Unfair Matchmaking System Feedback

  • xqcx9
    Sailor

    Hello Sea of Thieves Support,

    I would like to report a matchmaking issue in Hourglass PvP.

    My PvP level is 23 and my friend's PvP level is 7, but we keep getting matched against players with PvP levels above 100. The difference in experience and skill is extremely large, making the matches feel unfair and difficult for newer players trying to progress.

    We have encountered this issue multiple times, and it is affecting our PvP experience. Could you please check if the matchmaking system is working correctly or explain why players with such a large level difference are being matched together?

    Thank you for your help.

    Best regards.

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  • iTz Majman
    Legend
    Insider
    Founder

    It's not a bug or anything, the problem is that it's not enough players interested in playing HG. It's either the ones trying to push for lvl 100 or the ones that are 100+ that wants the lvl 1000 curse.

    Someone that is new and is lvl 5 and someone that is "pro" and is lvl 500, obviously it's going to be a crazy gap in skill but since there isn't anyone close to lvl 5 when that person is queuing, the game wides the search and eventually you go against people that are way more experienced.

    TLDR: Not enough players are playing HG. A lvl 1 will somewhat often go vs a lvl 1000 for that sole reason.

  • BurnBacon
    Vanguard
    Insider

    My PvP level is 23 and my friend's PvP level is 7,

    So your points are normal for beginners.

    but we keep getting matched against players with PvP levels above 100.

    Your matched with other PvP looking players. Level means (zero) Just how long you played, doesnt equal skill.

    The difference in experience and skill is extremely large,

    I bet if they hide those levels, and you won. You would be surprised how well the mindset works when they realize it.

    We have encountered this issue multiple times, and it is affecting our PvP experience.

    PvP Experience? Okie, try this. Without HG...sail around and attack a ship. See how fast they attack back and win/lose. Now look at there HG levels. If they are same as you or higher. Same exact experience.

    Could you please check if the matchmaking system is working correctly

    Its working. You found a "like minded crew to PvP with" that is all there is to Hourglass. Nothing special; you sign up for battle against another crew to fight. Regardless of how long one has played, or "skill"

    After all, what if you kept fighting the same Level 1 experience player, and kept losing, while your level 24....what does that say?

  • Flashkannon5118
    Seafarer

    @burnbacon said in Unfair Matchmaking System Feedback:

    Its working. You found a "like minded crew to PvP with" that is all there is to Hourglass. Nothing special; you sign up for battle against another crew to fight. Regardless of how long one has played, or "skill"

    After all, what if you kept fighting the same Level 1 experience player, and kept losing, while your level 24....what does that say?

    You're making a lot of assumptions about the scenario that this poster is reporting. They said that, as a new player, they encountered someone who had, even if we don't know their win/loss record or absolute skill, indications that they had spent a good deal more time in the HG system than the original poster. Compounding this, these other players won, seemingly easily, which would support a conclusion that those indications indicated their skill level correctly.

    The original poster came here, to give feedback on a feedback forum, that the matchmaking system had matched them against an opponent more than their equal. Please at least pay them the respect of assuming that they are reporting their own experiences accurately.

    As for the subject matter at hand, if population in hourglass is low enough that beginner players are being matched against experienced ones, perhaps something needs doing to rebalance the system - perhaps another toggle that lets you wait longer for a more evenly matched opponent?

  • SweetSandMan
    Legend
    Insider

    @flashkannon5118 said in Unfair Matchmaking System Feedback:

    You're making a lot of assumptions about the scenario that this poster is reporting. They said that, as a new player, they encountered someone who had, even if we don't know their win/loss record or absolute skill, indications that they had spent a good deal more time in the HG system than the original poster. Compounding this, these other players won, seemingly easily, which would support a conclusion that those indications indicated their skill level correctly.

    The original poster came here, to give feedback on a feedback forum, that the matchmaking system had matched them against an opponent more than their equal. Please at least pay them the respect of assuming that they are reporting their own experiences accurately.

    That's the BurnBacon way.

    As for the subject matter at hand, if population in hourglass is low enough that beginner players are being matched against experienced ones, perhaps something needs doing to rebalance the system - perhaps another toggle that lets you wait longer for a more evenly matched opponent?

    Voluntary longer queue times sounds like a good option..but if there isn't an equal match in queue, you could either wait indefinitely, or wait longer for the same mismatched skill pairing anyways.

    The easy solution is a more balanced ELO matchmaking reward system. I think Mario Kart 8 does a decent job of rewarding low level players being matched up against high level players. If you're a Level 7 getting paired up against a level 600, a loss should yield you a substantial amount of rep, and a win should basically spin the dial with the amount of rep you get. They can't make more players play the mode and get fair matches across the board. But they can easily make the reward system less punishing.

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