Arena matches when a player is out of time

[Tharnduil]

So something that I think almost everyone on this site has done at least once is join an arena match, have to wait forever, walk away from their computer or device, and then completely forget that they have been waiting on a match to start.

What I propose is instead of the default button to kick the person after 20 seconds of inactivity is to have it default to "collectively abandon the game."

The option to kick could still be in the drop down list, but why not have the default option be to just abandon the game? I mean in general this is a site to have fun and enjoy the experience. I love trying to make my rank higher in the arena but it isn't so important that I want to gain wins while kicking the person out. This is currently what I try and do as soon as a player hits 0 on their clock so the rest know that it is even an option.

My guess is that most players don't even realize that they could collectively abandon instead of kicking and giving negative karma points. The thing is if you notice the same player with this issue you can always kick instead and then report.

Anyways, just thought I'd share as this seems much more like a community way of playing instead of needless aggressive play style.

[Silene]

What people tend to forget is that it is also annoying to come for a game, be happy that you find someone (or a group for 3+ games) to play with and then one player is not moving. Depending on the game you have to wait like 3+ minutes for them to time out. And after that maybe not find a new game again so soon - or even worse - you find one and the same thing happens again.

I think it's very important, that it doesn't happen so often. But making it most comfortable for the person who left the board and times out is certainly not gonna help for this to happen less. I think it's important that people be sensible about whether they joined the queue to wait for a game or not and when they leave, they leave the queue to not be matched. People only learn that if there's a downside to doing it and not just an abandoned game.

But I think it would be way better if there was a confirm button in the beginning of arena games (with masked opponnents so you can't be picky). Because in that case you don't need to wait the full 3+ minutes. But unless/until that is implemented, I don't think that making it more comfortable for the people who didn't pay attention / were not careful would be gaining anything.

[Tharnduil]

what you call "comfort" I call courtesy. Again if you feel like you are being insulted for your time you can always still choose the "kick" option. Abandon can't be done unless all agree.

But why make it the default when the goal of the site is enjoyment not rank. Anyone that feels like you do knows there is a "kick" option and can use it. Again I would argue that very few know there is the option to abandon and not have to punish a player.

I understand your frustration with it, as this happens often to myself. However, the game just isn't that important for me to feel the need to retaliate someone's mistake into "free arena points!" I mean really is it that big a deal? And if you answer that question with a "yes it is a big deal!" then again there is always the option to "kick" instead if you feel so aggrieved.

Remember, this is supposed to be a community site for people that love to play board games. Why have the default set to punish players?

[ABray]

I like both of those suggestions! I always wondered why there isn't the option to accept the arena game at the beginning, and that's a good idea to have players anonymous for that. In a recent game, a player wasn't taking their turn, so the other 2 players and I discussed either booting or going to turn-based. I didn't realize the turn-based play was an option either. Can the player also just be skipped without expelling from the game? I think it expels them after 20 seconds, but why not give the option just to skip and if they continue not playing through the game and everyone wants to finish without playing it for days, then you could boot the player.

[lynxkewl]

I believe a simple confirmation from all players to begin arena games would solve the accidental no shows.