Solution to Kicking New Players - PRO GAMES USE PASSWORD
Posted: 09 Feb 2016, 21:22
So just a little preface, I has been hard to discuss this in IRC because there are a lot of problems and ideas about what should be done. Everyone really cares about this game, so discussion has got heated. Please remember that we are all on the same side and should work together! Also, people can think of many different new features to try to solve these problems, but simplest is often best. The solution I am proposing requires no update and can start being used immediately!
The main issue that has lead to other issues is this: Kicking new players from games upsets them and negatively impacts the community. Want proof? look here and here. (Warning NSFW language)
This has lead to removing ranks so we cannot tell who is a new player, in the hopes theat kicking would stop, which seems like the improper action to rectify the problem. Additionally, removing rank with the plans to eventually implement a server based, tamper proof ranking system does not make much sense. This is not the point of this post, but it is a point that NF-Cowboy has made several times and for good reason.
Here is what we need to figure out: How can we reduce or stop kicking new players from experienced player games?
I say kicking new players from experienced player games because that is what hurts the community and causes issues. New players have a smaller investment to the game and are more likely to stop playing because of the negative experience. If an experienced player gets kicked from a new player game, I don't think most of us would be too upset. We may not like it, but we certainly wont stop playing because of it.
There is no perfect solution. We should try to solve the problem with the tools we have, and we have always been able to password protect rooms.
I propose using password protection on games where we want only experienced players. This password can be common knowledge among experienced players so they can join easily. Right now their is a PW at the top of the #warzone2100-games IRC channel. When you host a room, name it something like "PRO GAME GET PW IN IRC". Lets actually use IRC to help organize games.
We can start right away, so we would not have to wait for an update for a new feature. Like every solution, there are pros and cons, I am sure people can add to this list:
Pros
It will increase the usage of IRC, which is good for the community!
It will give pro games more of a feeling of elitism. The VIP section of the club, so to speak. I think
Cons:
It will take effort to get everyone on board.
Some pros don't use IRC. - well they could start, or we could just tell them the pw using other methods.
So pro players cant kick noobs but they can kick me? That is unfair! - yes it is, but we are all adults and can deal with the occasional kick from noob games.
The main issue that has lead to other issues is this: Kicking new players from games upsets them and negatively impacts the community. Want proof? look here and here. (Warning NSFW language)
This has lead to removing ranks so we cannot tell who is a new player, in the hopes theat kicking would stop, which seems like the improper action to rectify the problem. Additionally, removing rank with the plans to eventually implement a server based, tamper proof ranking system does not make much sense. This is not the point of this post, but it is a point that NF-Cowboy has made several times and for good reason.
Here is what we need to figure out: How can we reduce or stop kicking new players from experienced player games?
I say kicking new players from experienced player games because that is what hurts the community and causes issues. New players have a smaller investment to the game and are more likely to stop playing because of the negative experience. If an experienced player gets kicked from a new player game, I don't think most of us would be too upset. We may not like it, but we certainly wont stop playing because of it.
There is no perfect solution. We should try to solve the problem with the tools we have, and we have always been able to password protect rooms.
I propose using password protection on games where we want only experienced players. This password can be common knowledge among experienced players so they can join easily. Right now their is a PW at the top of the #warzone2100-games IRC channel. When you host a room, name it something like "PRO GAME GET PW IN IRC". Lets actually use IRC to help organize games.
We can start right away, so we would not have to wait for an update for a new feature. Like every solution, there are pros and cons, I am sure people can add to this list:
Pros
It will increase the usage of IRC, which is good for the community!
It will give pro games more of a feeling of elitism. The VIP section of the club, so to speak. I think
Cons:
It will take effort to get everyone on board.
Some pros don't use IRC. - well they could start, or we could just tell them the pw using other methods.
So pro players cant kick noobs but they can kick me? That is unfair! - yes it is, but we are all adults and can deal with the occasional kick from noob games.