Hi! Is there something for new players?

[RolfJWoolen]

Hi everybody,

I go by Dutch, and I've always been into trying new board games. My account is pretty old by now. I played a game with a group I knew but never got into the site after. After all you have to play a game you probably didn't play as much with people you don't know who are probably pretty experienced and much faster. Of course the people who play for rating may not want to play with you at all. That happens and I do understand.

What happened this weekend when I give it a go? I try to get paired in a card game and it's taking a bit longer to get 4 people. I get it. I get paired with some people eventually. I struggle a bit to find the buttons but I manage to make all my moves. I get destroyed ofc but it's fine. Though I have a flag people start talking to me in a foreign language, which wasn't clear to me because the chat is hidden unless you click on it... I don't know if they are saying gg or if I did something stupid, but whatever I guess. I don't manage to find another match so I call it a day. (I tried again today and it went OK)

I turn to a simple 2 player card game to see if that's a bit easier to set up. I lose the first one since I never played, then I win one. Nothing shocking. I autopair the third one and this player is fast. OFC I lose easily. It even turns out to be a fast game and I struggle to click fast enough. Again, I get it, this player obvious played a lot, won fair and square. However, it turned out I was too slow on some move. Now, losing on time in many games is normal, but, that's part of the game! But, I tried to click fast enough and I ended up with a warning on my profile. You can understand this turned out a bit more stressful than I intended, and then I already picked the easiest games I could find. I am sure most of this sounds familiar, and I don't expect some magic solution. But, does anyone have some tips or subforums for new players to get settled in or find eachother? Thanks. Have a nice day!

[Strode]

I would just say try to avoid 'fast' games. There are actually 'slow' and 'normal' games as well, but I don't think many slow games are created. in general, I would say you may have to wait longer to find a game that is right for you. There are lots of simple games here, some more active than others.

Maybe play some games turn-based the first time.

Make sure you learn the rules before playing, if you aren't doing so already.

Some people are more patient than others when it comes to new players.

Beyond all this, it looks as though you are doing fine, even winning a game. Having one demerit for time isn't the end of the world.

[Blacktango]

Yeah, nothing bad here from you, don't worry

I would suggest trying the game tutorial before your first game of a new game, especially if you have never played this game before at all, and even if you have played it in real life already.
Then, you can get familiar with the interface and be more efficient in your first real game here.

The red marker about your play time is not a big deal. It will disappear after playing enough games within the allotted time.

I agree with Strode, be careful with the speed of the table you join/create, especially in games you are not yet familiar with.

[GeraldineMerida]

If you becime a Premium player, you will be able to create your own game settings and can limit them to e.g. beginneers and apprentices, as well as specifying the game speed.

I would certainly recommend that you check game settings before you accept. (People who go to the trouble of creating a fast game are understnadably annoyed if you join without enough familiarity with the game to play quickly, and it's stressful for you too.)

And consider turn based play for games you are still learning. It takes all the stress away, is usually easier to find a game and allows you to check the rules between plays if necessary.

[Blacktango]

you will be able to create your own game settings

You can do this even if you have not a premium account: for non-premium games.

[RolfJWoolen]

Thanks for the replies, I guess I will be careful which option I pick. I've gotten some offers since. I can assure you I knew the game, I even won the one before. What struck me was the system auto-paired me and I just went along with it thinking it was fine. If I had known I literally would end up with seconds and that you could get in trouble for it I wouldn't have bothered ofc.