The idea is simple. Grab a larger total pool of players for solo shuffle. This would allow you to have much lower queue times per round of shuffle played. By folding new signups into the pool immediately (more on that in the bottom).
a larger starting pool would have some SERIOUS advantages.
Specifically to prevent triple mage into warrior. and triple hunter into mage. triple purge against rdruid. Double ret w/ pally healer. etc. not to prevent them from happening at all. But to prevent them from playing that match 6 rounds in a row.
The next advantage is a rule. You NEVER have the same healer that you had last round. (if you’ve played shuffle and had someone tilt on you, you know why, they will throw, or can throw, or just won’t press, current system is FAR too easily manipulated.)
This larger pool could also have other features that would enhance players experience overall, I’ll try to list a few.
First I think people overall just stop leaving. because you aren’t locked into 6 games with these D!!&@#^%^#*'s. (joking). but having random teams every round and no 6 round commitment, would make the rate of people leaving, much lower. After all, your healer doesn’t have to heal that rogue that won’t press. etc.
Second, with the larger pools, when people leave that doesn’t actually do anything for the other 5 people. Everyone gets one round win, and move onto the next. And the Quitter gets a loss. and is out of the pool. but thats not the end of the lobby for everyone. Currently it is literally the end of the lobby. Which is just the worst. (design)
Third, and I think this part could actually be really big, for teaching, but also for pacing of the game mode, but when someone loses 3 rounds in a row. They have to sit and rewatch their last round. This has more than one function: It helps people cool off from the loss. It allows them to see the mistakes they made (admittedly better at low MMR, but not useless for anyone, IMO) but it also takes them out of the pool for 3-5 minutes, giving time for everyone else’s rounds to finish and for the servers to make up the next teams and load everyone in.
The last Big thing this would change is the overall format of how you interact with solo shuffle.
Instead of queueing and waiting 20 minutes to go in (because everything is 6 rounds). every round every player will get a prompt “do you want to continue?”. If someone “tags out” let’s call it. You’ll be tagged in. and if you have to go cuz your mom’s basement is flooded, there is no shame in leaving after just a few rounds. or literally staying in the “pool” all day. because they just keep choosing to continue. (secondary petition to have a bio break button, but one thing at a time)
So basically the solo shuffle pool would become this big giant pool of all the players that are playing right now. (still somewhat separated by MMR) and people can just choose to stay. OR as people choose to leave, or tilt and ragequit as is the wow players . The next person would be allowed in. This would let the teams SHUFFLE much more. Most Importantly, You wouldn’t get locked into a 6-round, no-win situation and You can’t be strapped to a healer that can’t find his trinket three rounds in a row.
Im not sure I explained all this properly. Ive had the idea mulling around in my head for a long time so im sure I skipped something important somewhere.
larger pool (no more 6 round shuffles)
less time between rounds (6 match round to 6 match round)
less stopping
less leaving (leaving matches)
less win trading
less throwing
less bad lobbies (lobbies stacked against you, based on classes)
I think this would correct a lot of fundamental issues with solo shuffle and make it more enjoyable for more people.
interested to see everyones’ input