Multiplayer Etiquette

[Warg1]

1st world problem rant here

I'm a big fan of the multiplayer facility of FOG and have come across some worthy opponents and decent people over my time with this game. But occasionally you come across players who are just a little frustrating. Personally, I think it's bad form to go onto a go slow once things don't appear to be going your way. I understand that sometimes life gets in the way of FOG and sometimes it's not possible to take a turn but it's a little bit off when you see they are posting fresh challenges despite say not having an existing game running where they haven't moved in a week.

Yeah I get not everyone in life is going to play the way you would like but I for one would like to see some kind of rating system for players that can be displayed to allow you some info on whether to accept a challenge or not.

Rating factors could include
% of finished games
avg time in between responding to moves
activity heat maps as to when time-zone when they take turns
possibly a win/loss ratio & volume of games played

Just some metrics around who you are taking on before you decide to commit to a game with a stranger. It could work like some sort of algorithmic uber rating and when posting a challenge you could screen out players with below-par ratings. Maybe I'm wrong but I feel if players could screen for certain types of opponents, by factors like speed of play or competency they would be more inclined to post challenges rather than waste time on dud games or time wasters.

mini rant over but I'd be keen to see if others would like to implement some sort of rating system for players not just in terms of skill but in terms of frequency and finishing record.

[SimonLancaster]

I don’t know if some kind of automated system could be set up. Is there anything like this for other Slitherine games or even other strategy games?

In the main, there aren’t many players that go slow. The other issue is how would you stop particular players from accepting your challenge? The problem would still exist for MP or if you were placed with certain players for a tournament.

I know some players get upset due to slow play in Slitherine tournaments. Some games aren’t completed. Perhaps players could be warned and then suspended. Would you be in favour of this? It does seem like the nuclear option.

[SnuggleBunnies]

I'd like a % mp matches completed stat. Very annoying when people just stop playing when they start to lose. It's not super common, maybe 1/10-15 public challenges I post, but I'd still rather just not play people who are going to do that.

However, the problem would be differentiating between games abandoned out of poor sportsmanship vs mutual agreement- unless you count surrenders as fully completed, even if someone just ditches the game via surrender as things start to turn against them. At which point it wouldn't be a useful statistic. You'd need to add a whole 'agree to surrender/draw' option, which I just don't see happening.

Anyway most people are nice and honorable, and you get to know who's who pretty quick so not a huge deal...

[markleslie]

The good outcome for mankind of course is a cup of tea and less data harvesting.


A relaxed attitude and appropriate attire may aid in this approach.

[julianbarker]

Penalising for delay in posting moves is already too much as far as I am concerned. Working full time for long hours and most often playing against people in completely different timezone sometimes means I can't respond to opponents for 18 to 20 hours. I was penalised in points in the last round despite posting ASAP everyday and being ahead when the game timed out.

[SimonLancaster]

Yes, maybe accept that there will be a few games that don’t get completed but this is a small % of your overall games and enjoyment.

[oscarius]

Penalising for delay in posting moves is already too much as far as I am concerned. Working full time for long hours and most often playing against people in completely different timezone sometimes means I can't respond to opponents for 18 to 20 hours. I was penalised in points in the last round despite posting ASAP everyday and being ahead when the game timed out.

Seconding this. In my New Zealand time zone even checking regularly for received turns after work till sleep it's still very touch-and-go to complete the timed tournaments (especially if you're playing those occasional jokers who deploy their army or fall back to the edge of the map for no strategic gain beyond wasting our turns). Indeed it's to the point I'm forced to deliberately pursue aggressive deployments (even if the army/map doesn't favour it) so I don't get penalised.

I'd recommend we get given a few more days on these timed tournaments. The penalty system as it stands isn't particularly fair to those of us in the uncommon time zones who do our reasonable best as employed (so we can purchase more of your wonderful products!) adults. If my opponent is asleep or working in my six hours of free time then it's hard to meet the timer unless both players are aggressive.