Difference between revisions of "Matchmaker"

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{{DISPLAYTITLE:Matchmaker}}
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'''The matchmaker''' (balancer) is a server tool that is responsible for creating game sessions in all multiplayer game modes. The opponents you will meet in battle comes from the matchmaker.
__TOC__
 
==General Information about the matchmaking==
 
[[File:Matchmaker GameModeSelection.PNG ‎|390px|thumb|right|The game mode selection screen]]
 
  
'''Matchmaking''' is better known to players as the "balancer," but this mechanic in War Thunder is called matchmaking for good reason. Unlike simple team selection systems, designed only to balance out the game sessions, the capabilities of War Thunder's system are much broader. It allows you to create sessions with strictly defined vehicles, restrictions on certain types and classes and various other configurations.
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== Matchmaker in main game modes ==
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3 main difficulty game modes are represented in War Thunder: Arcade, Realistic and Simulator. They differ from each other by rules on how the vehicles will be used during one battle - whether it’s one single vehicle or even the whole setup of vehicles. Based on these differences the matchmaker works according to different rules guided in most cases only by the Battle Rating of the participating vehicles.
'''There are several types of matchmaking:'''
 
  
*By Battle Rating – the battle performance rating given to every Aircraft, Ground Vehicle, or Naval Vessel. These ratings may vary across game modes.
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{{Notice
*By Bracket – the same as BR, but grouped into brackets.
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|'''Battle rating (BR)''' — is the index of efficiency of each vehicle in the game for each of the three game modes (difficulty modes). Which opponents the player may meet in battle with this vehicle depends on the BR.
*In accordance with strictly prescribed lists of permitted vehicles with the ability to limit numbers, e.g. in events playing through historical battles, only the vehicles that would have actually participated in the battle are permitted to take part, and the number of individual vehicles can also be limited.
+
}}
*Tournament – uses the player’s personal rating to select opponents of equal strength in various competitive events.
 
 
 
Learn more about game modes in their respective related articles. In this article, you can find out about the general rules of matchmaking.
 
 
 
=== Map Rotation Filter ===
 
In [[Update 1.91 "Night Vision"]] a new mechanic known as the "Map Rotation Filter" was [[wt:en/news/6330-development-map-rotation-filter-en|introduced to the game]]. This mechanic allows players to reduce or completely remove the chance of having to play on certain maps.
 
 
 
There are two tiers of exclusion:
 
 
 
'''Dislikes''' lower the chance of being put into a match on the selected map. If the number of players in the queue that have disliked a map reaches a certain threshold, the selected map is skipped and a new map is selected. All players are able to choose a maximum of 3 disliked maps for each gamemode.
 
 
 
'''Bans''' completely exclude a map from your personal mappool. This means that you will never be placed into that map as long as the ban is in effect. This function is only available to players with an active premium account, and is limited to a maximum of 1 map per gamemode, to minimise the effect of many players with different banned maps in the queue.
 
 
 
As of [[wt:en/game/changelog/current/1056|v.1.95.0.36]], players can also '''like''' maps. However, this does not contribute to the chances of being placed on the map, instead serving as an easy feedback method for the developers to gather data on map popularity.  
 
  
{{Notice|Some [[:Category:Maps and missions#Air Forces Maps|Air Forces Maps]] and [[:Category:Maps and missions#Naval Forces Maps|Naval Forces maps]] have multiple missions in the same location. Disliking, banning, or liking a mission will not affect the chance of other missions in that location.}}
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By clicking the “To Battle” button the player enters the queue for the selected game mode. Depending on the rules of the game mode chosen, the matchmaker collects players from the queue to the game session based on the BR of the particular vehicle or the whole vehicle line up which has been selected for the crew slots. In this case matchmaker doesn’t take into account a BR of any vehicle which isn’t suitable for the selected game mode or is broken - such vehicles will be highlighted in gray or red in the crew slots before clicking the “To Battle” button.  
 
 
==Matchmaking by Battle Rating==
 
This is the most widespread matchmaking method. It is used in the two biggest battle modes, Arcade and Realistic battles, involving ground vehicles, aviation, and naval forces. When selecting allies and opponents in these modes, the matchmaking system uses only one parameter – your vehicle Battle Rating.
 
