MAJOR EDIT
It’s in the game guys with the endorsement system! Thank you everyone who supported and shared this idea. This is a GLORIOUS DAY!!!
Honor System
Basically a system where players have the option (not mandatory) to give a positive rating on a player. Players that queue in a group together can’t give honor to each other, only the random players from match making, this prevents boosted honor.
Honor Options are as follows:
Good Communication - Player communicates flankers, targets, ult management, ult combos, counters, and some strategy.
![:star:](https://d74zh8edaijub.cloudfront.net/en/overwatch/images/emoji/twitter/star.png?v=5" ":star:")
Good Leader - Player communicates effective strategy to their team, communicates ult synergy, tactics, and announces initiation on fights or reseting/regrouping.
Flexible Team Player - Player is willing to communicate and work with others for a better starting team composition to great benefit.
Positive Player - Player continues to be a positive example to the team, even in difficult times. Player continues to compliment others on great plays, and is overall friendly to those in game.
These are just a few suggestions. The great thing about this, is players can scroll over the players name and see what the player is known for. There may be a leader in your group, and this system may help enable him/her. Also, this Honor system may encourage others to be less toxic, or become a more positive players.
Players can choose to hide their positive rating if they so choose (in case they don’t feel like being a leader that day for whatever reason).
Not only this, a system like this could also encourage players to try other roles such as support and tank, because they are likely to get a higher honor rating.
I do think the Honor System should reset every season, this way it encourages players to continue to be positive every season (they have to regain their positive reputation every season). Having it reset also means that you won’t have someone who starts off being positive, but then later becomes toxic, having being stuck with undeserved positive rating. Also the Honor system can reset for those that are banned by the report system, that way they don’t keep their positive rating if they grief/throw/ or are abusive in chat.
The Honor System will promote continuous good behavior. Furthermore, simple rewards such as sprays or voice-lines such as "Honor is it's own reward" for some of your favorite heroes could go a long way.
Please note, this is not a new idea. Forum Users have been asking for this for over a year if not more. These are some threads that also have great ideas about the topic of an Honor System.
https://us.battle.net/forums/en/overwatch/topic/20757576038
https://us.battle.net/forums/en/overwatch/topic/20754046143
https://us.battle.net/forums/en/overwatch/topic/20759215740
https://us.battle.net/forums/en/overwatch/topic/20757686877
https://us.battle.net/forums/en/overwatch/topic/20753405669
https://us.battle.net/forums/en/overwatch/topic/20759266687
https://us.battle.net/forums/en/overwatch/topic/20757495840
https://us.battle.net/forums/en/overwatch/topic/20759365779
https://us.battle.net/forums/en/overwatch/topic/20752577595
https://us.battle.net/forums/en/overwatch/topic/20759298920
https://us.battle.net/forums/en/overwatch/topic/20759015930
https://us.battle.net/forums/en/overwatch/topic/20759329278
Lastly, I feel that this system could not only help against toxicity, but It could also help in false flagging. If a player has Honor, then something might not look right, and this could help Blizzard in looking deeper into a possible false-flag. It may not prevent errors, but it could help.
edit Addressing new concerns:
But RichC, can’t friends boost each-other with honor?
The best solution for this is to NOT allow people you are grouped up to give you honor. If you are already grouped, it means they think you are already honorable enough to want to group. The system would be in place for all those who aren’t grouped together. For example, if you duo queue, then the person you are duo-ing with can’t give you honor and you can’t give them honor, but the other 4 people can give you honor and you can give them honor.
This is because the game is promoting honor with RANDOM people that you are thrown together with (which could help with solo queuers).
Will the Match Making Balance teams around Honor?
No. I don’t believe it should, I think the Honor System should be kept as a simple tool to help promote a more healthier, friendlier gaming environment. Plus, I would want to see this system implemented asap, and trying to code an Honor System to the Match Making sounds like a lengthy nightmare.
![:smiley:](https://d74zh8edaijub.cloudfront.net/en/overwatch/images/emoji/twitter/smiley.png?v=5" ":smiley:")
I’d love to see this happen. I think some of it might be hard to transfer to console since a lot of people don’t seem to use mics. But I’d still like it and I think it would help!
Giving players an idea of how they are is a great way to keep positivity in an environment. Maybe, there can be more rewards? After all, it gives reason for these people do so and for others to follow suit. I know rewards shouldn’t be based on an “honor system” for doing good things, but I feel it would attract a whole lot more people to do it if a higher award was involved? Perhaps they can earn extra BP points towards a golden gun?