"Tournament" Variations seem Slapped together

[Samsara]

Its very telling that they waited until the absolute last minute to give concrete information on variations after MONTHS of hounding them. Then they revealed they'd only be using two variations per character.

So then people wonder how these two variations would be formatted. Turns out NRS didnt give the variations more moves to compensate for the lack of customs. SOME CHARACTERS LITERALLY ONLY HAVE TWO SPECIAL MOVES!

Some variations contain moves no one would voluntarily choose and others dont have moves that were already extremely popular. If you look at how every variation breaks down, its clear that you either have a straightforward/melee variation and than a second wackier/zoning style.

At least MKX variations have you three highly thoughtful and distinct variations that dramatically changed a character. Were some of them ass? Sure. But you could tell they actually tried.

They clearly cobbled this together to get it out the door. Does anyone actually prefer this shit to customs?

 

[JSF]

Yup and this is why most of us want kustoms because NRS proved they cant make good and balanced variations for every character once again. Sure some are good, but let’s use scorpion for example, none of his have his best move so if they didn’t change his frame data and make you able to special cancel more he’s still gonna be bad. One of his variations is exactly what I would have done (death spin, spear kombo, burning spear) but the other is air throw and teleport cancel....like the 2 most useless moves are in a variation (I know teleport cancel has used but not for 2 slots). Can we please stop sucking NRS and saying they’re gonna do everything right when they’ve proven time and time again that they won’t? I still remember day 1 unbreakable sub zero in MkX lol he was literally half a character

 

[Circus]

Disagree.

It might not be what we wanted as our perfect loadouts, but really try to look at the reasoning behind the decisions.
It generally seems like everyone got:

Variation that: deals with strong zoning
Variation that: execute a strong strategy (either big damage, great offense, or great neutral/zoning tools).

Some characters have the one anti-zoning and one variation with hardcore damage rushdown (like Kotal who got his command grab and F2 combo extender and in the other variation he has great anti-zoning tools). And other characters like SubZero got one variation that is anti-zoning and the other with really strong neutral tools, a mid projectile, and a way to make all his strings safe while retreating him.

==============================================================

Also, I've been doing a ton of thinking and I think I understand the reason they made this decision.

"Balance" isn't it. IMO they could have realistically balanced the game with the "This move Conflicts with ____" option they added. I think they honestly made it this way to give the game longevity with seasons like other ESports.

This way, NRS has the power over the meta. They will add new variations and it'll make the game feel fresh every single time they decide to make a big patch, like Overwatch.

If they had chosen to just have everything available from the start, NRS would be balancing things from start to finish, but it wouldn't have that big WOW-change like adding variations for every character all at once into the meta.

 

[VSC_Supreme]

It feels like they were really trying to figure out a way to get customs to work but never got around to it. Maybe something came up? Bugs needs to be patched? The schedule got too bloated for them to correctly balance it? Or maybe this was always the intention from the start?

I'm sure a lot of thought and discussions went into what moves to give what characters and starting variations.

Circus's explanation above also sounds concrete.

 

[Samsara]

It feels like they were really trying to figure out a way to get customs to work but never got around to it. Maybe something came up? Bugs needs to be patched? The schedule got too bloated for them to correctly balance it? Or maybe this was always the intention from the start?

I'm sure a lot of thought and discussions went into what moves to give what characters and starting variations.

Circus's explanation above also sounds concrete.

There's more to the game than just 'zoning' vs 'not zoning'. If there only considerations for Sub were whether or not he wanted to zone than there's your first problem right there.

He had moves for trap making, pressure, launchers... none of it considered. He's not even the only character that got the raw end imo.

It's not just what's there, its everything that ISNT there too. So many playstyles just left on the table and can't be explored competitively. For what?

 

[VSC_Supreme]

There's more to the game than just 'zoning' vs 'not zoning'. If there only considerations for Sub were whether or not he wanted to zone than there's your first problem right there.

He had moves for trap making, pressure, launchers... none of it considered. He's not even the only character that got the raw end imo

I'm assuming you meant to reply to @Circus post instead of mine, but I what took from it was the variations currently available were to provide two distinct playstyles. Not necessarily Zoning v. Not Zonging, but as you said, a Variation based on rushdown pressure and then one on defensive hard punishes.

IMO the variations don't feel slapped together last minute, but more of a back-up plan that was doable in the time allotted.

 

[Samsara]

There are too many moves that just aren't on the table. It sounds like you guys are fine with making do with whatever scraps they have you, justifying it well in all fairness.

Perhaps I'm harsh here, but I'll be playing Player Matches. We could have had so much more than what we got.

 

[Circus]

There are too many moves that just aren't on the table. It sounds like you guys are fine with making do with whatever scraps they have you, justifying it well in all fairness.

Perhaps I'm harsh here, but I'll be playing Player Matches. We could have had so much more than what we got.

I totally agree with you man. I would have loved to make my best Kano variations. I had multiple in my head that would have been AMAZING.

But after the initial "WTF" when they first announced presets, I honestly think this is the better way to go for right now.

It's better for the longevity of the game, and at least we'll get hype new variations over time that'll make the game feel fresh every time.

 

[Saviorself]

people dont want custom variation

they just want variations with all the optimal moves, which is understandable but NRS is doing this to make it easier to balance for themselves. Variations,custom sets, or whatever...people are just gonna pick what pros pick and whats optimal.

look at games like mobas where you can literally customize your characters with any items, people just go for the most optimal build route...you think theres diversity but there really isnt in competitive games

 

[DragonofDadashov24]

They have more than 2 moves man. Each variation has it’s universal move.

