test content
Logo
What is the Arc Client?
Install Arc
Why DPS channel matches are better than Pugs
jjdez
Member Posts: 570 Arc User
Given the trend of late to bash the DPS crowd for whatever unwarranted reasons, I've decided to start making a list of why the DPS channels have a positive influence on those who join. I encourage others to add to this list, and provide those sitting on the fence with their opinions to the DPS community our side of the story.
1. Actual community, not happen-stance of just being on the same map for a short amount of time.
2. Positive interaction, feedback, advice, teamwork...oh and people actually reading team chat in a multiplayer game.
3. No trolls. (Or immediate and permanent removal of those found to be trolls.)
4. Politeness. For example in a DPS channel match people work together, communicate, and share respect for the fact other human beings are aiding you in your grind/progression etc. Most of the time in pugs people can't even be bothered to 'gg' at the end. They claim rewards, beaming out from the map and away from other humans as fast as possible without so much as a thanks. All the while pretending they are solely responsible for completing whatever mission, and cursing the fact they have to wait for others to play. (Or worse, depending entirely on those around them to complete the mission.)
5. They provide a source of game/technical instruction to PvE players, which the game itself does not. (courtesy of peterconnorfirst and patrickngo)
6. Provides a good build-testing environment. (courtesy of chipg7)
7. The DPS channels provide a reliable (game related) news service. (courtesy of fatman592)
8. High-quality farming. (courtesy of spaceeagle20)
9. You make friends with great competent, friendly players. (courtesy of jarvisandalfred)
10. Helps set personal goals and provides the tools needed to monitor your own person progress and growth. (courtesy of robdmc)
11. They're a source of inspiration. (courtesy of jarvisandalfred)
12. ?
*As I see more insight added in replies I'll attempt to add them to the original list here
1. Actual community, not happen-stance of just being on the same map for a short amount of time.
2. Positive interaction, feedback, advice, teamwork...oh and people actually reading team chat in a multiplayer game.
3. No trolls. (Or immediate and permanent removal of those found to be trolls.)
4. Politeness. For example in a DPS channel match people work together, communicate, and share respect for the fact other human beings are aiding you in your grind/progression etc. Most of the time in pugs people can't even be bothered to 'gg' at the end. They claim rewards, beaming out from the map and away from other humans as fast as possible without so much as a thanks. All the while pretending they are solely responsible for completing whatever mission, and cursing the fact they have to wait for others to play. (Or worse, depending entirely on those around them to complete the mission.)
5. They provide a source of game/technical instruction to PvE players, which the game itself does not. (courtesy of peterconnorfirst and patrickngo)
6. Provides a good build-testing environment. (courtesy of chipg7)
7. The DPS channels provide a reliable (game related) news service. (courtesy of fatman592)
8. High-quality farming. (courtesy of spaceeagle20)
9. You make friends with great competent, friendly players. (courtesy of jarvisandalfred)
10. Helps set personal goals and provides the tools needed to monitor your own person progress and growth. (courtesy of robdmc)
11. They're a source of inspiration. (courtesy of jarvisandalfred)
12. ?
*As I see more insight added in replies I'll attempt to add them to the original list here
Post edited by jjdez on
0
Comments
Looking for a fun PvE fleet? Join us at Omega Combat Division today.
An hour later queued up again with a PUG and blasted right through it... Weird things happen! :P
Running content with friends will always be better than running it with strangers, regardless of how you form the team. While I'm very new to the DPS Channel one thing has become very apparent... many people take their DPS runs very seriously. That's not a bad thing but also isn't the same as welcoming everyone in with a big group hug either. Also, kya... (know your acronyms... ain't nobody got time to type that stuff out lol!)
By design DPS based groups are centered around "perform at this level or GTFO"... I'm not saying that's bad but no reason to try and paint the group as anything other than a group of players who put out a minimum amount of DPS and only want to play with others who do the same.
Captain Ariel Trueheart Department of Temporal Investigations
U.S.S. Valkyrie - NCC 991701
=/\= ================================= =/\=
Indeed they certainly do, no argument there. Nor are the DPS channel members going to be perfect, mistakes happen and everyone understands. Let's also remember that DPS-Public and DPS-10,000 are very much learning channels. Once you get into 30k and up, it is an extreme rarity for opts to be failed and such.
