Is it just me: Frontline

[Vatom]

This is a lot to unpack spoo, on a phone. I will get back to this

[A-Omega]

Anything you do that pits you against other people in a competitive setting is something a competitive person considers…serious.
With that being said, frontline doesn’t fall into that category regardless of how an individual may perceive it. Frontline is listed with dailies, dailies are the games true casual content. Frontline, like all other casual content, is meant to prepare you for mid core content so you can eventually progress into hardcore. Ie…standard trail -> Ex-> savage-> ultimate. You play frontline to get use to the difference between PvE and PvP game play. In PvP’s case, frontline -> CC casual -> CC ranked.
For whatever the reason, the community see frontline as more than the resource and knowledge gain it actually is. I’d go as far as saying more the 60% play frontline for the xp, series xp, and fun over actually winning. The few who see it as a replacement for the games REAL competitive PvP are the ones asking for balance changes because they haven’t made the transition to CC (not saying certain jobs don’t need adjusting, stating your opinion would be different with experience playing CC. The jobs feel much more balanced there).
We’d be happy to have you in CC. The game play is completely different, but that’s why casual is there. You’ll find all the truly competitive gamers there.

[Kahnha]

Fair but this isn't really on topic. Allow me to clarify. When I say take serious, I don't mean afk but play to play even if I don't win. Afk mean you 100% don't care. Not taking it serious is more of I'll try to win but if I don't I'm cool with my exp.

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

[Vatom]

In high-end raids, seriousness is the default. Focus is assumed, scrutiny is constant, and if you cause wipes you eat the shame. Nobody pretends it’s life or death—we all know we’re whacking a 3D model and not curing cancer. Yet for some reason the seriousness is so okay doing that and only that. Because reasons.

Frontline has the same contract. It runs on calls, timing, and coordinated execution. Queueing then acting shocked that people want to actually play is like walking into a pickup soccer match and announcing you’ll stroll because it’s “not that deep.” causing the match to fail then just acting like your friends are crazy for being upset at you because you stole what would have otherwise been 20 minutes of fun for everyone, because you wanted to express how chill you think life should be. The double standard is wild: intensity/seriousness is praised in Ultimate/savage, mocked in Frontline.

No one’s saving the world here. Wanting to win doesn’t need a grand cause. For many of us, the joy is playing well together and sharing a clean execution. Treating Frontline as disposable erases the players who log in mainly for PvP.).

I get the appeal of wanting Frontline to feel like a true war — I really do. PvP shines when there’s coordination and intensity. But the mode itself just doesn’t reinforce that level of competitiveness.

Frontline is built as casual content. Rewards push people in for daily EXP, and the scale/chaos means one player’s performance rarely decides the outcome. You can even earn Battle High without a single kill, and the mode has extra PvP actions that don’t exist in CC specifically to make it less punishing. It’s designed for accessibility, not esports-level play.

That’s why no one is obligated to treat it like Savage or Ultimate. Players queue for many reasons — fun, EXP, dailies, testing a job — all of which are valid because the system itself allows them. If someone wants a guaranteed competitive environment, ranked CC or community events are the right place for it.

Frontline, by contrast, is intentionally casual. Expecting raid-level seriousness from a mode that was never designed for it just sets everyone up for frustration.

I understand your emotional about this try to not direct it at me and look at the whole. Cause you don't know how I play, and I don't know how you play. Refer back to my ps

[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.

[Elephantality]

Welcome hope your enjoying it. Have you tried other pvp or was this your introduction?

Thank you. It was my introduction. At first I was overwhelmed, but was given a guide to it and since the season was ending, I wanted the glam from the rewards. Also, I don't like to lose, and most especially, I don't like to be bad, so I try to improve while I play. Through all that, I was able to find Frontlines fun. I think you can too if you think of it as a team game. I only played CC like a few times after bashing my head against Frontlines alot.

[A-Omega]

The reason there’s an air of seriousness around savage/ultimate is because it’s high end game play. Everyone participating is expected to know what to do and how to do it. Maybe you didn’t realize but…you agreed without knowing you did.

Frontline isn’t meant to be taken that seriously and yet, there’s a few who do. It is designed to be casual content no matter how passionately you feel about it.

There is a sizable player base that comes specifically for PvP. I myself log daily for just that purpose. The difference between us and you….we don’t play frontline to satisfy the urge to PvP. We play CC. No one is rewarded for participation, my personal play affects the match outcome, it’s actually coordinated, and I get the real feel of combat.

Frontline is the introduction to PvP. Expecting anything other than that is you bringing yourself unnecessary stress. The mode is for xp, resources, and instant fun. Acknowledging the modes purpose isn’t disrespecting anyone’s time or whatever you said. Nor does it diminish the value of the mode itself.

As far as your PvE point…yes, that conversation has and is happening almost daily. People have trying to define what casual and mid core are for FF.

There’s a bunch more you posted, but it all kinda came off as word vomit(apologies if there’s an actual point in the essay). What I gathered is, you’re one of those who take a casual mode WAAAY to serious. You’re giving off the vibe of being that person who’s spamming insults and reprimanding people in chat during the match. No one likes that guy….I’m sure you already know that by the way your team replies.

Enjoy whatever you play how you want to. All I’m saying (as well as the original post) don’t let your personal feeling for a mode change what it is. You’re stressing yourself out and everyone you play with who’s there for a good time.

[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.

[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.

[Vatom]

Thank you. It was my introduction. At first I was overwhelmed, but was given a guide to it and since the season was ending, I wanted the glam from the rewards. Also, I don't like to lose, and most especially, I don't like to be bad, so I try to improve while I play. Through all that, I was able to find Frontlines fun. I think you can too if you think of it as a team game. I only played CC like a few times after bashing my head against Frontlines alot.

I feel that not wanting to lose is normal. But unless you have at least a full alliance working together developing a guide or secret technique seems redundant.

Maybe that's just me