Let’s face it. And I mean that seriously. Let’s, once and for all, face the truth here. The 2-2-2 lock was one of the most poorly-thought out, terrible, downright lazy changes to the game since its release, if not THE most poorly-thought out, terrible downright lazy change to the game since its release.
It’s been several months, and I have to say I’ve gotten used to the role lock. All the characters still feel the same (aside from Brigitte’s ridiculous shield nerf) and, in general, the gameplay experience is similar.
I played a few games of quick play classic recently, and I was amazed at how many times I was actually challenged by a team’s composition. Whether they were running a dive come, a bunker comp, being hyper aggressive, super defensive, it didn’t matter. That complete and utter shock I got when me and my mates had to think on the spot again? It reminded me what was so special about Overwatch: flexibility.
This is something I said the second 2-2-2 was announced. If you’re going to have a game where each and every character plays a different role, you CANNOT put restrictions on team comp. That fundamentally limits the amount of approaches people can take in their attempts to win the match. I’ve spoken to people, both in real life AND on official forums, that have literally said that the Overwatch league, and Overwatch in general, was literally more entertaining when GOATS was dominant. Yes, their team composition was overpowered, but at least they DISCOVERED a team composition, that wasn’t FORCED on them.
And while we’re talking about flexibility, let me just address something: 2-2-2 was not put into place to stop people from DPS-locking or DPS-stacking. You really think Blizzard cares about that? They implemented 2-2-2 so it would make the game easier to balance. Instead of heavily considering what each character’s role is, now they can just contorted and alter them so that they work within the 2-2-2 framework, and call it a day. But, while we’re on the subject, wanna know why so many people play DPS? It provides a much bigger range of strategies than healer or tank does. You’ve got your flankers, your skirmishers, your snipers and sharpshooters, got characters who can suppress, characters who can harass and cause chaos, characters who can provide air support, characters who can put down turrets and farm enemy shields for extra DPS, you have characters who can neutralise enemy abilities, and NOW we have a character that can STEAL them.
I’m not saying that the tank and healer characters don’t have different play-styles, but they all serve the same purpose, and it’s not really a purpose that can change depending on the playstyle. Tanks draw fire and soak up damage. Healers restore team-mate’s HP. There’s only so many variations you can design with those purposes in mind, where as the damage class is just there to put pressure on the enemy team, which is a far more general objective, really.
And I’m gonna be honest, and also get a tad personal. I understand that it’s a good idea to get used to a single character, and practise playing as them specifically so that you’re as good at them as you possibly can be. But, if you make that choice, you literally only have yourself to blame when your team-mates all go damage class and you’re dreading having to heal them or put a shield in front of them, because you didn’t think to try new things. I don’t buy the whole ‘maining’ culture when you pick two or three characters and call it a day. That’s not how Overwatch is built. I literally play like half the roster, and it’s fun as Hell. It’s really not that hard.
If you don’t like DPS-stacking, and you can’t be bothered to broaden your horizons, then find a group of friends who you can trust to avoid that. And, if you can’t, or won’t, there’s still no excuse for placing your own grievances over the rest of the community.
And I know what ninety percent of you are going to say. ‘Why not just play classic?’ You’d like that wouldn’t you? You’d like it if people stopped reminding you that it’s selfish and narcissistic to whine and moan about things until you get your way, even if, by getting your way, you destroy what made the thing you’re complaining about unique. Hey, who cares, as long as those pesky dps-stackers and people that mildly annoy you get what’s coming to them? Why should they be able to play the game they payed for how they want? It puts you in a bad mood! Let’s just forget about the rest of the community, who don’t go on the forums or read the patch notes, who don’t follow the politics behind the game, and don’t scroll through hours-worth of posts on the internet. They clearly don’t care about the game if they’re not willing to devote that much time to it, right? I bet they don’t even play competitive!
If you people had some foresight, and were capable of seeing the bigger picture, maybe quick play classic wouldn’t have to be in the arcade in the first place. Maybe you’d realise that the fact we can still play it ISN’T the point, and what we’re REALLY angry about is the fact that you bugged Blizzard into implementing a change that is detrimental to the game’s core, fundamental elements, and every time we bring it up, you merely cut your losses, shrug your shoulders and pretend that the benefits to it, which are really only of minor convenience to the majority of the community, somehow outweigh the immense harm the 2-2-2 lock has done, and what its implementation has taken away. What is the use in completely dividing your playerbase to satisfy one portion of it? How was limiting available strategies and therefore watering down flexibility a good idea AT ALL? In the end, I suppose it doesn’t matter. Like I said, who cares? Long as you get what you want…