 
 
===General rules===
 
[[Battle_ratings|'''Battle ratings (BR)''']] is given to every vehicle in War Thunder and depending on the game mode, matchmaking uses either the average BR of your vehicle set or the highest BR of any single vehicle from your entire set.
 
  
 +
=== Matchmaking types ===
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+ Matchmaking strategies for different game modes
 
|-
 
! Game modes !! Naval battles !! Ground battles !! Aviation battles
 
 
|-
 
|-
! Arcade mode
+
| || [[File:Fighters icon.png|link=]]<br>Air battles || [[File:Medium tanks icon.png|link=]]<br>Ground battles || [[File:Destroyers icon.png|link=]]<br>Naval battles
| colspan="2" rowspan="2" | Top vehicle BR  || Average BR
 
 
|-
 
|-
! Realistic mode
+
| AB || Average BR || Highest BR || Highest BR
| Selected vehicle BR
 
 
|-
 
|-
! Simulation mode
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| RB || Highest BR || Highest BR || Highest BR
| style="background-color: #979a9a" |Does not exist || List of allowed vehicles || Set BR range
 
 
|-
 
|-
 +
| SB || BR range || According to the lists || —
 
|}
 
|}
  
For AB and RB game modes, the maximum BR range for a session is limited to ±1.0 from the average BR or the BR of the best vehicle in your set. This means that you will never come up against an opponent whose average/best BR is more than 1.0 higher or lower than your average vehicle BR or the BR of your best vehicle.
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== General rules of the matchmaking based on BR ==
 +
The matchmaker selects the game session for the player in which the spread of the opponent’s vehicle BR will not exceed +/- 1.0 BR from the player’s vehicle. This means that the player will not meet a vehicle which exceeds the BR of his key vehicle (the one on which the matchmaker bases its search for a game session) in battle by more than 1 point of the BR.
  
The matchmaker always aims to assemble teams with minimal BR spread, which has a positive impact on gameplay experience. Selection begins by searching for players with the same BR as you and the net gradually widens if a closely rated team cannot be assembled. This means that the more players are queued for battle, the better the balancing will be.
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=== Additional rules ===
 +
* By searching for the team within the maximum spread (+/- 1.0 BR) the number of players in the vehicles with the highest BR in each team will not exceed 4 players.
 +
* In aircraft RB there is a limit of 5 bombers from the total number of the team.
  
==== Additional rules ====
+
These are all the rules that the matchmaker uses in random battles. There are no exceptions such as matching by player performance statistics at all.
  
*Players playing together in a squad will have the BR of the squad regardless of what BR their lineup is.
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== Matchmaking based on the average BR ==
 +
Matchmaking takes 3 vehicles with the highest BR from a players setup (vehicles from the crew slots) and displays the average value.
  
*In Naval Forces Arcade and Realistic modes, aircraft 0.6 BR higher than the highest BR ship will not be able to participate(and thus are not calculated in the BR).
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This method of matchmaking will be used in aircraft AB. It allows you to research more advanced vehicles whilst not refusing the already researched aircraft as a player’s new aircraft can participate in the battles at a slightly lower BR where it is more comfortable to research its modifications.
  
* In games where there is a full 1.0 BR difference between players, the amount of players on a team with vehicles of the highest BR will not exceed 25% of the players on the team. For example, in a game with vehicles from BR 4.7 to 5.7 where each team has 16 players, the amount of players with 5.7 BR will not exceed 4 for each team.
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=== Averaging formula ===
 +
To get the average BR in such matchmaking only 3 aircraft will be counted with the highest BR from the whole player’s setup (vehicles from crew slots).  
  
''Note: This rule only defines a maximum so it is possible for one team to have 0 players with the highest BR while the other team has the full 25% of of its team at the highest BR.''
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It will be calculated with the  following this formula: BR=A/2+B/4+C/4
 +
* A — vehicle with highest BR..
 +
* B and C — 2 vehicles with bit lower BR.
  
===Matchmaking by average BR===
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A final value will be rounded up to the nearest tenth from the list of values 0.3 or 0.7 (steps of BR in the game).
In Air Arcade mode, matchmaking works differently in comparison to other modes – it is performed in accordance with the average Battle Rating of the three aircraft with the highest BR among all the aircraft in the player's lineup. Damaged or temporarily blocked vehicles will not be factored into the calculation, as they cannot be used in battle.
 
