A thread on rank got me to thinking about the grind, the rank system and the (not sufficient) player base.
Here’s my thought:
The grind is a problem and rank probably makes it worse (causing many people to flock to whatever campaign/side is more likely to stomp). I could write more about this than most of you would read but the gist of it is that starting this game NOW? It would suck. I’ve been dabbling in it recently in Moscow and Berlin having completed the other 4 (x2) campaigns. It’s not often fun. Me starting totally new ~5mo after public “release” was way easier and more fun. Too many OP late level weapons for this and too few plyers that aren’t super salty old vets.
So. We want more players rather than less. But the game is nearly unapproachable for new players battling a bunch of 2+ year experienced majors with next level vehicles and weapons. Where to turn?
Maybe there could be something like leagues or seasons. Think like sports for kids or minor/major/premier leagues. You start Moscow you start where matches are people levels 1-8 (or something) and bots. After you hit a certain level (say 5) you can choose to fight up in the next level if you like or stay there UNTIL level 8. At any point you can opt to fight in “open” or “premier” but you don’t have to. After that league you advance to 9 - 16, for example… and so on. This gives you the option to fight against weapons and vehicles that are not massively OP compared to what you have. You’re also less likely to encounter sweatlords hammering on you with no shame long after the match is clear. Maybe top level requires level 20+?
My guess is there just aren’t enough players to support this but I fear that’s only going to get worse and eventually there will just be enlisted CBT players and a few others. And bots. Jumping into Normandy, Tunisia, Berlin or Moscow at level 1 as a casual player today? I don’t know who would be up for that. Not many. If you could grind some of the grind against level limited competition (by choice), perhaps there’s more traction.
That or just give everyone everything at risk of pissing a lot of people off. Or make the grind SUPER short. Otherwise it feels like a tough path for the game.
It’s not that I think it should be easy but I look at my situation - I want to play Berlin and Moscow… but it’s not much fun (at low levels). I likely won’t have time to grind enough to make it fun so I probably won’t do it. So that’s one more player not in those campaigns and eventually probably not in the game.