**Mastery Loadouts**
Due to issues related to the release of Mastery Loadouts, the "free swap" period will be extended.
The new end date will be May 1st.
Due to issues related to the release of Mastery Loadouts, the "free swap" period will be extended.
The new end date will be May 1st.
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BG Sandbagging
mgj0630
Posts: 1,005 ★★★★
No, not the original sandbagging via deck manipulation. I think we all know that doesn't work anymore.
This is about sandbagging by virtue of intentionally losing in VT.
I don't claim to be the best at this game, and I take the VT very slow. I do just enough to get the objectives every other day, and even playing at that pace, I usually make it to GC with 10-14 days left in the season.
Once in GC, I continue to play the same way, just what's necessary for objectives, and I usually work my way up to Quantum.
Without fail though, in the last 5 days of the season, I start facing rosters that dwarf my 6 million account. Players that must be far better than me skill wise also, cause they win fights I would never think were possible. I lose these fights and end up finishing the season down in Uru, or maybe Gamma.
And that's perfectly fine. I'm not upset about not being the best in the game, nor am I upset about having to face them.
My question is simply "Where are these guys the whole season?" They're clearly strong competitors, stronger than me for sure. So if I can make it to GC so much faster, while playing casually, how is it that these guys who are better than me don't start showing up in GC til the final 5 days of the season?
I can only assume it's because they're intentionally tanking in VT to maximize all the objectives there.
But didn't Kabam say they were going to be looking for that and punishing that behavior?
Would be interesting to hear from Kabam to know if they're still monitoring that behavior, or if they scrapped it assuming there isn't a fair way to gauge intentional losses versus genuine losses.
If that's the case, I'd say a simple way to identify would be seeing how long a player takes to get through VT, then where they actually finish in GC.
In other words, if they spend 25 days in VT, then finish in Quantum.....there's probably something fishy there.
This is about sandbagging by virtue of intentionally losing in VT.
I don't claim to be the best at this game, and I take the VT very slow. I do just enough to get the objectives every other day, and even playing at that pace, I usually make it to GC with 10-14 days left in the season.
Once in GC, I continue to play the same way, just what's necessary for objectives, and I usually work my way up to Quantum.
Without fail though, in the last 5 days of the season, I start facing rosters that dwarf my 6 million account. Players that must be far better than me skill wise also, cause they win fights I would never think were possible. I lose these fights and end up finishing the season down in Uru, or maybe Gamma.
And that's perfectly fine. I'm not upset about not being the best in the game, nor am I upset about having to face them.
My question is simply "Where are these guys the whole season?" They're clearly strong competitors, stronger than me for sure. So if I can make it to GC so much faster, while playing casually, how is it that these guys who are better than me don't start showing up in GC til the final 5 days of the season?
I can only assume it's because they're intentionally tanking in VT to maximize all the objectives there.
But didn't Kabam say they were going to be looking for that and punishing that behavior?
Would be interesting to hear from Kabam to know if they're still monitoring that behavior, or if they scrapped it assuming there isn't a fair way to gauge intentional losses versus genuine losses.
If that's the case, I'd say a simple way to identify would be seeing how long a player takes to get through VT, then where they actually finish in GC.
In other words, if they spend 25 days in VT, then finish in Quantum.....there's probably something fishy there.
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Comments
That said, I've noticed this trend since they implemented the change for where people start in VT.
So I think this is the third time in a row I've noticed it. It's definitely a pattern for many people.
And since those are big rosters, they would have reach that high ranks anyway.
There is no real advantage here by just waiting for the last days, so probably the reason would be that they didnt want to play BGs/didnt have time enough, or whatever the reason can be.
And if they want to just wait every 2 days to play to get the objectives easily, thats not punishable if they dont lose intentionally to do so.
I personally waited till the last days because I wasnt in the mood to play BGs, so I just rushed in last weekend.
I’d at least be playing throughout the season here and there so I’m not met with a grind the last day or two.
I think not.
If you win 3 matches every 2 days for milestones, you reach GC in 18 days. 10 days left to play in GC. "Net" 13 wins in GC during that last week or so and you have a fairly decent ranking.
Front load it, back load it, spread it out. Players can choose whatever fits their schedule and sometimes spending less time in BGs = more enjoyment elsewhere w/ little loss to in-game rewards.
To the world at large though, sandbagging is deliberately playing below one's capability.
So yes, if someone is intentionally losing matches in VT, that is a form of sandbagging.
Regardless of what you want to call it though, I'm just curious of Kabam was still paying attention to that.
If many players are genuinely waiting until the last 5 days to play BGs at all, then so be it. There's nothing wrong with that.
But if they're playing BGs every couple days to score objective rewards, but camping out (losing intentionally - sandbagging) to avoid stiffer competition in where claiming those objective rewards may cost more, that's a different story, and one that I recall Kabam saying they would be monitoring because it does in fact hinder other players ability to climb the ranks in VT.
If an individual uses elder marks to win those three fights in VT, then burn some energy to intentionally lose a few, ensuring they stay in VT longer, and do the GC push in the final few days, they in fact getting a better overall value from their effort.
Again, to those of you saying you truly don't play until the final few days, there's no issue with that.
I'm just curious how many truly don't play, versus how many play for objectives every other day, but consciously stay in VT to ensure they can get those objective rewards easier by having confidence they're not playing folks on their level.
Now, on a personal note, I agree that there are knockback effects on the system from all of it really. For me, it's an indication there's a problem with the system overall if people have to wait until the last week to play. However, it's not the same as manipulating the system by taking a dive for easy Wins.
Doing so I don't have to play week 1/2 GC which is pointless for those who don't need a high solo score.
But I had fun in diamond and vibranium till week 3 with energy this time around. I Started by using different champs which I don't particularly draft and test waters.
And many matches it leads to a fun emote spamming. One needs to find #fun.
Still doing not more than 1-2 extra matches above objective.
There is one diffrence this season. A mild buff to valient token value, participation increased significantly final day.
Frankly, it's all gotten derailed though.
The whole point of the post was nothing more than to ask Kabam if they were still monitoring for folks tanking (whatever you want to call it....intentionally losing to stay in VT longer).
I don't do it myself, and I get into GC every season, so frankly, I don't care for myself.
It was just an observation I've made many seasons in a row now, that it seems as if some really strong accounts don't show up in GC til the final 5 days or so.
Seems to me that IF those people were playing throughout the season, they would have reached GC much faster.
If they don't play at all til the final 5 days, so be it...no issue at all.
But if they are playing throughout the season, and not getting out of VT til the very end, only to then end up very high in GC ranks, that seems to me as if they're are intentionally losing in VT.
Now as I said in the original post, I typically make it into GC with about 10 days left in the season, so this doesn't effect me at all. But it sure as hell sucks for weaker accounts hoping to get into GC, but getting stuck because the higher level accounts are just intentionally hanging out in VT.
And as was the original ask, I was curious if Kabam was still monitoring for that behavior or not.
For this season I decided not to play bg because of low reward and outdated store. I just played whenever I don't have anything to do. Yesterday I was at diamond 2. But after valiant store announcement. I played today around 20 matches and crossed vib1,2,3 by today and reached GC.
It is been a habit of lower account player to drag this thing again and again with some different prospective. And why kabam punish those player who push in last week instead of playing whole season. It is my choice when I want to play no matter it is in last week or 1st week. Take it as a game. There are other things to do in life apart from this game