Core Level List Update

by **Djcjr** » Sat Apr 04, 2015 9:55 pm

The results are a little bit... skewed, if you break them down a bit. (I think the numbers are correct. I was doing them while watching the UK game)

Top 5 players (matches played for fall 2014):

Lothar - 144 games played

- 6% of matches played with +missiles (9 total. 7 against Drakona)

Drakona - 142 games played

- 46% of matches played with +missiles

Jediluke - 140 games played

- 64% of matches played with +missiles

Bahamut - 96 games played

- 11.5% of matches played with +missiles (11 total. 6 against Jediluke. 3 against Drakona)

Rethink - 49 games played

- 20% of matches played with +missiles (10 total. 6 against Jediluke)
- Most played opponent: Bahamut (18 total. 2 w/ +missiles)

Maybe it would change slightly if I included more pilots, but I think you get the point I'm trying to make. I sincerely have NO problem with these stats. However, you have to admit that there's a glaring issue with a statement like, "This is what the players want".

by **LotharBot** » Sat Apr 04, 2015 10:36 pm

>> there's a glaring issue with a statement like, "This is what the players want"

Way ahead of you, Dj. When we look at core levels, we look at all four of these factors:

- number of total matches played in level
- number of pilots who played in level
- number of pilots who played in level twice
- number of unique pairs of pilots who played in level

If it's just 2 pilots playing the same level over and over again, it'll rank high on the first list, but not the other three. The reason for the 4 lists is to correct for skew from a small number of enthusiastic pilots. But we actually had a lot of pilots play at least *some* matches with x missiles, particularly in Logic. It showed up fairly high on all 4 lists. That suggests it's something that at least a fairly large subset of pilots want.

But of course that doesn't mean everyone wants it, and that doesn't mean it's core. "Pilots lead" is why we asked the community instead of IDL'ing it in as a requirement. Because it's clearly something that some people really like, and a lot of people are willing to play, and some people don't like. So we posed the question to you all, and we got a clear message back -- it's not core.

by **Djcjr** » Sat Apr 04, 2015 11:07 pm

The difference between our views is that I see x2/4 as a modification, while you're running the numbers for anything with x2/4 as a level unto itself. I personally like how the ladder is currently treating x2/4: similar to D2. If the majority of people disagreed with my opinion, I have no issue with accepting matches played with x2/4 as individual levels.

Fun fact that I forgot to mention: Jedi has a winning percentage of 84% with and without more missiles (for the Fall 2014 season). Consistency, baby!

by **LotharBot** » Sat Apr 04, 2015 11:18 pm

I think we should treat x4 levels as "not the same level", just like D2.

Athena D2 is not the same level as Athena D1.

Athena FH is not the same level as Athena NH.

Logic x4 is not the same level as Logic.

(Note that Logic is on the core list; Logic x4 would have been a separate entry if it was added. It wouldn't replace Logic.)

OK, so there's a degree to which we count levels with slight modifications as the same. Athena LH and Athena MCap 6 are fairly similar, and I'd probably count them together for stats. But Logic with extra missiles is very different from Logic with default missiles.

I do think it's fair to treat x4 the same way we treat D2 for the moment -- enough people refuse to play it, or want to play it only rarely, that it can't be counted as core. But at the same time, it is a semi-popular subgame.

by **Jediluke** » Sun Apr 05, 2015 9:14 am

I don't lean in favor of x4 because I'm better at x4 than at original missile counts...I lean in favor of it becauase it's much more interesting to me. More action! More dodging! Never a dull moment...and the games are gernally much quicker thus I can get more of them in!

hooray for x4

The rest of you guys need to wake up and smell what the rock is cookin'!

by **DKH** » Sun Apr 05, 2015 2:26 pm

I find a more tactical game of cat/mouse/ninja/ etc... to be more interesting, hence I don't enjoy too much chaos all the time. Which explains why I don't enjoy FFA and x-missiles as much as 1v1's with fewer missiles.

by **The@$$Man!** » Sun Apr 05, 2015 6:00 pm

by **LotharBot** » Sun Apr 05, 2015 6:07 pm

Stupid mouse, you mean! Or stupid mousepad!

by **The@$$Man!** » Sun Apr 05, 2015 6:41 pm

by **bahamut** » Sun Apr 05, 2015 7:43 pm

It's the mousepad.