Three-Sided Deathmatch

  • Haki_7
    Haki_7
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    @Maitsukas wrote:
    Moonspawn wrote: »
    What are we even doing?
    We are discussing the game-breaking problems that plague Battlegrounds.

    And what exactly is the unexplained point of someone posting scores from completely random BG matches?

    The matches I'm posting were so incredibly lopsided that their outcome might as well have been predetermined from the start. Here:

    Domination (1-100):
    1-10
    1.98sts33lej8f.png
    2.9neps5ly573c.png
    3.nkfaap1tptuo.png
    4.jix01lehk2tv.png
    5.ppgfo916dxao.png
    6.lik8gt07b7kn.png
    7.sb9yrjae5nju.png
    8.olh3j6loin22.png
    9.gs8znfx07udm.png
    10.49oymfufrgdg.png

    11-20
    11.t6svmdcwpv04.png
    12.3xrhkeyztvzo.png
    13.pqweojt2ht6w.png
    14.sa6un2cib381.png
    15.x96gc2ougt74.png
    16.ab2tbblh0pmm.png
    17.qd6hkvozk08n.png
    18.lgjvno23d3rn.png
    19.8i2792xokxkm.png
    20.qb5qc04jdlz8.png

    21-30
    21.0dvchulwr6pg.png
    22.rilj4oq416np.png
    23.or6kdittc2xm.png
    24.4a8ov32xd0s4.png
    25.zm6lvmypvk1i.png
    26.9wz6wzxzn62o.png
    27.61z0n64w7t43.png
    28.qdlcjctlqmm0.png
    29.2k6aj5jc4wat.png
    30.12hozewm4m20.png

    31-40
    31.3orj4dkyde7t.png
    32.buwnx72ppeyq.png
    33.jb3g9xgvhohx.png
    34.koevlua033n7.png
    35.dmfkg0ylwaci.png
    36.bsfe6e6aard4.png
    37.ys78ce2ngsoa.png
    38.b8ibvcq3ilgl.png
    39.e8ebul03v46z.png
    40.tp4yamvdg9is.png

    41-50
    41.3q8auamajbqb.png
    42.lxeavqhq8vw2.png
    43.9i4ilszi731j.png
    44.zg8qwbbpmd9v.png
    45.ydlk2a8rjqt1.png
    46.evy6lg39g09u.png
    47.lnq8wfueh05a.png
    48.kp68ovrg6bbs.png
    49.pqsmkuc02g30.png
    50.c72dwgyvv953.png

    51-60
    51.42vdup39afbz.png
    52.ni0pc76p8tyn.png
    53.vmxgg8kmjvi3.png
    54.t2sbldai2338.png
    55.mvd57y8z864z.png
    56.2mi9s1pz7r5y.png
    57.0qmwjftzs4cl.png
    58.ymdkphek4jlw.png
    59.mum3dzix0370.png
    60.uo0b2np0t7vk.png

    61-70
    61.i3v7y5fpbaf8.png
    62.j6eb2dtxmag8.png
    63.pokr3p5r4nz5.png
    64.1xzfi2rf3aai.png
    65.kzneyxogn3jz.png
    66.zlmmybaprha4.png
    67.m59e960mcywg.png
    68.hkz3e0x5c3gl.png
    69.qj4anus0f9z6.png
    70.jnv4ughpb5rf.png

    71-80
    71.e7e4ws3660vm.png
    72.h2auyfgsskbd.png
    73.5ju1yitb73jo.png
    74.gg1vors03hqc.png
    75.xchav8zi28os.png
    76.f6k78b23oeor.png
    77.g9i4h10ag8fm.png
    78.tp2mzcjbskmm.png
    79.0r5h9ob13bx0.png
    80.5lzkhvrkb4r5.png

    81-90
    81.nhr5839ca0s4.png
    82.mtgynakmnfef.png
    83.0nq7tdo0i4dh.png
    84.zkdwxrz44ocx.png
    85.hhoud8o891sp.png
    86.y3eyjtaks277.png
    87.te8vegwsaodd.png
    88.lbud64ku9j40.png
    89.q22zyhh1axux.png
    90.lzsvda58twcy.png

