Hi, in this thread I'll be advocating for suspect test qualification reform. I will be focusing largely on the process as it pertains to OU, but ultimately is applicable to other tiers should they find this suitable. Currently, OU sets a benchmark of a requisite elo & gxe, such as you've seen in the ongoing tera blast test. When you meet this threshold, you earn the right for your singular vote in the suspect test. I am proposing that there be different tiers of qualification, awarding different values of points based on the merit of your qualification. Suspects would use points instead of votes, and the threshold for results would be based on the % of points allocated towards a certain result, instead of the current system, being the % of singular votes allocated towards a result. I'll use the current OU suspect test as an example:
In the current system, 1750 elo & 80 gxe earns you the right to a vote. Everyone's vote is then tallied. 60% of votes to get a result, you know the deal. In my proposed system, there would be 3 tiers of qualification: tier 1 would earn you 1 point, tier 2 would earn you 2 points, and tier 3 would earn you 3 points. Tier 1 would require the normal 1750 elo & 80 gxe. Tier 2 would require 1850 elo & 82 gxe. Tier 3 would require 1950 elo & 84 gxe. The total summation of points is tallied, and 60% of that is required for a result. It's a bit backwards for me to be explaining the system before explaining the problems that I'm trying to address, so I'll now get into that.
If you have remotely played in bigger smogon tournaments or otherwise spend time in spaces with tournament players, you will absolutely have heard the notion that suspect tests are too easy. It's the notion that we, communally, are giving votes to people who realistically do not understand the tier on a level that actually qualifies them to make decisions about it. On the flip side, you absolutely have people who feel they deserve to be heard and not have reqs be absurdly difficult. The problem of course is that "absurdly difficult" is relative. I find myself at an impasse where I empathize with both parties. I agree that reqs should be an accessible challenge. That being said, I also agree that an SPL player who easily breezes through reqs at 34-2 should not be withheld to having their vote measured the same as billybob96, who qualified after 400 games, and realistically does not understand the metagame at (what more elite players would consider) a reputable level. My solution splits the difference here. It keeps reqs just as accessible for players who are not amazing but can hold their own. It also gives structure to the (imo) 100% true notion that better players SHOULD have more sway in the tiering of a tier. It does this without removing the aforementioned players from the equation. People have theorized solving this issue and it's always so one dimensional: increase elo & gxe to a length some would otherwise find absurd. This foregoes that while giving them a tangible reward in lieu of what they're seeking. It doesn't ruin the experience for players worse than them, and frankly if anything gives them something more to strive for & grow with.
There's more besides the core rationale seen above as to benefits of this proposal, imo. I'm going to split them up a bit for the sake of readability. For one, it can help shape the opinion of players further by having a reason to play more games vs better opponents. This doesn't become a required extra grind for players seeking a vote, since the base requisite for a vote still remains. Another reason that is parallel to this one is that it will absolutely create growth in the overall skill of players. You are giving them more to strive for, without making it required but also putting reward behind it, and thus there's a reason to struggle and improve. This isn't at all "why" you'd implement this reform, but it's certainly imo a cool indirect benefit of it. Smogon would absolutely benefit from this, and in the most immediate sense with respects to subforum discussion threads.
Another more direct benefit involves an element we're all familiar with, that there are people who seek out reqs strictly for the coveted tiering contributor badge. This is common & visible in lower tiers but obviously happens in OU as well, given size & visibility. These folks would still get there baseline reqs for the tier 1 qualification, but their vote would not impact the results as much as the diehards who will strive for tier 2/3. This is an immensely useful benefit imo, as this has been a complaint that has been lambasted for eons on this website by mainers of respective tiers holding a suspect. Like the situation a few paragraphs above, it respects both sides of the coin at the same time. It gives accessibility while giving the grinders something to feel content about in regards to their investment. A last very minor benefit is that it will definitely increase ladder play statistics, however much we care about those these days.
There are a few things to clean up about this before I click "post thread." For one, I would want to make it as easy on the verifying staff as possible. Users would be able to submit ONE suspect alt verification image. Having someone post a tier 1, strive for tier 2, and then fall below tier 1 permanently sounds like a nightmare. Asking staff to verify your post before you continue laddering is also a massive timesuck, especially in OU. Overall, it's something the player would have to be accountable for. Another element to clean up is that I would not want to make the tech guys job too difficult, but I imagine this could be reasonably solved. Let me know if I am incorrect. I also think it's very tunable, meaning that you can set the 3 tiers to whatever the hell you want. I think what I provided works well for OU, but UU & so on of course would have to adopt a different method should they find this acceptable. Anyway, that is it for now i think. I wrote this hella on a whim, so i'll edit in more/make another post should I consider it too relevant to ignore.
edit: the amounts of elo/inclusion of gxe even in ou is of course negotiable. i think 3 tiers works best, though. 2 feels too few, 4 too hectic and overbearing.
