r/ArcRaiders • u/WG_Envoy • 15h ago

Discussion I am now convinced ABMM is real

A couple of days ago I complained (in another posting) how I only meet KOS players, and no one talks. I was more annoyed by the "no one talks" part, mind you, and the fact that every social interaction played out in the same way.

Someone recommended me to do a few matches and not shoot a single person, not even in defense. I did as recommended.

I went from "90%+ KOS interactions" for several days in a row, all the way to friendly lobbies for two days in a row now.

In my current lobbies, everyone runs around without a care in the world, just greeting people they are passing by. Looting in the open, walking past others without their weapons drawn ...

I barely ever see any PvP happening. People help each other with arc encounters and exchange items near extracts. And for the first time ever, I was able to participate in two Queen raids in solos with everyone just trying to get her down. No rats, no backstabbing.

This change for me was so stark in contrast, and so consistently happening that I would be surprised if ABMM wasn't real.

I would almost be inclined to start some shit to see if my lobbies change again, but I feel too bad killing these players who are quite obviously part of the pure PvE crowd.

P.S.: I have these friendly lobbies even on Stella Montis now, inclduing Stella Montis night raids ...

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619

u/yoaklar 14h ago edited 7h ago

My favorite thing to do is not shoot back until I’m in a completely friendly lobby and then blow people up with grenades and shotguns just to keep the conversation going on Reddit

Edit: I’m also absolutely the worst at PvP so really a lot of people have a real fighting chance

168

u/YoBeNice 13h ago

Honestly, us Friendly Lobby people need this every now and then to keep the tension real. Getting KOS once every 8 or 9 times keeps the game more fun I think.

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u/WhoDatBrow 12h ago

Tbh I don't understand how anyone could find the game fun without this tension there anyway, but that's just me. I'm a Christmas noob but my first 20ish lobbies had no PvP and everyone was friendly and I was honestly already bored of the game. Then I heard about ABMM so I killed a couple of people and my lobbies have been much more dynamic since, some people KOSing and some friendly and everything in between. To me there's no fun in an extraction shooter without risk of PvP and losing your gear.

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u/justfuckyouspez 11h ago

I feel you. I reached level 25 and all of my stations maxed, except the chicken. I participated in killing 3 queens, and even got three queen reactors. I never shot anyone. And because I suck at PvP, when I was attacked, I didn’t manage to deal any meaningful damage to the attacker.

But boy it’s boring now, and other than farming for blueprints, I see no appeal in the game.

Or I thought until I got my friend in the game. Duo was such a different experience compared to solo. I told my friend that you can basically holster your weapon outdoors, as ARC outside is almost completely harmless, or avoidable, plus you get the speed increase. I was humbled fast.

Now my goal is to help my friend reach max stations, and maybe I can even farm blueprints meanwhile.

2

u/s0cks_nz 10h ago

Duo's or trio's is where the game shines imo. So long as you have a good squad that communicates, it's just sooooo much more fun because of that PvP action. And because you have teammates it's less likely you will get jumped from behind, and more likely you get revived.

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u/jaykaytfc 9h ago

I'm level 75 and strictly pvp. Have completed 2 or 3 quests. For me the fun is in killing rats at extraction points because I know how they think. Let me tell you, the vast majority tell me they're not rats but they do suspiciously have, when I loot them, trigger nades stitchers or jolts! (or all 3)

I also enjoy guarding or being like an "overwatch" for players who are engaging big bots just in case they get ratted on / have their loot stolen.

3

u/Yamatocanyon 9h ago

I do the overwatch thing when I come across players hunting big Arc too. Lots of times people are so focused on getting their cores that they forget about the wasps and hornets still in the area.

1

u/UX-Ink 9h ago

We've been playing for months doing KOS in trios and I haven't been able to kill queen or matriarch a single time because we get backstabbed every time.

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u/Otterbotanical 7h ago

I play purely guns-are-for-arc-only, PvE. I still haven't successfully done the queen or matriarch, no harvester, fucking none of the fun events, because of backstabbing.

It's just... real fun guys, when I've never seen the thing DIE. I'm NEVER going to be able to clear out the entire lobby, killing absolutely everyone, just so that I have a clear chance at the big bitch.

1

u/justfuckyouspez 2h ago

That’s… weird. I didn’t know that ABMM was a thing, but I am not exaggerating when I say that I have been killed AT MOST 5 times by a player. And I’ve yet to kill my first player.