    91-100
    91.ldjewl0cofez.png
    92.aawdneb1t4fa.png
    93.a9mi5vlu1obz.png
    94.7garjx4dqebn.png
    95.q8paoi3wxevd.png
    96.unwueqpaa0x9.png
    97.ce7rcjyzsij8.png
    98.kbr01hvmcq95.png
    99.exkbklu574q5.png
    100.m61eahyqn4p0.png


    It simply wasn't possible to do this when BGs were 3-sided. Not in this quantity. Why do you think that is?
  • moo_2021
    moo_2021
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    Decimus wrote: »
    ...3-way BGs are fundamentally flawed. Two teams fight, one team runs to empty objectives - wins with zero kills.

    That doesn't mean it's bad. You don't have to win, or make more than 0 kills. When I can't kill, I swapped build to do objective. When I can't do that either, I annoyed them to death like suicide runs on base.

    3-way was flawed but most of time we can meaningfuly contribute in some way. Can't do that with 2 teams when it's lopsided, and it's almost always lopsided.
  • Haki_7
    Haki_7
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    Avran_Sylt wrote: »
    Were your instant queue matches good quality or not, or are you going to provide zero actionable feedback about the thing you want?

    @Avran_Sylt and @Maitsukas here are the first 20 matches I played during the 3-sided event:

    4v4v4 Domination (1-20)
    1-10
    1.u2srg3vdqftl.png
    2.1wouy8zlytlu.png
    3.4srjgonbqcxh.png
    4.1y6u8j841vfu.png
    5.58j4wbew5xt8.png
    6.6y1vr6620ggg.png
    7.p7j6lm2mk044.png
    8.q8ux8zxe02in.png
    9.vsutquh32rnj.png
    10.rsvaukowkoba.png

    11-20
    11.vycvxryzu5yk.png
    12.8y7uaj1cj0bb.png
    13.cnsy0c9poadd.png
    14.aiz5se5iazui.png
    15.xglz54bny722.png
    16.yb0c9yidqr4q.png
    17.xcwd3csd6k6e.png
    18.s1atyebiuuqy.png
    19.wlrk72rjzast.png
    20.ejm40mkplznw.png

    Let me know if you'd like me to keep posting, but I don't really see the point. Even though these matches were objectively more enjoyable and competitive than 2-sided, they were still plagued by the obvious problems with obvious solutions we already knew would be there.
    Edited by Haki_7 on May 16, 2026 12:07PM
  • CatalinaWineMixer2
    CatalinaWineMixer2
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    I will always agree that 3 teams are better. The overpowered state of combat is the real culprit in destroying BG. Ive said this before but its Subclass. It didn't used to be this bad. My Guilds used to play not just BG but also Cyrodiil. They have and will play Vengeance. Its not that the character refreshes are overpowered either, its that Subclass is using them completely unchecked. Those are NOT Dragonknights out there. Its Subclass. They will exploit the best qualities of every single class until Zos removes this awful cherry picking system and restores rules and sanity to combat.

    I barely play BG anymore and its primarily due to the fact none of my friends will. Its so bad they absolutely refuse to do it and its all they liked to play for years. Instead of running BG and Cyrodiil events as we always did, they message me outside of the game asking me if I need anything. They wont even log in unless the Guilds need something or Im asking them. They are all old enough in Eso to remember the 3 teams from the old days. They literally ran 3 matches with the return of it and said they won't play it anymore. Its combat. And Subclass. Something needs to be done about it.
  • Haki_7
    Haki_7
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    I will always agree that 3 teams are better.

    The event showed everyone the truth.

    Two-sided: https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/comment/8450160/#Comment_8450160

    Three-sided: Despite its problems, we had instant queues, almost no spawncamping, unpredictable outcomes and far more engaging fights. They even wrote a song about the wonderful time we shared. I call it ''Three sides, one love'':
    (Intro – spoken)
    Ooooh yeah…
    Deathmatch, baby…
    Voken on the Mic
    Rooski on guitar-ooski
    Ricky Base on the Base!
    Jejunum on the jeju-drums
    Attacko and Ozma on the horns

    What?

