One Account Per Real ID = No Smurfing

[pure.Wasted]

No one in WC3 plays custom games to practice a race. If you wanted to try a new race, you'd probably make a new account and play via the AMM. I repeat, no one would ever use custom games to practice a new race, it wasn't worth your while. Because AMM has ranking, ELL, and more competitive players. Much of which custom games do not offer.

Yikes. Sounds like this would be a huge problem if we were talking about WC3.

We're not. Custom melee games will be popular for this exact reason -- that you won't have an alternative for practice games. (there's other reasons they'll be more popular, including DOTA not filling up the entire screen, etc, but that's beside the point)

[Nottoway]

Yikes. Sounds like this would be a huge problem if we were talking about WC3.

We're not. Custom melee games will be popular for this exact reason -- that you won't have an alternative for practice games. (there's other reasons they'll be more popular, including DOTA not filling up the entire screen, etc, but that's beside the point)

That would work if we were talking about SC 1.5. But we are talking about SC2.

After people playing WC3 and SC1, there will be a divide. But the thing is, the majority of people will play AMM only. Because AMM is a very easy service to use and allows players to test their skill in a much more speedy process. Custom games take too long and opting to play one just to try new races is and will be a pain. You're trying to justify this change by putting so much faith into custom games when in reality custom games will become pointless in the end once the majority of SC1 players see the fluidity of the AMM system.

[pure.Wasted]

That would work if we were talking about SC 1.5. But we are talking about SC2.

After people playing WC3 and SC1, there will be a divide. But the thing is, the majority of people will play AMM only. Because AMM is a very easy service to use and allows players to test their skill in a much more speedy process. Custom games take too long and opting to play one just to try new races is and will be a pain. You're trying to justify this change by putting so much faith into custom games when in reality custom games will become pointless in the end once the majority of SC1 players see the fluidity of the AMM system.

The only time when this issue has any relevance whatsoever is with the really good players. The ones that are so good, they don't want to screw up their stats (and get thrown into a worse league) by practicing weird strats and trying random things out. Now, for them, your argument goes out the window because they know exactly what they want, so they'll be making their practice matches outside of AMM no matter how much less convenient it is.

As for the rest of the community? Who cares, really? You shouldn't be experimenting with weird strats until you're in Gold League; until then, you should be... trying to get into Gold League. I don't see why the rec of any average/below-average players should matter -- and this is coming from someone who'll likely fall somewhere in that range. So they get a loss because they tried something new; well, for them, they're still learning the game, so a loss is a loss.

[Nottoway]

The only time when this issue has any relevance whatsoever is with the really good players. The ones that are so good, they don't want to screw up their stats (and get thrown into a worse league) by practicing weird strats and trying random things out. Now, for them, your argument goes out the window because they know exactly what they want, so they'll be making their practice matches outside of AMM no matter how much less convenient it is.

As for the rest of the community? Who cares, really? You shouldn't be experimenting with weird strats until you're in Gold League; until then, you should be... trying to get into Gold League. I don't see why the rec of any average/below-average players should matter -- and this is coming from someone who'll likely fall somewhere in that range. So they get a loss because they tried something new; well, for them, they're still learning the game, so a loss is a loss.

But you're neglecting a large branch of players. You mentioned the good players and the the average/below average players. There is a very high amount of above average players and that will honestly make up the largest portion of the competitive population on Bnet. These are the people that aren't going to play in money tournaments or w/e, but they will occupy a large niche of the ladder. With that said, I doubt that these players will opt to have custom games account for their testing of new races/strategies/etc. I understand what you're saying, but I think there is a larger concern of this system that you are overlooking when it comes to the competitive population.

Don't get me wrong, a loss from trying a new strategy for a beginner isn't going to matter. They are new and a loss is a loss. But for some people people (above average) records do matter, and records matter a ton when it comes to rank on the ladder.

[FrozenArbiter]

it might not be possible to be a race-specific matchup player unless they actually implement it. I know in war3 you just picked your race, could thumb down up to 3 maps on the list, and then said go and it found your opponent.

Yeah, I'm hopeful they might add the option to pick matchups tho, since it doesn't hurt anyone.

[Nottoway]

Yeah, I'm hopeful they might add the option to pick matchups tho, since it doesn't hurt anyone.

I know one thing that hurts though, AMM speed. Anyone can tell you that once you get high level, search times get longer. Because honestly, you have to get lucky enough to find someone in the higher end of the ladder that is comparable to your skill. Narrowing the search field beyond 3 certain maps down, to "vs X race only" can make things take even longer.

EDIT: Not saying it cannot be an option, just saying the consequences it could result in.

[Islandsnake]

I just wanted to point out that the only reason we dont have lots of custom games on battle.net for war3 practice is because those people are playing on GGC and hate the dota spam.

Which we now finally have a filter for.

[Nottoway]

I just wanted to point out that the only reason we dont have lots of custom games on battle.net for war3 practice is because those people are playing on GGC and hate the dota spam.

Which we now finally have a filter for.

That is not true. I was playing WC3 ever since the release date of WC3:RoC and custom games have NEVER been a large way for players to play competitively. Even when DOTA was in its infancy and becoming somewhat popular and plaguing the custom game list, they were never a form to play other people.

The only time custom games were used is when hanging in a lobby is when people start talking shit/talking about strategy/etc. and then a challenge is sent out for a private 1v1 with obs. People then join and play. 99% of the time if you'd join a 1v1/2v2/3v3 in a custom game list, the players were complete noobs.

EDIT: I must point out that thanks to the lobby system being removed, that process will be gone Awesome

[Islandsnake]

What? are we playing the same game here, even now I play some 1v1s custom from time to time.

Granted the ratio of custom games to melee games are pretty one-sided but there used to be a decent amount. Not like ICCUP or anything ofc.


With not being able to make a new smurf, there should be even more custom melee games.

[FrozenArbiter]

I know one thing that hurts though, AMM speed. Anyone can tell you that once you get high level, search times get longer. Because honestly, you have to get lucky enough to find someone in the higher end of the ladder that is comparable to your skill. Narrowing the search field beyond 3 certain maps down, to "vs X race only" can make things take even longer.

EDIT: Not saying it cannot be an option, just saying the consequences it could result in.

Nono, you shouldn't be able to choose what race you want play AGAINST. You should be able to pick like...

If enemy is Zerg, I play Protoss.
If enemy is Terran, I play Protoss.
If enemy is Protoss, I play Terran.
If enemy is Random, I play Protoss.

(this is how I played for a long time)

What? are we playing the same game here, even now I play some 1v1s custom from time to time.

Granted the ratio of custom games to melee games are pretty one-sided but there used to be a decent amount. Not like ICCUP or anything ofc.


With not being able to make a new smurf, there should be even more custom melee games.

Yes, because you'll force the people who previously enjoyed playing their secondary races on AMM to settle for an inferior alternative (yes, inferior), where you'll have to rely on pure lucky to get an even match.