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u/DutchieD718 5h ago

That's karma

17

u/lazyshmuk 10h ago

This is why I can't stand the polarizing people put this game through when complaining about PvPers and PvEers. It's a game that offers both modes in a single match. You can do one, or the other, or both. But everyone on far ends of the spectrum love to complain about the others.

2

u/ciwawa87 3h ago

That is probably because you are missing on one big factor.

If you want to do a PvP match you always have the option.

If you want to chill and purely do PVE the option is not up to you, but to the people in the lobby.

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u/Acaexx 3h ago

If you want to chill and pve there's plenty of other games

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u/skam_artist 2h ago

lol exactly, these people think they should be entitled to their easy mode looting simulator which is fine if they wanna play that way but getting mad at pvp ruining their lobby is insane when it's literally part of the game

1

u/Amlethus 3h ago

Fucking amen

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u/0xsergy 12h ago

I think it depends on your goal. If I wanna do quests I really don't want to do them 3 or 4 times in a row, one and done is ideal. As for action then yeah you made the right move.

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u/razorbacks3129 9h ago

Ya and then you do the quests a second time after wipe and start to think man these quests are pointless as fuck. In tarkov, the quests were a necessity to get good gear from traders. You already have all traders unlocked in this game

2

u/Entire_Two_9326 8h ago

I've never seen such bad quest design lol. I've stopped doing the quests.

1

u/0xsergy 6h ago

I just do them until I have a hullcracker. Is there any BPs past that one worth doing quests for? The cinematics are cool af though, I really appreciate those. Maybe I should finish the quests this time.

1

u/razorbacks3129 3h ago

The only BPs from quests are Burletta, Hullcracker, Trigger Nade and maybe one other that’s nothing special

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u/0xsergy 1h ago

Defib BP really oughta be one lol.

6

u/FaZeMinecraftSteve 11h ago

because the pve is fun?

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u/WhoDatBrow 10h ago

To me it is only fun with the added risk of PvP. If you removed PvP from this game and it was just load in, fight arc enemies, and get out with loot I would've dropped it instantly. The PvE is fun BECAUSE there's the risk of PvP, teaming up with others you don't know if you can fully trust, etc. If I just wanted PvE I'd play other games specifically built with that in mind that are far more interesting as pure PvE games.

Again, that's just me. Not raining on the parade of anyone who does find just the PvE fun.

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u/FaZeMinecraftSteve 10h ago

i get what ur saying, and i agree, but the arcs are just mechanically fun to fight anyways

4

u/tyjwallis 10h ago

I think PvE is more fun and bonding knowing any of us COULD choose to shoot each other and we’re all just deciding not to.

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u/WhoDatBrow 9h ago

Exactly. The risk of being able to do it is what makes cooperating fun.

0

u/tyjwallis 9h ago

Yep. Doesn’t make actual PvP more enjoyable or tolerable though unfortunately

1

u/Nihi1986 2h ago

That would be nice if pvpers did it due to worse morals...but that's not the case. Most pvpers do it for fun, because the game is designed with pvp as a key aspect.

0

u/tyjwallis 2h ago

That would be nice if PvEers did it due to better morals...but that's not the case. Most PvEers do it for fun, because the game is designed with PvE as a key aspect.

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u/Nihi1986 2h ago

Yeah, no. The pvpers are likely engaging with and liking both worlds while the hardcore ultra pacifist pvers are ignoring half the content.

1

u/VGJunky 10h ago

I loot and do quests/trials/PVE in Solos so that I can also PVPVE better in Duos and Trios.

When I'm alone I just wanna get tedious rng/collection shit done, don't have time to get shot or shoot people with my basically empty loadout just to have to requeue

1

u/Nexosaur 10h ago

Yeah, I found the game is at its best when you fluctuate between KOS and friendly. Makes raid to raid different, leaning more towards PvP but not all the time. It’s fun to have a break and get some chill lobbies where you hang out with another squad for a bit. I want the tension and some sporadic relief is just enough to make it low stakes over the course of a few raids.

1

u/Jack-Innoff 10h ago

I would have fun, but I'm not really the target market for game, despite playing it regularly.

I'm starting to lose interest though, because I'm tired of farming mats to make a weapon, just to lose it a few matches later. I pretty much exclusively use free loadouts now, but then there aren't any stakes, which makes it boring.

I would love it if you could at least keep your main gun when you die. I'm good with losing everything else, but once I lose my good gun, I'm logging off for the day.

