I've been thinking about a partial answer that I gave in the comment thread for "Table Limits" about an ELO restriction. This came up because there is a large ELO variation among players in the Average level but when I became a good player I tended to avoid average players. Not because I don't want to play average players but I perfer not to play with players that have vastly differing ELO than me. A player with 1630 ELO should not have a problem playing a player with 1580 ELO but if you include average players then you're also allowing players with a 1280 ELO. Personally, I like to play everyone but when you play with players that have such a large difference in ELO the possible gain is tiny and the risk is huge. This also defeats the spirit of ELO which is to find players of 'like' ability to play.
So, I propose an ELO restriction.
The current restrictions look like this:
On a new table creation, press "Restrict Table Access"
Restrict By Level: (Beginner, Average, etc...)
Restrict By Reputation: (% thumbs up, % ran out of time, etc...)
Restrict To Group: (Group Names)
Add:
Restrict By ELO: (3% +/-, 5% +/-, 8% +/-, 12% +/-, unlimited)
The following ELO ranges would be used for these settings:
If a player with 1400 ELO makes the following selections:
3%: 1358 to 1442
5%: 1330 to 1470
8%: 1288 to 1512
12%: 1232 to 1568
Unlimited:
If a player with 1600 ELO makes the following selections:
3%: 1552 to 1648
5%: 1520 to 1680
8%: 1472 to 1728
12%: 1408 to 1792
Unlimited:
If a player with 2000 ELO makes the following selections:
3%: 1940 to 2060
5%: 1900 to 2100
8%: 1840 to 2160
12%: 1760 to 2240
Unlimited:
I realize that this may add to the development of this idea but the ELO restriction could be combined with the Level restriction. This would make it possible to increase the limits one way and not the other. For instance, if a player has an 1850 ELO and selects an ELO limit of 8 percent and then selects Expert and Master for Level, He's essentially creating a range of 1702 to unlimited. Or a player with 1650 ELO might use an ELO restriction of 5 percent and a Level restriction of good and expert. He's essentially creating a range of 1567 to 1999.
My prediction for how this gets used is mostly by upper and middle level ELO players. Lower level ELO players have no reason to restrict a table. As players get into the upper 1500's they'll more likely want to restrict their tables both upper and lower. The the upper ELO players will want to have an ELO floor when they start a table.
One last thing, the reason for having up to 12 percent is because some games are more active than others and too narrow a limit might not always work. Players will have to try the limits until they find what they like for a particular game. Also, some games have busy times where a narrow range would be fine but they also have quiet times where a larger ELO range might be needed.
I really think that this fits with the stated goals of BGA and could enhance the play experience for players of every game.
So, I propose an ELO restriction.
The current restrictions look like this:
On a new table creation, press "Restrict Table Access"
Restrict By Level: (Beginner, Average, etc...)
Restrict By Reputation: (% thumbs up, % ran out of time, etc...)
Restrict To Group: (Group Names)
Add:
Restrict By ELO: (3% +/-, 5% +/-, 8% +/-, 12% +/-, unlimited)
The following ELO ranges would be used for these settings:
If a player with 1400 ELO makes the following selections:
3%: 1358 to 1442
5%: 1330 to 1470
8%: 1288 to 1512
12%: 1232 to 1568
Unlimited:
If a player with 1600 ELO makes the following selections:
3%: 1552 to 1648
5%: 1520 to 1680
8%: 1472 to 1728
12%: 1408 to 1792
Unlimited:
If a player with 2000 ELO makes the following selections:
3%: 1940 to 2060
5%: 1900 to 2100
8%: 1840 to 2160
12%: 1760 to 2240
Unlimited:
I realize that this may add to the development of this idea but the ELO restriction could be combined with the Level restriction. This would make it possible to increase the limits one way and not the other. For instance, if a player has an 1850 ELO and selects an ELO limit of 8 percent and then selects Expert and Master for Level, He's essentially creating a range of 1702 to unlimited. Or a player with 1650 ELO might use an ELO restriction of 5 percent and a Level restriction of good and expert. He's essentially creating a range of 1567 to 1999.
My prediction for how this gets used is mostly by upper and middle level ELO players. Lower level ELO players have no reason to restrict a table. As players get into the upper 1500's they'll more likely want to restrict their tables both upper and lower. The the upper ELO players will want to have an ELO floor when they start a table.
One last thing, the reason for having up to 12 percent is because some games are more active than others and too narrow a limit might not always work. Players will have to try the limits until they find what they like for a particular game. Also, some games have busy times where a narrow range would be fine but they also have quiet times where a larger ELO range might be needed.
I really think that this fits with the stated goals of BGA and could enhance the play experience for players of every game.
