Feast 4 vs 4 unranked mode

[Kalinas]

It's probably been brought up before, but what about an Unrated Feast mode of 4 on 4?

With only the Rated Feast 4 on 4, players new to the mode are struggling to learn. The vets are getting frustrated as they lose rank if they lose. Things get said in chat that discourage new players from queuing. I mean yes...thicker skins for all if you go into PVP, but players new to Feast are getting tore up by the other team physically and their own teammates verbally. It's turning off potential PVPers before they even know what hit them.

There's not even a preseason this time for people to play around in. There really should be a Feast 4 on 4 Unrated to get a handle on how it works before going into Rated. Yes, some do go out of their way to look up strats online or talk to friends in a PVP LS...but not everyone.

I'd like to think that the vets would be more accepting of new players in Rated if the new players had at least competed in an Unrated mode. It would mean a less stressful Rated 4 on 4 Feast for everyone. Players need a place to get experience and jumping straight into the fire isn't the best way usually. Plus it would give vets a place to practice/something to do once they reach a higher rank. It would also be a great way to try out different jobs.

Frontline is a different beast from Feast. Even 8 man Feast is different as you don't have the extra dps or the back up healer to help you out if things are going south...not to mention the queues for it are dead.

I know there some downsides to this like split queues, but do you really want a fast queue if it means gold with Unrated/No exp? I know this won't stop some new players from queuing into Rated, but it might help.

[awesomega]

I would play 4v4 unranked mode full time. I enjoy feast but I dont like all the vitriol.

[ThirdChild_ZKI]

As I recall, there was originally meant to be a ranked and unranked 4v4 and 8v8, and with multiple maps too. I would most certainly like this. 8v8 isn't effective training for 4v4, especially with a different map between them. It's hard enough to try to get people to try it, let alone in an environment where they can learn without the stress of ruining a match for others.

SE, we kinda NEED this.

[Februs]

As I recall, there was originally meant to be a ranked and unranked 4v4 and 8v8, and with multiple maps too.

There was never any indication for a ranked 8v8 or an un-ranked 4v4 in any of the patch notes, and I don't recall them ever mentioning it in the live letters. Party queues and 8v8 were the only game modes that were intended to have no ranks, but that changed when people demanded rewards for party queue.

Additional maps, on the other hand, were planned for Feast; however, those maps were indicated to be planned for game modes that were un-ranked only. They would also be implemented based on the popularity of un-ranked game modes. It was somewhat vaguely specified in the 3.2 patch notes:

In the 27th Letter from the Producer LIVE it was announced that five different arenas will be introduced; however, only three arenas will be implemented initially. The remaining two will then be added depending on the circumstances surrounding non-rated matches.

Given that these maps have not been implemented, they were probably designed for 8v8 matches. As it turned out, no one wanted to play un-ranked versions of the game. 8v8 pretty much died, despite being fairly entertaining, and party-queue was shifted to a ranking system. Those maps were probably thrown out as a result ... which sucks.

Regardless, I agree that high-rank players are salty brats and need to learn to roll with the punches, but an un-ranked version of 4v4 probably wouldn't work out. No one played 8v8, because there was no rewards. No one really played party-queue either, until there were rewards. If there was an un-ranked version of 4v4, I have a feeling that it wouldn't get much attention for the same reason.

[Noutaja]

Was just about to post about this myself. Completely agreed with op we need an unranked 4v4 feast too, not just the 8v8 (it rarely pops anyways prolly due to how many ppl it requires and because its different). I dont want to destroy other peoples (and my) ratings on the days when I am not delivering my best. Like today. I'd still want to play more but -200 and demotion to silver came along with negative comments from other players, it stopped me from playing further. I still enjoyed it even though I lost alot today, I had fun, shame some didn't because of how bad I played. I dont want to be a nuisance to others when im playing just for the fun and taking it easy. It shouldnt be the only option when I just want to do what I like the most in this game.

Also the environment is way too harsh for any new healers. New feast healers need to be able to practice somewhere else than in the ranked arena. The system is quite toxic as it is and brews frustration among the people who are trying their best to keep their ranks up.

[Nakanishi]

Would be nice:

[Februs]

Would be nice

Well look at that. I guess I'm not remembering the live letters well enough ... but if this was included in their initial live letter for Feast, then why weren't party-queue (ranked) and solo-queue (un-ranked) made available on release? I remember that the community had to fight tooth and nail to get ranked rewards for party-matches, which seems ridiculous if they had that announced at the start. I also remember an awful lot of requests for some kind of 'practice mode' early in season 1, so letting 4v4 (unranked) fall by the wayside is also a little baffling. I mean, I still think it would be deader than a door nail, but that's no excuse to not even try, especially with all the complaints ...

[Commander_Justitia]

You know who would play 4vs4 unranked ? eso farmer

[Petite]

A 4v4 unranked mode would be a nice place to relax after stressful ranked matches, would let us practice other jobs and would have smaller queue times as they would fill faster than 8v8s.

Having too many modes divide the community though. Since 8v8 is practically dead, I wouldn't mind seeing it go in favor of 4v4 unranked.

[Koltik]

Yes.

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