  
Matchmaking by average BR allows players to even make use of the capabilities of planes that are inferior to newer aircraft in the player’s set, as well as to continue to use the tried-and-tested aircraft for a long time.
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=== Additional rules ===
 +
* If the difference in the BR between the vehicle with highest BR (A) and one of the top vehicles (B or C) is higher than 0.6, so in matchmaking the BR for this top vehicle will be calculated as A-0.6. It means that if A-B(C) > 0.6 so B(C) = A - 0.6.
 +
* If the difference in the BR between the vehicle with highest BR (A) and one of the top vehicles (B or C) is equal to or higher than 2.0, so in matchmaking the BR of such a top vehicle will be replaced by BR of vehicle A. It means that if A-B(C)  ⩾ 2.0, so B(C) = A.
 +
* If you want to send less than 3 vehicles into battle (specifically the number of serviceable aircraft in the crew slots is less than 3), so the BR values for the missing aircraft in the formula will be counted as A-0.6.
  
===Calculation formula===
+
== Matching based on the highest BR ==
 +
The matchmaker takes the vehicle with the highest BR from the whole player’s setup or the BR of the single vehicle selected for battle and matches it to a game session based on such a vehicle.
  
The calculation uses the three aircraft with the highest BR in the set. The average BR is calculated as follows:
+
Such a method of selection is optimal for ground vehicles and naval vessels where the differences in the technical characteristics and the battle capabilities play a bigger role than in only aircraft battles.
  
*BR='''A'''/2 + '''B'''/4 + '''C'''/4
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{{Notice
 +
|For the convenience of participation in different game modes we have a mechanism of “vehicle presets” which allows us to save several variants for vehicle arrangement in the crew slots.
 +
|+
 +
}}
  
Where '''A''' is the vehicle with the highest BR, and '''B''' and '''C''' are the top-rated vehicles after '''A'''.
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== Matching based on the BR range ==
 +
In this matchmaking mode the rule of BR spread +/- 1.0 isn’t operating. The player will join the game session with fixed BR ranges, from minimum to maximum BR , which can be wider than +/- 1.0.
  
*If the difference in rating between vehicle '''A''' and vehicle '''B''' or '''C''' is greater than 0.6 BR, then the rating of the vehicle outside the permitted range will be calculated as '''A'''-0.6.
+
Determining which range the player enters is based on the rule of “Matching based on the highest BR”. This means with the vehicle with the highest BR from the crew slots.
*If the difference in rating between vehicle '''A''' and vehicle '''B''' or '''C''' is greater than or equal to 2.0 BR, then the rating of the vehicle will be substituted for the BR of the top vehicle ('''A''').
 
*If fewer than three crews go into battle, the missing aircraft are given values of '''A'''-0.6.
 
 
 
The average BR resulting from the calculation is rounded to the nearest number from the range: X.0, X.3, X.7. In borderline cases, the BR is rounded up.
 
<br>
 
So X.15 will be rounded to X.3, X.35 will be rounded to X.3, and X.5 will be rounded up to X.7.
 
<br />
 
<br>
 
Here is an example of how the averaging formula works in AB aviation:
 
 
 
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:1100px; overflow:auto;">
 
Click '''Expand''' to view
 
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
 
{| class="wikitable" align="center"
 
|-
 
! colspan="2" | Legend for the table below
 
|-
 
!Aircraft example!!BR Effect on lineup
 
|-
 
| style="background: #ff8484" align="center" |[[File:Matchmaker F-86f-25 icon.png|frameless|link=]] || Vehicle with Highest BR
 
|-
 
| style="background: #ffc284" align="center" |[[File:Matchmaker MiG-9 icon.png|frameless|link=]] || Vehicle, BR lower than 0.3
 
|-
 
| style="background: #ffff84" align="center" |[[File:Matchmaker SpitfireF24 icon.png|frameless|link=]] || Vehicle, with a BR lower than 0.6 (to 2.0) from a top BR 
 
|-
 
| style="background: #84ff84" align="center" |[[File:Matchmaker I-153 icon.png|frameless|link=]] || Vehicle, with a BR lower than 2.0 from a top BR
 
