Did you play a matchmaker match? I just tried creating several maps, and they are all the same, including industrial zone, which is where I played most of my 8 or 9 matches tonight. When I made it, it was the old map. When I was stuffed into it from the matchmaker, it was different. The main difference was how wide open it was. The small doorways were big enough for a mammoth with extra room. The tunnel-trench away from the flags was gone. The two ramp-highmounts were different. One had no walls nor building, and the other was bigger with bigger walls. There were missing buildings in one of the maps, and highways was almost the same, but different. I assume other matchmaker maps are also altered. I cannot guess why, especially if player-created battles all have the old maps.

Y.R, are you for real? Your statement is not something I can understand as anything but troll-bait.

There are no ups. This is a crap system so far. Nothing good to even speculate about.

I sure hope the devs pay attention. There seem to be many heart-felt, thoughtful comments. As a legend with a fully upgraded set of my chosen equipment, I'm okay there. I never have adequate protection module, but that has been since the 12th turret was introduced. The wait times are sad. I can get over that, though. It will take some getting used to, but if it helps the game, I can live with it. However, the match making is sad right now. Legend battles were almost entirely Legend. Now? Heck I've seen Majors in with Legends so far. I tried with Ricosck, an M2 rig. (Fully upgraded Boar Kit. It was decent, but not against Legends.) I tried, but this system isn't working. I know I was only one of very many who were pushing for release of the MM, but this wasn't ready. If this is anything like what you are hoping for, then I have lost all hope. I had high hopes. Now I am just wondering if I should bother at all. I'm down to only this account. Ricosck is retired as are my other four specialized accounts (which I retired after The Great Leveling last October). The MM isn't working. Short battles are not much fun. That reset-thing it does after a few seconds, is that the battle restarting? Was I left in because I'd been in so short? If 10 minute battles are the norm now, I'm not happy. Overall, the game is totally frustrating at the moment. The map changes are a very significant frustration. As I stated before, that is dumb. It totally defeats the purpose of a test of the MM. The different maps make for instant disorientation. I doubt I'm the only legend who has every map practically memorized. I have my favorite maps absolutely memorize. I can generally drive backwards and not miss the turns. Now? Crap! The maps are different enough to mess up standard strategies and tactics. These are skills I have developed with much effort and honed to precision. They are gone. Tanki, you have repeatedly taken away my skills and made me start over. I can relearn my skills by starting over at the lowest rank. I find it only frustrating to have to start over with my fully upgraded equipment at this rank. Worse, you force it on me. I can either start relearning my strategies and tactics, starting over with trial and error, or I can quit. Damn close to quit. I keep saying it. I assume it is tiring. I keep hoping you will improve things so I don't. There has been a steady decline in the game, a steady decline in fun, but also a steady increase of frustration. I'm not yet willing to give up. I figure I can outlast one more trial of the MM, but this one was an absolute fail. Absolute crap! I cannot see how midranks are still playing.

What the crap? I have five times more mines and speeds than doubles, yet I always get mines and speeds for missions. Right now, I have two missions rewarding me 20 mines and 20 speeds. Same as nothing.

Yeah, Ricosck gave up. No fun. Only frustration.

I can't keep up with the comments. Typically, I play two accounts for 30 to 70 minutes each per day. Usually less than 90 minutes total (more on some weekends). Some days, I don't have time for more than one battle. I count on being able to get at least one mission done in less than 20 minutes. I never have problems doing that. I almost never have difficulty accomplishing all three missions in less than 45 minutes. If people think an hour for two missions is okay, well, I don't. I won't keep playing if that much time is required just to accomplish missions. Of course, if it was fun, then it wouldn't bother me. With the fun meter running less than the frustration meter, only accomplishments (and ever diminishing hope) keep me playing. I had high hopes. This first trial has crushed them.

