Premades ruining the PvP experience

[Graci]

Thanks but I'm horrible haha I only tap 150k damage at best in a match (best flames SMN tap 300k+) and get usually 1-5th top damage in Flame which is truly sad

It's not always just about who's doing the most damage or getting the most kills, though. I often see you trying to organize people, making calls, and generally trying to get those around us to try to do sensible things during matches. You're one of the few players I've seen that will change to DPS, tank or healer depending on the party's composition, and you try your best every match, which is more than I can say for a lot of PUG Flame players.

To those few Mael Excal players that are challenging Flame PUG'ers to improve: There's really not much many of us can do when pitted against a full premade, at least in a 24 man match. You can play your absolute best and still get shelled -- there's only so much you can do as an individual, particularly when teammates ignore calls, split up, etc. There's often also at least a few players present on our teams with <100 total matches under their belts.

At least on my server, also, there's barely enough active Flames to even fill a single party, and most of us don't play during the same hours of the day; at least not consistently enough to group up. Organizing a premade that could challenge Excal's isn't really a realistic option for many of us.

That said, I don't necessarily think that winning against a premade is brag-worthy (since there are so many variables that can determine the outcome of a match), but it is definitely satisfying on the rare occasion that you get to be a part of it. I also wouldn't use a PUG win to disparage a premade -- stuff happens, and you can't win every match -- but with premaders having such a significant advantage over PUG'ers, it's hard not to feel like it's David vs. Goliath, at least in 24 man matches. It's understandably fulfilling to nab a victory over a premade as a group of randoms, and like someone else mentioned, you should view it as a compliment to your group's prowess that people are so thrilled when they defy the odds and pull off a win.

Anyway, I'm rambling, but hopefully the recent apparent Mael/Flame feud will cool off soon and we can get back to focusing on what's truly important: messing with Adders.

[MihaelB]

It's not always just about who's doing the most damage or getting the most kills, though. I often see you trying to organize people, making calls, and generally trying to get those around us to try to do sensible things during matches. You're one of the few players I've seen that will change to DPS, tank or healer depending on the party's composition, and you try your best every match, which is more than I can say for a lot of PUG Flame players.

Thanks haha and that's the thing, if you think of each person on a team as different pieces of the game. There will be damage breakers, the people who can change the flow of the game via pure damage and mechanical power. The commanders, who direct and change the flow of the game through commands, average players who excel at nothing but can do their job well enough to not cause a fall back and detrimental players who ultimately provide nothing but negativity for the game.

A PUG cannot ascertain value of each individual and draw out their value as player whilst premades understand who in their group does what and draws strength from their capability. Premades will also interact with another player due to server alliance and can communicate/ offer advice on how to improve their gameplay or tailor it to suit their group after every match.

I say alleviate our PVP experience and capability of our overall PVP experience instead of these floating fish PUG groups that are entertaining as playing tetris and hoping good pieces fall onto your lap.

I love playing in the night Lamia games with your group despite not being premade because I know you guys excel at what you do and understand the strength of most players in our queue times which allows us to perform at our optimal best

EDIT:
Adders are improving and I'm looking forward to the day where our Grand Companies have a 33.3% winrate average where each game actually requires us to try our best to actually win instead of a 2 company vs 1 sabotage it currently is

[Graci]

*Snip*

Great post, I agree completely. And thanks! We don't get to meet up that often lately, but even having a few capable players like you helps a ton in those 24's! We probably won't be able to stand up to large premades, but we can match up well against other PUGs, at least. Lamia definitely isn't the best of servers to play on if you're a Flame, so it's cool when Aria (or Charry) and I get to team up with you -- it's about as close as our server can get to a Flames "premade", lol.

Oh, and you're right about Adders, too, they've been winning a lot more lately and rolling out multiple Battle Highs/Fevers in some matches. Mael has consistently been the most successful GC on Primal since I've been playing, with Flames and Adders having their spurts of proficiency. Hopefully you're right and someday all 3 will be pretty evenly matched and stay that way!

[Chaelyn]

To those few Mael Excal players that are challenging Flame PUG'ers to improve

I'm not challenging anyone, I have no problems with Flames like you. If it came across that I was saying Flames PuGs are terrible, I didn't mean it like that. I've heard all the horror stories from ex Flames friends don't worry. I didn't actually start anything in this thread and I randomly get badmouthed at by 3 Flames one after another. PuGs are fine, PuGs can beat premades yes. It's not just because they have a premade that they win. You are one of the few Flames names that I actually remember/bother to remember. You are a great healer.

Adders are improving and I'm looking forward to the day where our Grand Companies have a 33.3% winrate average where each game actually requires us to try our best to actually win instead of a 2 company vs 1 sabotage it currently is

No pls my winrate. ):

But really, yea I hope that eventually people will actually learn to read the map and know when to back off rather than just constantly pushing and pushing.

[Graci]

*snip*

Oh, no worries! I wasn't referring to you at all with my post, so I apologize if it came off that way. And you're right, even when you guys aren't queuing together, you're super formidable. I've seen your NIN, MCH and BLM dominate even when you're grouped with PUGs, and as deadly as the Excal SMNs are, I'm often on my heels more when you're in the front on your NIN, lol. You're super pesky on AST, too!

And thanks, I appreciate it! I can always tell when you guys are in the same match, I'm on my toes pretty much the whole time, haha. ><