    Play that ***!


    Verse 1 (smooth, groovy)
    Logged in and the vibe felt right
    No wait in line, just you and I tonight
    Four by four by four, we dance in sync
    Three hearts beatin’ on the battleground brink

    Storm Lords shimmer like stars above
    Firedrakes burn but it feel like love
    Pit daemons move with a velvet groove
    Every clash got that rhythm you can’t refuse



    Pre-Chorus (lift, harmonies)
    No rush, no breaks, just flow so sweet
    Every round got us back on beat
    Side by side in the neon glow
    Three teams deep but we steal the show



    Chorus (funky, catchy, playful)
    Ooo—we love that 4v4v4
    Three sides, one vibe, keep comin’ back for more
    No queue, just you, let the good times roll
    Deathmatch got a hold on my soul

    Hey—spin me round that battlefield floor
    Win or lose, baby, I still want more
    Perfect night, can’t ignore
    We in love with that 4v4v4



    Verse 2 (playful, rhythmic)
    Captain picks got the energy tight
    Every squad feel just right tonight
    No one runnin’, no one outclassed
    Just sweet back-and-forth, make the moment last

    Slide to the left when the pressure rise
    Fall, get up, still feel alive
    Every clash like a lover’s spark
    Three-way dance in the after dark



    Bridge (breakdown, soulful)
    Don’t need no crown, don’t need no fame
    Just you and me in this perfect game
    Round and round, we never get bored
    Hearts locked in to that three-side war

    (background vocals)
    Love that… love that… battleground…



    Final Chorus (big, celebratory)
    Ooo—we love that 4v4v4
    Three sides, one vibe, keep comin’ back for more
    No queue, just you, let the good times roll
    Deathmatch got a hold on my soul

    Hey—feel that groove, let it take control
    Every fight make the whole world slow
    Perfect night we can’t ignore
    We in love with that 4v4v4



    (Outro – fade with bass + harmonies)
    Yeah… Deathmatch forever…
    Three sides… one love..

    Not sure I can post the suno link here, but perhaps I can PM whoever wants it, so they can sing along.
    Edited by Haki_7 on May 17, 2026 11:11AM
  • Moonspawn
    Moonspawn
    ✭✭✭✭
    Haki_7 wrote: »
    @Maitsukas wrote:
    Moonspawn wrote: »
    What are we even doing?
    We are discussing the game-breaking problems that plague Battlegrounds.

    And what exactly is the unexplained point of someone posting scores from completely random BG matches?

    It simply wasn't possible to do this when BGs were 3-sided. Not in this quantity. Why do you think that is?

    I got my answer.
    Can you help solve any of the FOUR critical flaws of two-sided BGs ?

    Looking for feedback on How to fix the 3-sided objective modes
  • barney2525
    barney2525
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    They just need 20 person battle royale. Every person for themselves. 5 lives and you are out.

    No terrain. wide open spaces.

    Last person standing

    :#
  • Haki_7
    Haki_7
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    click on your name / go to edit account / go to signature settings / write out your signature
    Thanks. It should be up now. Do you think it will help people understand the truth about two-sided Battlegrounds?

    Destruction of Battlegrounds Chapter 195: Waiting 18 minutes for a lopsided match (Solo 8v8 PC/EU)
    Domination, no chance of losing. We almost did because of all the running around backcapping empty flags:
    o4p2biuska0u.png

    Relic, no chance of losing. Fifteen grueling minutes of lopsided snoozefest. In accordance with the first and third critical flaws of 2-sided, Orange-1 ditched his team to go around looking for newcomers:
    1au7hduycf8s.png

    Crazy King, no chance of losing:
    j74ixiu8ha0n.png

    Chaosball 1 and 2, no chance of losing. The usual staring contest with ball carriers:
    ej3rpnx38ys7.png
    o8aobdqvkiz0.png

    Deathmatch 1, no chance of losing:
    6qofk8fwc4wi.png

    Deathmatch 2, no chance of winning:
    xdn8u7q4tmk8.png
    Edited by Haki_7 on May 18, 2026 12:25PM
  • Moonspawn
    Moonspawn
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    Haki_7 wrote: »
    Were your instant queue matches good quality or not, or are you going to provide zero actionable feedback about the thing you want?

