I think Trials stands as a great example of why you can't functionally design a game mode solely for a subset of a community.

That's not to say top tier pvp players should have their place to shine, they absolutely should, but this ain't it chief.

I believe the moment something that relies heavily on player population cuts away swathes of players by design, it's pretty much doomed.

Skill creep inevitably chokes it to death, and once the perception of something like Trials is that it's insurmountable for most, it's over.

In week 1 of Trials, everyone gave it a go.

The top third of players could repeatedly go flawless, and even carry others.

Average players could go deep into a card and be rewarded for their time.

Those in the bottom third recieved nothing for their time except frustration.

Week Two:

Top third are still kicking heads, albeit with reservations about map choices.

Middle third are finding the games rougher.

Most of the bottom third don't return after getting nothing for their time the previous week.

Population is two thirds of the previous week.

Week Three.

Top third are finding games are harder.

The original middle third are now finding that they're starting to become the new bottom third.

They do not progress deep enough into a card to be rewarded, and leave frustrated.

Some will not return the next week.

So goes the cycle until only the most skilled are left, enduring impossibly sweaty matches and becoming progressively more bitter about the game mode.

They are no longer having fun, so they, the people this mode was designed for, begin to leave.

At that point, it's over.

We've seen this before with the first iteration of the competitive playlist, and it'll be exactly the same this time around unless drastic action is taken to encourage everyone to participate in some way in Trials.

I'm not saying everyone needs to be able to go to the lighthouse, or even get the absolute best gear.

I'm saying that those who are brave enough to enter Trials, even if they are going to be meat for the grinder, deserve to be rewarded in some capacity.

The vast majority of the player base needs a reason to remain engaged with this mode, or it dies, choked to death by skill creep.

It's barely been a month, and here we are.

For our best players to shine, everyone needs to be involved.

End rant.

P.S. Full Disclosure.

I'm average as fuck, if that.

I am fortunate enough to play with players of enormously varying skill levels, so I speak from my experience talking about this game mode with them.

I am a staunch supporter of highly skilled pvp players having their place.