🐙 Response to the Dev Update

[Nishod48-1522]

Well, not playing competitive that week.

haha yea! Can’t wait to read the DPS complaining about queue times after this is implemented and tanks get EVEN LESS choice of what to play!

KEKW!

[Rocktopus-11683]

We really need Mauga.

Btw, @thread, I’d some of ya’lls posts cough ToxicZarya cough but I ran out again.

[Misguided-1468]

Touché. If a hero pool drastically limited players because they opted not to play, that would be an issue. You’d think they might find it liberating getting to try something new, but you’re probably right.

Sad that I see that name and think “make Australia great again”

[Rocktopus-11683]

You’d think they might find it liberating getting to try something new, but you’re probably right.

I mean, I usually would, but even a flexible player like me can see that the tank roster is built on pillars and suffers heavily if one is removed.

Then there are the players who straight up aren’t flexible, and to that point, if my only viable option was Orisa for a week, I’d opt out of that too.

Sad that I see that name and think “make Australia great again”

Whose name?

[Crom-11865]

You have torb, you’re fine.

[RobotWizard-116887]

Still gonna be a big blow to an already inaccurate tracker

Yep, weekly is already pretty dicey.

[Misguided-1468]

Mauga, silly.

I was bad at Orisa before her nerfs. I like the character, just don’t get good value and don’t time fortify well, so survivability suffers

[saltburn-1639]

Experimental Card” in arcade

I don’t think it’s in arcade. It’s going to be it’s own card that comes out when changes occur. But what I wanna know is what would the PTR be used for now that we have Experimental Play? Would PC players use PTR and we use Experimental Play? Or is Experimental Play used specifically for buffs and nerfs, while PTR is like reworks and so forth

[Daruthan-1365]

many are rightly concerned that it is counter to the spirit of Overwatch.

I think that it is counter to the spirit of Overwatch at release. The game has a new or different spirit now. They have had to make some unanticipated changes based on what was necessary at the time to make the game more fun. I personally think that hero pools are overkill with the planned frequent patching, but I wouldn’t go so far as to say it is counter to the current direction or “spirit” of the game.

[Rocktopus-11683]

Mauga, silly.

I was bad at Orisa before her nerfs. I like the character, just don’t get good value and don’t time fortify well, so survivability suffers

Ain’t he Hawaiian?

Oh, and keep practicing Orisa, you’ll figure her out.

But what I wanna know is what would the PTR be used for now that we have Experimental Play?

Its kinda been defunct. People don’t use it. I don’t even try it anymore, I can’t find matches unless its day one of big changes.

The game has a new or different spirit now.

Its still about enjoying a variety of different heroes and playstyles. Bans are the archenemy of that.

[saltburn-1639]

Its kinda been defunct. People don’t use it. I don’t even try it anymore, I can’t find matches unless its day one of big changes

So do you think we would see Experimental Play as a new PTR, but for all platforms?

[Daruthan-1365]

Bans are the archenemy of that.

How are bans the archenemy of a variety of different heroes and play styles? Stale metas are inevitable when you don’t force any form of change either through frequent balance patches or hero bans.

[Misguided-1468]

Ain’t he Hawaiian?

The spelling. Smacks octopus with fish

Oh, and as to Orisa, I won my first ever game on Rein last night

[Rocktopus-11683]

So do you think we would see Experimental Play as a new PTR, but for all platforms?

Essentially yes, ptr, but more well supported.

How are bans the archenemy of a variety of different heroes and play styles?

They literally prevent you from picking a hero you like.

Stale metas are inevitable when you don’t force any form of change either through frequent balance patches or hero bans.

We’re getting both of those things. Besides, even yugioh doesn’t have metas as stale as overwatch and they basically don’t balance their game at all. At least bans force this stubborn community to try new things

The spelling

Sorry, I’m not from that side of the world. My super secret octo-lair is in the San Diego bay.

[Misguided-1468]

Sorry, I’m not from that side of the world.

Neither am I.

Muahaha!

[Daruthan-1365]

They literally prevent you from picking a hero you like.

You are conflating playing the hero(s) you like with seeing a variety of heroes. Hero bans move the meta. They actually create a greater diversity of heroes.

[Rocktopus-11683]

Look, I’m not against hero bans, I think its a good idea, but the devs have to be careful because it does remove freedom, thats how it works.

Jeff actually just made a post about it, I’m even more excited.

[Rocktopus-11683]

Hero pools is a brave and holistic change

Thanks for the feedback! Oddly, we’re not viewing this change as dramatic, scary or impactful as the decision to pursue Hero Limits or our decision to implement Role Queue. Hero Pools will be introduced for Season 21 of Competitive Play only. Unlike Role Queue or Hero Limits, Quick Play and the Arcade will be completely the same as they are today with Hero Pools. This alone already means the number of affected matches is FAR less than those two prior systems. Also, we’re super open to change …

Here’s a link

[ChiefWamBam-1978]

I imagine the experimental card would just be for stat tweaks, while the ptr will still be used for major additions and changes. New characters and mechanics are far more likely to bug out than anything they could change statwise

[MrGoodkat-21745]

If youd change the ban list daily you have so little time to practice and get anywhere good with the most present comp - it would make playing the game incredibly random (which is acceptable I guess for rank because its very chaotic anyways) but for the league: Please give the players the agency to form own strategies - hero bans no pools!!