I couldn't agree more, running missions with friends for enjoyment is the foundation behind multiplayer games. As for people taking DPS runs very seriously, yes that happens. Again more often than not in 30k and up people make it quite clear if they are there going for a record run, or just farming for loot and based off of that those involved know if they can continue watching netflix while playing, or get serious.
A lot of it is about everyone pulling their own weight. The tiers of the channels are there to provide those joining queues basic information about what they are expected to do before signing up. People with multiple toons know that the toon they are on needs to perform to the standards of the channel they 'x up' in. When it comes to perform or GTFO, yeah it sort of is, but not with any level of hostility, again it's just an easy way to have standards/expectations known. Further more, it's perform or don't sign up for that one mission in particular, but that's probably clear and I'm rambling more than need be.
The DPS limits aren't really a "do this or GTFO" until you get to the highest echelons. For the lower levels they are much more succintly....
... an IQ test.
You have to know THIS much (*holds hand out*) about how the game works to play with these people. It's a competency check, for the most part.
The difference between player 1 and player 2 in the exact same ship and the exact same build with 100% identical setups is that player 1 doesn't know what he's doing and makes 3k dps. Okay, not terrible. Let him pug. Player #2 makes 12k and knows what he's doing. Good! Let him join missions posted on DPS-10,000.
Despite some people that claim the DPS oriented players are mindless exploiters, they are not. They know how the game works and how to optimize their playing and their builds. The whole +pla console issue? It wasn't much of an issue. Before that it wasn't an issue, and now after it's been fixed, it still isn't an issue. It doesn't change the fact that you had to spend a LOT of resources to even take advantage of it, it doesn't change that you had to have a larger understanding of how things in the game interact with each other, and it doesn't change the fact that a small % of overall damage was done by the unintended results.
And... for the most part... they share this info with people that are genuinely interested in doing more damage within the game's limited mechanics.
So, sure... you can look at it as "DPS or else" -- but it's really more about competency screening so that randoms don't TRIBBLE up a run. Sometimes the point of that run is to do max DPS -- but this is noted when calling for participants.
This is something I used to say about PESTF. Sadly, that's no longer the case with PESTF. I don't think DPS-10,000 is a proper replacement for it, but it's at least another option for those looking.
Like it or not, the difficulty of post-DR advanced/elite content requires a better understanding of the game mechanics than the average casual STO player might be interested in learning. I consider myself casual player, but DR forced me to consider my build much more carefully. The DPS channels have been an extremely useful source of knowledge.
This both highlights the beauty of the DPS channels (where difficulty levels seem appropriate) and the fact that much of STO's content is probably not well matched to most players (which is also a problem IMO as it may leave many players feeling lost or frustrated with the game).
In any case, many thanks from my behalf to those to took the time/effort to create and maintain the DPS channels.
While this boggles my mind considering STO is a multiplayer game, that is entirely your choice. Good hunting.
All kidding aside, just got into the 10K channel recently. It's a great way to get a team together for a harder STF, especially if I'm online when none or few of my heavier-hitting fleetmates aren't on.
It's great for testing the DPS of builds. Hop in the channel, join up for the first Conduit run that pops up, and see how much of a difference that one swapped-in piece of equipment makes in a high-competency team.
There's also the occasional conversation going on in there about the viability of X equipment or Y trait, so it's a good way to gauge other players' opinions on the options available for your build.
You, and I believe 13 of the top 15 DPS scores currently on the ISA leaderboard, are romulan. Haha, darned romulans and their scimitards!
That said I think 2 key elephants in the room for me are; ego and the requirement to DPS.
A lot of your points argue ego isn't a factor I've found there are some that have to compare DPS or speak down to others. I won't give details but I've had people tell me how to play NWS when I beat it before them. I don't expect people to know who I am but there are those that get a kick from ordering/commanding/pushing others around depending on how you see it. Maybe some feel compelled to be the talk of DPS, that craving for attention and I don't mean trolling per say but almost arrogance borderline egocentric nature that it's their way(s) or the high way.
The other being DPS is somewhat ironic, you need a certain measure of DPS and I totally agree DPS is needed for the most part but it almost feels as though that's the sole requirement. But what puts me off is this notion I must perform this much DPS and if I don't I'm out. What if I'm a science that does half the required DPS but doubles the DPS of everyone on the team or keep them alive? What if I do 9.5K as opposed to 10K perhaps for the unlucky reason my torpedo hit a fraction after the NPC blew up?
