Hey Enlisted Community and Developers,
I wanted to open a discussion about the current Battle Rating (BR) system in Enlisted and propose an alternative that I believe could significantly improve the matchmaking experience for everyone.
Currently, our entire army’s BR is determined by the single highest BR item equipped across all our squads. This means if even one soldier has a BR 5 weapon, our entire lineup is treated as BR 5, regardless of the BRs of our other 7+ squads. While this aims to prevent “prowling,” it often leads to frustrating “uptiering” experiences, where players with mostly lower-tier gear are consistently matched against fully optimized, top-tier opponents. This can be particularly disheartening for newer players or those who enjoy experimenting with diverse loadouts.
My suggestion is to consider an Average-Based Battle Rating System. Instead of looking at the single highest BR item, the matchmaking could consider the average BR of a player’s top squads, or even the average BR of soldiers within a squad.
Here’s a simple example to illustrate:
- Current System: If I have 8 squad slots, and 7 of them are BR 2 or 3, but one squad has a BR 5 weapon, my entire army is considered BR 5. I’ll likely face other BR 5 players.
- Proposed Average System: Let’s say I have the following squad setup for my army:
- 2 Squads at BR 2
- 2 Squads at BR 3
- 2 Squads at BR 4
- 2 Squads at BR 5
The total sum of BRs is 28 ((2 x 2) + (2 x 3) + (2 x 4) + (2 x 5) = 4 + 6 + 8 + 10 = 28). With 8 squads, the average BR would be 28 ÷ 8 = 3.5.
Under this average-based system, my army would be matched into a game that better reflects its overall strength, perhaps a BR of either 3 or 4, rather than consistently a BR of 5.
Why an Average-Based BR System could be beneficial:
- More Balanced Matchmaking: It would lead to more consistently fair battles, reducing the feeling of being overwhelmed by significantly stronger opponents.
- Greater Loadout Flexibility: Players could strategically integrate a few higher-tier items into their lineup without being immediately forced into the highest BR tier, encouraging more diverse and creative loadouts.
- Improved Player Experience: This could significantly reduce frustration for newer players and those who don’t solely focus on meta builds, helping with player retention.
- Reflects Overall Army Strength: It provides a more accurate representation of a player’s entire army’s combat potential, rather than just its strongest single component.
Of course, implementing such a system would require careful consideration and balancing by the developers to prevent potential abuses (like “downtiering” by veteran players). However, the potential for a more enjoyable and balanced game experience for all players is, I believe, well worth exploring.
What are your thoughts, Enlisted community?
Do you think an average-based BR system could improve the game?
- Yes
- No