On December 06 2019 03:31 bloooargh wrote:
In theory, Bonus Pool exists to compensate for two shortcomings in the MMR system:
1.
Players returning after a break will be a little rusty, but improve rapidly. Bonus pool helps smooth out the rating jumps for those players, so they're more evenly matched (but don't see themselves losing rank) while they get back into the game.
2.
At the very top, it's possible to inflate your ranking by spamming games constantly. The MMR formula gets skewed when some GMs play 16+hours/day, while others of greater skill are only getting in a few games between private practice sessions.
Blizzard wants their point systems to always look like they're providing bonuses rather than penalties. So instead of deflating the ranks of the players in those two cases, they created the Bonus Pool, which rewards everyone else.
In practice, LHK and Ryu3600 are correct. Bonus Pool doesn't really do anything any more, and the two above issues are handled by the MMR algorithm directly. But since it's a "Bonus", they have to keep showing it to players. Because psychology.
I don't think that is how it works
Afaik, bonus pool is only used for the ladder point ranking within your league. If you like to compete within that, it actually matters.
Most of the more serious community could not care less about that rank before Master 1, especially since you can spend your pool and have a top rank but still be pretty far from promotion (which is triggered by mmr.)
Provisional MMR and bonus pool are also different.
So many numbers, baaaah! This might just get you more confused...