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On September 17 2023 14:38 RoninKenshin wrote:
I'll end by sharing my technique for avoiding as much grief as possible on ladder, and probably screwing myself over a bit. Any time you play against an account with one of the default portraits or low achievement portraits, just leave the game immediately. 95% of the time it's a new account with a series of losses under 1 minute apart somewhere down in the match history. Since I've started doing this, I've run into mostly even games. If you're a new player and think you're falling victim to this technique, get some achievements. But it's Starcraft 2, there's very few new players. Way less than new smurf accounts.
Interesting technique, but if we take everything you said at face value you're effectively low-key smurfing yourself. Quitting ~1/3 of games means you win ~75% of the remaining games to maintain a stable MMR, which I'm sure feels more enjoyable...
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On September 17 2023 20:21 teapot_ wrote:Show nested quote +On September 17 2023 14:38 RoninKenshin wrote:
I'll end by sharing my technique for avoiding as much grief as possible on ladder, and probably screwing myself over a bit. Any time you play against an account with one of the default portraits or low achievement portraits, just leave the game immediately. 95% of the time it's a new account with a series of losses under 1 minute apart somewhere down in the match history. Since I've started doing this, I've run into mostly even games. If you're a new player and think you're falling victim to this technique, get some achievements. But it's Starcraft 2, there's very few new players. Way less than new smurf accounts. Interesting technique, but if we take everything you said at face value you're effectively low-key smurfing yourself. Quitting ~1/3 of games means you win ~75% of the remaining games to maintain a stable MMR, which I'm sure feels more enjoyable...
he became the very thing he swore to destroy
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On September 17 2023 20:21 teapot_ wrote:Show nested quote +On September 17 2023 14:38 RoninKenshin wrote:
I'll end by sharing my technique for avoiding as much grief as possible on ladder, and probably screwing myself over a bit. Any time you play against an account with one of the default portraits or low achievement portraits, just leave the game immediately. 95% of the time it's a new account with a series of losses under 1 minute apart somewhere down in the match history. Since I've started doing this, I've run into mostly even games. If you're a new player and think you're falling victim to this technique, get some achievements. But it's Starcraft 2, there's very few new players. Way less than new smurf accounts. Interesting technique, but if we take everything you said at face value you're effectively low-key smurfing yourself. Quitting ~1/3 of games means you win ~75% of the remaining games to maintain a stable MMR, which I'm sure feels more enjoyable...
You're forgetting that everyone else interacts with the same smurfs. Either the smurf will win or lose at will, and generally their losses are also simply leaving the game. If they create new accounts constantly and tank at the inception of their account, they will likely have a higher win loss ratio before resetting. So let's say I lose 30% of my games due to quitting, 20% of that would be losses anyway. If I don't experience auto quits from smurfs, which I do experience, I would have a 10% edge before it balances out. I admit It's actually still a big edge and I become what I hate. But my MMR advantage would be 60-120 vs their 1000+.
Obviously these are all estimates, but numbers matter especially the MMR difference.
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Fair enough, also I agree it's not the same degree of smurfing (there's a spectrum, and it's worth making distinctions). Just thought the small irony was worth pointing out for the fun of it -- and thanks for being a good sport about it and not reacting defensively.
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I agree that it’s not optimal for the ladder. Blizzard should create terms of service that bar all forms of smurfing. Perhaps a player should be able to request a special, clearly marked, promotional account biannually from Blizzard…
But it’s difficult for me to be too judgmental considering uThermal is a kind, respectful, well-mannered player. Intent always matters. And uThermal’s is clearly to make a living creating interesting StarCraft videos. It’s not to humiliate or demean lesser players.
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On September 18 2023 07:49 -_- wrote:
I agree that it’s not optimal for the ladder. Blizzard should create terms of service that bar all forms of smurfing. Perhaps a player should be able to request a special, clearly marked, promotional account biannually from Blizzard…
But it’s difficult for me to be too judgmental considering uThermal is a kind, respectful, well-mannered player. Intent always matters. And uThermal’s is clearly to make a living creating interesting StarCraft videos. It’s not to humiliate or demean lesser players.
I'm pretty sure smurfing at face value is against the TOS. I remember when the game came out blizz had a limit of one starcraft account per person. Maybe it was one battle net account per person. Either way. This was memorable to me because every single pro had more than one account to play cross server. Including at their own events.
They can TOS it all they want but that would require blizzard to actually do something. Considering how long it takes to fix simple bugs on the ladder, to hackers being able to play seemingly with immunity. That ain't gonna happen.
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On September 18 2023 11:20 jimminy_kriket wrote:Show nested quote +On September 18 2023 07:49 -_- wrote:
I agree that it’s not optimal for the ladder. Blizzard should create terms of service that bar all forms of smurfing. Perhaps a player should be able to request a special, clearly marked, promotional account biannually from Blizzard…
But it’s difficult for me to be too judgmental considering uThermal is a kind, respectful, well-mannered player. Intent always matters. And uThermal’s is clearly to make a living creating interesting StarCraft videos. It’s not to humiliate or demean lesser players. I'm pretty sure smurfing at face value is against the TOS. I remember when the game came out blizz had a limit of one starcraft account per person. Maybe it was one battle net account per person. Either way. This was memorable to me because every single pro had more than one account to play cross server. Including at their own events. They can TOS it all they want but that would require blizzard to actually do something. Considering how long it takes to fix simple bugs on the ladder, to hackers being able to play seemingly with immunity. That ain't gonna happen.
When Starcraft 2 was new'ish, making alternate accounts or smurfs cost money since you had to buy another game which only pros invested. Nowadays it's F2P and everyone can smurf as much as they want.
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Why do people take this stuff so seriously? Smurfs for me are the exception, meaning I get a couple of them in the ladder but that's about it. Negligable impact on my overall mmr. Ofc it is frustrating to get manhandled by someone, smurf or not. Let the semi-retired pro make some interesting content and deal a bit better with your ladder anxiety. You're playing a game, have fun.
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Northern Ireland26225 Posts
On September 18 2023 17:16 Infested.rine wrote:
Why do people take this stuff so seriously? Smurfs for me are the exception, meaning I get a couple of them in the ladder but that's about it. Negligable impact on my overall mmr. Ofc it is frustrating to get manhandled by someone, smurf or not. Let the semi-retired pro make some interesting content and deal a bit better with your ladder anxiety. You're playing a game, have fun.
I don’t see how this isn’t better solved by having a completely unranked mode. You may encounter people way better than you who destroy you, you may encounter people you’re way better than and smash.
You might get matched and smashed by some pro player and get the fun from that.
Smurfing is only an issue because most modern games have no other automated matchmaking outside of ranked. Even unranked modes are just ranked but without the badges and the kudos.
Let us fucking mix it up a bit
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Let's be real, no one wants to see Uthermal cannon rush with a 50% winrate. It's not good content if he loses too much so he beats up some Diamond folks for his views. Then it cascades and the viewers do the same thing (two levels below so they can actually win).
At Gold level, there are more players trying to lose mmr than win. At least 25% of the games are auto-leavers.
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I don't mind Uthermal content it looks fun cause they look really easily counterable strats he's playing but then again I don't play ranked mmr for sc2.
Honestly I care more about having fun than mmr even on other multiplayer games I play on ranked. And I would relish the opportunity to play against a pro even if I get smashed.
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EPT