Not to bang on about it but I first beat NWS with something like 4-5k DPS. I know that there have been players out there since that have set a certain level of DPS like 10K so even though I've beaten the event with less DPS I would otherwise be denied because I don't do the required DPS.
I guess what I'm also saying is as much as players shouldn't brand every DPSer with the same label you can't defend all DPSers either some will act as I've described and then the admins must have the task of keeping the peace of resolving the issue without feeling they msut dis out some form of penalty like suspension or ban.
I don't know what my DPS is I just know I'm good enough to do pretty much any content out there without the need to justify his DPS. I'm not sure I'm doing over 10K I've not really been one to check my DPS and when I do it's under certain conditions. I still need to upgrade my mk12 VR stuff but even if I did I'm not sure a number should be a sole requirement to join a premade group.
That said, as I've pointed out already I'm sure some channels and a lot of people are the good kind of DPSers and there's merit in promoting those channels.
As for the DPS requirements "or you're out"...well, I understand you point, but you must also understand that without any barriers to entry, there would be little difference between a DPS run and a pug.
It is true that DPS is not the only contributing factor to success...but it is the most easily measured one. You cannot measure teamwork. You cannot measure how much a sci captain contributes to team DPS. You can, however, use ISA DPS as an easily measurable and comparable benchmark. That's all there is to it.
You will invariable find notice that three is a relationship between ISA DPS and the ability of teams to complete all kinds of space content. Teams organized in the on DPS channels will easily complete most game content. Not only ISA.
However, it must also be said that currently any kind of captain/ship/build/play-style can achieve 10K dps on ISA...so I don't think that 10K channel runs are restrictive at all in terms of build/playstyle.
In any case, the DPS channels are just an option available to players. If one has no interest in joining, no one is forced to.
Or a run with their fleet friends who treat all levels of players with respect and don't resent newbies or those gearing a new toon. All the camaraderie without the high-pressure tactics.
Christian Gaming Community Fleets--Faith, Fun, and Fellowship! See the website and PM for more. :-)
Proudly F2P. Signature image by gulberat. Avatar image by balsavor.deviantart.com.
I mean, people actually read the chat (except some rare occasions), they know what they are doing and, especially, they are able to do that at high level of efficiency. In high end channels, like 50k and above, you can simply find the perfection, and in that environment you can express yourself better than any other place. Overall the teamwork is always good, like the fact of being awake, and the quick reaction about the state of the game is a symptom of an active and healthy community. Fleets and solo players can literally learn how to improve in the game only just observing and asking about builds and configurations into the chat or telling "known" players
So, don't criticize so harshly the dps guys/channels, we/they are there to give you an help if needed
Apart from that, the elitism i heard about dps channels here on the forum or from some players isn't present. On the contrary, it doesn't represent the channels, so if you find someone acting in that way, contact channel admins asap
The DPS Channels are not a substitute for a fleet and that kind of environment. I love playing with fleetmates for different reasons.
The DPS channels offer something else; the ability to quickly form groups with others with comparable DPS to yourself in order to easily complete advanced/elite game content. They also offer an interesting source of information as some of the most knowledgeable players (in terms of game mechanics) are found there.
However, if this does not appeal, no one is forced to join them. The beauty of choice.
In any case, the DPS channels are NOT characterized by "high-pressure tactics" or any lack of respect towards other players. Quite the contrary.
And that's why I phrased my post as I did. I know not everyone/channel is the bad sort and some way of evaluation is needed otherwise everyone gets in. I also never commented on any channel's specific requirements only the concept of having that single requirement which is both good but also bad. The points I made are why I'm not exactly warm to the idea of DPS channels but again I've never come out and slammed DPS channels or the players only those with an ego and attitude problem. Maybe when I feel up to updating my build I'll give the DPS channels a go but I thought I'd give the reasons why I personally have issue with the DPS channels. For the most part pugs are successful for the runs I do but they are no doubt more pug friendly.
Fair enough.
In any case, if you decide to give the channels a try, you might be surprised to find that you'll enjoy them
I recently helped a couple of fleetmates improve their build to join the 10K channel and they where both positively surprised despite initial skepticism.
I often get patch notes reported, people's reports from Tribble, new mechanics testing, assessments of new items, and more.
I have to break that statement down, of course. Because it isn't just about "oh, you silly player, you can only do 2K DPS so GTFO." It's about the reason why you're only doing 2K, and understanding why you're not ready for Advanced play. (Also, as an aside... anyone who does go into pugs and rip on other players, that's what's giving the DPS community a bad name. But I somehow doubt that's the majority, and I also doubt those players are actually part of the 'DPS community' anyways.)
