Accountability for abandoning PBW games

[Batman]

Ok, one thing I've noticed on the PBW open games forum is the large ratio of Replacement Player Needed games to New Games.

Clearly people abandon games a lot.

I used to play Diplomacy (an excellent, excellent Avalon Hill board game, now published by Hasbro, I think) Online, and the mailing list that organized the games had an interesting system of ranking its members. I think something similar could be adopted for PBW.

Whenever a player saw a game through to completion (either by winning or participating in a draw) they were promoted to "Dip Knight". Players knew that a Dip Knight had proven themselves to be reliable (often by playing on for many many turns as a minor player, hovering on the edge of extinction) and usually pretty talented players. I gather that they were promoted as they completed more and more games and (although it didn't happen too often) that they could lose their status if they became unreliable.

Imagine, if you will, the creation of an order of PBW players of undisputed reliability and skill (like Jedi but without fancy swords). Hopefully an elite, but not elitist (hard to do).

You could apply for the first rank after surviving or winning a game of longer than, say, 100 turns?

Then, if a member of the "Order of Malfador" joined your game, you'd have an idea of his/her calibre. Debate over the name (and indeed over the usefulness/appropriateness of the whole idea) is encouraged.

[geoschmo]

This is something we always intended to implement, and just never got around to doing unfortunatly. We wanted to make an automated tracking statistics that would allow others to see how many games you had started, finished, took over as a replacement, and your speedy and consistant you are with your turns. Alas the complexity has so far prevented getting stated on it.

Someone recently said suggested to me the creation of an unofficial statistic for PBW players called a "Save". Players would earn a save by taking over as a replacment for an abandoned empire.

Geoschmo

[Lupusman]

I for one would like to see some sort of tracking. A turns played to missed ratio would be nice too.

[Jmenschenfresser]

Ok...
I think I can contribute here. As one who loves statistics, a curse a childhood friend bestowed upon me, I would be willing to take over a human collected Version of a scoring/reliability chart (with Geo's blessing and help of course).

I know this isn't a permanent solution, but I don't think PBW activity on the scale of people winning and dropping out is so great that it can't take more than a few minutes a day and a short spell per week to update.

The hard part would be adding the names initially as they come in.

Keeping it simple, here is my vision:

We have a win, a finish, and a dropped column.

A win is a win. Some games don't have winners, but if they do...

A Finish simply means you ended what you started...no matter if you get glassed ten turns in.

A drop is what we know it to be.

Points could be added to each Category if you want rankings: 3, 2, -3. That way a win really isn't much more than a finish, but if you drop as many as you finish...you'll be in the hole. Whatever.?

Then a Category of total games started, so you can average out how good a player is.

Perhaps a saved Category can be added which will include games you took over which were abandoned. Brownie points. Gives people names if they want to hunt down replacement players.

The Last possibility is "total turns played," and still keeping it simple.

The biggest question would be reporting all these things. Certainly the rankings are for the benefit of the entire community, so it should be up to players and game hosts to supply the info.

Obviously if a player drops out, the game host will be more than willing to report the player...or someone will.

If Geo thinks it's workable, I am willing to compile the list and stats, but the hosts will have to be ultimately responsible for sending in short notes when any player drops, dies or wins, and the turn count thereof. Pretty simple I think.

And of course, games could be specified pre-game that they are un-ranked.

Comments?

EDIT: The previous post just gave me an idea for another Category of shame...the kick. But this would require some laws laid down, like a pre-stated amount of missed turns in a row before you can kick someone...or other good and proveable reasons. Something like missing 10 turns in no less than 5 days.

[ June 08, 2002, 05:09: Message edited by: Jmenschenfresser ]

[Fyron]

Something like missing 10 turns in no less than 5 days.

Or how about 3 48-hour turns without explanation? That's at least 6 days of absence.

[Atrocities]

People leave games for many reasons. I have had to leave games before because of RL issues, PC issues, Internet connectivity issues (I hate AT&T Broadband)

Some people leave the game because it becomes boring, they are in a bad way in the game, they become frustrated about something, or simply loose interest in the game.

If you say you going to be in for the long haul, most stay. I understand that there is a list of hard core players that often play, and seldom drop out. Those people are the ones you want to have in your game. That is if you enjoy getting your arse handed to you on a silver platter as your people become slaves.

[Jmenschenfresser]

Yea, I've lost interest in a PBW game before, but I didn't drop. Almost anything can be worked out if a dialogue is opened.

I don't think such a thing should be a blacklist at all. However, if someone drops 5 outta 6 games, the list has been blackened by his own doing.

Perhaps the list should be a standings, with a number of "un-excused" drops and possibly too many missed turns kicks on the side.

I certainly wouldn't want anyone being denied a spot because they have a drop or two on the books...even if they are unexcused. Perhaps this column begs a comments field, like on ebay, where the game host can write in the grievence and the player can respond.

Dunno...maybe this is too fascist for a smallish community like this one.

I'll think it over.