#025

Purpose

To introduce structured competitive progression through a seasonal ladder prototype and improve moderation efficiency using automation-assisted workflows as user activity increases

Key Highlights

🏆 Multi-Season Ladder Prototype (Alpha)

• Implemented ladder framework supporting seasonal resets and ELO-weighted progression.
• Ladder rank currently derived from:
   • ELO rating
   • Win streak multiplier
   • Activity consistency factor
• Backend stores ladder snapshots for historical season comparison.
• Seasonal rollover logic tested internally (no public reset yet).
   

🛠 Moderation Workflow Improvements

• Report handling queue refined with clearer categorization:
   • Pending Review
   • Under Investigation
   • Resolved
• Replay viewer now links directly to reported match from admin dashboard.
• Moderation decision logs now timestamped with reviewer ID for traceability.
• No automated bans — all enforcement decisions remain manual.
   

📊 Ladder Placement Notifications

• Push notifications triggered when players move between ladder tiers.
• Cooldown logic implemented to prevent notification spam during rapid rating changes.
   

🗂 Expanded Historical Leaderboard View

• Leaderboard now supports:
   • Current season view
   • Previous season snapshot
   • Admin-only custom date filtering
• Query optimization applied to reduce load during peak leaderboard access.
  
   

Why It Matters

• Ladder system introduces long-term engagement beyond individual matches.
• Seasonal structure keeps competition fresh while preserving historical records.
• Strengthened manual moderation ensures fairness without overpromising automation.
• Clear audit trails improve accountability and dispute handling transparency.
   

Open Issues

• Ladder dispute handling not yet fully integrated with appeal dashboard.
• Seasonal decay formula still being tuned for fairness.
• Push notifications may delay slightly for cross-region users.
• Leaderboard filtering still admin-only for custom date ranges.
   

Fixed

• Reviewer assignment now prioritizes timezone alignment for faster resolution.
• Ladder tie-breaker bug (equal ELO + equal streak) corrected.
• Notification flood issue during win streaks resolved via cooldown logic.
   

Next Steps

• Integrate ladder disputes directly into user-facing appeal workflow.
• Publish ladder rule documentation for transparency.
• Run ladder stress test under simulated high match volume.
• Begin linking ladder progression to achievement framework.