A Question to the unaffiliated...

[~SJ~ Amarus]

Let me start with saying that I have no problem with pubbers being non affiliated, thats a choice and thats ok, what that being said I have a question...well a couple of questions.

I would like to know what those people who play pub matches are looking for from their experiance? 

Is there any way a unit or clan could enhance this experiance?

Do you chose not to join a unit/clan because of social, game based, or just personal reasons(such as no time to give, or had a bad experiance)

What frustrates you the most about random matches?

Would any of you be interested in unit/clan organized matches for the non affiliated with times and details posted?

Do the non affiliated have any questions for the people who are in units/clans?


Well thats about it for me, I hope to get a productive discussion going with this because I'm truely curious.

[SquareSphere }12thVR{]

hmm i suppose i fall into this category.  Well, the main determent for me is the time commit that league play involves.  That being said I know exactly what to expect in pub games.

It's less about "winning" than accomplishing my own personal objectives.  I don't get on the pub com channels mostly cause of bad experiences (from other games) of one person ruining it for everyone else.  That being said, always try to pay attention to chat coms for any signs of coordination.

On the occasions i get to play against organized units I want them to be as tactical as possible and play like they normally would against another organized unit.  This gives me a view of how organized play can be played out in MWLL and gives me a chance to play with some tactics of my own.

[(TLL)KitLightning]

lol don't expect Units to show their full potential during a pub!

[Seraph]

lol don't expect Units to show their full potential during a pub!

... because they sure don't

[~SJ~ Amarus]

Thats ture, we work the best when we have our team at our back and the stakes are much higher...if you only get one life then you are much more careful about your dicisions.

And SquareSphere, thanks for the comment I was always under the impression that pubbers did not like it when unit players "stack" on one side and actually play like we mean it, so that is a breath of fresh air to me, though against unblooded players I can understand why they would want us to go easy on them, I just don't think that lowering the difficulty setting is the best way to gain experiance.

[Taemien]

Normally I would join a unit, but I play almost super casually in this game. I don't have the computer specs to really make use of my potential and so when I play its usually just a match or two every few days. I wouldn't be fair to a unit to have a player thats only on once or twice a week for 30-45 minutes at a time.

Helped run a pretty successful MW3/4 unit back in the day. Did planetary and ladder based leagues and so I know the commitment that is required. I'm not able to give that at the moment. Also helping run two guilds in EQ2 at the moment so that means my time is limited, especially when college classes starts back up again.

[~SJ~ Amarus]

Well then in your case you are affiliated...its just with EQ2...TRAITOR!!!... i kid


And I understand why you are not in a clan or unit but how bout the public matches are you satisfied or too busy being pissed off at low frame rate?

[=KoS= Eldragon]

The following statements are not directed at any MW:LL clan/unit. I have not joined any units yet, so I'm not bashing anyone in particular.  So far the MW:LL community seems to have avoided the problems I've come across in every other game.

There was a time when I was a serious WoW player, in a top-tier guild. I hated those asshats, but it was the only way to enjoy the end-game content. Since I don't need to be in a clan to enjoy the game, I don't feel the need to join a unit.

1) I'm having lots of fun without a clan. So far, I simply don't see why I need to join. Perhaps if the community got larger and an actual league started up I might join up.

2) Time commitment/Time conflicts. I don't have a predictable time schedule, and its going to be rare when I can plan on attending any scheduled matches. Some clan leaders get pretty crazy about making the whole unit show up to these.

3) MW:LL is still in beta. Since the game is very much in flux, with balance issues galore, I don't see the draw in competitive play yet. Perhaps when we hit .8 or so, the game will be mature enough to start taking league play seriously.

4) The off-stage drama. On a long enough timeline, every unit eventually falls apart. Often various strong personalities conflict, create some kind of schism, and splits the clan... or people start leaving in droves so the clan is nothing but and handful of people who can't muster a decent team.

5) The Prima Donnas. The good units attract jerks like flies to honey. I get pretty tired of listening to dbags trash talk, or have their personal tantrums. Then there are issues of Team Stacking and otherwise making me simply not want to associate with certain people. Their behavior ruins my name by association.

6) Voice Chat. #4 and #5 got so much worse with the advent of voice chat. I used the TLL public teamspeak server, and I like it a lot. So its not that all voice chat is bad, its that its pretty much required for team play. Its awesome if everyone is talking about the game we are playing. But most of the time people are just talking about everything EXCEPT the game.

