The Theory
Due to a combination of a few game mechanics SVER appears to be "overpowered" / un-balanced in correlation to the rest of the factions.
Historical Background
With SVER's appearance in the 1.2X beta build (???) there were reports of SVER being over powered / impossible to beat. At the time acquisition was the only game mode available and therefore a combination of factors contributed to SVER's dominance in the beginning. There were as follows:
A) Zipper Testers on SVER of higher rank at the out-set of their introduciton.
B) SVER defending from the start (gave them early, extra XP).
C) Complete database reset with new build, so everyone started from base.
D) Blasted stairs of DOOM! There existed an issue with climbing stairs leaving foot troopers vulnerable to attack while hopping like a bunny attempting to climb stairs.
E) SVER turret articulation is ridiculous- nearly 360 degree movement on X & Y axises made it EXTREMELY difficult to attack their bunkers.
F) Most importantly: Lack of Valor & Raven experience on the MAP (no one had understood the power of the tank squad, rear attack, etc.).
This began the SVER "legend" that carried over. As the betas progressed, team work and good strategies overcame the difficulties of the map. However, it required more effort than necessary as there was a lack of balance due to the above. Some issues were fixed (stairs), some were not (turret articulation). Throughout the betas SVER continued to have this reputation of imbalance. Which brings us to the 1.5 build and the latest testing results.
Test Methodology
As a result of this continued theory of imbalance, [EOD] clan decided to find out for itself what was reality, myth, and utter non-sense. As such we cobbled together mostly new [EOD] members (mixed beta experience) to form a group to test SVER with as scientific a methodology as possible.
We joined SVER after playing on Valor for a couple hours to see what the current landscape of balance felt like during the Tourney. Began day one from SVER and played four days of the tourney, with about 8-14hrs a day of play. After four days on SVER, we captured the data, deleted our characters & started anew on Valor and played the remaining 4 days as such, with the same group.
Control Information
Group consisted of 4-8plyrs depending upon time of day.
Group has little to no previous SVER experience. All players had played over 100hrs as Valor doing previous builds.
Same players played on both SVER & Valor.
Group played roughly the same time amount on both SVER & Valor.
Control samples were taken from completely random Valor & SVER players (people other than ourselves for correlation) whose only requirement was having played in groups during tourney.
Statistics (the interesting stuff)
[EOD] SVER Group
Time Played: 46hrs
XP Earned: 49k
Games Won: 143
Major V: 112
Minor V: 31
Def V: 75
Attack V: 68
Games Lost: 27
Major L: 13
Minor L: 14
Def L: 8
Attack L: 19
Average Player K/D: 1.8
SVER Control Sample (still waiting for pics from Warhammer_)
Games Won:
Major V:
Minor V:
Def:
Attack:
Games Lost:
Major L:
Minor L:
Def:
Attack:
Average Player K/D:
[EOD] Valor Group
Time Played: 20hrs
XP Earned: 13k
Games Won: 23
Major V: 4
Minor V: 19
Def V: 11
Attack V: 12
Games Lost: 49
Major L: 43
Minor L: 6
Def L: 21
Attack L: 28
Average Player K/D: 1.0
Valor Control Sample (Still waiting for pics from J-Rock-)
Games Won:
Major V:
Minor V:
Def:
Attack:
Games Lost:
Major L:
Minor L:
Def:
Attack:
Average Player K/D:
Team Observations
SVER
SVER weapons have a distinct advantage over the other factions- in that each weapon of each class is more powerful than their equivalent counterparts of other factions. While they typically have a slower fire-rate, they are significantly more powerful than other factions. Most guns will drop players in fewer bullets and overall faster, without need for a headshot.
SVER control stations (sabo- A&B) are SIGNIFICANTLY more defendable than Raven and especially Valor. There is no easy nade access, there are typically only three points of entry (each of which is typically defendable by the other). C objective on SVER is far to easy to gain control of and most importantly to cut-off the spawns of SVER.