You want thoughtful feedback. Well, read it then. I have only played two battles so far, and I'm so disappointed that I'm debating continuing. I've been on the verge of abandoning Tanki since the overdrive installation. It has been poor, occasionally barely fun, since The Great Leveling last October. This does it for me. If it doesn't get better, I can't stand it. I played two battles, DM, with the match-make on my Ricosck secondary account. Ricosck is General with M2 equipment. I entered three battles with Legends through about Colonel. I can't image how the match making system puts low M2s with full M4s. (I bailed on the first one after a few seconds to reboot. It seemed necessary, but probably wasn't.) First, why the spread? With M2 equipment, I'll admit I'm good, but up against M4s, heck, it was astonishing to me that I was able to keep my D/L above 1 in both matches. I have a first-place mission. I typically play 30 to 70 minutes on the Ricosck account each day, and I can count on a first at least once. Not against M4s, not with less than ten minutes in the battle. I was middle of the pack, but 1st is not possible in the given situation. There are no battles available in the battle list. Maybe one or two, mostly format. The ones that aren't format are Pro, so no mission accomplishment even if I get first. I didn't have any trouble getting the DM mission. I will get the kills mission with patience, but as is, I cannot hope to get the 1st place mission. That ticks me off. I never have trouble with first place missions! (Sure, I can change it, but I play for first every time. It is simply an unacceptable option to change it.) Being placed into a battle with less than half remaining is frustrating. It isn't fun. One cannot truly affect the battle with only five minutes remaining, and the crystals are hardly worth the effort. Two minutes waiting, five minutes playing, and then forced out. Not fun. Why no choice to remain? My first request for the battles queue is options. If I have to get shoved into random battles, can I at least have battles with more than 10 minutes remaining? I can see the default being first-available-battle, but can't I have an option to set an option that bypasses me in the queue if a five-minutes-battle opens? Can I set an option to not join battles with isida? (Isida stink--make it hard to breathe. Heck, isida alone is almost enough to make me abandon Tanki.) Now, my big gripe has nothing to do with matchmaking system, which is part of why it is such a big gripe: Why the hell did you change the maps for this experiment!!!?!?!!! First rule of test: Change as little as possible to isolate the effect being tested! Crap guys. This is dumb. Seriously dumb. Brain-dead dumb. I gave up hope that you care what we think, but you cannot be thinking at all when you change the maps for the test! As a General with M2 equipment fighting M4s, I was already at a severe disadvantage. With new maps that I do not know, heck, why bother. Seriously. Do you actually want all the experienced players to leave? Is it only the newbies that give you any hope? I'm going to play some more, with Ricosck and with my regular Dad account. As a full M4, I'll be at no disadvantage, perhaps I will get to bully M2s myself. (Not fun, really, but good for the D/L.) I'll still be trying to back around corners that aren't there, trying to dodge behind cover that isn't there, and wondering why the narrow doorway is now wide enough for three tanks. It is crap! I really cannot believe you changed the maps for this test. It really is stupid. Stupid is as stupid does, and I cannot imagine a more unjustifiable change to the game for testing the new matchmaking system. It seems to me you have chosen certain problems to fix, and you are focusing on those problems at the expense of all else. The game is no longer fun. That is your biggest problem. That is what you need to fix. I'll write more after I play more.

Another example of the futility of the game is it is: I just completed a 15 minute standard CP battle where I held the highest score throughout the match, for both teams. Overall, the teams seemed fairly even, but the other team got ahead, and my team never had a chance. We fought well. But nothing could overcome the deficit. The system now is mostly luck. I say that as a skilled player who consistently proves it on the leader board. Skill doesn't matter.

Fare well, sir. Best wishes.

Worst aspect of game: Isida. Crap: Overdrive.

Troll.

How the hell are you devs pretending anything is better? The overdrive is total crap! Overdrive, a couple of isidas, and a magnum or two make a team unbeatable if it gets ahead. It is essentially lost with the first flag behind.

