If you don’t have fixed gaming partners, you have to approach the team modes in Fortnite: Battle Royale solo or in a team of random players. A random team? It probably won’t be that bad, thought our author Robert. But he should be mistaken. A report on experience.
Generally, I avoid playing Fortnite: Battle Royale with randomly selected players. Considering the dozens of play styles and tactical nuances, it is nearly impossible to find a complete team that harmonizes with one’s own play style. When an aggressive player encounters three defensively playing players, the chances of success are low.
Now my absolute favorite mode – “Pure Gold” – was active, but my fixed gaming partner was not online. I play the mode alone as well, but since I still had a few challenges to complete that need to be done in a team, I took the plunge into the cold water and completed about 20 games with randomly assigned players.
To put it positively: It was an interesting experience. But always in order.
Fortnite, or: The Enemy in My Bedroom
Joyfully, I start the player search in the “Pure Gold” mode. The loading screen hasn’t even disappeared when a full-fledged argument between two children reaches my ears. Admittedly, my Spanish is a bit rusty – but I undoubtedly witnessed an argument. Probably over the controller (or whatever children argue about).
The deafening noise persisted throughout the entire match. I seem to remember that a third voice joined the “conversation”, but it could also have been my ringing ears.
To my shame, I must admit that it took three complete games before I realized that individual players can mute themselves. Until then, I had to endure tirades in French, Italian, and English. Needless to say, we were not remotely successful in any of the rounds.
Occasionally, the verbal battles were countered by annoyed other players – I do not wish to quote the non-youth-friendly language here. After I finally figured out how to eliminate the annoying background noise, I was faced with the next challenge: Tilted Towers.
Tilted Towers are the Lottery of Fortnite: Battle Royale
Everyone knows that the odds of winning the lottery are infinitesimally small. The same goes for the largest city in Fortnite: Battle Royale. Whoever lands in Tilted Towers first and finds a usable weapon can really go to town. It’s pure luck – nothing more.
If all four team members agree to land in Tilted Towers, that’s okay. However, that has never been the case. Only one player always wanted to land in the Towers, but was outvoted by the others. But that didn’t stop him from his plan.
Needless to say, the player in the city was nearly always eliminated within the first 30 seconds. More importantly, it makes absolutely no sense to land in the Towers when playing a mode like “Pure Gold”.
All equipment items are legendary – always and exclusively. Therefore, there is no advantage in landing in the Towers – on the contrary. It is impossible NOT to stumble over a SCAR, a sniper, and a close-range weapon at any other spot on the map as well.
Landing in Tilted Towers is the Chewbacca Defense of Fortnite – it makes no sense. The only result is a diminished or scattered team across the map with very little chance of success.
To make matters worse, I also frequently encountered a type of player that shouldn’t exist in such a mode – AFK players (AFK – away from keyboard: absent players).
Why start in a mode only to not play it?
Three people choose a drop spot – great, I think, we understand each other. Unfortunately, the fourth player has entirely different plans, namely none at all. If someone doesn’t jump from the battle bus, they will inevitably be dropped at the edge of the map. There, absent players sail peacefully until they are eventually consumed by the storm.
For the rest of the team, this means: One player less and lower chances of success. Thank you very much!
To the absent players out there: You can also complete certain challenges (survive x players in team mode) if you actually PLAY the game. Sounds weird, but it’s true.
After all these stumbling blocks, I decided to go solo again in the “Pure Gold” mode – and it finally became fun again.
What are your experiences with randoms? Do you have any curious stories to tell?