In the current system, 1750 elo & 80 gxe earns you the right to a vote. Everyone's vote is then tallied. 60% of votes to get a result, you know the deal. In my proposed system, there would be 3 tiers of qualification: tier 1 would earn you 1 point, tier 2 would earn you 2 points, and tier 3 would earn you 3 points. Tier 1 would require the normal 1750 elo & 80 gxe. Tier 2 would require 1850 elo & 82 gxe. Tier 3 would require 1950 elo & 84 gxe. The total summation of points is tallied, and 60% of that is required for a result. It's a bit backwards for me to be explaining the system before explaining the problems that I'm trying to address, so I'll now get into that.
If you have remotely played in bigger smogon tournaments or otherwise spend time in spaces with tournament players, you will absolutely have heard the notion that suspect tests are too easy. It's the notion that we, communally, are giving votes to people who realistically do not understand the tier on a level that actually qualifies them to make decisions about it. On the flip side, you absolutely have people who feel they deserve to be heard and not have reqs be absurdly difficult. The problem of course is that "absurdly difficult" is relative. I find myself at an impasse where I empathize with both parties. I agree that reqs should be an accessible challenge. That being said, I also agree that an SPL player who easily breezes through reqs at 34-2 should not be withheld to having their vote measured the same as billybob96, who qualified after 400 games, and realistically does not understand the metagame at (what more elite players would consider) a reputable level. My solution splits the difference here. It keeps reqs just as accessible for players who are not amazing but can hold their own. It also gives structure to the (imo) 100% true notion that better players SHOULD have more sway in the tiering of a tier. It does this without removing the aforementioned players from the equation. People have theorized solving this issue and it's always so one dimensional: increase elo & gxe to a length some would otherwise find absurd. This foregoes that while giving them a tangible reward in lieu of what they're seeking. It doesn't ruin the experience for players worse than them, and frankly if anything gives them something more to strive for & grow with.
There's more besides the core rationale seen above as to benefits of this proposal, imo. I'm going to split them up a bit for the sake of readability. For one, it can help shape the opinion of players further by having a reason to play more games vs better opponents. This doesn't become a required extra grind for players seeking a vote, since the base requisite for a vote still remains. Another reason that is parallel to this one is that it will absolutely create growth in the overall skill of players. You are giving them more to strive for, without making it required but also putting reward behind it, and thus there's a reason to struggle and improve. This isn't at all "why" you'd implement this reform, but it's certainly imo a cool indirect benefit of it. Smogon would absolutely benefit from this, and in the most immediate sense with respects to subforum discussion threads.
Another more direct benefit involves an element we're all familiar with, that there are people who seek out reqs strictly for the coveted tiering contributor badge. This is common & visible in lower tiers but obviously happens in OU as well, given size & visibility. These folks would still get there baseline reqs for the tier 1 qualification, but their vote would not impact the results as much as the diehards who will strive for tier 2/3. This is an immensely useful benefit imo, as this has been a complaint that has been lambasted for eons on this website by mainers of respective tiers holding a suspect. Like the situation a few paragraphs above, it respects both sides of the coin at the same time. It gives accessibility while giving the grinders something to feel content about in regards to their investment. A last very minor benefit is that it will definitely increase ladder play statistics, however much we care about those these days.
There are a few things to clean up about this before I click "post thread." For one, I would want to make it as easy on the verifying staff as possible. Users would be able to submit ONE suspect alt verification image. Having someone post a tier 1, strive for tier 2, and then fall below tier 1 permanently sounds like a nightmare. Asking staff to verify your post before you continue laddering is also a massive timesuck, especially in OU. Overall, it's something the player would have to be accountable for. Another element to clean up is that I would not want to make the tech guys job too difficult, but I imagine this could be reasonably solved. Let me know if I am incorrect. I also think it's very tunable, meaning that you can set the 3 tiers to whatever the hell you want. I think what I provided works well for OU, but UU & so on of course would have to adopt a different method should they find this acceptable. Anyway, that is it for now i think. I wrote this hella on a whim, so i'll edit in more/make another post should I consider it too relevant to ignore.
edit: the amounts of elo/inclusion of gxe even in ou is of course negotiable. i think 3 tiers works best, though. 2 feels too few, 4 too hectic and overbearing.
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