A corpmate Halador Osiris thought of a pretty decent matchmaking system kind of like the EVE missions system.

Basically pub matches are broken down into 5 levels which are given to players by NPC agents representing different EVE factions, to progress throught he levels one has to participate in a number of contracts until they earn the required standing to hit the next tier.

Tier 1- Beginner classes requiring players to use the standard Militia fits (expanded MLT fits of course one for each class type) to allow newer players to lean the ropes without having the issue of being proto stomped.

Tier 2- Represents the movement from a player being contracted by faction Militias and into being a merc, thus up to Standard Gear could be used.

Tier3- Advanced Gear building up players who have learnt the ropes in Tiers 1 and 2 and allowing them to get decent SP for higher tiers or to cover thier bases if they initially specced wrong.

Tiers4-5 are free for alls. Any gear, and equipment, maybe the inclusion of FF or other more tactical/ advanced mechannics.

basically players would be rewarded with higher ISK values that vary depending of the tier of the mission contract and then the contract itself e,g- Tier ones would play out say between 75,000 and 120,000 K (give or take) and lets say the agent offers half a dozen contracts 83K, 93K,75K, 103K, 99K,and another 83K. Players select their contract based up how much they want to earn. To me this makes sense as it makes players feel included in the universe of new edena nd the role of a mercenary as well as mirrioring EVE side missioning but also laying out pub matches in a less random way.

Newer players would have the time and somewhat of an equipment buffer against the old protostomps of yore, vets would./ should all congregate at the thier 4-5 pub missions where they could all use thier nifty toys and not have to worry about the bluedot phenomena.

Thoughts?