Unpopular opinion on the new GAC System

"DarjeloSalas;c-2394008" wrote:

"I_JnK_I;c-2394006" wrote:


As every change, those who benefit dont complain. Those that dont will

Harvestmouse and many others have regularly stated that they win less in the new system but still think it's better than what we had before. So some of those that don't benefit still recognise the new system as better for the game overall.

Yeah i feel like i stated this upside down. I didnt mean to say like "all that dont benefit are complaining" but more like "most of them that are complaining are those who are not benefitting of the new system"

I'm curious how the skill rating is calculated. Does it account for the difference of banners in each battle? How many battles are taken into account and how does time affect the weight of those battles? What about when players throw the battle or don't show up? Should the "win" be as meaningful? When a player doesn't show up, should their rank always go down? Maybe they were just busy but their skill is the same. Does punishing players that don't show up make the experience better for those in lower leagues? Should a players highest rank (over a period of time) be considered? Should a player in Kyber ever be allowed to drop to Bronzium? If their skill got them that high, could they ever be considered at that low a level?

Skill ratings are hard. I hope CG is looking at the data and considering how changes in the algorithm can make the skill rating better.

It's pretty straight-forward. You were assigned a Skill Rating when you entered the new system (old accounts based on GP, new accounts based on ???). Each season of GAC starts with a round that has 42 Skill Rating points up for grabs. Win, you get 42 points. Lose, you lose 42 points. The next Round has 41 points, then 40, and so on. When the season is over, there's a point normalizing that occurs, dubbed "The Squish", so that the 42, 41, 40, etc. rewards are still meaningful.

I think new accounts still start based on GP. I saw some player jump in at Carbonite 3 recently; who had more GP than the average starter.

"Does it account for the difference of banners in each battle?"

No, it does not. The issue here would be how difficult a defence your opponent has set. Some set more difficult defences (therefore expect a lower scoring game) than others.

"What about when players throw the battle or don't show up? Should the "win" be as meaningful?"

You can only play your game. You shouldn't be penalized for another's actions. It is a league system after all. Also the defences are not altered from what you last set (unless you alter them manually). So a player can't actually throw matches.

"Does punishing players that don't show up make the experience better for those in lower leagues?"

Yes, this is a big issue. There appears to be a not small proportion of players doing the minimum to collect rewards falling down the leagues and creating unintended match ups. The wins are then determined on whether they play or not.

"Should a players highest rank (over a period of time) be considered?"

Hmmmmmmmmmm interesting thought. However, at what period of time do you take that 'highest rank'. If from the start, you're just taking GP into account and basically resetting the leagues. This is unfair on the more casual players that legitimately have fallen leagues/divisions and are now playing more balanced games.

Then what happens to players of lower GP that have risen up the leagues? The leagues/divisions have a set amount of players. So if you move some back up (taking into account their highest rank) you need to move some down. However, that would move them below their highest rank.

So this would cause a 'top heavy' system and not the balanced league numbers CG wish to maintain. So, I don't think this would work.

"Should a player in Kyber ever be allowed to drop to Bronzium?"

A sport I like is cycling. Cycling has a 'starter' category. You start in this category and when you leave it, you can never go back into it. I think that would definitely benefit GAC; the low Carbonites should be sacred I think.

However, rewards are based off of your division/league. So by not allowing a Kyber to drop is rewarding them. If a Kyber player doesn't play and doesn't drop and still get good rewards. You're punishing those that try hard.........or rewarding those that don't try hard. It's a difficult issue.

"If their skill got them that high, could they ever be considered at that low a level?"

Well 'Skill Rating' is a stupid name. It's more of a 'GAC Power Rating' or actually just your League Position on a perpetually rolling system. Initially your GP was the only factor in making your 'Skill Rating', since then it has solely been based off of success. So initial rankings had nothing to do with skill, just weight. As time has gone on, success has become more of an influence over the initial weight.

So some Kyber players had a lot of weight have legitimately fallen into Aurodium and probably the least skillful into Chromium. However, due to inactivity some have fallen like a stone much further down. Eventually, some 8 million GP accounts have fallen all the way to the bottom of Carbonite apparently. This means a brand new player to GAC could potentially be drawn against an 8 million plus GP account.

"I hope CG is looking at the data and considering how changes in the algorithm can make the skill rating better."

Well for a lot of issues, is there a consensus agreement? I think everybody would agree a lower league player shouldn't have to face a high GP player that only plays once or twice a season. The win determined on whether the higher GP player decides to play for the win or not.

Other issues...........do players agree, or/and do CG think it's an issue? Kyber is shrinking significantly. Is this an issue? Is it being done on purpose? Is there really a need for squish? Why can't promotions/relegations be more transparent? Why skill points on diminishing returns as the season goes on? Why are we using 1 ranking for 2 different formats (3v3/5v5)? Why are players caught in a whirlpool/magnet system? Why are league promotions/relegations treated differently to divisions?

All issues for me, but probably not for CG or other players.