[ratbuddy]

On the occasions i get to play against organized units I want them to be as tactical as possible and play like they normally would against another organized unit.  This gives me a view of how organized play can be played out in MWLL and gives me a chance to play with some tactics of my own.

You probably won't get a good idea of that from public games. For me, when pubbing, I just join whichever team has the least players, even if the other side has all the other TLL members. I take a Raven or Owens and go fart around. I know a lot of other TLLs do the same thing. It's a completely different style of play from what you see in scrims or practices. Consider hanging out in the TLL public teamspeak some time, it's pretty much mostly asshat free, except when I'm there

[SquareSphere }12thVR{]

Well don't take my opinion for the default opnion for rest of the pubbers.  Even though i'm unaffiliated I'm still a vet.  People like myself SB, Buzz, and others like playing against "better" opposition to make ourselves better.

Other pubbers might be going out just to figure out control or variants while others are just going for kill count.

[(TLL)CapperDeluxe]

While I do long to relive the days from Mechwarrior 4 NBT with DC and the fun I had on teamspeak in coordinated fashion, I'm sure I'll join a unit at some point, I just don't have the consistent free time to play on a schedule and wouldn't want that to burden a unit.  Also I'm still trying to figure out which unit I'd most like to join.  Most likely I'll remain a lone wolf until more units start doing more with MWLL as it matures.


Oh and I just play for kicks, I don't aim for the best in match nor do I aim for best in a particular role. I switch up roles constantly based on what I feel like playing and how I feel the match is progressing.

[=KoS= Eldragon]

There are also many flavors of Team Stacking. In MWLL its almost never a problem. Just once of twice have I seen it, and it was no worse than a normal public game. When I used to play Quake Wars it was common for a clan to not only put all their players on the same team, but also kick any players with a decent score from the opposing team.

When teams are one sided, team stacking hurts the clan as much as it hurts the pubs. Since they won't be practicing against a skilled and determined enemy.

While I like playing against skilled and organized opponents, if the rest of my team can't even put up a semblance of a defense, the whole thing breaks down. e.g. When one team can't even get out of the hangar.

[Wolfcat9]

I would like to know what those people who play pub matches are looking for from their experience?

I am looking for a good time playing the game. I don't care if I win or lose. If my 9 year old asks me to run off a cliff so he can see a mech fly I'll do it. 


Is there any way a unit or clan could enhance this experience?

I have never been in a "unit" so I wouldn't know what I am missing. Coordinated tactics might be a refreshing change of pace I can't get team speak working so if it isn't typed out I miss it.     

Do you chose not to join a unit/clan because of social, game based, or just personal reasons(such as no time to give, or had a bad experiance)

I don't have the personal time to support a unit. I play when my life lets me. If I have to jump up and leave the game I don't let the "unit" down because there are no expectations. To be honest I am really not that good. I suck would be one of many ways I would word it.  I only play BA due to I get lost on the keyboard. I still can't get the joy stick working.  I have crap piloting skills in a mech which leads to frustration and i don't enjoy the game then. I'll give any in game money to whoever needs it, but don't count on my point totals. I am here to have fun 

What frustrates you the most about random matches?

Nothing really with maybe the exception of bad sportsmanship. It is a pub game so it goes with the choice I made. The chaos of the pub game is kinda nice.     

Would any of you be interested in unit/clan organized matches for the non affiliated with times and details posted?

I would be interested in a match or two just for the experience of it but I know I suck and have limited time. 

Do the non affiliated have any questions for the people who are in units/clans?

[=KoS= Saber15]

Clans in other games always left a bad taste in my mouth. Team stacking, units falling apart, basically everything Eldragon said.
Only time I've joined a clan was in Planetside, because it's basically impossible to be successful outside of one.

I prefer working with one or two friends over STEAM chat, to be honest.

[snooggums]

I echo Eldragon's post.

I just don't see the need to play competitively. While I'm a member of a gaming community, I've always found clans to be, well clannish. They may work well together but often don't work well with others, so outside an organized match they are often pompous and egotistic and blame any failure on others.

Not all clans are like this all the time and some aren't for long periods of time but every clan I've ever known that was good to other players has turned into this and imploded due to either taking on sketchy members to fill match slots to be competitive or the members drifted off into other games and the clan fell apart.