Games set to speed games 8 plays a day

[craig]

I recently was bumped out a game for being "out of time". I couldn't understand how in that I had been taking multiple turns every day. I was in a winning position and now see the game was set to 8 plays a day in Orleans no less, a game where activating can slow the game down. I believe I was skipped in a "gaming the system" kind of way. I've personally never skipped a player's turn for being out of time but hey, that's just me - it's a game not a win at all cost affair.

I suggest players choose carefully when joining random games, with turn limit set to super fast 8 turns a day.

[JohnnyCyclops]

We’ve all been there on “wrong speed” games or even tournaments. Welcome to the club!

[Meeplelowda]

I suggest players choose carefully when joining random games, with turn limit set to super fast 8 turns a day.

I find the best way to avoid "surprises" in time limits, expansions selected, player count, etc., is to use the manual setting on the Play Now page (link in my signature). Yes, it may be more cumbersome, but you know what you're getting.

[oeconormal]

You know that in automatic mode you can adjust what game speeds you like through th cog wheel?

I like your attitude and reason. I will give it another thought before kicking an opponent out of time to win.

[nik592]

You know that in automatic mode you can adjust what game speeds you like through th cog wheel?

You can, but only if you then start games from Play Now (old lobby), from what I've heard anecdotally. If you start games through the game page (new lobby), I think it will potentially give you things you don't want, possibly only if you choose to be "flexible" on that setting (but I wonder, as I'm sure I've been given slower games than I wanted even without flexibility).

[aaarghon]

I'm often on the other side of that. I usually create 8 turns per day games (usually with 3-4 players), as this is a speed I can comfortably play each day, so I'm in no rush and also don't have to wait too long until it's my turn again.
And I'm really amazed how often there is one player, who's time is running negative after just a few rounds. I always wonder why they would join a 8 turns per day game, if they are not able to play that many turns.
From the above replies I understand, that they might not have considered this setting in their search for games, is that correct?
So far I've seen this as a rather rude behavior, as I want to play a somehow fast game and not wait (otherwise I would create a 4 turns per day game) and I assume the other players who join the game are thinking similarly.
I also feel like it should be common courtesy to write a quick message and saying sorry if the time is running out. Then I will also not think about skipping that players turn. If the time runs too negative early in the game and there is no message or anything, I might skip that players turn, no matter if they are winning or losing, but just because of my own time concern.
Or am I a bit off here?

And also, just as a fun observation: 90% of these players are from the US, no idea why

[Meeplelowda]

From the above replies I understand, that they might not have considered this setting in their search for games, is that correct?

Yes. Common human behavior is to select the default option presented. See, e.g., When ‘Nudging’ Is Forever—the Case of Sweden In particular, in a gaming environment people just want to click "play" and not have to fiddle with settings. I think this was part of the mentality behind the creation of the single-game lobby a few years ago.

And also, just as a fun observation: 90% of these players are from the US, no idea why

I'd like to see the recorded data you're using to make that claim, and also whether you have normalized it to account for the relative prevalence of U.S. players in the overall player base.

[nik592]

And also, just as a fun observation: 90% of these players are from the US, no idea why

Yeah, I'd doubt the claim, but it may depend on whether you play real-time or turn-based (you mention 8 plays per day, which is obviously turn-based, but not sure if you lean towards real-time from there or generally turn-based) and what time of day you play. I personally get a lot of opponents from Europe (I live in Australia myself), but I play turn-based, generally 4 turns per day. In 19 tables I'm currently running against people who aren't among my RL friends, I got the following breakdown:

US - 7
Europe - 15
Asia - 4
South America - 2

So US definitely isn't the majority for my opponents, and though it is the highest individual country, it's not 90% of the result either.

[aaarghon]

So US definitely isn't the majority for my opponents, and though it is the highest individual country, it's not 90% of the result either.

Sorry for the misunderstanding, I might have phrased that wrong.
I also got opponents from all over the world, I don't keep track of where they are from, but it's a mix from everywhere. And that's why it is very noticeable to me that, for whatever reason, the players who run out of time are predominantly from the US (don't pin me down on the 90%, that's calculated by feeling).
But that was just a side note and was not supposed to distract from the main topic.

[wdspider]

So US definitely isn't the majority for my opponents, and though it is the highest individual country, it's not 90% of the result either.

Sorry for the misunderstanding, I might have phrased that wrong.
I also got opponents from all over the world, I don't keep track of where they are from, but it's a mix from everywhere. And that's why it is very noticeable to me that, for whatever reason, the players who run out of time are predominantly from the US (don't pin me down on the 90%, that's calculated by feeling).
But that was just a side note and was not supposed to distract from the main topic.

You're from Taiwan, so that makes sense that most of your time outs would be from US. After all, you're 13h ahead at least. You're most likely playing your move right after them as they then go to bed or work which causes 8ish hours drop from their clock.

The only way I know how to pick the game speed is to go to the specific game page and not have flexibility turned on. Play Now page seems to be all hidden settings.

I do wish the matchmaker did a bit more time zone grouping within it. While I haven't received a time penalty from a turn-based game yet as I try to play 2pd or less, my game clock vs Asia is always the smallest.