Repeat: FIX THE GURU SYSTEM

[Tharnduil]

LOL of course 3p has more plays than 4p. It has been the only arena available since a 2 week window when Catan was first brought on this site.

Since then there have been 4 months of 3p arena Catan. People naturally will play the Arena more than normal games. They can satisfy everyone if they rework their guru system and have a more revolving door of options especially for games with high traffic or when community members ask for a variety of options.

Again the issue is that once a game gets one set of options those "gurus" get chosen over and over so the rules never change. That isn't a good way to run something.

[ufm]

LOL of course 3p has more plays than 4p. It has been the only arena available since a 2 week window when Catan was first brought on this site.

Again, it's about overall game counts, not only Arena mode games.

People naturally will play the Arena more than normal games.

Have you ever checked the number of games finished/running at all? Arena mode games consist of less than 1/4 in Catan.

Again the issue is that once a game gets one set of options those "gurus" get chosen over and over so the rules never change. That isn't a good way to run something.

Suggest a better and plausible alternative option which can be applied to all games on BGA, not just Catan only.
Then admins and other users will heed.

[Tharnduil]

Suggest a better and plausible alternative option which can be applied to all games on BGA, not just Catan only.
Then admins and other users will heed.

I have and it is a rotating set of options laid out by the admin early so that players knew what ones were on the docket. I also have here in this thread said that they could post polls for each game so that players could vote on their type of rule set (again if no votes are received clearly no one cares) then that data could be shared with gurus so at least choices could come from a more understanding point of view.

That and try to better make it clear to gurus that they should be trying to be inclusive with settings not just pick the ones they like playing.

As for your "Arena is only 1/4 of games" comment. HOW SILLY!!!

That means that 1/4 of all the Catan games played are guaranteed to be 3 player games. The rest of the 3/4 is going to be spilt between, 4 player, 3 player that like this style and/or want to practice for arena, new player random matches, random ppl that like 1v1 games, and finally a group that enjoys the larger 5 or even 6 player Catan style.

So AT BEST the number of 4 player Catan matches would be half that of 3 player Catan. More than likely it is substantially lower.

[ufm]

BGA doesn't support 2/5/6p Catan, 3p beats 4p game count hard in other modes, and I can't find any poll like this from BGA Catan subforum:
https://boardgamearena.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=20267

At this point it's quite obvious you didn't even bother to correctly figure out what the problem is and how to solve it. I'm outta here.

[Tharnduil]

LOL this isn't about Catan. It is about the Guru system and how it is broken.

You keep making it one dimensional with silly arguments.

[ufm]

Didn't search even the most basic info about the subject and then accuse someone of being one dimensional. Well, whatever.

[RicardoRix]

This is the problem in a nutshell:

If 25% of players would like 4-player games, and 75% want 3-player games. Then at each season vote, it will always be 3-player as they are going to be the clear majority.

If on the other hand a rotation system was used. Then seasons of 3-player, 3-player, 3-player, 4-player would be more suitable. Everyone's happy(ish) with an equal share.

The problem is exacerbated by the fact that the top arena players will become gurus and these are more likely the 3-player advocates since that is what they're playing

I believe games like Terra Mystica and 7-wonders (and others) agreed a rotation system like this before the guru system and it seems to still hold (I could be wrong).

[MrBeardy]

This isn't true that top arena players automatically become gurus. I'm a guru for several games I've never played in arena. It is about how much people play the game, their reputation and similar. You can play the game in standard mode and still qualify for guru

[RicardoRix]

You don't have to play Arena to become a guru - this is true, but the people that play arena games are playing a lot of games. Normally a lot more than non-arena players and they will become the gurus none-the-less.

You're also talking about 'voting for the next arena season' in which only the Arena guru players will be interested in voting in.

Ergo
The problem is exacerbated by the fact that the top arena players will become gurus and these are more likely the 3-player advocates since that is what they're playing

Lastly, in no way does this change the need for a rotation system as I outlined the problem.

[Silene]

But do not forget there's also a drive in the other direction. People who are not satisfied with the status-quo are more likely to try to act for change. I think among those, that like the current system, there are a lot of inactive gurus who do not bother to even look into guru-voting-section and just ignore the fact that they are a guru. Those that don't like the system are far more likely to check + vote. But of course that cannot overcome a vast majority.

You're also talking about 'voting for the next arena season' in which only the Arena guru players will be interested in voting in.

This might be a tendency but not as absolute as you state it