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Active: 8556 users

Everybody gets 2 accounts in HotS!

Blogs > Azoryen
Post a Reply
Azoryen
Profile Blog Joined May 2012
Portugal242 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-12-23 07:52:39
December 21 2012 20:24 GMT
#1
Maybe you haven't realized this yet, but the new Ranked/Unranked system is equivalent in many ways to players having 2 accounts to play with in HotS.
I made a small jpg to help you visualize it:

[image loading]

Once you visualize it this way, it's much easier to understand the whole ranked/unranked thing.
Please keep in mind that ladder means your league, division etc, not the MMR system.

In this thread I'll explain exactly how this new system works and discuss some implications this will have in the gaming experience.
I'll be editing the thread with new content, so keep tuned for that.

I see a lot of confusion and misleading posts in the forum about this, like people saying that there are now 2 different MMRs rankings or that when you play unranked your MMR is frozen.
So let me clarify the basics of how it really works:

1) There is only 1 MMR system. The B account has its own independent MMR and is in the same MMR system as the A accounts.
If the MMR list was public, it would look something like this:
Account MMR
Jay(A) 1762
Ted(A) 1748
Ann(A) 1735
Ted(B) 1732
Lou(A) 1727
Jay(B) 1722
Lou(B) 1718
Ann(B) 1713

2) A and B accounts CAN be paired against each other and they DO win/loose MMR points against each other every game
E.g.: Ted(B) (1732) beats Lou(A) (1727) and the point variation is +-15.
The new MMRs of these accounts are now:
Ted(B) 1747
Lou(A) 1712

3) The A account alone determines your ladder
The MMR of your A account will still determine your league and results count for divisions.
Your games with your B account are ignored for everything related to leagues.
You can estimate the league your B account would be in by looking at the leagues of the opponents you face with this account.

It actually makes sense that Blizzard is using the word "Unranked" instead of "Unrated".
Ranking for Blizzard means ladder: leagues, division. MMR is the Rating of the account.
So your B account is unranked in terms of leagues, but is rated in the MMR list.

In case you are somewhat skeptical about this, I recommed this video:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/slyTsK3hp2o#t=142s
Everything I'm saying is direct deduction from Dabiri's words.

***
Cokefreak
Profile Joined June 2011
Finland8096 Posts
December 21 2012 20:30 GMT
#2
Interesting, so that's how they will do the unranked ladder thing.
Eben
Profile Blog Joined September 2008
United States769 Posts
December 21 2012 20:32 GMT
#3
maybe that will help all the people who stress out about their ladder rank
theMTC
Profile Joined December 2012
United States4 Posts
December 21 2012 20:34 GMT
#4
you make it sound like two people playing ranked and unranked could be matched up against each other. or am i reading it wrong? seems weird if thats how it is, i just figured if i chose ranked i would match up against others choosing ranked.
Azoryen
Profile Blog Joined May 2012
Portugal242 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-12-21 20:56:03
December 21 2012 20:53 GMT
#5
On December 22 2012 05:30 Cokefreak wrote:
Interesting, so that's how they will do the unranked ladder thing.

'Unranked ladder' doesn't exist.
In SC2, ladder/ranks means leagues and divisions, and not being a part of that is what defines the B (or unranked) account.
Before people used MMR and ladder almost interchangeably.
Not anymore, because now only A accounts are in the ladder, but all accounts are in the MMR system.

On December 22 2012 05:34 theMTC wrote:
you make it sound like two people playing ranked and unranked could be matched up against each other.

Yes, that's correct.
When you look for a match, no matter what account you choose to play with, you can be paired against all A and B accounts of similar MMR and you will win/loose MMR points against them in every game.
Incanus
Profile Joined October 2009
Canada695 Posts
December 21 2012 22:31 GMT
#6
You've explained the new system well. But there's still the flaw where people who are playing "serious" ladder games win or lose rating points based on opponents who may or may not be playing seriously or on their main race. What if I normally play my shitty offrace Terran in unranked games, but decide to switch and crush worse people with my main race? There's going to be so much more variation.
Flash: "Why am I so good?" *sob sob*
dUTtrOACh
Profile Joined December 2010
Canada2339 Posts
December 21 2012 23:20 GMT
#7
Band-Aid solution, anyone? This just reeks of lack of effort on Blizzard's part.
twitch.tv/duttroach
ShadowDrgn
Profile Blog Joined July 2007
United States2497 Posts
December 21 2012 23:59 GMT
#8
On December 22 2012 07:31 Incanus wrote:
You've explained the new system well. But there's still the flaw where people who are playing "serious" ladder games win or lose rating points based on opponents who may or may not be playing seriously or on their main race. What if I normally play my shitty offrace Terran in unranked games, but decide to switch and crush worse people with my main race? There's going to be so much more variation.


That flaw already exists in the current system though. There's nothing stopping you from buying a second account or intentionally losing 100 games in a row in order to crush players less skilled than you. That's a problem that has no solution, or at least no reasonable solution that doesn't create worse problems.

This is a great change all around. Now everyone can have a main account and a separate account for off-racing and goofing around, which is what we've been asking for years.
Of course, you only live one life, and you make all your mistakes, and learn what not to do, and that’s the end of you.
Incanus
Profile Joined October 2009
Canada695 Posts
December 22 2012 06:23 GMT
#9
On December 22 2012 08:59 ShadowDrgn wrote:
Show nested quote +
On December 22 2012 07:31 Incanus wrote:
You've explained the new system well. But there's still the flaw where people who are playing "serious" ladder games win or lose rating points based on opponents who may or may not be playing seriously or on their main race. What if I normally play my shitty offrace Terran in unranked games, but decide to switch and crush worse people with my main race? There's going to be so much more variation.


That flaw already exists in the current system though. There's nothing stopping you from buying a second account or intentionally losing 100 games in a row in order to crush players less skilled than you. That's a problem that has no solution, or at least no reasonable solution that doesn't create worse problems.

This is a great change all around. Now everyone can have a main account and a separate account for off-racing and goofing around, which is what we've been asking for years.

The amount of people buying second accounts, or noob stomping like you suggest is insignificant to the entire player pool. On the other hand, the entire player pool will have this unranked account. For example, I plan on playing unranked games as Terran and Zerg, depending on what I feel like, where my proficiency with Zerg is way above my Terran. Basically, I just think the problem (if you want to call it that) will be exacerbated by this change.
Flash: "Why am I so good?" *sob sob*
ShadowDrgn
Profile Blog Joined July 2007
United States2497 Posts
December 22 2012 08:43 GMT
#10
Fair enough, but I still think the benefits outweigh the drawbacks.
Of course, you only live one life, and you make all your mistakes, and learn what not to do, and that’s the end of you.
Azoryen
Profile Blog Joined May 2012
Portugal242 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-12-23 14:41:03
December 22 2012 14:56 GMT
#11
I made a new post that extends the discussion from this one:
THE FLAW THE NEW UNRANKED MODE:
http://www.teamliquid.net/blogs/viewblog.php?topic_id=389801

@Icanus and ShadowDrgn: this is my own view on the points you've been discussing.
Feel free to comment.
Please log in or register to reply.
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