Tier 3... Is pugging worth it???

Ok, we are not here to bicker with each other please at least keep with the spirit of the thread.

 

I caught this. though it seems you do progress quicker with wins. I did catch a break from the madness this weekend, my drops though not great, at least were not so overwhelmingly biased.

This is interesting. From the graph it's somewhat obvious that team play is favored. I understand what they are trying to do here, but the effect is a lot more complex than what they intended I think. Plus, they make some assumptions that are just a little bit ridiculous, and "seeding new players faster" sounds great and all, but without a pilot having to put in the time, this allows for a big jump in tier level with little to no experience in the actual game. So I understand, from this, a little bit about what I am seeing since the jump. It would be better if more emphasis was put on performance over a set number of matches. Proven performance over a few good matches.

On a brighter note, I started running my neglected Griffins and I'm starting to like the benefit gained from asymmetrical builds.

 

Overall i say this current PSR/Tier System, which replaced the ELO System was a good approach in theory to determine the individual Player Skill, but by the factors PGI determined and how to put players in the different Tiers the System is still very flawed and imo does not mirror your actual individual pilot skills, not at all.

Some Critical points:

1. the PSR (= Pilot Skill Rating) Score should tell you how good a Player can control his Mech and perform on the battlefield. But how can this "Pilot Skill" be defined exactly? Currently the PSR ist calculated by the sum of Achievements, which PGI defined towards some Teamplay Factors (which in total is not really reflecting the complete array of possible Teamplay Contribution) plus a W-L factor. Problem here is - you still can be a sh*t pilot (e.g. bad shooter, bad at TT, bad at 1v1 at all etc.), but as long as you stay tight with your teammates, you can score enough Matchscore to get positive PSR Evaluation at the end of the match. So what does the Tier Level tell you? -> The higher Tier you are, the better Teamplayer you are (by PGI's incomplete Definition!?). So it does not tell you, that you are actually a better Pilot, not at all!
2. W-L factor: Currently there are six possible results for the PSR Change after a Match - 3 for "UP" (W + medium Matchscore, W + high Matchscore, L + high Matchscore), 2 for "=" (W + low Matchscore, L + medium Matchscore), 1 for "DOWN" (L + low Matchscore). That means in total you have a higher chance to get "UP" than "DOWN", that also means on the long run you cannot go "DOWN", but steadily up the Tiers, as long as you can keep a positive W-L Ratio. In the end everyone, either good or bad pilot, can get up to Tier 1 (WTF!?). Some already said in other forums: The PSR Bar feels much like an EXP Bar, not a true PSR Rank Bar. So even if you are in T1, don't get cocky - it does not mean you are Elite, rather you are an Expert in scoring the Achievements by PGI's Definition, which might be an Indicator for a (Very?) Good Teamplayer. Nothing more or less.
3. PSR does not distinguish between Weight Classes: It's the same problem like in the old ELO System - as a Light Pilot you need to unlock the same Achievements as any other Weight Class Pilot to get the same PSR Scoring. You might say a good Light Pilot can demolish an Assault Mech in a 1v1 Battle, but in total a not totally bad Player in an Assault Mech in a not totally bad coordinated Team can get higher matchscores more easily on the long run than in a Light Mech, simply because a) the Assault Mech can absorb much more incoming damage before getting crushed and b) has much more Firepower to dish out Damage and c) can load heavy long range weapons to touch enemies at higher range with more Burstdamage. The only thing a Light Mech is highly superior is its Speed, but that also means you need much more Pilot Skill to handle a Light Pilot so to stay alive long enough, dish out enough Damage, and so to get the same Matchscore.

So yeah, you can work your way up from T4 to T3, from T3 to T2 and finally from T2 to T1 quite easily, if you have enough patience and work on your own Team Support (help your mates!) + Team Coordination (give Team calls to play as a Team). Get enough Matchscore (i guess something above 350 in average) and make sure that you have a positive W-L Ratio. Do not expect better Pilots the higher you get in the Tier System, you might expect better Team Players. That's all. This PSR System is flawed and has to be updated with a more precise Metrical/Calculation Method leading to a relational Algorithm that can recognize true Piloting Skill (whatever that is) by comparing scores of each individual in every Match, but not giving everyone the easy chance to work up an EXP ladder to get to the max Tier. A pilot shall not put in same tier with highly better skilled pilots, not even if he has played 10 times more often the game with mediocre performance. This is not precise/valid skill rating imo.

Also interesting to know more about the PSR/Tier System (might be outdated): http://mwomercs.com/forums/topic/209964-guide-pilot-skill-rating-psr-how-it-works/