What do you guys think about smurfing?

[Hawk]

So, after seeing someone admit to buying another copy of the game with the sole expressed purpose of avoiding his own MMR (MatchMakingRating), I figured there should be a discussion about this practice, please try to be civilised and constructive in discussing this matter.

[personal opinion follows: ]

In my opinion smurfing is something that should not be allowed for a few reasons, the largest and most important being that it places players of lower skill level against players of higher skill levels (the whole point that MMR is there for) which ruins the game experience for lower skilled players.

now, I VERY quickly scanned the EULA but couldn't see anything against smurfing in it, so this is not a call to action or something along those lines but an invitation to civil discussion.

Cheers,

Hawk

Edit: Even though MMR isn't implemented yet it will be in the future, which makes the discussion relevant (and hopefully in time to give some feedback to the appropiate places)

[Hawk]

Originally posted by griceyj:

Originally posted by ReploidGodX:

I prefer games that don't have an "equal playing field" mechanic. I grew up without them and I prefer to have it all be random assortments of skill levels. It's more interesting not knowing through meta mechanics what your opponents might be capable of

And also, playing against better skilled players will usually help to increase your own personal skill level.

unless those players are of such a skill level that you don't stand a realistic chance. (e.g. try playing any sport against a professional that is not holding back, after several games you just get frustrated too much with not being able to get further/ahead )

[Cooter]

The reason this discussion is irrelevant isn't because ranked match making isn't in game yet (some streamers think it is) but the fact that there is no real way to stop people from smurfing. They buy another copy on another account, how do you really stop that from happening. Plus why would the developers care in the first place, they get extra sales from people who just want easier wins. With no real way to stop them why even worry.

[[KG]Kajautus]

Oh gad.. please don't add any rank match making. Randomness is key element in this game. You can't never know if your opponent is highly caffenated 14 yrs old super killer or more like me. Little drunk and on a rampage. :D

[Zantonny]

Personally, if the buy a second copy of the game on a seperate steam account, sure. Go for it. Smurf for like 5 games till you're back where you were before.

There is a lot of luc involved in this game. How many people drop with you at the start (minor control by picking location) if you find weaponry first, if you find ammo, attachements etc. Even down to if someone is quietly camping a hill and spots you first. Smurf or not, you're still affected by these things.

Additionally, I say this as a relatively weak FPS gamer, I like the idea of a no MMR system. I like it because to me, PUBG is supposed to be 100 normalish people dropped onto an island to fight to the death. These normalish people would all have different skills, fitness levels etc. All of which is kind of simuated through the players skil.

Finally, as a weak FPS gamer (again) I'd like to point out that there is no one way to play. A strong FPS player may go for an aggressive victory, kiling people and pushing as much as they can. Players like I, prefer to bide their time, will sometimes stay in cover while under fire without even attempting to shoot back, in full knowledge that other people on the map will be hunting the shooters gunshots, rather than your own.

In conclusion, I'm totally cool with smurfs.

[Zorlond]

The only means of specifically avoiding MMR, and also the only reason to do it, would be deliberately losing.

Frankly, I find it idiotic. If you don't want a challenge, then stop playing so hard. You don't have to set out to lose to do that.

[Rudisilly25]

I don't think smurfing in a non-competitve/casual game mode is that bad. I know some streamers that use their main for playing in a more try-hard fashion and use an alt account to play with viewers/subscribers because it means those viewers, who are generally not as good or experienced, will have more fun.

That being said, if/when they institute a competitve side or game mode (e.g. first person servers) then it becomes more of a problem as people can use different accounts to knock people of the top of leaderboards while maintaining their spot without having to worry.

A great example of this was Ark: Survival of the Fittest. While the two games are drastically different from one another, SotF made a huge mistake by allowing the game to be purchased for free and then running money tournaments. This lead to people just buying copy after copy in order to kill higher ranked players in games so as to boost themselves or cause those other players to drop out of the top of the leaderboard, making the smurfer's road to victory much easier.

I suppose they could make people register themselve if they wish to be in tournaments or play competitve but people could always just register family members or friends so this may not be best.

TL;DR: smurfing in casual not too bad, but smurfing in competitive is the real problem if they wish to bring this into e-sports in any serious capacity.

[Pizzashot]

Who cares if better players buys a smurf account in this game. Most of your complaints are probably even about new players that simply knows how to play games.

[Zorlond]

Originally posted by Rudisilly25:

That being said, if/when they institute a competitve side or game mode (e.g. first person servers)

First-person servers were never pitched as 'competitive side'. The game is already set up competitive with third-person.

[Flying Fox]

There is no mmr at all
You just get thrown into the next best match pingwise
I fought against the top 10 aswell as ppl that are probably in the 500ks

I bought 4 copies already and might buy more, will see (though only 2 for me, while 1 is rather a sharingaccount with familyshare for colleagues that want to test the game before buying it / wether it runs or not)

I dont see the problem in smurfing once there is an mmr, those ppl fund the game even more than others, and will play themselve to their mmr again rather quickly unles they just lucked into it and its not rly their mmr.

The statscreen did not get reset yet, while it should be each month. (unles it has with this patch, which i dont think so? havnt played today)
Once it does ppl would get clean mmr anyway

I think a BR game is in no need of having MMR.
They will implement rankedmode and there they already have their mmr in terms of rank (which will probably increase with killscore, average place and amounts of wins to games ratio)

[deezus]

I don't understand why people care about smurfs. I've never heard of any game disallowing it. So it's just something you're going to have to come to terms with.