Open crew matchmaking is below expectations

I consider this a major failing of the game. Unfortunately Rare's attitude seems to be "lets use an inadequate third party tool rather than do it ourselves". Just look at their communication system - they use twitter rather than their own website.

For a game that is designed from the ground up around 4 player co-op the lack of clan support or any form of decent match making is kind of pathetic and very short sighted. I think this more than anything else contributed to people leaving in droves.

@hamytheturtle said in Open crew matchmaking is below expectations:

When I use matchmaking, all I expect is to find a crew, of any status, age, or skill with the intent of sailing and looting for treasure, be it voyages or raiding. What do I get? I get a ship harbored at an outpost with nobody else, or I get a crew that leaves immediately upon seeing that we don't already have treasure. Matchmaking is a wash, one in twenty tries you'll get a crew meeting the basic standards listed.

I would always head to LFG. Random queue is a nightmare in all games not just this one.

@wryubiquitous said in Open crew matchmaking is below expectations:

@hamytheturtle said in Open crew matchmaking is below expectations:

When I use matchmaking, all I expect is to find a crew, of any status, age, or skill with the intent of sailing and looting for treasure, be it voyages or raiding. What do I get? I get a ship harbored at an outpost with nobody else, or I get a crew that leaves immediately upon seeing that we don't already have treasure. Matchmaking is a wash, one in twenty tries you'll get a crew meeting the basic standards listed.

I would always head to LFG. Random queue is a nightmare in all games not just this one.

100%

Even though this a massive generalization. It happens to be pretty accurate. My personal experiences with random queue have had a 80% failure rate. Had one occurence where voyages actually took place. The other 4 out of 5 times involved players leeching, or throwing loot off the back of the ship, exploding kegs etc.

Avoid random queue at all costs and use LFG.

Why would any of you subject yourself to that? That makes no sense with LFG/Discord being around.

@celestron90 said in Open crew matchmaking is below expectations:

Why would any of you subject yourself to that? That makes no sense with LFG/Discord being around.

I've had very poor results with LFGs because there is no control over LFGs. You can join an LFG session and still get partnered with a griefer who goes AFK or throws your loot overboard.
That's if the organiser of the LFG actually bother to invite you to the session that they've created. And that's after you've trawled through dozens of lame LFG posts to even find one that sounds remotely decent.

1. Add a normal lobby system. You press join, you get 20 random not-full open crew ships to choose from.

Galleon 3/4 players currently doing voyages for gold hoarders [short description set by the host/captain]
Galleon 2/4 players currently on a legendary voyage [experienced players only!]
Sloop 1/2 players currently at an outpost [looking for someone to grind Merchants]

2. Allow players to kick people, not just put them in the brig (walk the plank option).
3. Add standing with other pirates (you can give stars or MVP points, whatever, that increases ones reputation and allows you to, let's say, hold titles such as Friendly Pirate etc.)

Should fix some of the problems.

Best regards,
Kalantris

@kungfustu72 said in Open crew matchmaking is below expectations:

@celestron90 said in Open crew matchmaking is below expectations:

Why would any of you subject yourself to that? That makes no sense with LFG/Discord being around.

I've had very poor results with LFGs because there is no control over LFGs. You can join an LFG session and still get partnered with a griefer who goes AFK or throws your loot overboard.
That's if the organiser of the LFG actually bother to invite you to the session that they've created. And that's after you've trawled through dozens of lame LFG posts to even find one that sounds remotely decent.

It sounds like you need to screen the people a little better. Try to join the people who actually put effort into their LFG posts. Avoid the "sloop and chill" or "420 boat blaze it" type posts.

@hamytheturtle I gave up on open match making, use the xbox app if on PC for player looking for crew, I have only had great experiences now using that and less noobies

@celestron90 said in Open crew matchmaking is below expectations:

@kungfustu72 said in Open crew matchmaking is below expectations:

@celestron90 said in Open crew matchmaking is below expectations:

Why would any of you subject yourself to that? That makes no sense with LFG/Discord being around.

I've had very poor results with LFGs because there is no control over LFGs. You can join an LFG session and still get partnered with a griefer who goes AFK or throws your loot overboard.
That's if the organiser of the LFG actually bother to invite you to the session that they've created. And that's after you've trawled through dozens of lame LFG posts to even find one that sounds remotely decent.

It sounds like you need to screen the people a little better. Try to join the people who actually put effort into their LFG posts. Avoid the "sloop and chill" or "420 boat blaze it" type posts.

I do screen. During the Hungering Deep event I must of applied to about a dozen specific Hungering Deep LFG posts but only got into one session. And in that session the host was good but one guy quit before we even summoned Meg and the other was a crazy German who hogged the wheel even though he didn't know where to go then got on the cannon and shot up our friendly sloop during the fight.
As I said LFG doesn't always guarantee good crew mates. :(