    @Avran_Sylt and @Maitsukas here are the first 20 matches I played during the 3-sided event:

    4v4v4 Domination (1-20)
    1-10
    1.u2srg3vdqftl.png
    2.1wouy8zlytlu.png
    3.4srjgonbqcxh.png
    4.1y6u8j841vfu.png
    5.58j4wbew5xt8.png
    6.6y1vr6620ggg.png
    7.p7j6lm2mk044.png
    8.q8ux8zxe02in.png
    9.vsutquh32rnj.png
    10.rsvaukowkoba.png

    11-20
    11.vycvxryzu5yk.png
    12.8y7uaj1cj0bb.png
    13.cnsy0c9poadd.png
    14.aiz5se5iazui.png
    15.xglz54bny722.png
    16.yb0c9yidqr4q.png
    17.xcwd3csd6k6e.png
    18.s1atyebiuuqy.png
    19.wlrk72rjzast.png
    20.ejm40mkplznw.png

    Let me know if you'd like me to keep posting, but I don't really see the point. Even though these matches were objectively more enjoyable and competitive than 2-sided, they were still plagued by the obvious problems with obvious solutions we already knew would be there.

    Speaking of gathering samples to compare 4v4v4 against the horrors of 8v8, will ZOS be repeating the 3-sided domination event the day after tomorrow?
    Can you help solve any of the FOUR critical flaws of two-sided BGs ?

    Looking for feedback on How to fix the 3-sided objective modes
  • moo_2021
    moo_2021
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    3-sided events where?? PTS?
  • Haki_7
    Haki_7
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    @moo_2021 wrote:
    3-sided events where?? PTS?

    3-sided Capture the Relic will go live today.

    Deathmatch 1, zero chance of winning:
    o72dtejtlwjx.png

    Deathmatch 2, zero chance of losing:
    b3hzf2lmr0lv.png

    Domination, zero chance of losing:
    18ayvpafookw.png

    Destruction of Battlegrounds Chapter 196: Waiting 15 minutes for a lopsided match (Solo 8v8 PC/EU)
    Relic, zero chance of losing. Promptly giving up after losing one relic. Fourth critical flaw of 2-sided:
    hcm7ctffwjp6.png
    Chaosball 1 & 2, zero chance of losing. Soul gazing session with ball carriers:
    gcsrr6ct1p97.png
    5jr8mwchgdwc.png

    Crazy King, zero chance of losing. Not even that lopsided, but spawncamping stopped them from reaching the flags. Third flaw:
    aon4eszggour.png
    Edited by Haki_7 on May 20, 2026 12:52PM
  • Avran_Sylt
    Avran_Sylt
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    3-sided Relic Capture 1

    Zero chance at gameplay, purple got bored of farming our team at base and didn't care for their own objective. Red had an unkillable templar perma bashing their relic. Time ran out.

    Nerf shattered path signet and make streak only stun if you're pureclass sorc.
    16hu3tkm9ml7.png
  • moo_2021
    moo_2021
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    Avran_Sylt wrote: »
    3-sided Relic Capture 1

    Zero chance at gameplay, purple got bored of farming our team at base and didn't care for their own objective. Red had an unkillable templar perma bashing their relic. Time ran out.

    Nerf shattered path signet and make streak only stun if you're pureclass sorc.
    16hu3tkm9ml7.png

    You could pull the templar or steal purple relic and take the long way back from other side.


    I had 6 or 8 games already, lost more but it's fun and nice to see real players back. On my last I stunned everyone in a pretty good team to cover my mate's retreat with relic, and we won right when I was killed!

    :D
    Edited by moo_2021 on May 21, 2026 7:02PM
  • Haki_7
    Haki_7
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    3-sided Relic Capture 1

    Zero chance at gameplay, purple got bored of farming our team at base and didn't care for their own objective. Red had an unkillable templar perma bashing their relic. Time ran out.

