Before i start, congratulations to Gorge Busters on their well deserved win. They were the toughest team we had faced in Season 2 period.

Now on to my problem. Our first match was played on a Euro server. Since this was a Euro vs US game we had to alternate. In my opinion this swayed the game in the other teams favor and i believe gave them an unneeded advantage. Below are pics taken from the SM vs GB game streamed by Vindalo (http://www.twitch.tv/vindalo0/b/478567089). Due to the image quality i will type out the pings in the image. These were only taken when i saw the caster check the scores. I did not watch the entire stream to find the best pings for my argument.

*Disclaimer pings can fluctuate up and down 5 and did, generally up.*

Game 1 (Euro Server London)- http://imgur.com/1UXDV47

SM:
-Ralcor Ping - 163
-Rising Ping - 142
-Curry Ping - 160
-HaWpr Ping - 144
-Chester Ping - 104
-HummingBird Ping - 113

GB:
-Maxamus Ping - 40
-East Ping - 36
-Prommah Ping - 18
-Roobubba Ping - 24
-Freevoi Ping - 19
-SolidAfroninja Ping - 32

Game 2 (US server East)- http://imgur.com/Nslz37s

SM:
-Ralcor Ping - 99
-Rising Ping - 61
-Curry Ping - 99
-HaWpr Ping - 61
-Chester Ping - 37
-HummingBird Ping - 36

GB:
-Maxamus Ping - 106
-East Ping - 93
-Prommah Ping - 92
-Roobubba Ping - 111
-Freevoi Ping - 93
-SolidAfroninja Ping - 126

For those that didn't see the match, the first 2 rounds were played on the Euro server and was 2-0 GB. Pretty easy game for them. Rounds 3-4 were played on the east coast server went 2-0 SM and was hard fought LONG games. Both teams made mistakes and awesome plays. Round 5 should have went back to the Euro server but SM pressed for East for fairness. Round 5 was played on the same East server and again it was another close hard fought game. GB pulled out the win to take the total victory 3-2.

My question is no matter where the server is located why is it allowed to have a 100 ping difference between 4-5 players on each team when there is an option available where both teams can have better ping? Even on the east coast server we had 2 west coasters that had worse ping than 3 on the other team in Europe. I would like a rule added that quantifies the amount of players sampled (all the worse cases) and the amount of ping differential allowed.

I.E
3-4 players from each team with the worst ping. Either add them together and subtract the value from the other teams worst 3-4 pings to find an acceptable range

or

Ping by ping comparison: Worst 3-4 players pings against the other teams 3-4 worst pings. Each is subtracted against the other. If there is half or more of the sampled values above say 75 another server is chosen.

It could also be done with the 2 lowest and 2 highest to remain fair if one or two teammates have near lan ping ( < 20).

Values will have to be chosen with care by the admins and of course deemed fair by the players, but something needs to change. Thank you all for your time.

This topic has come up a lot. It's certainly not the first time we've seen it.

Season 3 Rules

Server location can either be home/away format. Where each team can use a server from their region for one of the two maps, which must also be chosen to minimize ping for the other team. Or you can agree on a middleground server for all the maps.

In theory, you guys could agree to play all maps on east coast server... but that would require the other team to agree to it.


On one hand, if your NA 'home' game gets played on an east coast server but you're west coast, you could very well have a ping that is higher than some of the Euros. So should you be able to play your games on a central US server?

And what about the Euros? Should they be forced to use a London server if your team wants to use a central US server? Couldn't they then decide they wanna play on the Frankfurt server?

I know when EO played OmNom, OmNom agreed to play all the games on an East coast server because EO is mostly west coast. It was really considerate of them and nice to see happen.


We should come to an agreement before next season to determine what is most fair, even if that means leaving the rules how they are.

So this is interesting. Personally I believe that home & away matches are BS and that all matches should be played on the server with the most even ping. Unfortunately for Australians, that means our 180-220 ping vs the US pings of 30-80. But for vsing EU players, its 200-200 on a west coast server. Perfect.