|}
 
 
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
|-
 
! Aircraft 1 !! Aircraft 2 !! Aircraft 3 !! ⇒ !! BR Result
 
|-
 
| style="background: #ff8484" |[[File:Matchmaker F-86f-25 icon.png|frameless|link=]] || style="background: #ff8484" |[[File:Matchmaker F-86f-25 icon.png|frameless|link=]] || style="background: #ff8484" |[[File:Matchmaker F-86f-25 icon.png|frameless|link=]] || ⇒ || style="background: #ff8484" |[[File:Matchmaker F-86f-25 icon.png|frameless|link=]]
 
|-
 
| style="background: #ff8484" |[[File:Matchmaker F-86f-25 icon.png|frameless|link=]] || style="background: #ff8484" |[[File:Matchmaker F-86f-25 icon.png|frameless|link=]] || style="background: #ffc284" |[[File:Matchmaker MiG-9 icon.png|frameless|link=]] || ⇒ || style="background: #ff8484" |[[File:Matchmaker F-86f-25 icon.png|frameless|link=]]
 
|-
 
| style="background: #ff8484" |[[File:Matchmaker F-86f-25 icon.png|frameless|link=]] || style="background: #ff8484" |[[File:Matchmaker F-86f-25 icon.png|frameless|link=]] || style="background: #ffff84" |[[File:Matchmaker SpitfireF24 icon.png|frameless|link=]] || ⇒ || style="background: #ff8484" |[[File:Matchmaker F-86f-25 icon.png|frameless|link=]]
 
|-
 
| style="background: #ff8484" |[[File:Matchmaker F-86f-25 icon.png|frameless|link=]] || style="background: #ff8484" |[[File:Matchmaker F-86f-25 icon.png|frameless|link=]] || style="background: #84ff84" |[[File:Matchmaker I-153 icon.png|frameless|link=]] || ⇒ || style="background: #ff8484" |[[File:Matchmaker F-86f-25 icon.png|frameless|link=]]
 
|-
 
| style="background: #ff8484" |[[File:Matchmaker F-86f-25 icon.png|frameless|link=]] || style="background: #ffc284" |[[File:Matchmaker MiG-9 icon.png|frameless|link=]] || style="background: #ffc284" |[[File:Matchmaker MiG-9 icon.png|frameless|link=]] || ⇒ || style="background: #ff8484" |[[File:Matchmaker F-86f-25 icon.png|frameless|link=]]
 
|-
 
| style="background: #ff8484" |[[File:Matchmaker F-86f-25 icon.png|frameless|link=]] || style="background: #ffc284" |[[File:Matchmaker MiG-9 icon.png|frameless|link=]] || style="background: #ffff84" |[[File:Matchmaker SpitfireF24 icon.png|frameless|link=]] || ⇒ || style="background: #ffc284" |[[File:Matchmaker MiG-9 icon.png|frameless|link=]]
 
|-
 
| style="background: #ff8484" |[[File:Matchmaker F-86f-25 icon.png|frameless|link=]] || style="background: #ffc284" |[[File:Matchmaker MiG-9 icon.png|frameless|link=]]  || style="background: #84ff84" |[[File:Matchmaker I-153 icon.png|frameless|link=]] || ⇒ || style="background: #ff8484" |[[File:Matchmaker F-86f-25 icon.png|frameless|link=]]
 
|-
 
| style="background: #ff8484" |[[File:Matchmaker F-86f-25 icon.png|frameless|link=]] || style="background: #ffff84" |[[File:Matchmaker SpitfireF24 icon.png|frameless|link=]] || style="background: #ffff84" |[[File:Matchmaker SpitfireF24 icon.png|frameless|link=]] || ⇒ || style="background: #ffc284" |[[File:Matchmaker MiG-9 icon.png|frameless|link=]]
 
|-
 
| style="background: #ff8484" |[[File:Matchmaker F-86f-25 icon.png|frameless|link=]] || style="background: #ffff84" |[[File:Matchmaker SpitfireF24 icon.png|frameless|link=]]  || style="background: #84ff84" |[[File:Matchmaker I-153 icon.png|frameless|link=]] || ⇒ || style="background: #ff8484" |[[File:Matchmaker F-86f-25 icon.png|frameless|link=]]
 
|-
 
|}
 
</div>
 
</div>
 
 
 
===Matchmaking by maximum BR===
 
 
 
*In Air Realistic mode, matchmaking is performed based on the aircraft selected for the battle. Since the vehicles not selected cannot be used in the battle, there is no need to include them in the calculation.
 