    Nerf shattered path signet and make streak only stun if you're pureclass sorc.
    16hu3tkm9ml7.png

    If purple was at green's base, why didn't orange grab purple's relic?

    Crazy King, predetermined victory. Running around trying to end the lopsided snoozefest while my team spawncamps. Third critical flaw of 2-sided:
    dbcfmk6dfddf.png

    Relic, predetermined victory. Fifteen minutes of the exact same fight over and over again. First flaw:
    ufi5s7e7n6rg.png

    Domination, predetermined victory:
    oowai7is9e6v.png

    Chaosball 1 and 2, predetermined victories. Pointless staring contests with ball carriers:
    wg7dyfaflp74.png
    ho3g25n53rxa.png

    Deathmatch 1, predetermined victory:
    stsoundgr3fb.png

    Deathmatch 2, predetermined defeat:
    e1n8uxt3y1wg.png

    Destruction of Battlegrounds Chapter 197: Waiting 18 minutes for a lopsided match (Solo 8v8 PC/EU)
    Edited by Haki_7 on May 23, 2026 1:23PM
  • LennaTheRussian
    LennaTheRussian
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    Thread should be renamed to leaderboard screenshots at this point
  • Radiate77
    Radiate77
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    Thread should be renamed to leaderboard screenshots at this point

    Or better yet, “Person Talking To Themself.”
    Dragon Priest [Restoring Light, Draconic Power, Grave Lord]
    Death Knight [Grave Lord, Winter’s Embrace, Siphoning]
    Pyromancer [Ardent Flame, Dawn’s Wrath, Earthen Heart]
    Summoner [Living Death, Grave Lord, Daedric Summoning]
    Ranger [Animal Companions, Green Balance, Shadow]
    Druid [Earthen Heart, Animal Companions, Stormcalling]
    Elementalist [Stormcalling, Winter’s Embrace, Ardent Flame]
    Dawnguard [Dawn’s Wrath, Restoring Light, Ardent Flame]
  • moo_2021
    moo_2021
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    I don't understand why anyone complaining about two sides still play it while three sides is on.
  • Avran_Sylt
    Avran_Sylt
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    moo_2021 wrote: »
    I don't understand why anyone complaining about two sides still play it while three sides is on.

    Well, assuming that the @Ha'ki PC NA alt account isn't an imposter, they do play 3s (but who knows how many good one-piece eso pvp players there are). Which might actually be why they never show their actual name in any of their screenshots, given they play cross-servers too.
    Edited by Avran_Sylt on May 24, 2026 11:17AM
  • Haki_7
    Haki_7
    ✭✭✭
    Moonspawn wrote: »
    Haki_7 wrote: »
    @Maitsukas wrote:
    Moonspawn wrote: »
    What are we even doing?
    We are discussing the game-breaking problems that plague Battlegrounds.

    And what exactly is the unexplained point of someone posting scores from completely random BG matches?

    It simply wasn't possible to do this when BGs were 3-sided. Not in this quantity. Why do you think that is?

    I got my answer.

    It is the only answer so far. Just like @imPDA 's explanation about matchmaking is the only one that fits with everything we've seen until this point:
    imPDA wrote: »
    If this system works as described, it does 2 things:
    1) it tries to make as many people of the same MMR as possible into one game
    2) it tries to make teams as equal MMR-wise as possible

    So, two results of Elo are:
    1) if number of players is big, it can successfully pick 16 players of the same MMR A+-a (like, 1500+-100 for example). It is possible in big MOBA games.
    2) if number of players is not that big, it can pick any players to make groups look equal. Balancer can pick 6 "1500 MMR" players, one "200 MMR" player and one "2800 MMR" player, so team will be balanced at 1500. Another team can have all "1500 MMR" players.

    You usually see result 2, I suppose, because from my feeling, there are not many players in PvP. If so, it is hard to make two equal groups out of equal players, so it picks some overskilled players and team them with low MMR players, and another team can have the same situation, that is why you usually see 2-4 players with positive KD and some damage, big score, and all other players are constantly dead, 0 damage, 0 score.

