Repeat: FIX THE GURU SYSTEM

[Tharnduil]

I voiced this last time and I will voice it again. The guru system is broken. It doesn't work. It keeps the same settings over and over and over.

Why would Catan be 3 players two arena's in a row when so many have voiced their displeasure with it? Why is kingdom builder stuck in perpetual 2v2 boring game play?

The guru system is designed around those that like the current format getting to play their preferred format over and over every single season. I have been a long time user of this site, but the lack of even responding to this concern let alone changing it is starting to get frustrating.

For an example of a good arena look no further than Terra Mystica which took opinions from the community that voiced the best way to make it work was a revolving set of options. Even the chosen Gurus asked the community what type of settings they most preferred. Since it seemed like everyone was mixed on it they went with a constant rotation of options.

Perhaps the easiest solution if you are wanting to keep the "Gurus" is have the community vote on the most preferred style/options. Then the Gurus could see what the community is voting. Then BGA could take the opinions of the Gurus and the community and weigh them accordingly.

Honestly, at this moment I'm just frustrated that no attention or reply is given to this topic. If there isn't any attention to it from this time to next arena season I will be pulling my membership as there is no point in supporting a site that continually frustrates me as opposed to enjoying. At that point why not just play for free when I feel like it?

[Silene]

Just stop bothering with arena and play free games with the settings you like?

There's no way to please everyone. You complain it isn't changed although many people asked for it. Guess what - it if was changed, then there would be people saying why was it changed when there were so many people who liked the previous format. Surely that sounds like rotating is a good idea. But it's hard to organise something like that for 500 different games. I think it works for TM because many players like various different settings and the community is not that much split into 2 contrary positions - so they managed to find a common ground. It's not the case for most other games and it's impossible to find a solution that pleases everyone. "ask the community" is difficult because who is "the community"? Everyone? Then people would complain that some players are voting who barely even play the game.

I'm not saying the guru system is perfect - it surely can be improved. But you're trying to make it sound like a good and fair solution is simple and obvious when it's not.

Also it's not true that the same settings are kept over and over. Every end of arena season, I get a wall on my Front page with message about new arena settings and I need a few minutes to quit a lot of XY Players groups because I don't like getting those messages. That's not perfect either, but if what you said was true, I wouldn't have this wall of information I'm not interested in on my front page...

[RicardoRix]

I agree, a rotation system sounds like the best idea.

[Tharnduil]

Why should I stop playing the main method I enjoy and the one that gets the quickest people to fill up? It makes no sense to say well just shut up and be happy with it especially since the only reason it is the way it is, is solely because no one is saying anything.

Look, if only one group of the same repeat people get the only say in how something is done then obviously there isn't going to be change. That's how change works when those that don't like the way something is currently being done to say something.

Finally, just because some settings are changed doesn't mean that some are getting ignored. That's great that some are and if they had a regular or even semi regular rotation then it would be fine, but they don't. By their own admission, they don't and instead leave it up to Gurus which is the main problem. As I have laid out over and over because the Guru system is set up for the same or at least similar Gurus to be chosen each new season.

So what is the only solution to fix that system? To voice one's displeasure with the way it is handled here and ask for change. Why you would want me or anyone to shut up and stay quiet makes 0 sense to me since you as well have admitted that the current system is broken.

[Kayvon]

So what is the only solution to fix that system?

To become a guru and vote for the setup you like best?

To voice one's displeasure with the way it is handled here and ask for change.

Given that your title includes the word "repeat", it's clear that this isn't an effective solution.

[Tharnduil]

I agree that it isn't affective but it is the only one we are given here on BGA.

As per the previous time this was a thread "to become a Guru so you can change it" means grinding out a play style you don't enjoy in order to have a percentile influence when most are going to be voting for the setup you don't care for. Not a good or worthwhile endeavor

[6element]

Just stop bothering with arena and play free games with the settings you like?

+100. Arena is broken in so many ways.

[MrBeardy]

I agree that it isn't affective but it is the only one we are given here on BGA.

As per the previous time this was a thread "to become a Guru so you can change it" means grinding out a play style you don't enjoy in order to have a percentile influence when most are going to be voting for the setup you don't care for. Not a good or worthwhile endeavor

No it doesn't. You can become a guru having never played arena.

As for op rant that 3p is worse than 4p catan this is subjective and totally a matter of opinion, and clearly there are enough people with the opinion that 3p is a better system for arena matches. Presumably as it is less prone to a player getting boxed in and neutered part way through a game. 3p always seems to me to require more tactics and skill in the long game than 4p. But I'm not a guru and don't really care one way or the other. I'm happy playing both, and 5-6 player too.

If the arena season has settings you don't like (as with race for the galaxy and a few others) I just sit that season out and play standard games with the settings I prefer. I quite understand other people might prefer different options. I don't really see the point in getting worked up about it or ranting that someone, or a collective or people, might possibly have different preferences to me. That's just life!

[Tharnduil]

That's why this post specifically talks about a revolving door of options.

I have been just "sitting out" the season in Kingdom Builder for like over a year now. That doesn't make any sense. Gurus continue to choose the settings they prefer and thus the arena is stuck in perpetual 1v1 mode which isn't any fun IMO.

The same seems to be happening with Catan. I get having 3p arena, though it isn't as challenging and really just comes down to 1. do you have a bad player that messes with the other opponent more than you 2. did you get really lucky on your rolls, but only ever 3 player Catan makes no sense and since I have seen this situation happen with Kingdom Builder I worry it will happen with Catan.

The way Gurus are picked is broken and thus the power they have over game settings.

[ufm]

- BGA cannot satisfy everyone as others said already. Check the number of games by player number. 3p tramples 4p.
For whatever reason (faster matchmaking? less trade offers? dunno), 3p is much more favored than 4p while playing BGA Catan.

- You don't have to be a guru to conduct a poll or persuade other gurus to adopt rotation format. Just do it as you wish.
Also, you can become a guru without playing even a single Arena game.

- Personally I don't like this narrative, but currently there is no better alternative which fits to >500 games on BGA yet.
I'm not telling you current Guru system is perfect. If you don't like it you can always play other game modes, such as tournament.