[ DISCLAIMER: I've clocked in around 500 hours as a player that plays both PvE & PvP split almost equally. I'm also an active member in the trading community. I ENJOY AND RESPECT BOTH AGGRESSIVE & PEACEFUL STYLES OF GAMEPLAY. My concerns are how the thresholds for matchmaking are handled!! ]
For a game that was intended to be 'primarily PvE' according to developers, (I was wrong about the timeline in development. Regardless, my point remains the same) it's disappointing to see so little be done to protect peaceful players & lobbies. This has become even more noticeable since aggression has spiked with the expedition around the corner.
Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the OCCASIONAL instance where a rat is present and the unease that follows you with future interactions. Keeping your guard up is just a part of the game. It keeps me on my toes and engaged through every raid even in the late stages of progression.
My issue is just how commonplace it's become to find hyper aggressive players abusing peaceful lobbies with the sole purpose of ratting those they know won't fight back. Especially with the expedition around the corner, (respectfully) I'm questioning if the matchmaking is even working. Just came out of a "carebear" lobby where almost 3/4 of the players were taken out by 2-3 rats. (further, I've been in solos, thrown in to duos; and queued in duos, thrown into trios more often recently then before)
While the sub reddit, ArcBabies members will convince you it's a skill issue... it's not. It's how the game seems to favor and even reward griefing tactics.
[THIS IS MY MAIN COMPLAINT] For context, the aggression system penalizes players from defending themselves, even if they're shot first. There are plenty of instances where players, myself included, will not fight back in efforts to remain in lobbies that align with our play style.
It's ridiculous that both the aggressor and defender in a shootout are penalized seemingly equal where both parties are placed in mixed lobbies after the fact. Getting back into peaceful lobbies is an inconvenience but admittedly, easy. Too easy. Just surrender repeatedly to get back into those lobbies and just repeat the process after ratting out a lobby. So what is a discouraging inconvenience for the peaceful player, is a quick and easy come up for the griefer.
This creates a cycle that keeps rats in "peaceful" lobbies without fail. Especially now with expedition around the corner, I've seen this issue become so much worse since that they know players are out and about with their best gear. PvP is just as strong as ever... but I can't say the same with PvE. It’s disheartening to see an entire playstyle ruined because of a lack of safeguards.
My hope is that in the near future, Embark develops a better aggression detection that safeguards peaceful hobbies, and keeps a healthier threshold between the different types of lobbies. Starting with reducing the penalty of defending players from those with the sole intent of griefing. And secondly making it a lot more difficult to get into peaceful lobbies, even if it means its harder for mixed players like me to get back into care bear lobbies.
- Grievances from a player who's tired of seeing genuinely nice and honest people get ratted... not occasionally. Regularly.
TLDR:
I have no problem with aggressive play styles since I am a PvP & PvE player. My issues lie with players that abuse the matchmaking system to grief "peaceful" lobbies.
I'm tired of how peaceful players are discouraged from defending themselves from aggressive players. Even if a peaceful player has been in care bear raids for days, it just takes one infraction to be sent back to mixed lobbies since the aggressor and defender are penalized seemingly equal.
There's gotta be a way to enforce equity within the aggression ranking system.
In my opinion, it starts with reducing the penalty of players defending themselves from those with the sole intent of griefing. And secondly making it a lot more difficult to get into peaceful lobbies, even if it means mixed players like myself are kept out of care bear lobbies without some serious dedication.