 

[Samsara]

They have more than 2 moves man. Each variation has it’s universal move.

No shit. But Cold Shoulder replaces slide (-1). So that leaves him with ice ball and cold shoulder (2).

 

[JBeezYBabY]

Uncle JBeezY will ALWAYS vote for Kustoms because the beta proved it can work in a competitive setting and not be OP.

However, I will try these variation cuz....i have to. But there will be a day 1 patch that could change these things. I wouldn't jump the gun quite yet.

 

[Deleted member 5032]

It just feels like I2 all over again. They straight-up gimped several characters by reserving important moves as Gear moves just to justify their shitty customization system. Several characters would have been at least mid-tier to tournament viable if they just had access to a key move or two that was taken away from them. I've been worried MK11 would be a repeat, and it seems like that's the case.

I'm also suspicious some moves exist purely to make a character's reveal trailer super hype, when NRS knows the character is never actually going to have access to those combinations of moves. It lets them really hype up a character without having to worry about pesky things like balance or good game design.

 

[Samsara]

Uncle JBeezY will ALWAYS vote for Kustoms because the beta proved it can work in a competitive setting and not be OP.

However, I will try these variation cuz....i have to. But there will be a day 1 patch that could change these things. I wouldn't jump the gun quite yet.

Day 1 patch is already live

 

[Lt. Boxy Angelman]

Everything that happens with variations is going to be weighted down by the complete lack of transparency until after the Beta.

Time will tell if catering to the e-sports formula turns out to be a disaster.

 

[JBeezYBabY]

Day 1 patch is already live

Why the hell would it be already live for early copies? Don't day 1 patches be live when the game OFFICIALLY released? If this is true, then thats dumb as fuck on NRS' part.

 

[DragonofDadashov24]

No shit. But Cold Shoulder replaces slide (-1). So that leaves him with ice ball and cold shoulder (2).

And maybe a third move?
I don’t buy it

 

[Lt. Boxy Angelman]

It just feels like I2 all over again. They straight-up gimped several characters by reserving important moves as Gear moves just to justify their shitty customization system. Several characters would have been at least mid-tier to tournament viable if they just had access to a key move or two that was taken away from them. I've been worried MK11 would be a repeat, and it seems like that's the case.

I'm also suspicious some moves exist purely to make a character's reveal trailer super hype, when NRS knows the character is never actually going to have access to those combinations of moves. It lets them really hype up a character without having to worry about pesky things like balance or good game design.

Exactly. But even with I2, at least they told us right out of the gate that the extra stuff we were seeing wasn't tournament-legal.
They really spent months banging the Kustom Variation drum and didn't tell us the truth unti they had everyone's money, and that will never not look awful.

 

[TheJaquio]

I have to agree here, making the assumption that these tourney variations are final.

In the betas, I really enjoyed playing a mixup-heavy Baraka. Sure I didn't get the combo damage from gutted, but kebab was really fun to use and synergized very well with blood lunge. But now that's gone, my favorite move (kebab) isn't in at all, and blood lunge is paired with...spines? So, I can pick the variation that has gutted, OR, I can pick the one that is based solely on risky 12% throw mixups, with no midscreen dmg because it doesnt have chopchop, and its paired with a move that has good corner dmg but the variation has no corner carry because it doesnt have combos and blood lunge plants your opponent into the ground. K.

But that's okay I thought, Kano has some really cool combo extenders in snakebite and bio pull, one of them HAS to be in, right? Nope.

Okay, fine. I traditionally main Sub-Zero, and kreeping ice looks like a really cool move with great frame dat--Nope.

I regret playing the beta and watching the Kombat Kasts, because they've now hyped me up for versions of characters that don't exist competitively.

 

[xWildx]

In the future, I hope NRS abandons the variations concept. Just give me well designed, fully fleshed out characters. Not this gimmicky crap that doesn’t even allow me to use the moves I want together half the time.

This is the third time in a row NRS has shit the bed in this regard. Three variations were too much, making some completely useless. Injustice didn’t even allow competitive players to change their loadout, not to mention the fiasco that was unlocking all of the new specials. And MK11 takes away a ton of the interesting tools we were shown on stream (Deadly Assassin, Misery Blade, Hook Grab, etc.) and presents us with the most vanilla ass variations I’ve ever seen.

These variations are like unseasoned mashed potatoes.

I just hope and pray that with future patches and community input NRS adjusts the current load outs and adds more interesting variations to the game.

 

[Chairface_ChipNDale]

Maybe the kompetitive variations will change as the game goes on. I would love it if Mortal Kombat had kompetitive seasons like Overwatch and each season could have different moves in the variations. Kharacters could get weaker or stronger from season to season. It would give the game way more longevity imo

 

[Deleted member 5032]

It just sucks that NRS keeps half-assing it. Either gives us customization or don't. Stop this nonsense of releasing amazing character trailers and showing off custom variations during the Kombat Kasts, and then saying, "oh, you actually wanted to use these variations? Too bad!"

 

[GLoRToR]

There's still a few days until release.

Chill.

 

[Tony at Home]

I'd be fine if certain variations only have two moves because one takes up 2/3 slots. That'd just be the point system doing its job to balance out stronger stuff.

But if at release characters have only 2 moves and there's an empty slot left then I'll definitely pout.

 

[Blade4693]

The current patch could be for review copies, there will probably be a true day one patch on the 23rd.