Upcoming Matchmaking Changes

We have been working on a number of changes to the matchmaking system in the game which we hope will fix some weaknesses in the system that have been getting exploited in addition to providing better matchups for players on a more consistent basis.

We currently plan to implement these changes on Wednesday, October 16th, which is right at the beginning of the next ranked play season.

Handling "Alt" Accounts in Matchmaking

We are aware of an issue where certain players have been taking advantage of the fact that there are not a lot of people playing at all levels at all times and were able to repeatedly and consistently match up against certain other accounts. This allowed them to choose which account would win or lose in order to artificially inflate the ratings of their accounts and therefore the rewards earned. In some cases this was intentional and in other cases not, but either way it was all within the rules of the system.

Ultimately, the best solution to matchmaking is to get more players, which is what we are actively working on as our primary focus at the moment (more on that soon). Until then, we plan to implement the following changes to help address the issue under the current conditions.

Going forward, the Splinterlands team will be actively working to identify any accounts which are repeatedly and consistently matching up against certain other accounts (whether intentionally or not) and/or purposely losing or surrendering matches with the goal of artificially inflating their ratings and rewards. We will be looking for multiple accounts run by a single player as well as "rings" of separate players working together.

Whenever we identify such activity, we will act as an oracle and publish the list of account names to the blockchain so that the matchmaking system can use it and avoid matching these accounts together in the future.

We want to be clear that there is no issue with people playing multiple accounts, just as long as they are played fairly and are earning their ratings and rewards by defeating real opponents rather than by taking advantage of a current weakness in the system. Additionally we want to be clear that the only thing that will happen to accounts that are identified as belonging to the same person or group is that they will no longer be matched together. This includes ranked battles as well as in the first/qualifier rounds of tournaments (when it can be avoided).

We also encourage (though certainly not required) anyone using multiple accounts to volunteer to have those account names be recorded so that the matchmaking system will know not to match them together.

We understand that this adds an element of centralization to the game, which goes against our overall mission, however our hope and expectation is that this will only be temporary. We will monitor the situation on an ongoing basis and as soon as we feel that there are enough players playing in all leagues at all times of day then we will discontinue this system.

Removing Guild-Based Restrictions

One good thing to come out of this, other than reducing matchmaking irregularities, is that after these changes are put into effect we can remove the temporary restriction that had been put into place preventing members of the same guild from matching up against each other. So, in the near future you can all go back to beating up on your guildmates! Trash talking in guild chat is highly encouraged.

Inter-League Matchups

The final update to the matchmaking system in the game for now deals with allowing matchups between players in different leagues.

Currently players are only matched with opponents in their same league (i.e. Bronze, Silver, Gold, Diamond/Champion). This causes a situation where when players first move up into a new league they end up facing much higher rated players, often with higher level cards, making it overly difficult to move up. This has been referred to as "Diamond Hell" by some of our players as it is most noticeable when moving from the Gold to the Diamond league.

Going forward, players will be matched up with the available opponent closest to themselves in rating, even if they are in different leagues, but no more than one league tier apart. In this case both players will be subject to the level caps of the highest rated player. So that means that if a Gold I player is matched with a Diamond III player, both players will be able to use max level cards in the match.


Stay tuned for more updates from the Splinterlands!

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You can take note of my 4 accounts as well as my relatives
@sirtorito
@sirtorito2
@gaarakazekage
@sirhenderson
Family or relatives:
@rubenolmosg
@annaolmos
@josemar
@frangel
@neltito

@bji1203 is not mine nor do I have a direct relationship, but if they don't let me pair with her I would be happy lol

We also encourage (though certainly not required) anyone using multiple accounts to volunteer to have those account names be recorded ...

Just record/link me, @jaki01, together with @kobold-djawa (my wife). Most of the time I use to play with both accounts at the same time, not with the aim to play against each other but just to save time (it's much faster to start them parallelly instead of consecutively when doing the quests). Good if the system prevents them to play against each other.

Removing Guild-Based Restrictions

That sounds really good, because I like to be matched with many different great players (even if then I might lose more often) to learn and have fun.
Recently, being member of the "Immortal Gods" meant to be excluded from matches against nearly half of all top players ...

Fascinating. I look forward to seeing how these changes shake out.

Fascinating. I
Look forward to seeing how
These changes shake out.

                 - mattclarke


I'm a bot. I detect haiku.

Perhaps I will be the first to admit.
@cranium
@prettysnake
@andruto
@koment
@komentator

You are @prettysnake good to know :-)

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We also encourage (though certainly not required) anyone using multiple accounts to volunteer to have those account names be recorded so that the matchmaking system will know not to match them together.

Ok, all these accounts are my alts, especially these from top10:

lol 😂

I really loved the fact not to play against your own guild friends - Why changing this ? Btw @jaki01 - best or most cool players are in the one and only "Legendary Dragons" team 😁 - #justsaying

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I really loved the fact not to play against your own guild friends ...

Even if you are obviously kidding ("Legendary Dragons" and "best" in the same sentence, are you sure?:), I have to say that my 'friend' is the whole Steem Monsters community (you know: thinking globally not locally), and I love to play against (and learn from) any player (and any spreadsheet) around. :-)

Agree on gloal approach of community friends - rguild you will see in future :-)

even if they are in different leagues, but no more than one league tier apart. In this case both players will be subject to the level caps of the highest rated player. So that means that if a Gold I player is matched with a Diamond III player, both players will be able to use max level cards in the match.

I think most gold league players don't have diamond level decks, so it doesn't solve the problem. It can be helpful only at the beginning of the season.

Most Diamond III players also don't have diamond level decks, especially later in the seasons. That's why "diamond hell" exists. Just because someone makes it from Gold I to Diamond III doesn't mean their cards all the sudden got better. If they do have high level decks, then they will quickly move up and no longer be ranked with gold players, otherwise they'll remain with a more level playing field.

That's not true Matt. There are many players who rank up and then back down deliberately to "camp" in lower leagues to literally make life hell for other players. They do this to beat up on people with lower capped cards, and some of those accounts belong to many bot owners and Mavs. It's a blight on the game that this continues to take place and is allowed to continue as a feature of the game. The caps should be lowered to the correct level of the leagues when players move back down. I hope you realise how much of a horrible experience it is for lower league players and newbies who have to deal with this on a daily basis when trying to complete quests. It's called deliberate and manipulated hell, which means that ELO ratings are irrelevant in many cases.

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yep , you are right ..

Indeed. This might make life harder for Gold 3 players rather than easier for Diamond 1 players

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Those last paragraphs are really great news! Curious to see how will it work out, but will probably make climbing up the ranks a lot more fun!

This is awesome. I always get annoyed when I am running through the daily quests with my wife's account and my account and they end up getting matched against each other. I think it is funny that some people take advantage of it when I just wish it would stop!

I would prefer not to be matched against my own accounts. Lately it's not been happening. I think the matching code it working.

I play on 3 accounts, but I have at least 2 others with steemmonsters cards.
My 3 playing accounts are
@kennybot
@kgroup
@kstarter
I am still playing the game daily and still having fun.
Best wishes in all your battles!