In Overwatch, there are usually too many DPS players per match. Fans of Overwatch would like to sign up in their favorite role for a match to achieve well-balanced teams. Overwatch head Jeff Kaplan reveals why this is not possible.
Although Overwatch is a shooter, it suffers from the typical problems that also plague Mobas or MMORPGs. There are numerous players who like to play a DPS character, but very few players are willing to take on the support role or even embody a tank.
Why can’t you just sign up with a fixed role?
This often leads to quarrels and lengthy discussions about who should play which hero. It is not uncommon for people to part ways offended, storm in with six DPS heroes against a coordinated enemy team, and then insult each other.
Many fans therefore demand that players should decide in advance which role they will take on before the match. This way, players could sign up as “Tank” or “Support”, allowing the system to always assemble solidly balanced teams – at least in theory.
In an interview with Kotaku, Jeff Kaplan, the game director of Overwatch, revealed why this has not been possible so far.
Fixed roles are too restrictive
Basically, Kaplan is usually presented with two versions of the system.
- One appeals to the “honor” of the players: Players can sign up as a “Tank”, but whether they actually play Tank is another story. After all, switching characters (and also roles) is a core part of the game.
- The second system forces players into a fixed role. If you sign up as a Tank, you can only play Tank for the rest of the match. According to Kaplan, this would also harm the “spirit” of Overwatch.
And there’s a further problem: Unlike in MMORPGs, there is no fixed number of group members within a certain role. While many matches take “2-2-2” (2 healers, 2 tanks, 2 DPS heroes) as a favored group composition, that is not always the key to success.
Often, just one tank or one healer might be enough to counter the enemy strategy. However, if you wanted to deviate from this fixed pattern, a prior commitment to a role would not be possible.
Wait times could drastically increase
The system would also bring even more problems. Since many players like to take on DPS roles and very few play tanks or supports, the wait times for DPS players would drastically increase. Kaplan mentions a duration of “up to 30 minutes” – and that would certainly not be in the interest of players who are currently demanding these changes.
Jeff Kaplan’s preliminary advice is to find a regular group and players to play with that you enjoy. However, he also admits that Overwatch is currently not doing a good job of motivating players to team up with others. They want to improve this in the future.
What do you think of a system where you must commit to a role in advance? Would that fit Overwatch? Or is it not worth the long wait times?
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