Core Levels for Next Season

by **Jediluke** » Mon May 02, 2016 1:28 pm

I think that perhaps 'core' is the wrong name for the purpose these levels were intended for.

it's more about "Random Balanced Neutral Levels List" it just wasn't as catchy as 'core levels'

These levels aren't meant to define what Descent is. It's just a small portion of what Descent provides. Just like x4 is a small portion. ...or power weapon heavy levels like forte or ugh. Great skill involved...but it's a small portion of what Descent means and how it is played.

These levels are meant to provide random balanced neutral territory in the levels most commonly played that meet that criteria.

How we can further expound on this...is by offering "RANDOM" buttons for other subsets of games. You could have a "Anything Goes Random Generator" a "Fusion Only Random Generator" "X4 only Random Generator...etc

by **Mark392** » Mon May 02, 2016 1:32 pm

Due to the fact that I have 100% personal experience and verification of your skill across the board, I thought we may agree on the fact the way I stated it. However, I didnt want to speak for you (so I said "may differ"... Ha!). I can see the good thought process behind the "fair fight neutral ground"; the only issue being what people agree as a fair fight on neutral ground... I believe each pilot will differ in that area, to such concepts of, "we both have equal chance to get and use fusion in ugh, therefore ugh is core" (not my opinion, obviously). It seems to me an impossible task to successfully define terms such as "fair" and "neutral" in this type of case, but I can go with your thought process 100%!

by **Mark392** » Mon May 02, 2016 1:35 pm

I really like your random generator suggestions! That sounds super aweome!

by **Entropy** » Mon May 02, 2016 1:59 pm

Having an extra button is a great idea. I vote for a "Stupid Levels you probably won't enjoy playing" button. I can see it already... Umbriel... Penumbra... other terrible levels that I know are out there but can't remember right now...

by **Jediluke** » Mon May 02, 2016 2:23 pm

The true original intent of the 'core level random generator' was to assist pilots in level negotiations and avoid being coerced (of sorts) in to playing a sub level type game that heavily favors one player over the other.

So...the idea was born that we would allow for a list of levels that were broadly balanced and popular. Include all weapons and do our best to avoid sub type games or 'angling' of sorts

Now...for example...because this exists...Mark sitting at #1 couldn't force me ...sitting at #2...to play him in a level of his choosing and I get no say...cuz he has what I want...#1...but to get it...I'm stuck with adhering to his demands.

This sort of issue (not with Mark) existed in past eras (it happened to me a few times) and I wanted to make sure this was avoided in the modern era.

by **Drakona** » Mon May 02, 2016 2:44 pm

by **LotharBot** » Mon May 02, 2016 2:58 pm

"Core levels" are the core of DCL, not necessarily the core of Descent. They're the only levels you can be required to play in, and are selected based on broad popularity measures specifically because of the DCL philosophy of "pilots lead".

This was designed in response to an issue on IDL, wherein pilots were required to play both D1 and D2 because it was in the rules (which were written by people who no longer played) long after D2 had dropped to basically nil in popularity, and had become unplayable for many people due to framerate issues and other bugs (there was no D2x in that era) -- as well as what others have pointed out, that sometimes people would angle really hard for levels that favored them. We decided when designing this ladder that the core of the ladder experience would be based on what people *actually play* rather than what was philosophized from the sidelines or what was true in years past, and we came up with a set of measurements that combine to show that a level has both broad and deep support (lots of total matches, lots of different pairs, lots of different pilots coming back to the level), as well as the basic criteria that levels could be disqualified if they were overly focused on a small aspect of the game (single gun, disorientation, etc.) and therefore didn't allow for much tactical variety.

Core doesn't necessarily imply neutral ground, or fair fight, or the "proper" balance between primaries and secondaries. IIRC Io was once in the core, and there are several pilots whose home levels have been core (bahamut in black rose, LoNi in Logic, Jediluke in NYSA), and there have typically been levels with low missile counts (like Vamped) and very high missile counts (Athena, NYSA) in the core. Core just implies a level you should know because it's broadly played, where you can have a reasonable contest of wills with an opponent over which tactics are in play and to what degree. (And while each individual level might be a little better for some tactics or others, the core set as a whole is broad enough that a "specialist" pilot will at least occasionally end up in a level that doesn't favor their specialty.)

Wrath is definitely a level you should know because it's broadly played. It tends to lean pretty heavily toward a particular group of tactics, but I don't think any moreso than Athena, or than Io in the past. I wouldn't disqualify it on either of those fronts. Where it falls short is that (particularly being released after the start of the season) it didn't quite make it across the popularity thresholds. But if it comes in a solid 8th place next season, I think it'd be in.

by **Mark392** » Mon May 02, 2016 7:35 pm

Please tell me I'm not the only one left that gathers Info by throwing primaries down a hall, through doors, toward corners, into open space...? I've done that since '97 and I knew a ton of people back then that did it all the time. Lighting plays such a key role in games that firing blindly down a hall illicits a multitude of responses, for example, I fire lasers because the approach time is of a slower speed, causing a camper around the corner to reveal thier position because they are ready to fire not on sight of ship, but on change of lighting even out of periferal vision only. Oh man, I could write a book on how I gather information in different ways with each primary and flares. Flares don't work--as well--anymore, they stopped working in 01 when everyone figured out thier major glow effect and are only good to let people know you used to be in the vacinity (at least are not reliably good anymore...). You can throw off the position someone is looking at by directing fire away from yourself while entering a room... There's so much. So much...

by **Swarthy** » Mon May 02, 2016 7:46 pm

KEEP GOING!! We need an archive of strategies and tactics that gold aspire to as well as staples you rely on in various scenarios. Would help feed the pool of better competitors for you guys. Or would that be like a magician revealing his tricks?

by **Mark392** » Mon May 02, 2016 7:59 pm

Anyone that wants to know any of my tactics, or things I *think* I know, have but to ask. Let me know you want to know something and we will meet in mumble and I'll get on voice and actually TALK about it! I'd be happy to do it! Heck I'd do it on SDS... Cam's Coaching Corner... Ah, nah... Maybe a Walker's Log.... No one wants to hear me in a podcast setting, I don't stick to scripts... lol! But, seriously, I'd be glad to meet with anyone and chat it up--all my knowledge is your knowledge, I'm just not very talented at recording my thoughts in word form, I can never accurately describe the pictures in my head--but I can verbally do it fairly well, or at least I think I can. Ok, at least it would be entertaining? Maybe?