descentchampions.org

The random level list is currently:

Logic, Fuzed, Black Rose, Neptune, Nysa, Vamped, Take2, Athena, Nocturnal, and Flea.

I think this list could use some revision, as I will suggest below:

Of the top 10 pilots on the DCL currently (all gold) only 2 games have been played in a NON low-homer or no-homer version of Nysa (both against Drakona) other than against JediLuke.

Of the top 10 pilots on the DCL, I see about an even split between games of normal Athena, and a combined total of the low-homer / no-homer version of Athena.

I am still ramping up how many levels I have played since coming back, but I personally think Nysa in particular stands out as one that should not be on the list in it's current state. Only 2 games played by the top 10 pilots in normal Nysa (other than Jedi, of course ;)) indicates that the full homer version is not very popular currently.

I would also have liked to see a more dogfight-heavy level on the list, if possible, for a truly "random" level list! I could see the reason for one not being on there is that these are perhaps the top 10 most popular levels- but if that is true, the case for either removing Nysa, or at the very least making it a low-homer version, becomes even stronger. (Athena, like I said, looks like a toss-up between the full and LH/NH versions)

Just some constructive feedback, as usual :) would love to hear if other folks feel the same way, or not, etc!

Okay -- taking off the admin hat, speaking as a pilot now --

Nysa totally belongs on the list. According to my IDL data set, it is the most popular 1v1 level played of all time, and it's not even a close contest. It's good, darn it! I just don't know what's wrong with you people.

Hahaha! Drakona, cracks me up! Your absolutely right, NYSA should be on the list.

Right...the idea behind this feature isn't necessarily to have it just choose some random level for you to play (despite the name).

The idea behind this is to provide 2 pilots that can't agree (or simply can't decide) on a level to play an opportunity to push the random button and then play a level that has been deemed to be popular enough and non-angle (neutral) enough to be suitable for any 2 pilots to play at any given time with a high degree of skill.

The level must be popular and must be of a design that will allow for dog fighting/hit-n-run/camping/variety of weapon selection. Which is why levels that are purposefully skewed towards only one or two of those categories have been removed (ie: ugh)

If you want to play UGH...simply find a pilot willing to play you in it....but it isn't a neutral/balanced kind of level that any 2 pilots should be good at.

I disagree with your core argument. The goal of a good pilot would be to master all aspects of the game. If one pilot is strong in fusion for example, he shall have the upper hand in a fusion based level on the random level generator. This does not mean that fusion based level should be left out of the pool because some pilots refuse to master a fusion technique. Random battles should be just that: a random map, and a random skill if it may so happen. Respectfully -- DKH

Drakona- Thanks for the thorough reply! The work you do here is awesome!

Jedi- If the goal is "non-angle / neutral" levels, then without a doubt Nysa and Athena should be listed as low homers, imo.

I'll be personally stipulating that when using the generator, and I don't think there's much question that the low homer version of these levels is more "neutral" territory.

With that caveat, though, I am happy with Drakona's explanation of the list, and even more happy with the transparency about how it came to be! You guys rock... Cheers!

Perhaps I misspoke. It isn't about testing if you are a good pilot in every single aspect of the game. ie: a level with only fusion. a level with only spread...etc...etc.

It's about providing an option for two pilots that can't agree on a level selection and trying to mediate that issue by having a small list of levels that can accommodate the majority of styles/weapon selction in each level. It's not about diversity or skill testing. It's about mediation/popularity/neutrality...or as close to it as we can get.

Another thing about the random level option. IF both pilots agree to using the tool, the level it spits out for you two to play is non negotiable. IF both parties agree to a LH or NH version that would be fine however, if EITHER party disagrees about that change then the listed level must be played with out question.

Keep in mind that you can play any level you want against any pilot that's willing to play you but should you be unable to agree upon a level this provides you a tool to end the indecision.

You can also use it simply because you like the levels that are part of it and simply don't want to have to decide...that's ok but was not the original intent of the option.

In the future, we may potentially build a different version of the randomizer that lets you select from curated lists -- random old-school, random dogfight, random fusion, random disoriented, random mega/shaker, or maybe even random-all-of-the-above-at-once (as DKH says, to "master all aspects of the game"). But for now, we've just got the one randomizer, and its purpose is to select commonly played D1 core levels for people who otherwise can't agree on (or don't want to pick) a level.

I would say NYSA, with full missiles, is commonly played D1 core -- it's still popular among at least a few DCLers, and is the most played IDL level of all time, of all time. But if the community can build a near-consensus that says "NYSA is not core, it's got too many homers and is therefore an angle level based on current standards" I'd accept that and ask to remove NYSA from the core randomizer.