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Destiny 2

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2/16/2026 8:05:55 PM
9

The "punching bag" program

Have you ever decided Hey Let's Do Some PvP and the moment you start playing you can't do ANYTHING right? "Ok let's try this loadout instead" you think to yourself, or you think it's just This Match cause of connection or player skill. That's a reasonable assumption. We all know PvP can be total pewp at the best of times. So you try again. And you figure Meh It's Just PvP. But it keeps happening. Different matches, different players, same problem. Players are two tapping you left and right. They're standing in your grenade without taking damage. You're hitting your crits, heck you can SEE the shots striking true, but there's no golden numbers anywhere. Now you've entered into what I call the Punching Bag program. Something that no Bungie employee would admit exists but there it is! And sometimes you can see when others are affected by this too. One opponent can't do anything to take you down and you slap em around like a wet noodle. Now why would something like this exist? My hypothesis is that in order for PvP to feel rewarding, and to continue to feed that Hero Moment and keep you coming back, others have to be weakened. Sure there are peak performance players that would argue that this doesn't exist, that by hugging the meta tightly and having MLG skill you can circumnavigate this problem entirely. But let's face it: most of us are not like this. If PvP were truly "balanced" the more "casual" player wouldn't play because they would get curb stomped consistently. The next best thing is to have one or two random players suddenly become the PvP equivalent of a red bar.

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  • Bayesian Programming via MMR have proven this is true. The goal is to lock players into a 50:50 winrate so they keep queuing. It's why you'll go on massive slide and lose 10-15 in a row, only to bounce back and win +10 in a row. This programming exists across like every major PVP franchise.

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    • Is Engagement Optimized MatchMaking (EOMM) in play perhaps?

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    • EOMM is a real thing and Bungie has acknowledged its existence. There are many good videos out on YT on how it works to psychologically entrap people to keep them playing. Just think about how good it feels when it is finally your turn to go on an unstoppable spree and then how bad it feels when nothing works. There are also groups of parents who want legislation to ban these systems because game companies are using it to addict children and teens, who are the most susceptible. Honestly it’s really diabolical behavior by Bungie and any game company that utilizes this system. We can only hope that people wake up and game companies get sued just like many social media companies are being sued for creating addictive producing algorithms on kids and teenagers feeds.

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    • Reminds me of this MP edits vid where everything he tries to do ends up with him getting curb stomped. So he reluctantly uses a meta crutch for that moment in time. https://youtu.be/ioM2umaH2eg?si=iZjEqJNxNm1TlecH Here it is if you wana watch it. He has a gift for editing highlight reels.

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      • Its called p2p and its the biggest lie bungie has made about this game.

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        • Oh this definitely happens. However I believe it has far more to do with Bungie's aging servers and faulty p2p setup than actual game design. Sometimes you're blessed by the connection and sometimes you aren't. ....then of course there is the issue of Bungie allowing third party "accessibility" devices....

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        • I call it lobby balance hell. Happens from time to time no matter skill level. String together a lucky flawless, Or a 7 streak in comp, you feeling good. Now lose every quick play match for a week, Because the system assumes you're wallah

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            eliteg
            eliteg

            🤕🥴😵‍💫🤢...👍👍 - 3/14/2026 3:24:49 AM

            Absolutely -blam!- these guys because thats exactly how I feel - I am in the punching bag program and these pos wont -blam!- take a look at their game... gonna spout some -blam!- on Thursday now after being silent for so long - they better -blam!- address the bullshit right now that is balance is PVP

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          • 🤣 Are you sure you have configured your internet connection properly? This guide helped me: https://help.bungie.net/hc/en-us/articles/360049496751-Advanced-Troubleshooting-UPnP-Port-Forwarding-and-NAT-Types Now I am getting PVEed with all kinds of fancy abilities, and exotics instead 😄

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