I don’t even know where to start with this one. Papa Jeff(Kaplan) announced one of his biggest announcements to date on a Developer Update video.
Role Queuing
We have all known it was coming, or at least hoped it was coming…ROLE QUEUING. FINALLY!!! Now if you don’t know what Role Queue is, let me break it down for you. The roles will now be locked in a 2-2-2 Comp. What is 2-2-2? Well, that means two damage(everyone’s favorite role), two tanks, and two healers. Oh my, you mean we can’t do the 6 DPS thing anymore? NO!! Thank goodness! I can’t tell you the number of times I have gone into match and I pick support character, but then the rest of my team chooses DPS and I just see my win fading before eyes. Now this can’t happen!
Additionally, Role Queuing will apply to competition, quick play and some arcade games. Now if you really really want that ability to choose whom ever you want, and you want to roll that six DPS squad, there will be an option to do this in arcade as Quick Play Classic .
SR Rating
Super exciting part of this news is every role will have it’s own SR rating! Does this mean a SR reset? Kaplan didn’t confirm if it did or not, but it certain sounds like it. Which is something that the game has been needing for a really long time. Furthermore, instead of having ten games for placements there will be five for each role, if you choose to do all three there will be a reward for this. Each SR rating will get their own set of competitive points for the end of the season. The number have yet to be released.
Release Date
Now something to take note of because of these big changes, Season 17 of competitive will be end early to make way for role queuing. But Season 18 doesn’t start right away, instead there will be two weeks of a beta comp. This gives the developers the ability to try to nip any issues in the butt. This will run from August 13th – September 1st. Season 18 will begin September 1st with role queue on it. Now if you want to try role queue now, it is available on PTR, if you are a PC gamer.
Character Changes
Thus, with this new role lock also comes some big changes to our heroes. This will be to “balance” with the new 2-2-2 system. Now I dont want to too much into it or I will be going on all day so I am going to note some of the big changes.
Main change is to all character, ultimate will be nerfed.
“Global ultimate cost increased 12%
Slowing Effects: Instead of stacking together, friendly and enemy slowing effects are now separate and movement speed will be reduced by whichever is slower.
Developer Comment: Ultimates are coming up too often considering how high impact they are. We are reducing how quickly they are built so less fights will be determined by ultimate usage. The slows change will mostly impact heroes which can slow themselves, such as Widowmaker while scoping, or Reinhardt while holding his shield. In these cases, enemy slows such as Symmetra turrets or Mei’s freeze will not hinder these heroes unless they stop slowing themselves or the enemy slow value passes their own slow value.“
Next is Brigitte who will be getting a total rework as noted below.
Inspire (Passive)
- Healing amount increased from 100 to 130
- Self-healing from Inspire is now halved
Repair Pack
- Now has 3 charges
- Healing amount changed from 150 to 120
- Now heals over 2 seconds instead of instantly
- If you throw multiple packs at the same person, the current duration will be extended by 2 seconds
Whip Shot
- Out-going velocity increased from 60 to 80
- Retracting time reduced from 0.6 seconds to 0.3
Barrier Shield
- Barrier health reduced from 500 to 200
Shield Bash
- Stun duration reduced from 0.9 seconds to 0.75
Rally
- Ultimate cost increased 10%
Last Symmetra who gets some big changes to her teleporter.
- Now lasts an infinite duration until destroyed
- Players can destroy their Teleporter with the ability 2 input
- Cooldown now starts when Teleporter is destroyed
- Cooldown increased from 12 seconds to 15
- Maximum range increased from 25 meters to 30
- Teleporter breaks if the entrance is more than 40 meters from the exit.
- Teleport re-use time increased from 1 second to 1.5
There is lots more information here on all the character changes and role queuing. Also, available right now is the summer event, if you feel like playing some Lucio Ball while waiting.
Are you excited or worried about role queuing? Let Nerdbot know in the comments.