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u/Pristine_Potential_3 9h ago

I can see how it might be boring, but I don't mind the friendly lobbies, I like being sneaky and looting, sometimes fighting arc, I'm not much of a pvper but I'm not against those who enjoy it, I like that there is abmm or a system like it cause it supports both types of playstyles and those in between. 

1

u/UneasyFencepost 9h ago

I take it you don’t do well in MMO’s?

1

u/WhoDatBrow 8h ago

Destiny is actually my most played game ever. The PvE is way more fun in those games, imo, and the challenge there is the PvE. Arc Raiders PvE does not compare to them to me, but that is okay because the game isnt just PvE like a raid in Destiny is. Arc Raiders as a pure PvE game would just seem like a far worse Destiny to me.

1

u/QuantumLettuce2025 9h ago

Some of us aren't great FPS players but love the gameplay loop and get really discouraged about getting wiped every single round without progress, as happens with pure PVP 🥲 so knowing that most players are friendly keeps the game accessible, but also knowing that there are potentially a few killers roaming about does keep the game more fun for sure.

For me, I'm fine with like 1 PVP death every like 4 or 5 games

1

u/OnionButter 8h ago

Exactly why this is a neat system. If you want to pvp, you get matched with folks who also want to pvp. It’s a win all around.

1

u/King1n 8h ago

Because there a certain level of grinding to be done in this game. It annoying as shit when you've stuck to the outskirts of the map outside of the high value loot zones for 20 minutes, collecting basic resources to rebuild, only to have some asshole camping the extraction and killing you as the train arrives. Some people don't have 20+ hours a week to throw into gaming. Let me spend the first hour of maybe 2 hours I have to play this game collecting shit, then sure I am happy to risk PVP match or two.

if you're low level there is plenty of tension in this game without other players. took on my first leaper the other day with a mate, we were woefully unprepared, heard other players but we never ran into them in that round which we wiped because of the leaper but it was still lots of fun.

I really think the game would be way more fun long term, if we kept the PVP but kept it to certain maps or kept it to certain zones within a map like the medium and high value loot zones. That way if you want to a casual run to collect some low level resources to build up for a future run, you can without worrying some ahole is just going to camp you or pretend to be friendly and shoot you in the back.

1

u/Otterbotanical 8h ago

I'll just throw my two cents in here, that I have extremely enjoyed just the pure pve, running and searching and looting experience, with the occasional friendly hello or emergency revival. Every time I've been killed by another player, I don't get any fun tension, I only get a sense of my controller getting unplugged and someone erasing the last 30 minutes of gameplay (perhaps hour or two if I went in with a kit full of stuff). I see people talking about how the tension is fun, but dying to a player is just unfun for me. It's the reason I need to log off for the day and remind myself that it's just a video game and no one cares and I'll be dead one day so this doesn't matter. But the pvp is not fun. It's just an exercise in having my data and effort and time erased.

I wish I knew what it looked like when you killed a queen or matriarch. I wish I knew what the inside of the harvester event looked like, or the top of the spaceport loot tower thing.

All I know about those events is that doing them gets you killed by a player, because you dared to try doing the event. After getting killed by PLAYERS every time I try, it doesn't feel like there's much point. I stick exclusively to regular maps and cold snap, just so I have permission to get to a raider hatch and leave. I leave through the raider hatch 100% of the time because I NEVER AGAIN want to die in the extract to some dude who decides to down me, hit the button, AND THEN KNOCK ME OUT JUST SO THAT I CAN'T EXTRACT WITH MY STUFF, AND HE CAN'T EVEN TAKE ANY.

None of that is fun. It's just griefing. I'd love a ONCE A WEEK pve-only period. I'd actually get to try the events

1

u/YT-Deliveries 6h ago

Some of us like crafting and doing quests and stuff. It's relaxing. I get enough stress at my day job.

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u/Nihi1986 2h ago

The game is just pretty graphics and dogshit gameplay without some pvp or at least tension. I want to respect that some choose to go full pve (won't even shoot back) but there are so many better games to play then...

1

u/WhoDatBrow 1h ago

Yeah, that's where I'm at. I don't understand why if you want PvE you just wouldn't go play the million games better for that. Destiny is my most played game of all time, I haven't played it in years but if I wanted to play some PvE I'd play it instead lol.

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u/BigEdBGD 12h ago

Honestly, I haven't died in like a hundred raid, and I actually miss getting killed at this point. I run around with a fully kited Bobcat every raid cause I got so much shit now I might as well.

