Rankings and Spankings

[flak4321]

Ok, have you noticed how much more active players seem on average this season? I'm guessing a lot of the "dead wood" is indeed missing, and the tops of each division are significantly more competitive. Case in point: I finished Bronze rank 7 last season. Thus far I've peaked at 12, but have largely been between 18 and 26, and fall back much more significantly with losing streaks. I've not lost hope as I have been able to re-climb easily enough. Your thoughts and observations?

[Crazy_Jonny]

Yep, and it was bound to happen. The game isn't new anymore, which means less n00bs to pwn. People who stopped playing probably haven't came back for this season.

[The_Blade]

My business profesor owned a copy of StarCraft 2 ^^

"Damn, this game is so hard to play! There are so many buttons..." were his exact words after 2 campaign missions in easy. Other friends got SC2 as a gift or a trade for another game. They stopped playing as well, but after a month or so.

[protoswarrior]

Takes skill and intelligence to play this game :P

Oh, and hard work too... never forget that


but, overall yes, the ladder is more active now and the competition is a lot tougher.

[Peanutbutter]

Takes skill and intelligence to play this game :P

Oh, and hard work too... never forget that


but, overall yes, the ladder is more active now and the competition is a lot tougher.

Yeah, I've noticed how alot of players have a negative win/loss ratio.

[Twilice]

I tried to get into masters, I had like a +10 winning spree. I barely moved up in rank. . .
and then I was on a losing spree like losing 6-7 games in a row. . .

Damned.

[Todie]

took me a while to hit the losing-streaks this season, btu by now ive had plenty of streaks both ways and im back at around where i ened up finishing s1; around rank 30 diamond. feel like im improving though; ffeels like rarely lose by getting outplayed but by beeing a bit silly, playing a bit too risky etc.. shit i can learn from

[Gifted]

In light of all of this, I almost think it would be useful for them to evaluate if they need to readjust the "skill level" formula again. The entire mentality of this game was to be accessable to new players while being a good stomping ground for expirienced players to work on.

I have no relevant data to work with, but I fear that the current situation may evolve to (over long term) a place where new players will get owned HARDCORE in bronze or even practice league.

[Todie]

In light of all of this, I almost think it would be useful for them to evaluate if they need to readjust the "skill level" formula again..

what would that help?

its not like the formula has any direct influence over who is active playing and who isnt.

... anyway im still very unsure what rating and ranking within our division actually means and how we were placed in them; dont know if each division has players with similar MMR whin it (at season start) or if everyone is spread out to make divisions as similar to eachotehr as possible; to make rank mean something.

.. rating (points) doesnt seem to mean much. i've been favoured against people that has higher rating than me... so im still leaning towards points mainly being a reflection of activity and rate of improvment relative only to your own past performance; the only "absolute" measurement of skill being the very hidden MMR that only reveals changes in terms of promotions, demotions and who get matched against who (when i get matched vs platinums, im not doing so well, if i ever get matched against masters, ill know im doing better)

[JackhammerIV]

what would that help?

its not like the formula has any direct influence over who is active playing and who isnt.

... anyway im still very unsure what rating and ranking within our division actually means and how we were placed in them; dont know if each division has players with similar MMR whin it (at season start) or if everyone is spread out to make divisions as similar to eachotehr as possible; to make rank mean something.

.. rating (points) doesnt seem to mean much. i've been favoured against people that has higher rating than me... so im still leaning towards points mainly being a reflection of activity and rate of improvment relative only to your own past performance; the only "absolute" measurement of skill being the very hidden MMR that only reveals changes in terms of promotions, demotions and who get matched against who (when i get matched vs platinums, im not doing so well, if i ever get matched against masters, ill know im doing better)

They put people with similar MMR into the same divisions. But this is only when the division is created. Over time the ones at the top of division could improve and the ones at the bottom of the division could be worse.

You're right about points being reflection of activity. The only way to have an idea is see who you're matched up against that they rank you as even.

If you're in Diamond and you're even with platinum players then Blizzard MMR considers you low Diamond. If you play against all Diamond players then Blizzard considers you mid diamond. If you play against masters players then Blizzard MMR considers you high diamond. That's the only observable thing we can see.