*In Ground Forces Arcade mode, matchmaking is performed based on the tank with the highest BR in the set.
 
*In Ground Forces Realistic mode, matchmaking is performed based on the tank or aircraft with the highest BR in the entire set (depending on which vehicle has the highest BR).
 
*In Naval Forces Arcade and Realistic modes, matchmaking is performed based on the ship or aircraft with the highest BR in the entire set (depending on which vehicle has the highest BR). However, aircraft 0.6 BR higher than the highest BR ship will not be able to participate.
 
 
 
<br>
 
Many players have a preference for several modes. For their convenience, there is a "[[Hangar_user_interface#User_Preset|vehicle preset]]" mechanism, which allows players to save preferred and frequently used vehicle arrangements in their hangar. This allows players to prepare for any type of battle in just a few clicks.
 
<br />
 
 
 
==Matchmaking by Bracket==
 
There are two primary ways to join Air Simulator battles.
 
[[File:Roomlistbutton.png|thumb|Use the ''Room list'' button to access a list of sessions available on your selected servers.]]
 
One is to use a matchmaker by selecting the ''To Battle!'' button which will attempt to place you in an existing session, waiting lobby or it will create a new session.
 
 
 
The other option is to view a list of sessions using the ''Room list'' button.. When the player opens the Air SB sessions list, they may see several identical missions where the only difference is the BR of the permitted and required aircraft. All you have to do is select the desired battle rank and assemble the required aircraft in your set. It is recommended to select at least one vehicle ''at'', or ''below'' the minimum required BR for the session to avoid having to rent a stock aircraft when you run out of SP.
 
 
 
If the player is unsatisfied with the existing sessions or a suitable session is not available, they may create a new lobby, selecting the respective missions they would like in the mission rotation and the factions. Waiting lobbies expire after 20 minutes if they do not have at least 2 players on each side to star the game. It is not recommended to place a faction on both sides as it can confuse players seeing an aircraft type on both teams.
 
 
 
==Matching by Set Vehicles==
 
This method is used in Ground Forces Simulator battles. When the player opens the Tanks SB interface, the names of the vehicles permitted for the current battle will be clearly displayed. Battles are regularly updated, so the team composition options also change.
 
 
 
==Tournament Matchmaking==
 
{{Main|Ranked Matchmaking}}
 
 
 
This type of matchmaking is used in tournaments and any other competition that has to select opponents of similar skill levels.
 
 
 
Ranked matchmaking is based on the Elo rating system.
 
  
 
{{Notice
 
{{Notice
|A tournament participant can see their rank at the portal at https://tss.warthunder.com/ by logging into their account and clicking “Rating” in the menu. Rating is calculated individually for each game mode and difficulty level. A rating is given if the player has completed at least one battle in a relevant tournament.}}
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|Such kind of matchmaking will be used in SB. At the very beginning of the battle the player can only use the vehicle with a minimum BR that is equal to the initial BR in the range. More advanced vehicles will open for Respawn Points which can be earned in the game session.
== Other (custom) matchmaking types in battles ==
+
|!
Going further, there used to be other custom matchmaking types apart from matchmaking by BR and vehicle ranks:
+
}}
 
 
* Sessions with restricted vehicle set
 
* Rating battles
 
* Squadron battles
 
 
 
==== Sessions with restricted vehicle set ====
 
[[File:Matchmaker Bf109SBMode.jpg|390px|thumbnail|right|Bf.109E-1 selected for Air Simulation Battle]]
 
As an example for this type of battle, let's have a look at the missions from "Events and Tournaments". Matchmaking for this mode is made only from the vehicles that were specially selected for every mission.
 
This type of Matchmaking allows developers to carefully reconstruct historical events from different battlegrounds, while paying attention to power balance. This also aims for the creation alternative history missions and holding events with a number of possible finals.
 
 
 
Sessions are made from all vehicles allowed, without looking at BR or vehicle ranks. Teams can have different numbers of players, and that is also controlled in the mission settings.
 
The exact matchmaking settings for every mission can be obtained from the mission descriptions shown in the in-game client for each mission in the "Events and Tournaments" list.
 
 
 
All missions in this mode have different difficulty levels and can have a mix of ground and air vehicles.
 
 
 
 
 
==== Rating Battles ====
 
Matchmaking is able to create sessions depending on a player's personal skills level, and that's an important feature of the game.
 
