Intro
The last few months I’ve been complaining on forums about Cyrodiil not being competitive. This thread is a constructive one, focusing on how to improve Cyrodiil ranking rather then whine about it’s current state.
Yes, I haven’t given up on this game just yet…
Not all servers
This ranking system could be added to just one of the servers. Leaving people the option to choose whether they like the casual play, AP farming PvP, or hardcore stats-based competetive ladder PvP.
This system is not meant to replace the current AP leaderboard system.The idea behind the new ranking system
It has to be rewarding for skilled players, but at the same time not embarass casualists. The system rewards top skilled players with special animations in PvP, and special gear that fits their playstyle. For those who ain’t top skilled, it is still a nice way to measure themselves against top players, unseen. Top20 is the only visible part of the ladder, and if you are below, no one can see your rank but yourself. This means people can be as casual as they want, and not suffer elitists laughing at their stats in a heated discussion or leaving them out of guilds etc.
It should encourage any type of build and playstyle. This leads to a system divided into four ladders, one for each role, and one for hybrids. (Damage Dealer, Healer, Tank, Versatile)
If it’s easy for ZOS to implement, perhaps they’ll actually consider it.. Well, yes, it uses data that already exists in ESO. ZOS can even keep their current casualist leaderboard system, with this new ranking system as an addition to it. It doesn’t get easier then this.
The ranking system should make it possible for a skilled player to win, regardless of online time. Time spent doesn’t play any key part in these rankings. You naturally have to play for a few hours to win, but you can beat a guy that has 40 hours more /played then you a week. You won’t know for sure if you are winning or not unless you are online though, because it is VERY dynamic!
It adds increased risk vs reward. Amount of deaths is a key part of this system. But, if you don’t go head first into major battles, you’ll never reach the top score.
The ranking UI has to be interesting enough for people to constantly want to have a look at it. Together with dynamic rankings, theres a session stat window where you can have a look at various personal stats. Personal stats like these are in the most popular PvP add-ons, and is clearly wanted.
Calculations
VR5 or lower players:
X = 1.5
VR5-VR10 players:
X = 1.2
VR10-VR14 players:
X = 1.0
Damage Dealer
Score = Damage done/deaths*X
Healer
Score = Healing done/deaths*X
Tank (updated May 13th)
Because tanking is hard to measure, we need a slightly more complex calculation
Y = 1.5
you get the Y if you wear 5 pieces of heavy armor. (50% more score) To avoid damage dealers and healers to beat a decent tanks score.
Score = ((damage taken+damage blocked)/deaths)*X*Y
Versatile
Score = (Rank in Damage Dealer + Rank in Healer + Rank in Tank)/3
How would this work?
If you play for 1 hour, take 1000000 dmg, and die 20 times, thats 50k score. If a guy plays for 5 minutes and takes 100k dmg and dies twice, thats the same 50k score! That's the whole point of this system. It's dynamic, based on skill, and not amount of time played.
More maths
You get 30 kills without being in a huge fight, equals maybe 600k dmg, and you don't die. your score is 600k, and that is a pretty good job. But, you will be punished for taking the easy route and not join big fights.
The other guy enters a large AvAvA. Uses some AOE dmg and gets 50k in one hit. He hits maybe 5 times with a catapult, and dies once. 250k/1 = 250k. He goes back into the fight, and dies immediately 250k/2 = 125k. He goes back in to battle. this time he hits 8 times (400k dmg) and dies. Remember, his total damage done overall is what counts. (250k+400k)/3 = 216k. Then, he steps up his game, he survives for 30 minutes (not unusual), and with a good position against multiple people he does maybe 2k dps average over a total of 30 minutes, and dies. 2k*60*30 = 3600k dmg. (650k+3600k)/4 = 1062,5k score. He enters battle and dies immediately again. He still has done a total of 4250k dmg, but died 5 times. He has 850k score, beat you that had 0 deaths because he took a risk joining the big fight and got rewarded for it.
Screenshot example
Why isn’t the score visible in the ladder? (Updated May 13th)
Because, when working with this system I figured it would be a flaw. The healer and dd numbers are much higher then tank numbers. You can heal and damage 10 ppl at once, but damage taken numbers is only linked to yourself. Which means with visible scores, a top10 tank would have higher score in healing then tanking. And at the same time a much lower rank in healing. It would look wrong and ridiculous. When score is hidden and only rank is visible, it doesn’t matter at all, and the system both looks and functions as it should.
In addition, a system with hidden scores will avoid people to reach a high rank and log off to secure the win. They have no idea how close they are to getting beaten, it would make them want to keep on playing. The lower ranked players will keep trying to advance in the system, because they have no idea how far behind they are. They'll just notice their rank increase step by step if they play good, and it will be motivating.
Rewards?
PLENTY! Top10 on each leaderboard starts glowing during battle. The same animation and glow like when you go to kill Molag Bal. Everyone around you will notice that you are top10, and you will feel *** special, until you die and your rank is lowered, or someone just catches up to you. DOH! (No stat boost or anything to ruin the competitive and fair play)
By the end of the war (week, month, whatever PvP server ur on), you will get special rewards that depend on which role you focused on. If you were top10 in Damage Dealer ladder, then you would get some special dps gear. If you were top10 in healer, well, you’d get special healer gear, etc. Versatile would get special gear for hybrid builds.
On top of that, top20 should be rewarded with in game gold. In example, 100k to the winner, 75k to the other top10s, 35k to rank 20-10.
And, of course, titles! “PvP Damage Dealer”, “PvP Healer”, “PvP Tank”, “PvP Versatile”. Honorable and incredibly rare ranks that people would /kowtow to when you enter a city.
Flaws?
I've found one weakness so far, and that is if people use the Equilibrium Skill(Mages Guild) damage themselves and increase Damage taken rank. This could be solved by making equilibrium not affect Damage taken numbers.
I think I’ve worked out most flaws with the system by now. I’ve thought a lot about this. If I’ve missed something, please let me know in the comments section. The number (X) may have to be changed to balance things. ZOS has much more statistics and data then me, and they should easily be able to figure this out.
Do you want a system like this?@ZOS , I hope you vote YES.
@ZOS_BrianWheeler
CP capped.
EP - Nord - Eystein Blodsbringar - Tristat DK Tank
EP - Nord - Eyjolf Blodsbringar - Stamina NB PvPer
EP - Argonian - Tired-Of-Cats - Magicka Sorc PvPer
EP - Khajit - Cutepaws - Banker
EP - Redguard - Jathod Trearan - Stamina DK DD
EP - Redgaurd - Dhenus Okzhat-Si - Stamina Sorcerer DD (vMSA toon, 569K)
EP - Altmer - Haqsin - Magicka Sorc DD
EP - Altmer - Minia Feaine - Templar Healer
+ about 20 deleted alts
GM of Pact Veteran Trade (Craglorn), Traders of the Ebonheart (Mournhold), Pact Veteran Trade II (Mournhold)
All part of the
"Akatosh Imperium".
Want competitive Cyrodiil? Support
THIS thread.
Me soloing Veteran Elden Hollow and AA: HERE