Is it just me: Frontline

[Trevski]

Is it just me that doesn't take Frontline serious? Like this is a legit question. People ask for balance in frontline, upset they aren't winning, making guides, etc.

I'll be honest with you when I care to play I still never took it seriously, it was just great chaos. Balance wasn't a question to me, coordination was the only thing that mattered. Trying to get a whole alliance to follow you was good fun. It's was good exp and a little fun even if I died. Never a test of skill.

People toss out 'serious' like it's supposed to be a pejorative word or something.

I'd argue they're also confusing 'serious' with 'enjoying the game mode.' I don't get why it is such a horrible thing to try and educate players or encourage good habits.

Imagine if in a game of Uno (which is 'unserious') someone explains to a new player that you shouldn't just toss a Reverse Card out, but to try and save it for a more important situation.

Then another person at the table pops off asking why the person explaining things is taking Uno so seriously. Same vibes.

You can enjoy the game mode like how you described without trying to put people who enjoy the game mode on blast.

Ps. IDC how long you played or how good you are.

What's the point of this, beyond trying to be inflammatory in your totally genuine 'I'm just asking questions' post?

Is it competitive though? Sure your fighting against teams but there isn't structure to promote competitive interaction.

You're competing with 2 other teams to reach a set goal before them. It is literally a competition. I have a feeling you're conflating 'competitive' as used in say, an esports context or something similar with the literal meaning of the word 'competitive', which is understandable in a gaming context.

[Vatom]

oh well in that case you are fine you can't be too serious because you can't control 23 other players, but 1st place gets a better reward than 2nd and 3rd so yes play to win but don't stress it and don't let anyone else stress you out either xD

People toss out 'serious' like it's supposed to be a pejorative word or something.

I'd argue they're also confusing 'serious' with 'enjoying the game mode.' I don't get why it is such a horrible thing to try and educate players or encourage good habits.

I’m all for bettering yourself — that’s not the issue. The problem is treating Frontline like it’s more than casual when the mode itself was never built that way. You can literally earn Battle High without a single kill, and it even has extra PvP actions that don’t exist in CC just to keep it from being overly competitive.

And if we’re using Uno as an example — Frontline isn’t the “save your Reverse card for the perfect moment” kind of game. It’s more like the house rules party version where half the fun is in the chaos. Writing guides for that and expecting raid-level discipline just misses the point of why the mode was designed in the first place.


The point of that line wasn’t meant to be inflammatory. It was just to set an even playing field for the discussion so people don’t lean on “I’ve played X years” or “I’m this good” as a way to dismiss others. I want the conversation to stay about the design of Frontline itself, not player résumés.

You’re right that in the literal sense, yes, Frontline is a competition — three teams racing to a goal. My point is more about structure. Competitive modes usually have systems in place that promote consistent, skill-driven interaction (like ranked ladders, strict balance, or limited actions). Frontline doesn’t have that. It’s designed with chaos, catch-up mechanics, and even extra PvP abilities that don’t exist in ranked CC — all of which keep it from being a true competitive environment.

So sure, it’s competitive by dictionary definition, but it’s casual in design and execution. That’s the distinction I’m making.

[Trevski]

I’m all for bettering yourself — that’s not the issue. The problem is treating Frontline like it’s more than casual when the mode itself was never built that way. You can literally earn Battle High without a single kill, and it even has extra PvP actions that don’t exist in CC just to keep it from being overly competitive.

I'd argue that it is at least part of the issue because if you are treating FL in an 'unserious' way, there's no reason to learn the game mode or, and I know this is a dirty word for a lot of people, try.

And if we’re using Uno as an example — Frontline isn’t the “save your Reverse card for the perfect moment” kind of game.

Ya, if only there wasn't a big glowy bar...

Writing guides for that and expecting raid-level discipline just misses the point of why the mode was designed in the first place.

I'd argue guides that focus on fundamentals, map quirks, etc. are useful, as well as guides that highlight how certain jobs may synergize with each other. You're attributing things to me that weren't said -- I don't expect 'raid-level discipline' or whatever.

The point of that line wasn’t meant to be inflammatory. It was just to set an even playing field for the discussion so people don’t lean on “I’ve played X years” or “I’m this good” as a way to dismiss others. I want the conversation to stay about the design of Frontline itself, not player résumés.

I would argue that asking folks on a forum, where not many casual Andys are posting on, in the subforum for a game mode even fewer casual Andys care about, would be leaning towards folks who have experience/are enthusiasts and is naturally meant to rile folks up, intended or not.

You’re right that in the literal sense, yes, Frontline is a competition — three teams racing to a goal. My point is more about structure.