Overall, SVER controls better defenses (on all games modes, cept Dom- in which they are balanced) and have overall more powerful weapons, which coupled with the LMG imbalance (too powerful and too accurate) make SVER + LMG unstoppable.
Valor
Valor weapons used to be balanced, decently powerful, and moderately accurate, with ARs being the workhorse until 1.5. Once the LMG overpowering happened in 1.5 (too powerful & too accurate, with 100Rnd mag), the only gun of choice became the Mod 0. While Valor's guns are now gimped and Mod 0 rules Valor, their guns are no where near as powerful and in some cases less accurate than SVER and certainly less accurate than Raven's guns.This creates significant issue when attacking SVER who has LMGs with far more power. I found myself being dropped with a few bullets to the chest (heavy armor no less) immediately after switching from SVER to Valor. My Mod 0 hardly stood a chance without head shots.
Valor control stations have always been the laughing stock of MAG, not a huge deal, C's pretty decent, but when combined with SVER weapons' tremendous stopping power, there is no contest in mid-close range battles and open area Valor's A&B present. Overall Valor gets trounced by the overpowered weapons of SVER.
Overview; the major changes to gun balancing in 1.5 completely ruined Valors defense against SVER's more powerful weapons, combined with the LMG overpowering in 1.5, Valor has becomes SVER's **bleep**, due to their guns and most importantly lack of ability to have an AR that can shoot accurately and with decent stopping power (long-mid-range attack), which would give SVER's close-mid range weapons a fight.
Conclusion
SVER benefits (or suffers from- depending on your POV) a sizable advantage due to a few facets outlined below. As the statistics have shown- despite whatever you may / may not believe, it is as statistical fact that playing as SVER (ATM) significantly increases your ability to win, your kill to death ratio, and overall provide a striking imbalance to MAG as it stands today.
The key factors for SVER's imbalance are as follows:
Every gun of each class is "best of breed" from base to tier 3, SVER doesn't have a gun that isn't underpowered and most of their guns are more accurate than competing faction equivalents.
LMG's have killed Valor & Ravens' counter-balance to SVER's close-mid range superiority- the AR. The ARs have been gimped since 1.5, less accurate and less powerful overall have lead to the LMG noob revolution, a revolution which has Valor & Raven at a disadvantage as the LMGs present a close-med range only gun for all factions, but SVER benefits from increased stopping power, thus dissolving the counter balance of the other factions.
SVER has always had the most easily defensible maps- from the enclosed control stations, to the elevated defensive points @ C. Not to mention the turret articulation of SVER's bunkers (Acquisition & Dom).
Important Notes about Tournament
Most people on all factions where playing for XP (medic gun- whoring). Which isn't a huge issue until you run into a group of people doing nothing but getting shot so they can get revived en-mass. This may have had a minor, but insignificant effect on some of the stats, but couldn't change results.
There may have been some "good" players which have known about the SVER in balance from previous betas, which switched over to SVER to get more points through "win" bonuses. We thought the same thing, but weren't interested in winning the tourney anyway (XP whoring is stupid). This could have had a MINOR affect on the overall win / loss, but not a major issue when you see just how dominating the win ratio is on SVER.
There were a couple times that our group was bored on SVER and tried to create a human pyramid next to the hostile spawn causing excess deaths and in one case a defense of C. No real effect on the results- just shows how much idle time we had on our hands while demoralizing the other team with SVER.
Honestly, we did not have the most hardcore / best players in our group- while good players, most of them did not have the experience on the beta that most of the top tier players do- thus the [EOD] group during this test weren't a bunch of ringers making SVER look good. Also note the miserable Valor performance for further evidence. And furthermore note the control group (which as soon as I have pics- Warhammer!), you'll see we weren't the only SVER with a huge advantage and ridiculous Win / Loss. Not to mention the shadow war results nearly 100-1 on the overall shadow war during the tourney!