This type of matchmaking fits to 'duel' and 'sparring' forms of battle tournaments and challenges, where personal expertise plays a key role in success. Creating a session based on player personal rankings allows to equalize forces of teams, squadrons, and particular players, and makes sessions more fair and attractive.
 
 
 
Rating battles of all types do not have mutual effect, meaning that player rating gained in one mode will not affect other rating battle modes. Player rating can also be reset after a corresponding tournament or event ending.
 
 
 
==== Squadron Battles ====
 
Squadron battles are a subset of rating battles. The key difference here is that matchmaking is made by teammate average scores, taken as the arithmetical mean of all teammate ratings.
 
To participate in this type of battle, one needs to be a part of squadron (clan). These battles are only 8×8 in all game modes.
 
 
 
A player's personal rating is calculated from his personal battle results for clan events, and 'only' clan events. The initial player rating is 0. In case of victory, the player's rating is recalculated as if it was 1500, and in case of failure, the player rating changes from that current rating value so that it can be lower than 1500.
 
 
 
=== Map Rotation in Combined Ground Battles ===
 
Map Rotation refers to the chance one has to be placed into a game on one or another location, depending on pre-determined conditions.
 
 
 
In War Thunder, there is only one such condition - the rank of your chosen ground vehicles. Suppose you play with the T-26, being a tank of the first rank. In this case, you will only be able to get into battles on locations that are specifically selected for vehicles of the first rank.
 
 
 
If your vehicle lineup comprises of vehicles with several different ranks, the rotation of locations will then work pursuant to the highest ranked vehicle within your lineup. Therefore, if your lineup has both the T-26 and T-44, your battles will occur in accordance with the category of locations provided for the vehicles of rank IV.
 
 
 
The need for the rotation of maps revolves around map size, as well as gameplay complexity. The bigger (and more difficult) a location is in terms of gameplay, the more experienced should those players which are to battle upon it be.
 
 
 
  
 +
BR distribution based on the range looks like the following:
 +
* [1] Enduring Confrontation: 1.0 — 2.0
 +
* [2] Enduring Confrontation: 2.3 — 3.3
 +
* [3] Enduring Confrontation: 3.7 — 4.7
 +
* [4] Enduring Confrontation: 5.0 — 6.3
 +
* [5] Enduring Confrontation: 6.7 — 7.7
 +
* [6] Enduring Confrontation: 8.0 — 10.3
  
 +
== Matching according to lists ==
 +
The matchmaker allows users to join a game session only with vehicles that are specified in the description of the battle. Such a method can be combined with other methods, for example with matching based on the BR ranges for aircraft.
  
 +
This method will be used in ground SB where the ground vehicles participate in battle together with aircraft. Ground vehicles will be matched in battle using the lists and aircraft using the BR range. Such a method is optimal for creating game sessions with a historical composition of forces. In this case the conditions of the game session allow limiting the maximum number of different vehicles.
  
 
[[Category:Game mechanics]]
 
[[Category:Game mechanics]]

Revision as of 15:32, 20 April 2020

The matchmaker (balancer) is a server tool that is responsible for creating game sessions in all multiplayer game modes. The opponents you will meet in battle comes from the matchmaker.

Matchmaker in main game modes

3 main difficulty game modes are represented in War Thunder: Arcade, Realistic and Simulator. They differ from each other by rules on how the vehicles will be used during one battle - whether it’s one single vehicle or even the whole setup of vehicles. Based on these differences the matchmaker works according to different rules guided in most cases only by the Battle Rating of the participating vehicles.

Msg-info.png Battle rating (BR) — is the index of efficiency of each vehicle in the game for each of the three game modes (difficulty modes). Which opponents the player may meet in battle with this vehicle depends on the BR.

By clicking the “To Battle” button the player enters the queue for the selected game mode. Depending on the rules of the game mode chosen, the matchmaker collects players from the queue to the game session based on the BR of the particular vehicle or the whole vehicle line up which has been selected for the crew slots. In this case matchmaker doesn’t take into account a BR of any vehicle which isn’t suitable for the selected game mode or is broken - such vehicles will be highlighted in gray or red in the crew slots before clicking the “To Battle” button.