    It is very rough estimation, and it will not be true in many cases, but you can estimate, that average winrate of you team is near 50%. If your winrate is 80%, winrates of 6 other players are 45 55 45 55 45 55, then winrate of last player should be close to 20% :D Once again, it is very rough estimation.

    Destruction of Battlegrounds Chapter 198: Waiting 24 minutes for a lopsided match (Solo 8v8 PC/EU)
    Relic 1 and 2, impossible to lose:
    zglw4ncni3h8.png
    b9duu8tjdm8u.png

    Deathmatch 1 and 2, impossible to lose. Spawncamping from beginning to end:
    sa6rjafry4li.png
    pl27ulhabp3q.png

    Domination, impossible to lose. Nearly all their points came from backcapping empty flags while half their team was spawncamped. Third critical flaw of 2-sided:
    d3gjop2uoxt1.png

    Crazy King, impossible to lose. Opponents were unable to reach the flags:
    w71w0rhfm33z.png

    Chaosball, impossible to win.
    q20hbnwbzeph.png
    Edited by Haki_7 on May 24, 2026 11:44AM
  • Moonspawn
    Moonspawn
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    Haki_7 wrote: »

    Though I too still like the larger moshpit of 8v8, neither addresses buildcrafting/MMR issues. But to be honest it's going to be a cluster with all the class reworks in the next few years.

    Everyone wants better matchmaking, but expecting it to save Battlegrounds has been yielding catastrophic results for nearly a decade.

    A decade?
    Can you help solve any of the FOUR critical flaws of two-sided BGs ?

    Looking for feedback on How to fix the 3-sided objective modes
  • Haki_7
    Haki_7
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    Moonspawn wrote: »
    Speaking of gathering samples to compare 4v4v4 against the horrors of 8v8, will ZOS be repeating the 3-sided domination event the day after tomorrow?

    I understand that anything is better than letting Battlegrounds be ruined by the critical flaws of 2-sided, but why would they repeat last month's Domination event?

    Chaosball, no way of losing:
    z54upks4qs7s.png

    Crazy King, no way of losing. Opponents were unable to reach the flags:
    9djvzpiyx8hv.png

    Domination 1 and 2, no way of losing:
    w869dddim8u0.png
    ykneogylm32c.png

    Destruction of Battlegrounds Chapter 199: Waiting 16 minutes for a lopsided match (Solo 8v8 PC/EU)
    Relic, no way of winning. My healing successfully extended the nightmare for as long as possible. Mission accomplished:
    b06uos3ona4y.png

    Deathmatch 1, no way of losing. Instead of being forced to come after me, Green-2 had no choice but to ditch his team to go around looking for newcomers. @Avran_Sylt This is a good example of how the first flaw of 2-sided ruins even balanced matches:
    dlwl745yutxw.png

    Deathmatch 2, no way of losing:
    9j96epddi00h.png
    Edited by Haki_7 on May 25, 2026 11:33AM
  • Avran_Sylt
    Avran_Sylt
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    ✭✭
    Haki_7 wrote: »
    Moonspawn wrote: »
    Speaking of gathering samples to compare 4v4v4 against the horrors of 8v8, will ZOS be repeating the 3-sided domination event the day after tomorrow?

    I understand that anything is better than letting Battlegrounds be ruined by the critical flaws of 2-sided, but why would they repeat last month's Domination event?

    Chaosball, no way of losing:
    z54upks4qs7s.png

    Crazy King, no way of losing. Opponents were unable to reach the flags:
    9djvzpiyx8hv.png

    Domination 1 and 2, no way of losing:
    w869dddim8u0.png
    ykneogylm32c.png

    Destruction of Battlegrounds Chapter 199: Waiting 16 minutes for a lopsided match (Solo 8v8 PC/EU)
    Relic, no way of winning. My healing successfully extended the nightmare for as long as possible. Mission accomplished:
    b06uos3ona4y.png

    Deathmatch 1, no way of losing. Instead of being forced to come after me, Green-2 had no choice but to ditch his team to go around looking for newcomers. @Avran_Sylt This is a good example of how the first flaw of 2-sided ruins even balanced matches:
    dlwl745yutxw.png

    Deathmatch 2, no way of losing:
    9j96epddi00h.png

    Where are you getting these matches?

