3 days into the BOB, the 1 remaining issue since the CTT, at least to me, is the lack of in-game communication options.
I find this slightly less of a problem in Story mode, but in Meltdown and Incursion, it is.
As comparison, in The Borderlands, you can from start tell which char for instance the host is using if you are connecting to multi. For, say, a Digipeak run you can then adapt your own choice instantly so that an Axton gets air support via a Maya and shields re-charging via a Gaige et cetera (given that you, yourself, have a selection to choose from).
The Borderlands offer 6 chars. Battleborn 25 - and people will want to (are urged to) try them all, find which work, learn them, play around with them. Plus with the (current) match-making function mixing all sorts of Command Rank, tossing in CR 1 with 15 with 7, newer, “lower” CR gamers could benefit from immediate info from “higher” CR (meaning by default more experienced) gamers to help along - as in Battleborn, the success (or the opposite) of a multi team effort in Meltdown/Incursion depends at least as much on the team char mix - numerous testimonies have stated that as a fact.
But instead of getting an instahint of the char choices of the other 4 in a randomly match-made team, you get that info last, at the very end of the process leading into battle. Meaning the time frame/chance to adapt to the choices of the other 4 is a matter of seconds, in particular if somebody beat you to the char you were planning for, meaning you are forced to re-consider.
As they drop in, I find myself constantly grasping for an “easy access” route to the other randomly match-made team members every single time, to tell them I’m planning on attack/support/healing to give them/us a chance of complementing each other … but where are the means?
Yes, as they drop in, I can tell their tags, click on the first, then click on “View profile”, then click on “Send message”, in the meantime getting moved to the PSN frame meaning I have zero idea (and even less time to message) who else is joining in the meantime, and communicate prior to char choice with them, in their turn.
- The match-making waiting line being as unpredictable as it is, you never know if you’ll get 5, 10 or 30 minutes there.
- Then there’s the instruction frame telling you about the mission (but void of visual access to the other 4 gamers).
- And then there’s the 90 seconds char choice frame, equally void of easy access to the other 4.
And then, the chance is gone.
Use a headset? Even though supplied with the PS4, not everybody has. And a number of people prefer not to.
Back in The Borderlands, meanwhile, all through the process, upper right corner has you covered.