Matchmaking types

Fighters icon.png
Air battles
Medium tanks icon.png
Ground battles
Destroyers icon.png
Naval battles
AB Average BR Highest BR Highest BR
RB Highest BR Highest BR Highest BR
SB BR range According to the lists

General rules of the matchmaking based on BR

The matchmaker selects the game session for the player in which the spread of the opponent’s vehicle BR will not exceed +/- 1.0 BR from the player’s vehicle. This means that the player will not meet a vehicle which exceeds the BR of his key vehicle (the one on which the matchmaker bases its search for a game session) in battle by more than 1 point of the BR.

Additional rules

  • By searching for the team within the maximum spread (+/- 1.0 BR) the number of players in the vehicles with the highest BR in each team will not exceed 4 players.
  • In aircraft RB there is a limit of 5 bombers from the total number of the team.

These are all the rules that the matchmaker uses in random battles. There are no exceptions such as matching by player performance statistics at all.

Matchmaking based on the average BR

Matchmaking takes 3 vehicles with the highest BR from a players setup (vehicles from the crew slots) and displays the average value.

This method of matchmaking will be used in aircraft AB. It allows you to research more advanced vehicles whilst not refusing the already researched aircraft as a player’s new aircraft can participate in the battles at a slightly lower BR where it is more comfortable to research its modifications.

Averaging formula

To get the average BR in such matchmaking only 3 aircraft will be counted with the highest BR from the whole player’s setup (vehicles from crew slots).

It will be calculated with the following this formula: BR=A/2+B/4+C/4

  • A — vehicle with highest BR..
  • B and C — 2 vehicles with bit lower BR.

A final value will be rounded up to the nearest tenth from the list of values 0.3 or 0.7 (steps of BR in the game).

Additional rules

  • If the difference in the BR between the vehicle with highest BR (A) and one of the top vehicles (B or C) is higher than 0.6, so in matchmaking the BR for this top vehicle will be calculated as A-0.6. It means that if A-B(C) > 0.6 so B(C) = A - 0.6.
  • If the difference in the BR between the vehicle with highest BR (A) and one of the top vehicles (B or C) is equal to or higher than 2.0, so in matchmaking the BR of such a top vehicle will be replaced by BR of vehicle A. It means that if A-B(C) ⩾ 2.0, so B(C) = A.
  • If you want to send less than 3 vehicles into battle (specifically the number of serviceable aircraft in the crew slots is less than 3), so the BR values for the missing aircraft in the formula will be counted as A-0.6.

Matching based on the highest BR

The matchmaker takes the vehicle with the highest BR from the whole player’s setup or the BR of the single vehicle selected for battle and matches it to a game session based on such a vehicle.

Such a method of selection is optimal for ground vehicles and naval vessels where the differences in the technical characteristics and the battle capabilities play a bigger role than in only aircraft battles.

Msg-ok.png For the convenience of participation in different game modes we have a mechanism of “vehicle presets” which allows us to save several variants for vehicle arrangement in the crew slots.

Matching based on the BR range

In this matchmaking mode the rule of BR spread +/- 1.0 isn’t operating. The player will join the game session with fixed BR ranges, from minimum to maximum BR , which can be wider than +/- 1.0.

Determining which range the player enters is based on the rule of “Matching based on the highest BR”. This means with the vehicle with the highest BR from the crew slots.

Msg-important.png Such kind of matchmaking will be used in SB. At the very beginning of the battle the player can only use the vehicle with a minimum BR that is equal to the initial BR in the range. More advanced vehicles will open for Respawn Points which can be earned in the game session.

BR distribution based on the range looks like the following:

  • [1] Enduring Confrontation: 1.0 — 2.0
  • [2] Enduring Confrontation: 2.3 — 3.3
  • [3] Enduring Confrontation: 3.7 — 4.7
  • [4] Enduring Confrontation: 5.0 — 6.3
  • [5] Enduring Confrontation: 6.7 — 7.7
  • [6] Enduring Confrontation: 8.0 — 10.3

Matching according to lists

The matchmaker allows users to join a game session only with vehicles that are specified in the description of the battle. Such a method can be combined with other methods, for example with matching based on the BR ranges for aircraft.

This method will be used in ground SB where the ground vehicles participate in battle together with aircraft. Ground vehicles will be matched in battle using the lists and aircraft using the BR range. Such a method is optimal for creating game sessions with a historical composition of forces. In this case the conditions of the game session allow limiting the maximum number of different vehicles.