    8v8 hasn't been up for almost a week.

    Edit: in what world is a team with five 1m damage pushers equal to a team with only 2? Also, since we can't see the amount of self-healing done, your stats are useless.
    Edited by Avran_Sylt on May 25, 2026 12:05PM
  • Cooperharley
    Cooperharley
    ✭✭✭✭✭
    I would like to see three-sided Deathmatch return as a permanent option, or at least as a regular scheduled queue.

    I do not think 4v4v4 is perfect, and I do not think it magically solves matchmaking or combat balance. Third-partying is real, and some objective modes have their own problems. But for Deathmatch specifically, three teams often creates a healthier match than a lopsided two-team game.

    In 8v8, when one side is clearly stronger, the match can feel decided almost immediately. The weaker team gets farmed, spawncamped, or gives up, and there is no meaningful second-place goal. In 4v4v4, the third team at least creates pressure on the leader, gives weaker players more chances to reposition, and makes the match less predictable.

    That matters a lot when the BG population is not large enough for perfect matchmaking. If the matchmaker cannot reliably create two equal teams, then a three-team format can soften the damage by giving the match more moving parts.

    I would not remove two-sided BGs for people who prefer that format. But I do think solo players should have access to a 4v4v4 Deathmatch queue. Keep the objective modes separate and tune them individually, because Chaosball, Relic, Domination, and Crazy King all have different problems. But Deathmatch is the mode where three-sided play makes the strongest case.

    So my vote would be: keep two-sided for players who want a more direct competitive format, bring back three-sided Deathmatch for players who found it more fun and less predetermined, and keep working on matchmaking/combat balance either way.
  • Avran_Sylt
    Avran_Sylt
    ✭✭✭✭✭
    ✭✭
    I would like to see three-sided Deathmatch return as a permanent option, or at least as a regular scheduled queue.

    I do not think 4v4v4 is perfect, and I do not think it magically solves matchmaking or combat balance. Third-partying is real, and some objective modes have their own problems. But for Deathmatch specifically, three teams often creates a healthier match than a lopsided two-team game.

    In 8v8, when one side is clearly stronger, the match can feel decided almost immediately. The weaker team gets farmed, spawncamped, or gives up, and there is no meaningful second-place goal. In 4v4v4, the third team at least creates pressure on the leader, gives weaker players more chances to reposition, and makes the match less predictable.

    That matters a lot when the BG population is not large enough for perfect matchmaking. If the matchmaker cannot reliably create two equal teams, then a three-team format can soften the damage by giving the match more moving parts.

    I would not remove two-sided BGs for people who prefer that format. But I do think solo players should have access to a 4v4v4 Deathmatch queue. Keep the objective modes separate and tune them individually, because Chaosball, Relic, Domination, and Crazy King all have different problems. But Deathmatch is the mode where three-sided play makes the strongest case.

    So my vote would be: keep two-sided for players who want a more direct competitive format, bring back three-sided Deathmatch for players who found it more fun and less predetermined, and keep working on matchmaking/combat balance either way.

    4v4v4 Deathmatch with "unlimited" lives per person? Or the stock system present in 4v4 comp.
  • Moonspawn
    Moonspawn
    ✭✭✭✭
    Haki_7 wrote: »
    Moonspawn wrote: »
    Speaking of gathering samples to compare 4v4v4 against the horrors of 8v8, will ZOS be repeating the 3-sided domination event the day after tomorrow?

    I understand that anything is better than letting Battlegrounds be ruined by the critical flaws of 2-sided, but why would they repeat last month's Domination event?

    I was bamboozled by the May Survival Guide.

    611g7xqks2xi.png
    Can you help solve any of the FOUR critical flaws of two-sided BGs ?

    Looking for feedback on How to fix the 3-sided objective modes
  • Haki_7
    Haki_7
    ✭✭✭
    https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/665758/pts-patch-notes-v10-2-0

    vmtxj8sw67mr.png

    @ZOS_Kevin there's been some confusion about a couple of changes that were made in update 44.

