Ranked was recently "rejoined" to keep ranked queues afloat longer. But even now, Gold or lower tiers are having trouble popping. They don't go until far after 6:00 PM here in CST now, and the lack of players means only Plat or more can queue consistently.
Since Platinum players cannot fall out of their rank, and SE's design signals a desire to reinforce continued gameplay with such safety nets. So I think SE should rework how the matchmaking works to keep queues healthy, and to keep unprepared players (or people who just want to tap crystal) out of pure crystal (1200 CR+) games.
I suggest...
The reason for this is to fast track people through Unranked to Plat to get them into games they're ready without having to suffer a dry queue. If more people are plat, then more people can make Gold or below games also pop, and your rank still influences how you are weighed by the system. You go from being the low end of matchmaking to the high end as you climb up, similar to how the current "one above/below" system works.
The other queues are intended to be a flat out improvement. Plats already fight Gold/Plat to Plat/Diamond now, so there is little difference in a Plat having to play Gold/Plat vs Unranked/Plat games. Diamond 1 being the new threshold to fight current crystals means they can carry games with lower ranked player, and hold their own against Former Crystals potentially (i.e. they fell out of Crystal). Finally, lock up pure Crystal games to 1.2k or up. Crystals currently have to suffer the company of Diamond 5+ players that are good enough for Platinum, but instantly fall out of Diamond. The *issue* here is that this can unironically happen to TOP 1 rankers. The JP region already has this addition, but it was reconsidered for NA due to population issues. But, this won't be an issue if the unranked to gold queue pop consistently with the help of current platinum players.
We'll be going from this
Bronze ->(!) Silver ->(!) Gold ->(!) Platinum <-> Diamond <-> Crystal <-> Crystal(1.2k)
Gold or below is dead, because everyone either quits or leaves the queue forever. No new golds means no new plats, no new diamonds, and no new Crystals.
to this
Bronze ->(!) Silver ->(!) Gold ->(!) Platinum <-> Diamond <-> Crystal <-> Crystal(1.2k)
Gold or below queue won't die, because Plats will always be able to queue into them. The skill difference is not different either, since streaking makes the difference between Bronze/Silver/Gold/Plat pretty much meaningless. Since this queue lives, a steady trickle of improving players will contest Platinum and Diamond ranks, and keeping Crystal(1.2k) separate will keep rewards focused players AWAY from those actually interested in climbing.
( )Dead due to lack of players within one division eventually
(!)Safety Net, cannot demote once past this rank
Always has players, since they can always demote/promote back to this rank.
Continue reading...
Since Platinum players cannot fall out of their rank, and SE's design signals a desire to reinforce continued gameplay with such safety nets. So I think SE should rework how the matchmaking works to keep queues healthy, and to keep unprepared players (or people who just want to tap crystal) out of pure crystal (1200 CR+) games.
I suggest...
- An unranked to platinum queue
- Platinum to Diamond 2(***)
- Diamond 1(-) to Crystal (below 1.2k)
- Crystal(1.2k)
The reason for this is to fast track people through Unranked to Plat to get them into games they're ready without having to suffer a dry queue. If more people are plat, then more people can make Gold or below games also pop, and your rank still influences how you are weighed by the system. You go from being the low end of matchmaking to the high end as you climb up, similar to how the current "one above/below" system works.
The other queues are intended to be a flat out improvement. Plats already fight Gold/Plat to Plat/Diamond now, so there is little difference in a Plat having to play Gold/Plat vs Unranked/Plat games. Diamond 1 being the new threshold to fight current crystals means they can carry games with lower ranked player, and hold their own against Former Crystals potentially (i.e. they fell out of Crystal). Finally, lock up pure Crystal games to 1.2k or up. Crystals currently have to suffer the company of Diamond 5+ players that are good enough for Platinum, but instantly fall out of Diamond. The *issue* here is that this can unironically happen to TOP 1 rankers. The JP region already has this addition, but it was reconsidered for NA due to population issues. But, this won't be an issue if the unranked to gold queue pop consistently with the help of current platinum players.
We'll be going from this
Gold or below is dead, because everyone either quits or leaves the queue forever. No new golds means no new plats, no new diamonds, and no new Crystals.
to this
Bronze ->(!) Silver ->(!) Gold ->(!) Platinum <-> Diamond <-> Crystal <-> Crystal(1.2k)
Gold or below queue won't die, because Plats will always be able to queue into them. The skill difference is not different either, since streaking makes the difference between Bronze/Silver/Gold/Plat pretty much meaningless. Since this queue lives, a steady trickle of improving players will contest Platinum and Diamond ranks, and keeping Crystal(1.2k) separate will keep rewards focused players AWAY from those actually interested in climbing.
(!)Safety Net, cannot demote once past this rank
Always has players, since they can always demote/promote back to this rank.
Continue reading...