0-1400: build more crawlers
1400-1600: learn counters
1600-1800: learn to sell units
1800-2000: develop a composition
2000+ : Have your friends and family question what your #1 priority in life is
Bonus tip: stop building crawlers and use culling mustangs as your chaff and chaff clear.
I think there’s a misunderstanding happening between the competitive community and everybody else right now. Feel free to correct me if I am wrong.
A lot of players hear criticism from high level players and immediately assume we’re asking for money, esports funding, giant tournaments, etc. That’s honestly not what most of us are asking for.
What we’re looking for is acknowledgment that the competitive scene is ONE of the reasons this game developed such a loyal playerbase in the first place.
Right now, the feeling is less “supported ecosystem” and more “the scene exists independently and hopefully survives.”
The frustrating part is that Mechabellum STILL has one of the best strategy game foundations I’ve played in years:
insane strategic depth
unique auto battler identity
meaningful adaptation
high skill expression
genuinely hype competitive moments
That’s why people care so much. But over the last several months, it feels like the relationship between the game and its highest engagement players has weakened instead of strengthened.
And before someone says “top players don’t represent everyone”:
Correct. They shouldn’t.
But competitive players usually:
create guides
stream consistently
organize tournaments
keep metas evolving
generate discussion
onboard new players indirectly AND directly
keep communities alive between patches
That ecosystem matters more than people realize.
The weird thing is… the fixes people are asking for are mostly NOT expensive.
Things like:
better replay tools
spectator improvements
more interaction with top players
occasional community spotlights
custom lobby/QoL enhancements
clearer balance philosophy communication
tournament visibility inside the client
stronger social/community features
That’s not “fund esports.” That’s just embracing the people already trying to grow the game for free. And honestly, I think the current tension on this subreddit comes from one core issue: A lot of veteran players no longer feel like they understand the long-term direction of the game.
The walls/buildings debate became the lightning rod for that feeling, but I don’t even think it’s ONLY about walls anymore.
It’s about identity. People fell in love with a certain type of strategy game:
highly adaptive
open positioning
fluid board states
creative counterplay
low artificial restriction
When changes move away from that vision, players start worrying:
“What is Mechabellum trying to become?”
And when player population concerns start getting layered on top of that anxiety, every balance patch suddenly feels existential.
I still think this game can succeed long term.
But the answer probably isn’t:
“competitive players are too negative.”
The answer is probably:
“how do we make the most passionate players feel invested again?”
Because despite all the arguing on the various socials… people are
STILL here discussing the game every day.
That means something.