It doesn't really matter if it has ladders or whatever. The mode, by its very nature, is competitive and 'casual' games can be competitive.

Should a hypercompetitive, esports attitude be tossed at Frontlines? No. But should people be derided for trying to shotcall or play a team game...like a team game? Also no.

[Vatom]

I'd argue

Casual doesn’t mean lazy. You can still queue Frontline, play the objectives, and contribute without treating it like high-end competitive content. My point is the mode was designed to be approachable and chaotic, not structured like ranked CC — so expecting raid-level seriousness from everyone isn’t realistic.

Moving on this analogy isn't going anywhere.


At this point I don’t think this is a serious discussion. You’ve sidestepped the points to nitpick context, so I’ll leave it here.

[Scintilla]

...

Technically, you can 'contribute' to ranked CC as long as you hit someone. You're dealing damage, assisting the team in defeating the opponent. Does it mean you are ultimately playing at benefit to the team? No - other factors matter. Who you focus, your approach to play, your own deaths etc.

Are they attempting to coordinate their attacks with their team, or are they just throwing damage wildly and randomly, allowing enemies to escape and heal rather than finish the job? Are they instantly running to 1v5 an enemy team following a wipe, without falling back to regroup, dying again just seconds later? Are they attempting to heal and use elixirs or are they just using death as a reset, forgetting the slowly increasing respawn timer?


It's the same for Frontline. You can't apply this rule to one and not the other.

Sure, someone can spend their whole time playing objectives, which gains points. Does it mean they are ultimately playing at benefit to the team? No - other factors matter.

Are they attempting to coordinate their attacks with their alliance or are they just throwing damage wildly and randomly, allowing enemies to escape and heal rather than finish the job? Are they blindly running into an enemy alliance, totally solo and outnumbered, just to interact with a node in the false hope that this enemy alliance will ignore them and let them take it, dying just seconds later? Are they attempting to heal and use elixirs or are they just using death as a reset, forgetting the loss of team points and BH with each death?


Example:

Shatter

All of their focus on ice, they are unlikely to be contributing much to PvP. When an enemy team comes to take those objectives they contribute little/nothing towards defence. The objective is more likely to be lost, those players who did attempt to defend are more likely to die due to being undersupported, and those casuals who focused the objectives also die because they now have no team to protect them. Not only does the more aggressive PvP team gain huge point boosts from their kills, but they also farm considerable BH, giving them a strong advantage next time. Casuals dealt good damage to the ice, but lost all of the point gain, and their BH, in deaths.


Seal Rock

You're second place. The Flames are in first and aren't far from winning. Maelstrom, third place, is far behind you both on points, though more due to the unfortunate luck of being the North spawn than any kind of poor play. An S rank spawns between you and Maelstrom. Seconds later an A rank spawns between you and Flames. You would not believe the number of objective-focused casuals who will go for the S-rank 'because that's worth more'. You're still fighting Maelstrom for the S-rank while Flames take the A-rank with ease, they then travel up the map to flank you while the casuals are blindly focused on Maelstrom for the S. You wipe, Flames wins.

Would you say either of these contributed?

[Elephantality]

CC isn't really that fun nor does it spark the fire within me like Frontlines does. Pushing the crystal doesn't seem that fun to me. CC is really only a mode to help me understand my class for better Frontline performance. At least we can duo queue now though. I don't stress myself out by being passionate about any specific mode or any specific activity in the game, nor will I stop. However people should be kicked for afk'ing. You are there to play. Just as a person afk'ing in Crystal Tower should be kicked. Regardless of how casual you think the mode is.

[Themarvin]

there is no guide for PvP other than the very basics...

this is not PvE Content that follows the same script that everyone can learn and adapt to.

PvP... is about Horde ahead, take points... and don't go in between two groups ending in a crossfire and attacking the alliance that is the most ahead instead of thinking can score points off the underdog.

[Sunhwapark]

I'm not a good player, but I just like to have fun in there.
I'll do objectives where I can, and join contested zones in the instances where there are commanders, but the outcome isn't serious for me.
My favourite times are when I don't even know who won but the battles felt great throughout the match.

[OliviaLugria]

there is no guide for PvP other than the very basics...

this is not PvE Content that follows the same script that everyone can learn and adapt to.

PvP... is about Horde ahead, take points... and don't go in between two groups ending in a crossfire and attacking the alliance that is the most ahead instead of thinking can score points off the underdog.

https://oliguide.carrd.co/

[NevaehQuest]

FL is so chaotic and random it can never be competitive. Tbh now I am not even sure about cc anymore because of the win trading situation. Let just say I don't care about anything just here to yap. Because yapping here is fun.