Useful information from Hazel-Rah, via Maf translation/summary. Tanki Online Forum → General → Game Discussion Summary of the Russian (unofficial) stream with Hazel http://en.tankiforum.com/index.php?showtopic=360955&p=6239513 Much appreciation, Maf. I'm not liking the changes still, mostly because I believe it will be several months of frustration before getting good again. I still see Fortuna as the only power in the game right now. Skill hardly matters. I'm not seeing how the hull overdrives help in the stated objectives. I see how HTML5 helps. I'm skeptical but hopeful the matchmaking will help, but much of what is going on doesn't seem to get where Tanki says it is going. What hurts is knowing the changes that made me mediocre were done on purpose, and I wasn't told why. For new players, the only initial disadvantage is to high-experience players starting over. I did that back when the game was interesting with all the combos more unique. I would point out to players that I was experienced, and they should have less trouble against most. I would offer tips. I'd strongly encourage turning turret. (I knew one Legend who played rather well, but never turned his turret. He once mentioned a hand injury, but I figured with the Rico, he was simply good enough to never need to turn his turret. He'd have been much better had he learned.) My point is, new players need guidance. Perhaps there is no practical way to do so, but new M0s playing experienced M0s don't make for much disadvantage. I suppose by M2s, there can be some significant differences, especially for experienced players starting over. I'll admit Ricosck has an odd advantage. I started that account solely intending to prove how good ricochet can be. I bought ricochet as soon as possible and Viking with M1. I spent no cash on that account, and saved crystals. I had plenty when the opportunity came to buy the Boar Kit on sale. I've had that rig ever since and never been short of crystals. The dictator-ricochet combination was exceptionally effective, and MUs kept it leading until Lt-General rank. As a full General now, the M2 equipment is a bit frustrating. However, I have a good portion of crystals laid in, and when the rank comes, the MUs will follow in short order. So, yes, players at General with only that much experience have a significant disadvantage against me, with better equipment and 4-million experience. Of course, Ricosck faces mostly high M3s now. That is also a disadvantage. Note, I spend no cash on Ricosck. He just isn't quite as successful when the supplies run out. (Usually just the repair kits. The missions lately have been more than adequate for other supplies. Maybe I stick it out, but my average expenditure on the game has fallen each month since last October. I have no incentive to spend cash. Part of that is being Legend now. Part of it is not really wanting different equipment. I'm in no hurry add to my several turrets, and there really are only two hulls at the moment. Viking is what nearly everyone should use for nearly all playing style and situation. Titan is the backup when the extra 1000 hit points matter. In my opinion, the only reason anyone uses other hulls is because they don't have Viking. (Of course, some like the little hulls, but most respawn to much to convince me they wouldn't change if someone game them a fully MUd Viking.) I'm not convinced the seven "overdrives" will have me wanting a different hull. I bet my main rig stays Viking-twins. I was one of the low-dollar monthly players, but not now. I usually bought at Christmas. Perhaps I will this year if I see enough improvement. As to players becoming discouraged, I expect it is irrelevant to most, but some players pay attention to the efficiency rating. That is a very discouraging thing. I play hard every day and lose a place or two every day. Others sit in the top 100 having been inactive for at least two weeks. I think it would help if the efficiency rating factored average time per day (a little), daily play (a little more), and not playing should figure negatively after a few days. I think that would help encourage new players with aspirations.

Something is wrong. Client won't load. Laggin, draggin in the browser. Unplayable. Something is wrong. I figured I should try a reboot. Things seemed normal after restart.

There is no substitute for hours. Upgrades are not the key to getting good; time playing any paying attention is the key. Figure out what you like, and figure out what works for you. Play, and when in an empty, or near-empty battle, drive around and practice. Memorize the maps. Perfect your jumps. Pick targets and hit the same spot over and over while driving or circling. I strongly encourage aggressive play. It is fun, and there is no penalty. Respawning doesn't hurt. (Spawn, kill, repeat!) Learn not to bump teammates. Also, plasma (twins and ricochet) does not pass through teammates like other shots tend to (assuming normal friendly fire turned off). Don't annoy your teammates with your shots. Make your shots count. Play daily. Accomplish at least one mission daily. You will advance at least as fast as your skills. Always work on your skills, not your crystal, not your garage.

I know haters gonna hate, but no matter how good I am, the game is hard and frustrating. It just isn't fun. I can lead the team, and we can win in a well contested battle, but it still isn't fun. There are too many factors that just amount to chance. It is like playing chess where your every other move is determined by a roll of dice. No matter how good you are, you get nowhere. Tanki, how did you do that? How did you manage to make it where the most skilled players cannot count on any strategy or tactic? Nothing works consistently. We used to have unique equipment that we could choose depending on our style and objectives. Now, the twins still let me brawl (after you forced me to fork over the crystals for the alteration to restabilize my plasma and not blow myself up more than anything), but it is a sluggish brute that has none of the finesse I used to have mastered. Same for smoky. Same for rail. Their uniqueness and difficulties were so beautiful, so hard, yet once mastered, so glorious! XP, the choir of rails, yes? Not any more. Now, it is run and gun and hide. Anyone can do it. No one can master it well enough to count on tactics and skill most of the time. More often than not, it is just a matter of luck. Sure, skill improves chances, but when Fortuna is the only power in the game, we are all frustrated at her capricious whim. At least there is this: Let yourself luxuriate in the Fantasy in C.