I don't think you need to have a rule set in place that figures out what the best server is with maths. I do think however, that it needs to be based on ping differential because it does make a difference in the game.

NA East 1 and 2 were already in use by the time this match started. 2 East servers isn't going to cut it.

I'd like to say first really well played to SM in the last 3 rounds: they really pushed us to the wire and took some great victories on Biodome.

The pings you guys had on the first map (tram) on the UK server were definitely not ideal, and it really is a bit unfair. I feel bad for you guys - we were perfectly happy to play east coast (in fact most of us expected that and were practising our high ping play beforehand), but as Sars said there weren't any east coast servers available as there were 3 EU/US games concurrently taking up both NA East 1 & 2.

While the commentary from vindaloo and sohma might have had a ring of truth (it seemed that you guys *really* warmed up by the 3rd round!), I cannot deny that ping played its part, and that is definitely something that needs to be addressed.

The matches on the East coast server were really close (people should check out vindaloo's twitch stream if you're interested in watching some close games!). Really well played, Silvermoon!

Something i should have made clearer is i am in no way blaming Gorge Busters or the refs. You guys were awesome. I just think a rule should be in place to prevent such a ping difference from happening. Now if it exists and is identified, then let the teams agree knowing full well it's going to suck.

@Seb I totally agree. Aussie teams know this pain best and i probably wouldn't have even posted if not for a close 2-3 loss. It needs to be addressed.

@Sars I wish we could have waited or there were more servers available, but that is the problem playing US vs Euro. We were trying to start ASAP so we could get the games completed by a decent hour.

@Roo Our first round on marines was ROUGH lol. As you said we were warming up and you guys played really well. I don't think the ping played as big of a part as it did in round 2. Round 2 as aliens it was like you guys were gods and psychic. Nothing missed and we couldn't engage without you guys always having first crack. It was awful and i hope in the future we can avoid this without a ref having to think about it. Past a certain threshold the game should just be delayed or rescheduled. Btw, the sneaky crevice cyst chain in round 5 still haunts my dreams haha and sorry from for hunting you down in crevice as fade :P i knew i got you low and I'm stubborn haha, no one else on my tam gave a crap.

@Rising: no worries, it didn't come across like you were blaming anyone! That was prommah's fade in crevice in round 5, and I think he's still having nightmares about that. We couldn't get healed and turn around quick enough to help him out of there, and it was a good take-down - the casters caught it (sorry prom!).

Sensible topic, sensible discussion, all it needs is a sensible reply from the sensible admins to look at this situation and comment if they are going to change / keep the rules the same.

Textbook forum thread.

I am ever watching and will do my best to formulate rules addressing this issue in the coming weeks after this season is complete. For now, my suggestion is to find a middle ground for ping, and if that isn't possible, play the home and away format within reason.

Don't "Hugh" us Zefram. I have too much respect for you lol. Would you like help if we can as a community word the rules properly here? If so, any parameters you would like?

RisingSun

Don't "Hugh" us Zefram. I have too much respect for you lol.

What does that mean?

The rules are not going to be changed until after this season is over. That was pretty clear. Zefram isn't just putting us off. I trust that he'll address the issue.

Decoy

What does that mean?

The rules are not going to be changed until after this season is over. That was pretty clear. Zefram isn't just putting us off. I trust that he'll address the issue.

Wait... it was clear? Like when he said "addressing this issue in the coming weeks after this season is complete. "? Im just teasing :) no need to beat my up decoy :( plz.

It's clear your defeat and this post sequence is nothing but an elaborate scheme to prove soz's predictions wrong. You guys are so transparent.

Iots

It's clear your defeat and this post sequence is nothing but an elaborate scheme to prove soz's predictions wrong. You guys are so transparent.

It's true :( got me. No need to fear the Dark Horse anymore :P We have been put down.