One Account Per Real ID = No Smurfing

[Nottoway]

They said that in Bnet 2.0 you will only have the ability to use one account that is linked to your REAL ID. This completely ruins the ability for people to learn new races or do numerous other instances where a new name is useful. Personally, I thought the fixes to the AMM and the creation of ELL (Estimated Level) in WC3 was the main way they combated smurfing. They way ELL worked, even if you created a new account, your ELL would be EXTREMELY high after winning 4 or so games in a row. This honestly really worked against smurfing in a way. Allowed players to test new races, strategies, etc. but also allowed the player to play against their own skill range.

Ugh, Bnet 2.0 is really taking a step backwards =/

[trace wm]

I'm sure you can play unrated if ranking means that much to you.

[FrozenArbiter]

I'd like to be able to create multiple IDs, but any new ID you make start at a higher ELL, so you don't play noobs (I don't want to play noobs anyway, that's not why I make new IDs).

[DemolitionSquid]

Its entirely possible they may also rank you by race.

[Gradius]

This feature is fine with me - I've got no problem with it. Also, you guys should be more open-minded - half the stuff being complained about can be solved programatically.

[FrozenArbiter]

Its entirely possible they may also rank you by race.

Yes, I think that would be nice as well - although I'm gonna have to find out exactly how their ranking/ELL system works.

If you play someone with a really high ELL, but not a very high rank, how far do you move in RANKING?

If the AMM was *only* about matching people as closely in skill as possible, then this would be no problem at all (and having multiple IDs, that all start at your highest achieved ELL, would not be a problem). Same with ELL by race, also not a problem (and I want this too, because off-racing without ruining your ranking is good if you are trying to climb the ladder).

Anyway, it is problematic - let's say I'm ranked 10th on the ladder, with a very high ELL (as protoss), what happens if I play a game as zerg with a really low ELL (because I can't play them at all, for instance)? Do I drop a shitload of spots in the ranking? Do I have a seperate ranking with my zerg?
What if I am a race picker (playing PvT PvZ TvP PvR)?

One ELL per race might not be that good the more I think about it (I've suggested it multiple times in the past, so I WANT it to work somehow). I think the best thing might be to allow each Real ID to create maybe 3-5 usernames, and have any new username start at your highest ELL? (but you shouldn't be able to start a new account until you have reached a certain ELL, to avoid people from creating 5 usernames right away and using those to bash)

Anyway, before they say exactly how their ladder will work I guess it's hard to speculate.

[pure.Wasted]

I like it.

As Trace said, there's always custom games for anyone who wants to practice with a new race, or practice some new strategy. This isn't combating smurfing... this is completely destroying it. I think that's a pretty noble goal.

[FrozenArbiter]

I like it.

As Trace said, there's always custom games for anyone who wants to practice with a new race, or practice some new strategy. This isn't combating smurfing... this is completely destroying it. I think that's a pretty noble goal.

Actually, no it's not (it does make it harder tho!)

A good player can still:
1) lose 50 games in a row and noob bash that way.

2) How will they stop players that really don't belong in the Practice League from joining there :S? I think it's a great idea to have it, I'm just worried about how they will stop that from happening (like, when it's released, any SC or WC3 player that joins the practice league is gonna be stomping everyone HARD).

Oh and I respectfully disagree about custom games - I think they should think of a way to allow you to ladder with multiple races without affecting your main ranking. Afterall, while the AMM is a ladder, it is also the de facto way of playing the game. Trying to play a custom game is going to be very, very painful comparatively:

- Leavers.
- People who don't want to play your race.
- People who are way worse/better than you.

A way to play fun/even games even when you just wanna mess around with your worst race should be implemented. So far I think my above idea of 1 Real ID -> 3-5 usernames (but any new username starts at a higher than 0 ELL, so you can't noob bash, and you can't make a new ID until you are higher than X ELL) is best.

[The_Blade]

We will see unranked games for sure. Nothing too hard to counter.

[Norfindel]

I think that more than one account should be allowed (3, for example), for the case when more than 1 player uses the same computer. You don't need to buy more than one license of a program if only one instance is going to be running. To keep things fair, only one of those instances should be allowed to log at a time.