Nerf Zarya, Nerf Ana, or nerf every character we struggle with.
I think we should put an end to this topic — if you can’t handle a character, learn how to counter them. You can even ask higher-ranked players in Platinum and above how they deal with those characters.
But honestly, this isn’t the real issue. We have much more serious problems.
We need a solution against smurfs and cheaters.
Since the game is free-to-play, there are endless account options for developing cheats and creating smurf accounts. I hate this because it sabotages the game. Making this game free-to-play was truly a huge mistake. Any socially isolated person with too much free time can create dozens of smurf accounts and ruin matches. And cheaters? They have countless accounts to test their hacks on.
This game has two choices:
Make the game paid again, like before (of course, players who purchased OW1 would get free access).
Keep the game free-to-play, but charge a one-time fee for access to ranked matches (so players who want to access ranked would pay a single fee).
In both cases, ranked matches would become more exclusive and only accessible to paying users (just like what CS2 did).
I admit, these two options won’t completely eliminate cheaters and smurfs, but they will significantly reduce their numbers. After all, in one scenario, everything is free, while in the other, they’d have to keep paying. And I don’t think they could do that constantly — unless they’re ridiculously rich.
I think a better system is just any new account created needs to pay £20/$20 fee
So once the smurfs/Hackers ran out of accounts they’ll have to start paying
Whilst legit players who created account previously still play for free
Cause let’s be honest Ain’t no one new hopping in to play ow when MR is about lol
These are quite similar thoughts, but considering the abundance of toxic players in the game, I think everyone except those who purchased OW1 should be subject to a one-time fee.
I see this as ironic because I’ve known this community for a long time. Instead of learning the enemy and identifying their weaknesses, they prefer coming to the forum and mindlessly saying things like “nerf this, nerf that, this is broken, that is OP.”
It’s not?? It’s higher than the average rank!!1!
Also: thank you, Captain Obvious. It’s not like my previous reply already implied this or anything.
So exactly what you’re doing in this thread, just with a different topic? Let me (as a “higher ranked player”) tell you that in the vast majority of cases, “cheater” and “smurfs” are merely buzzwords thrown around by low elo players who are looking to blame whatever it may be - it doesn’t matter whether it’s teammates, smurfs and cheaters on the enemy team or specific “OP” heroes. Real smurf accounts reach their real rank in a matter of a few matches unless they deliberately throw games, and they don’t play in low elo for longer than 1 or 2 matches (since you seem to be a little confused about the rank classifications - “low elo” includes Plat). And when some Plat Chad with his Diamond 5 peak decides to make an alt account to play with his friend in Gold - well, that is not smurfing. “Smurfs” are just a convenient way to warrant that someone wasn’t simply outperformed by an enemy player.
I’m not even gonna go into the “Cheating” thing as everybody who has the slightest understanding of the game knows that people who throw this term around (especially on this forum) have no idea what they’re talking about.
In this topic, I’m presenting a solution to the problem of smurfing and cheating, and I’m explaining what kind of solution it could be — I think this is very clear and obvious. I guess you’re denying the existence of smurfs and cheaters? After all, that’s your opinion, and it stays with you.
Plat is considered an average rank. Yes, even a true Platinum player can analyze their opponent very well.
People don’t talk about broken characters because they don’t know how to counter-swap. Even chimpanzees know how to counter-swap.
People talk about broken characters because of game-mechanics that are fundamentally unfair/not circumventable for a majority of the roster. Just because there’s a singular way to deal with it doesn’t make it fair.
You overlooked the second major problem after cheaters: matchmaking. The current MM system should be completely scrapped and replaced with a new one that prioritizes balanced, fair matches above all else, rather than focusing on engagement. Eliminate EOMM and all forms of rigging and manipulation. Rankings should be based on personal performance rather than the idiotic win/loss system currently in place.
The cheater problem. While monetizing certain aspects of the game might slightly deter cheaters, it serves only as a temporary band-aid and is not effective in the long run. Without a proper and effective anti-cheat system or at the very least, consistent weekly ban waves this game has no future, unless one where the player base is comprised entirely of cheaters.
I am big proponent of actual game balance regardless of how it makes people feel the majority of the time but player perception is a very big part of the game. If a hero FEELS OP, even when they aren’t, that is still an issue. Now that doesn’t mean reduce the actual strength of the hero, it means attacking the pain points of what is causing people to dislike the hero because of perceived strength.
Rivals has been bleeding 15,000 players every week on PC alone for the past 5 weeks whilst Overwatch have been consistently making gains since the Spotlight reveal.