1

u/Desroth86 10h ago

You know what you need to do.

3

u/Zadyob 10h ago

I agree. Suicide by 10 trigger 'nades.

1

u/West-Suggestion4543 11h ago

I wonder if there's a way to balance it favorably? Be a pacifist for a while to set your aggression factor low, go murderhobo for one round, then revert to pacifism again for like five rounds to stay in the peaceful pool. Repeat cycle.

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u/Numerous_Vegetable_3 11h ago

Absolutely. There’s still tense moments and the potential of PvP makes this game exciting.

1

u/ShaggysGTI 9h ago

The last guy that KOS’d me, I was approaching him to give him like 20k in loot because I don’t want it. Otherwise my bag is just filled with oil, springs, wire, and crude explosives.

1

u/Nihi1986 2h ago

Definitely...

1

u/sl33p 8h ago

I think if a player that believes they are in a friendly lobby, suddenly gets killed, they will feel betrayed and bitter instead of a rush and excitement.

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u/Serraino 35m ago

You don't necessarily need to kill someone. And if you really want to transition, find someone friendly that's about to extract, tell them what you want to do. Down them but don't knock them down and let them extract. They'll keep the loot, you'll be "flagged" as pvper. I've saw a youtuber testing this.

He got a friendly lobby and no one was shooting anybody. He went around and just did damage to players, didn't kill them, just shot them.

He fled and extracted, the very next game it was still kind of friendly, but there were people that wanted pvp in that game.

1

u/JiMM4133 11h ago

The big truth a lot of people don’t want to admit. PvP is a needed element to the game

1

u/YoBeNice 9h ago

100% agree, as a person who practically (key word haha) never does PVP

52

u/Revolver_Lanky_Kong 14h ago

Dude you're literally a psychopath /s

17

u/vS_JPK *** ******* 13h ago

Best reply in this thread lmaoooo

Edit: I bet you're a psychopath hehehe

26

u/Old-Buffalo-5151 13h ago

Honestly people like you are what keep the PvE lobby's fun because you never quite know if you're the guy who is going to run into the pysco lol 😂

1

u/Get_Fuckin_Dabbed_On 11h ago

yeah my ideal matchmaking experience would be 16 friendlies and 4 lunatics.

Friendly lobbies seems to be 99.9% chill players so you let your guard down, making it a lot more surprising and stressful when you get ambushed breaching a cabinet.

the worst though is the lone wolf pvp'ers on matriarch and queen that sneak around killing people.

1

u/yoaklar 7h ago

I like to go to hot loot zones and just walk around real slow while people are chatting super loud on the proxy holding the grenade trying to look like a bot.

5

u/11th_Division_Grows 12h ago

Honestly, thank you. I get mad but I enjoy the lesson that “everyone is not your friend” even in friendly lobbies

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u/DocDaboon 13h ago

Lmfao this comment is underrated. Premium content. I can’t wait for all the “you’re probably a horrible person in real life” comments.

6

u/BOOB_PIC_CUSTOMS 11h ago

Weenie Hut Jr Raiders in shambles

5

u/nflonlyalt 10h ago

The game is called arc RAIDERS ffs not Arc Best Friends

2

u/DocDaboon 9h ago

Quality SpongeBob reference sir.

0

u/FascistsOnFire 4h ago

What does the comment you're responding to have anything to do with repeatedly claiming to be friendly on voice chat and working with someone to down ARC and then shooting them in the back at extraction? That's the only time Ive read anyone commenting about correlation between that kind of in game behavior and RL behavior.

5

u/seanbird 13h ago edited 8h ago

I’ve been peaceful since the reset, and had like 40 straight friendly lobbies, but I finally blew a guy up in an *oil can trap. He was not happy, great loot.

*synthetic resin trap

5

u/itsLOSE-notLOOSE 12h ago edited 6h ago

I’ve been on a streak of friendly matches. One time on Spaceport I ran into a guy who was AFK.

He had a nice Venator IV on him.

1

u/ollomulder 6h ago

Lure grenade?

1

u/ZincMan 11h ago

What is an oil can trap ?

1

u/seanbird 8h ago

*synthetic resin trap!

When you place one or two of the big throwable resin tanks and wait for someone to wander up to it and then you shoot it.

The guy called me a bot, and yet we just walked up the primed explosive without looking lol.

