Generating MOO2 activity
Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2005 6:06 pm
Over the past year or so, there have been a number of new players, as well as returning players, and that's great. I think it would be cool if we could do something to encourage this trend to continue.
Can the ladder be used to help?
Right now, my perception is that we have about 8 fairly consistent ladder players. Bringing the ladder over to LB's site for his administration and coding skills is a very good thing. Since we're in a minor sort of transition phase, would it be a good idea to do something to encourage activity by players who are either new or more casual in their interest?
What is the point of any new ladder code, or modifications to existing code, if all it does is slightly change the landscape for a small, select group of players who have played for so long that newer or more casual players have little chance of cracking the top 10? If all it does is maintain the status quo for those who have a lock on the top 5-10 spots, I would say that there isn't any point at all.
For purposes of starting a brainstorm or other discussion, I throw out two possibilities.
1: Start a second ladder, and somehow limit it to a more casual player base.
I don't know what the "rules" of said ladder would be. I have a perception that more casual and/or newer players might play ladder games more often if they thought there was a point. However, right now, there probably really isn't one for those players who have not obsessed over the game like some of us have.
2: Make some sort of allowance for ladder matches on one existing ladder that level the playing field a bit, similar to a golf or bowling handicap. In other words, if there is a perceived disparity between opponents beyond a certain point, some sort of game setting or condition is used to help level the playing field. Possibilities might include some method of limiting or granting extra race picks, or forcing a certain race pick on the higher level player. Perhaps it would be a negotiable thing decided upon by the players involved, with or without a set of community agreed upon guidelines, or maybe there would be a requirement.
Some players might find this offensive, who knows.
What are people's thoughts?
Better yet, if you do not play many Kali MOO2 ladder games, yet you do play 1v1 games outside the ladder semi-regularly, what would make you more inclined to participate?
-Gusset
Can the ladder be used to help?
Right now, my perception is that we have about 8 fairly consistent ladder players. Bringing the ladder over to LB's site for his administration and coding skills is a very good thing. Since we're in a minor sort of transition phase, would it be a good idea to do something to encourage activity by players who are either new or more casual in their interest?
What is the point of any new ladder code, or modifications to existing code, if all it does is slightly change the landscape for a small, select group of players who have played for so long that newer or more casual players have little chance of cracking the top 10? If all it does is maintain the status quo for those who have a lock on the top 5-10 spots, I would say that there isn't any point at all.
For purposes of starting a brainstorm or other discussion, I throw out two possibilities.
1: Start a second ladder, and somehow limit it to a more casual player base.
I don't know what the "rules" of said ladder would be. I have a perception that more casual and/or newer players might play ladder games more often if they thought there was a point. However, right now, there probably really isn't one for those players who have not obsessed over the game like some of us have.
2: Make some sort of allowance for ladder matches on one existing ladder that level the playing field a bit, similar to a golf or bowling handicap. In other words, if there is a perceived disparity between opponents beyond a certain point, some sort of game setting or condition is used to help level the playing field. Possibilities might include some method of limiting or granting extra race picks, or forcing a certain race pick on the higher level player. Perhaps it would be a negotiable thing decided upon by the players involved, with or without a set of community agreed upon guidelines, or maybe there would be a requirement.
Some players might find this offensive, who knows.
What are people's thoughts?
Better yet, if you do not play many Kali MOO2 ladder games, yet you do play 1v1 games outside the ladder semi-regularly, what would make you more inclined to participate?
-Gusset