I use the client. I still have to close and reenter a battle once or twice per hour. I notice no pattern. Just now, I froze the client in the battle screen, with the missions dialog open. I clicked "Change" and it locked. Had to exit and reenter.

Before The Great Leveling most everything was unique. There were reasons to put up with the low health of the wasp. The hunter had advantages over the viking, but the viking was immensely more responsive and nimble. In general, a smoky would be better on hunter than viking, unless he was the sort that flourished on the hornet. Ricochet and twins were better on the viking. After The Great Leveling, all that ended. We went to three hulls and short range turrets and long range turrets, with twins and smoky stuck in between. It took me months to adjust to the sluggish limitations they imposed on the viking and on the twins. The smoky was too sad for me to continue with my alt-account for smoky-hunter. I did enjoy Tanki while it was enjoyable, before The Great Leveling. I was getting some of it back, then the recent changes, culminating in this. It is sad. One in ten battles are contests. Most are beat-downs, one side or the other. Being on the losing side is crappy, but being on the winning side isn't any fun. Judging from the lack of competition in DMs, it sure seems to me the good players are gone, or playing a lot less. I suspect the comments claiming drug use is down are simply trolling. I've seen an astonishing and obvious increase in supplies use, especially the repair kit, which rarely seems to help anyone. About the only time it does is when overdrive kicked, but failed the heal, then the repair kits does enough to outlast the opponent. I think hulls were unique before The Great Leveling. I have no idea why they reduced the hulls to three. I don't really think "class" makes sense with overdrive. It certainly doesn't make sense as it has been.

Well, I had a few crystals saved up. With the sale, I initiated some MUs. I noticed it will be a full two weeks before they are all done. Any guess on matchmaking system roll-out? The vlog implies it is urgent and imminent. The urgency of it seems to be weighing on all the devs and the vlog participants. I don't doubt that, but is it imminent? Are we waiting a few days, a few weeks, or a few months? I know you can't promise, but it sure seems close enough for a ROM-SWAG. (rough order of magnitude scientific wild ass guess)

This vlog was discouraging. As a viking-twins, I scoff at the assertion that short-range turrets benefit from the repair kit change. I scoff at the assertions that repair kit requires skill now. All I see is more supplies use and constant waste of repair kit. Hunting shafts has always been one of my favorite activities in Tanki. The repair kit change has made it harder, not easier.

http://en.tankiforum.com/index.php?showtopic=348941&p=6227427

Thank you, Sergeant808, I think anyone looking can find use in that. I note K/D from 27 to 0.8. Hmm... I notice hours from zero to thousands. (I assume they need very little sleep.) Mostly, I think folks with little or no playing time in the most recent three or four weeks shows something wrong with the rating system, especially with little or no playing time in a year.

Oh, and I have premium. I bought the 90-day premium after they made the daily reward so great. That boosts my exp/cry over those without. Examining the top 100, premium flag is rare. Do they have it turned off to not show? I suspect most leave it showing. Still, having the advantage of premium, I drop in the rankings from day to day. Since I'll not be spending more money on the game, I guess I'll drop faster when my premium expires in a couple of days. Oh well. Too tedious since this last update anyway.

Why does a player playing 40 to 90 minutes a day (me) keep dropping in the rating? As well as I can tell, I'm having as much success as what got me in the top 1000 to begin with. I was ~970th when I ranked to Legend. I've fallen every time I've checked since. 1066th as I write. The conversion of the repair kit to a worthless placebo has mattered a little, but I'm still tending to be first or second for my team, or in the top three for DM. What makes me drop? Is it because my team sometimes loses and I get few crystals? Is the rating primarily telling us who is good picker for winning teams? I note a player in the top 100 who plays 6 to 8 hours per day. Why is he not in the top three? Again, is it because he isn't always on the winning side? I suppose three or more skype-linked players (from a clan or otherwise used to working together) will boost their team's likelihood of winning. That is likely good for rating. (But that is kinda discouraging for a lone-wolf like myself.) Why are there players in the top few who seem to be inactive, playing little or not at all? I think the rating system is not very representative. I think it is a joke that inactive players don't drop out of the top-100 after two or three weeks of inactivity.