If you're only pushing 2K DPS, then you're either A) a brand-new lvl50 captain, and should know you can't jump straight into Advanced, or
Advanced content is for players who have planned out their build. Not necessarily an outright min-maxing, but at least putting to use an understanding of the game mechanics and how they affect your ship's overall performance. Case in point, sure your build might be able to theoretically pump out 15K DPS, but if you haven't balanced it out with survivability you're going to be dead half the combat time, so you'll fall well short of that theoretical mark. It's not just about damage output, it's also about balancing your build overall. You only get high DPS if you're achieving that balance.
Mind you, there's nothing outright wrong with not having high DPS. If a player wants to run an RP or canonically-correct build, or fly something just because they like and enjoy it, then there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. The game allows and encourages players to play the way they want, and you're not really penalized in any way for it. But at the same time, you can't then expect that the game will allow you to play Advanced content with what is, by the core game mechanics, a sub-optimal build. You can play the game just fine, but you can't expect to play the content that explicitly calls for a well-crafted starship.
What can I say? Starfleet could learn a thing or two from the Republic Fleetyards
My pvp Rommie is in a lot of debt with his PvE Rommie bro' and his " Scimitard " lol ( well, also with his klingon ground tac bro' :cool: )
If the DPS crowd resented "newbies or those gearing a new toon" then why does DPS-Public exist? Why are there always members of DPS-50,000 and up in DPS-10,000 helping people out? High-pressure tactics aren't always the norm either, a good understanding of the mission you are queuing for is however. Shouldn't be too much to ask once people get beyond DPS-Public...I mean there are only so many missions after all.
Last Queue I ran with a team from the 10k DPS channel, I messed up big league, got wiped out and generally had a pretty bad run, so I ended up doing no more than 8k DPS...
I wasn't yelled at, I wasn't treated like an inferior player, I wasn't booted out of the channel or anything of the sort. I explained what I did, and the response was simple "No worries, we all mess up sometimes".
The claims of elitism simply aren't true from my experiences of the 10k DPS channel. As long as you understand the game, and can recognise your strengths and weaknesses, no one minds.
+1
My experiences in 10K and 30K channels have been the same.
Great example, and thanks. Not sure if it's been touched on yet or not, but there is a level of leniency to the exact numbers after a match. Do you need to get above exactly 10,000 DPS to gain entry? Yes. Do you have to do above exactly 10,000 DPS for every single run from DPS-10,000 you join? No. I believe the 10% rule has always been in effect, and even that isn't strictly enforced. The problems only arise when you join a match in say DPS-30,000, and parse doing sub-10k (just an example). Another example would be an ISA from DPS-75,000 where it's extremely unlikely everyone on the team will get above 75k for that run, but you are expected to be in the ship/setup that parsed over 75k at least the one time to grant you access to that channel.
I've gone over the more common DPS builds. They are depressingly similar, and leave no room for making an interesting looking or otherwise varied kind of ship to play,. Or varied type of playstyles for that matter. It's unfortunate that STFs do not reward a team that does anything more than take a hammer to everything.
I have no problem in Advanced with my pre-DR builds. I'm still teaming in PESTF though and that has become a problem.
I have no problem with private channels who select their members. I'm annoyed that only private channels seem to matter anymore. Talk about balkanizing your player base...
Not sure what you mean by "only private channels seem to matter anymore", can you elaborate?
+100
10 characters
I did 1k once, in a 30k group.
I suddenly lagged like crazy after the first cube/spheres were destroyed.
They found me stuck at the very edge of the map, spamming my abilities because on my end it looked like I was pressed against the gate, which was apparently destroyed a few minute prior.
They basically laughed at me and gave me their condolences.
That's a hilarious story, only because it's more than likely happened to all of us at one point in time. God bless those hamsters.
The whole idea of "Do x DPS or you're out" is wrong. More accurate would be "Consistently fail to do a suitable amount of DPS over numerous queues an you're out"
For the 50k and above channels players are expected to meet 50k each parse, but I assume they would have the same level of leeway to some degree.
I've enjoyed my experiences in the 10k DPS channel, and it's given me the push that I needed to make further progress on my ship, reputation and equipment, which is never a bad thing.
- RWJP