    Considering what you wrote above, can you please try to find out if the MMR was being reset weekly before U44, when Battlegrounds were still 3-sided?

    This is important. It might explain why queue times are so much longer in 2-sided:

    Destruction of Battlegrounds Chapter 200: Waiting 53 minutes for a lopsided match (Solo 8v8 PC/EU)
    Deathmatch 1 & 2, no risk of losing:
    aakdqnhh3h56.png
    3q8lcc4se97k.png

    Crazy King, no risk of losing. Running around trying to end the snoozefest while my team spawncamps. Third critical flaw of 2-sided:
    37dd5kwpdfud.png

    Chaosball, no risk of losing:
    56k6n1cir5mb.png

    Relic, no risk of losing. Throwing the towel after losing one relic. Fourth flaw:
    n3bsaj5ifqrk.png

    Domination 1, no risk of losing. All their points came from backcapping empty flags:
    s66c3fxu7qzu.png

    Domination 2, no risk of winning:
    zylzsqtf48oa.png
    Edited by Haki_7 on May 28, 2026 10:23AM
  • Moonspawn
    Moonspawn
    ✭✭✭✭
    Haki_7 wrote: »
    https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/665758/pts-patch-notes-v10-2-0

    vmtxj8sw67mr.png

    @ZOS_Kevin there's been some confusion about a couple of changes that were made in update 44.

    Considering what you wrote above, can you please try to find out if the MMR was being reset weekly before U44, when Battlegrounds were still 3-sided?

    This is important. It might explain why queue times are so much longer in 2-sided:

    On that note, how were queue times during the 3-sided Capture the Relic event?
    Can you help solve any of the FOUR critical flaws of two-sided BGs ?

    Looking for feedback on How to fix the 3-sided objective modes
  • moo_2021
    moo_2021
    ✭✭✭✭✭
    Moonspawn wrote: »
    On that note, how were queue times during the 3-sided Capture the Relic event?

    Nearly instant even in morning and afternoon
  • Haki_7
    Haki_7
    ✭✭✭
    Moonspawn wrote: »
    Haki_7 wrote: »
    https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/665758/pts-patch-notes-v10-2-0

    vmtxj8sw67mr.png

    @ZOS_Kevin there's been some confusion about a couple of changes that were made in update 44.

    Considering what you wrote above, can you please try to find out if the MMR was being reset weekly before U44, when Battlegrounds were still 3-sided?

    This is important. It might explain why queue times are so much longer in 2-sided:

    On that note, how were queue times during the 3-sided Capture the Relic event?

    Lightning fast. Similar to what happened during the 3-sided domination event.

    Chaosball 1, no way to win. We were unable to reach the objective:
    fqagp6jnkhu4.png

    Chaosball 2, no way to lose. Now it was the opponent's turn to be unable to reach the objective:
    6gfsi3z51ob5.png

    Domination, no way to lose:
    t62hv6hsfumk.png

    Destruction of Battlegrounds Chapter 201: Waiting 28 minutes for a lopsided match (Solo 8v8 PC/NA)
    Crazy King, no way to lose:
    35q03u4xsxsk.png

    Relic, no way to lose:
    zrwaxqhuysou.png

    Deathmatch 1 and 2, no way to lose. Spawncamping from beginning to end. Flaws number 1,3 and 4 of 2-sided:
    7w8tg7rldxja.png
    kmsyhzbaff9f.png
  • Moonspawn
    Moonspawn
    ✭✭✭✭
    @moo_2021 wrote:
    Moonspawn wrote: »
    On that note, how were queue times during the 3-sided Capture the Relic event?

    Nearly instant even in morning and afternoon
    @Haki_7 wrote:

    Lightning fast. Similar to what happened during the 3-sided domination event.

    Just like in the song.

    ''Ooo—we love that 4v4v4
    Three sides, one vibe, keep comin’ back for more
    No queue, just you, let the good times roll
    Deathmatch got a hold on my soul''
    Edited by Moonspawn on June 1, 2026 11:25PM
    Can you help solve any of the FOUR critical flaws of two-sided BGs ?

    Looking for feedback on How to fix the 3-sided objective modes
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