat and despite being next in ranks players in Plat are totally different mentality than in Diamond, thus suggestion about complete separation as much as possible.
Master/Pred in my opinion and from what I see in pro streams really does not differ much, top Preds still do get killed by good Master or even Diamond squads on regular basis. The difference between D2+ and Pred, in my opinion, is minimal, Preds just grind more, have their set parties more available on daily basis. Thus the suggestion that Diamonds can play Masters/Preds but only as an exception, not as a default rule.
Finally, I would suggest ignoring things like K/D ratio in MM because due to Apex system of how kills are awarded this parameter is very flawed. Same as damage should not be indicative - you can snipe all day and get 1k easy or get dropped on and die doing 0 damage instantly - neither makes you better or worse player in my opinion.
Main parameters should be recent game results like within a day or even less than that + RP gained/lost which will be a combination of game awareness, damage, k/d, placement all in one.
E.g. if you have gained a max win 1 or 2 times in a row clearly you should be bumped into higher tier lobby, same goes with max loses - at diamond level that means -48 points per game - after 2-3 of those you should get into easier lobbies and have a shot making that up or even getting close to max win to have a progress and get back to higher tier lobbies eventually.
