A Way To Balance SPG

KilgorSoS, on Mar 26 2013 - 00:15, said: My suggestion is, that if you are a 47%'er scrub, who has nothing above tier6, and has no clue about end tier arty and end tier gameplay issues, you should just keep quiet.
Please communicate with others in a more respectful way. I think rational discourse allows for more meaningful communication than insults and bullying.
The debate over whether or not arty is ruining end tier gameplay is OVER...Period. WG has made clear that end tier gameplay is on a terrible decline, and that arty is the cause. The only thing that should be discussed is how to fix this mess. So far the solutions have been
I think we can agree that matchmaking for higher tier battles were being affected negatively by imbalanced proportions of artillery. But we don't have to be so hyperbolic and sensationalize the issue.
Limit arty to 5 per team--------FAILED Aside from the problems that platoons can create for matchmaking, which we are aware of, this was a step in the right direction. Obviously, we would have preferred 2-3 arty per battle but there is a technical limitation which creates strange consequences. We are working on improving that.
Nerf Arty-----FAIL - The nerf was implemented because aspects of certain vehicles were imbalanced, even when considered separately from the numbers populating individual battles. Reviewing the performance of a type or class of vehicle is standard operating procedure.
Make end tier arty repair cost sky rocket-----FAIL Again, this was to balance the economic pros and cons of artillery in comparison to those of tankers who prefer other vehicles. Not a way to address the number of arty populating high tier battles.
Give away free T-shirts to players who ground out Tier 10 tanks----FAIL I am fascinated that you have connected this with the artillery balance issue. I see the logic thread but this campaign was launched by a very different department of the company. I also know for a fact that we never indicated in any way that this was related to arty so you have found a false correlation.
WG has failed with their attempts to revive end tier gameplay in pubs.
The nature of Tier X pub battles is a tricky horse to tame, in and of itself. You work all the way down a line to a powerful tank, but one that is expensive to run and doesn't generate much income. I encourage committed tankers to join organized game play where they can put everything they've learned and earned to work for them. That being said, matchmaking and balance dynamics are living conditions, meaning, constantly being worked on and constantly being reviewed. Your assertion that there are no Tier X battles or even that they aren't popular is perplexing and I would like to see whatever statistical data you are leaning on to make that case.
Players have offered solutions at various extremes
Remove arty from the game---Not Likely
Limit arty to 3 per side----Best solution WG ignores...There have been many posts addressing this but obviously it is difficult to participate in all the art threads that have been and will be created. We don't ignore this idea, in fact many of us want this but as I said there is a tech problem which we have to work through to get there.
Allow a "Buy Back" program for end tier arty, and give Free XP back to the player, and reset the arty tree from which it came.----Awesomesauce idea! I am not familiar with this suggestion but I'd like to hear more about it. PM me the details.
In reality it is WG who is making this entire ordeal difficult, because they are dealing with the problem at a snail's pace, in the meantime, the playerbase is abandoning tier 10 gameplay in droves.
I apologize for any frustrations being experienced as a result of this matchmaking issue. I think it is more complex an issue that you imply, but we have taken steps and will continue to work to improve this situation. I don't agree that the playerbase is not participating in Tier X pub battles or even that the number of participants is decreasing, again I would like to see what information is giving you this impression.