If you’ve seen any of my comments here in the last couple weeks, you probably know how vehemently opposed I am to the idea of enforcing a 2-2-2 comp and implementing a mandatory role queue. I do not think role queue will actually solve the issues that it’s advocates want it for, and I do not believe that 2-2-2 is the only valid comp.
I agree that it tends to be the better comp, however. I hate solo-healing, I hate solo-tanking, and I really hate having to pick between the two. Don’t really have a problem with triple support and/or triple tank, but I can understand why a lot of people disagree. I still don’t really want to touch role queue because I firmly believe in the benefit of being able to swap classes mid-game if the role you start with doesn’t work out, but I’d like to propose a compromise on the 2-2-2 part:
PART 1:
When you first arrive at the character select screen, 2-2-2 is established by default. For now let’s assume that it’s a first-come-first-served scenario, and that a category gets grayed out when 2 heroes are selected from it. This way if I’m playing dps but it’s going poorly, I can swap with a tank or support if they agree to the switch, nobody is locked into a role but a balanced comp is necessary.
PART 2:
Like I said before, I believe that other team comps can be viable, and that it would be wrong to render more creative team comps impossible. At any point on the hero select screen, both before and during the match, players can vote to lift the 2-2-2 restriction. I don’t know or frankly care whether they have to vote on specific alternative comps, or if the choice would be between 2-2-2 and “flex” (which is what I’m calling what we have now, where any comp is possible). If the team votes in favor of lifting the restriction, the game either switches to the voted-upon comp (say, 1-3-2 for instance), or simply opens up the whole roster for free choice. Everyone would have to vote (it could take the form of a pop-up where you press y/n, it could be something on the stat screen, don’t really care), and I haven’t decided yet what kind of outcome would be needed to ensure the vote passes. A unanimous decision would of course be ideal, but that might be difficult, especially if they have to vote on specific comps. A simple 4-2 majority might make it too easy for dps to overrule solo tanks/healers. I think 5-1 might be safe because it prevents all but the worst possible disagreement, which would most likely manifest as 5 dps and 1 objector who gets stuck with choosing between solo heal and solo tank. But I’m not as worried about quintuple dps as I am about quad dps, so I think it might be safe to set approval at a 5/6 minimum.
This system allows for a default comp of 2-2-2, which would aid the devs in balancing the game and also ensure more balanced comps (mitigating the onslaught of both goats AND solo tanks/supports), while also allowing people to switch roles if needed, and leaving in place an option to run more creative comps if a majority of the team agrees to it.
Thoughts?