The Frontlines Premade issue has not been fixed.

[Mango24]

It should go without saying that ensuring there is a more even distribution of skilled players rather than lumping them all together will undoubtedly improve the overall balance of matchmaking. I completely understands the feeling that limiting our ability to play with our friends is a real unfortunate consequence but it's one that's necessary to ensure the most evenly matched matches. Sure, you might get on the "bad" team here and there... but that's always going to happen in any competitive team based game.

What they ought to do is commit to improving pvp overall, add more game modes that allow you to play with more friends and still be competitively balanced, and improve job complexity little by little to improve each job and add individuality/depth.

That would be amazing... but fixing syncing queues is our best first step.

[JuliusRath]

It should go without saying that ensuring there is a more even distribution of skilled players rather than lumping them all together will undoubtedly improve the overall balance of matchmaking. I completely understands the feeling that limiting our ability to play with our friends is a real unfortunate consequence but it's one that's necessary to ensure the most evenly matched matches. Sure, you might get on the "bad" team here and there... but that's always going to happen in any competitive team based game.

What they ought to do is commit to improving pvp overall, add more game modes that allow you to play with more friends and still be competitively balanced, and improve job complexity little by little to improve each job and add individuality/depth.

That would be amazing... but fixing syncing queues is our best first step.

As someone that does queue sync to play with friends, this is inaccurate. There have been plenty of times where we've been out numbered and outplayed. It's happening even to this day.
I stated it before, the problem isn't premades/queue syncing, it's purely skilled players being pitted against unskilled players and the inexperienced, unskilled players are quick to complain about being unable to win. You shouldn't be winning if you're unskilled. PvP isn't a handout system.
When they took away 8 mans, my friends and I moved to adders in an attempt to play together. It worked for the most part. Nothing really happened then because no one else really cared. But once the new mode came out everyone wanted to win for achievements and the mount.... So, when they saw Adders winning, they all moved. And now you have 40 minute Adder queues because of it. It's casuals looking for what they want and thats just for a quick, easy path to the top.

But what will happen is once these casual players are done getting their shit they will not play anymore. By changing to forced freelancer, not only are you hurting the lore and dedication of those that stick with their gc, but you're also hurting the dedicated pvp base that matters to maintain the mode in the long run. Come the 24th, I won't be playing anymore FL, there's no point. I don't care about winning, I care about playing with my friends and having a good time with them. SE is keen to think that I only like playing with 3 out of my 12+ friends. And I won't be the only one doing this. Catering to the casual players will never sustain PvP.

If they want to force freelancer. Bring back 8 man groups, ESPECIALLY if you're doing 72 mans only. There are people in AUS that can't even play in their afternoon hours when queues die and this mode isn't even 2 weeks old. Imagine it in a month. In 3 months. 8 men can't carry a 24 man group. Flames are a testament to that.

[Myon88]

I gotta say it's pretty funny to see the reasons premade lifers like to throw out to justify the state of frontlines and being able to farm pugs. Yeah just magically coordinate 72 strangers of questionable skill and you might have a somewhat fair match. It's kinda like corporate fat cats telling the poor to 'pull themselves up by their bootstraps' knowing it's a fool's errand in reality. Sorry, but anyone can tell it's an argument in bad faith.

It reminds me of similar complaints in other PvP games about hidden elo ratings and 'skill based matchmaking'. People were upset they were getting matched against others of the same skill as them, instead of being able to have fun preying on newbies.

PvPers tend to pride themselves having skill, especially the kind of skill PvE content doesn't teach you. But you can see how much of that is a sham when it comes to things like this.

[BloodRubyXII]

I gotta say it's pretty funny to see the reasons premade lifers like to throw out to justify the state of frontlines and being able to farm pugs. Yeah just magically coordinate 72 strangers of questionable skill and you might have a somewhat fair match. It's kinda like corporate fat cats telling the poor to 'pull themselves up by their bootstraps' knowing it's a fool's errand in reality. Sorry, but anyone can tell it's an argument in bad faith.

It reminds me of similar complaints in other PvP games about hidden elo ratings and 'skill based matchmaking'. People were upset they were getting matched against others of the same skill as them, instead of being able to have fun preying on newbies.

PvPers tend to pride themselves having skill, especially the kind of skill PvE content doesn't teach you. But you can see how much of that is a sham when it comes to things like this.

delete this

[plasmacutter]

The latest changes handing out battle high for assists have made the situation far, far worse.

Uphill battles against the "premade grand company" that were winnable pre-5.1 by regrouping and slowly building up coordination have now become farces where the GC with the premades just builds up battle high in the first 2 minutes and is an unstoppable juggernaut after.

In b4 the people abusing this system continue to abuse people on this thread.

[Ahzuran]

The latest changes handing out battle high for assists have made the situation far, far worse.

Uphill battles against the "premade grand company" that were winnable pre-5.1 by regrouping and slowly building up coordination have now become farces where the GC with the premades just builds up battle high in the first 2 minutes and is an unstoppable juggernaut after.

In b4 the people abusing this system continue to abuse people on this thread.

Who knew having to compete on an even field from now on would get people so riled up like this. Time to adapt kids!

[Newmanxeno]

GC sync queue being gone is the best Christmas present. Eight man teams back would be best though.

[Sinstrel]

8v8v8 solo que only roulette with the old 3 maps would be fantastic

[Iceboy]

PVE casuals ruining PVP for people who like pvp because they can't form their own parties/improve themselves? Nothing new under the sun I guess.

Waiting for Top 100 feast to be gone and just hand out free season rewards for everyone and a kiss in the forehead.

[Ahzuran]

PVE casuals ruining PVP for people who like pvp because they can't form their own parties/improve themselves? Nothing new under the sun I guess.

Waiting for Top 100 feast to be gone and just hand out free season rewards for everyone and a kiss in the forehead.

There's plenty of people who are good at PvP who are welcoming these changes. God forbid we like some competitive games when none of our friends are online in a casual PvP mode like frontlines.