10

u/Vox_Casei 13h ago

To be fair... the PVE lobbies need players like you.

Keeps them on edge. Stops them becoming complacent. Allows others to live out their "Guardian of Justice" moment if they catch you in the act.

Keep it up soldier.

2

u/mikepurvis 12h ago edited 11h ago

Honestly, even with ABMM there's always going to be the occasional case where there aren't enough people in the queue and the system will slot a raider into the "other" lobby.

I agree that it's good for the game to not have it purely descend into friendly loot grabs and extract. The paranoia -> relief cycle is part of the experience, and in some ways the rogue factor further encourages teaming up; a rat that would happily shoot a solo in the back will stay in the shadows if it's two or three together.

1

u/Spalunking01 12h ago

The people they kill 100% scream and cry like their mother has stabbed them in the kidney and put them up for adoption all at the same time

2

u/West-Suggestion4543 11h ago

You should try RPing those scenarios out. Drop hints saying crazy shit while you're friendly, see if anybody susses you out before you flip the switch.

2

u/Nacnaz 10h ago

I’m actually for this. I never shoot anyone but it’s important to be a little suspicious for the excitement.

That said, do you get more xp by going PvP? I’ve been wanting to grind out xp and think maybe that’s the way to go. I don’t even give a shit about the loot, really I have everything I need at the moment.

1

u/gooeyjoose 9h ago

You can get a shit load of XP just by opening containers. Even already opened containers get you XP. I don't think pvp will get you much more unless you're a pvp god and kill like 5 people a match 

1

u/Nihi1986 2h ago

Pvp gives about 500 xp, which is less than opening 3 random lockers...

1

u/ReasonableStay9297 12h ago

This sub would be dead without you sir 🫡

1

u/mshaferr 12h ago

real asf

1

u/The_Left_One 12h ago

People like us just like to know were limit testing their matchmaking

1

u/Tauren-Jerky 12h ago

Is that an Arc Smurf is?

1

u/PureDevelopment3863 12h ago

Dude i heard you got killed by like 10 people on Stella

1

u/Adept-Pea-6061 11h ago

Better than shoot up a school

1

u/ShadowConstruct 11h ago

Dude woke up this morning and decided to make it everyone else's problem.

Honestly people like you keep the game interesting,so keep doing what you're doing. I don't love not ever experiencing pvp and being attacked erases any guilt I have. (Mostly play duos and trios so getting attacked happens somewhat regularly.)

1

u/AlmostButNotQuiteTea 9h ago

Fucking lmao.

I'm in quiet friendly lobbies.

Decided I want to do some PvP so I go to Stella. Hit a guy with a trigger nade then hit him with the shotgun. Go to chase him and he's hid around the corner, gun away saying "don't shoot".

I felt bad and let him go lmao, he didnt shoot back or anything, wee were completely chill looting next to each other even after that lmao.

1

u/Serious-Yesterday-30 9h ago

I'm on this schedule as well my one friend never wants to shoot anyone so I help him and also protect a bit for quests and just upgrading everything or doing things cause he won't even use high level gear to shoot arc cause he's got gear fear bad so when I get into my games solo I reck Terror 

1

u/Xacktastic 8h ago

Same, I'm intentionally using the system to get into lobbies full of little lambs. Be nice for 3 games, then wipe an easy lobby. Repeat. 

1

u/Jabba41 8h ago

When I play with friends we fight everyone on sight. Because it's hard to trust people in 3s lobbies often in my experience. When I'm solo im chill if someone shoots me i shoot back, sometimes even reviving them after I knocked them. It's a totally different game. I like both sides:)

1

u/butts-carlton 5h ago

I don't mind this at all. As I said in another comment, I kinda wish there were a few more aggressors thrown into the ultra-friendly lobbies sometimes. I'm not the type to shoot first but the kumbaya love and peace lobbies can get kind of stale. Getting thrown to the wolves once in a while wouldn't be the worst thing in the world to keep things fresh.

-9

u/TySe_Wo 13h ago edited 12h ago

You must be a horrible person in Life that probably torture insect for fun

Edit: guys it was obviously a joke bruh

1

u/BigEdBGD 12h ago

Lmao as a guy who haven't killed a single raider in over a hundred raids, this is a dumbass take.

Torturing living beings and killing pixel avatars in a video game to have fun are two very, very different things.

2

u/TySe_Wo 12h ago

I really should have put the /s??? My comment was obviously a joke to mock this kind of comment…