Bad sportsmanship...kicking players out on winning turns

[Jeremy55]

Sorry to disagree but you dont seem to be a generally fast player. I looked at your recent 10 games (all played on the fastest speed setting) and only in one (!) game you stayed in time.

In fast time settings you have 44 seconds per move and you are expected to finish *every* move in those 44 seconds. If you dont, you have a grace period of 3 minutes that you can refill if you then play faster than 44 seconds per move.

In almost all your games you over-use your time during the whole game and your time bank decreases further and further untill in the end - when longer moves occur - you lose on time. Sometimes your opponents seem to be upset by having had to wait the whole game for you and kick you immediately, sometimes they let you play the game out. Both is fine.

You describe it like you had the full time bank during the whole game (i.e. playing the speed that you are expected to) and only in the end you exceed your 44 seconds. None of the 9/10 games you went into red confirms that.

Please note that normal speed has 1:11 per turn (time bank 4min) and slow speed has 1:54 per turn (time bank 6min). Choose a setting where you never go into red (except a power outage once a year) and you will not be kicked. Problem solved.

The last game in question, my speed was :44 seconds per turn. Well below the "normal speed" you've suggested. I was traveling last week, and have had some bad connections and have already mentioned I had to refresh my page some, which caused some of the time push. If I would have anticipated this problem I should have played normal speed, but have never played normal speed and never had this problem until now. You're right that changing speed is a fair answer to this problem in general, but I'm so disillusioned by the sportsmanship and the lack of support from BGA over this issue that I'm done.

So... you broke a rule, and lost a game for it, but are quitting because the site wont let it slide?

Where does this 44 seconds come from? I am not getting any time if the previous move was complex, just the 20 seconds it takes to kick me out. Last time it happened I was trying to end the turn to avoid being kicked out (as advised by one of these posts) but these three red bars were covering the quit button so I couldn't do it in time. I am really regretting I just renewed my subscription, I won't be doing so again if this problem continues to be ignored. Why should I pay for a game where cheats can waste an hour of my time? THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED

[euklid314]

Where does this 44 seconds come from? I am not getting any time if the previous move was complex, just the 20 seconds it takes to kick me out. Last time it happened I was trying to end the turn to avoid being kicked out (as advised by one of these posts) but these three red bars were covering the quit button so I couldn't do it in time. I am really regretting I just renewed my subscription, I won't be doing so again if this problem continues to be ignored. Why should I pay for a game where cheats can waste an hour of my time? THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED

If you talk about your most recent game where you was kicked (game #753180034):

After your move #286 you had a time of -0:34. At the beginning of your next move (#301) your time was +0:05. This amounts approx. to the bonus of 44 seconds (you might have lost some seconds during your opponents turns (trade offers), but you got your bonus time for sure.

Then you should have finished your move instantly but you had to move the robber and you played a development card for 2 streets, etc. Playing a development card in time pressure was a mistake for sure.

Thus you were kicked at -0:27 on your timer.

[BusterVA]

I have had enough of the poor sportsmanship on this site! In the last month I've been kicked out of probably a dozen games that I was clearly leading often on a final move that would win the game. I understand that this is partly my fault. There have been some poor connections and I've had to refresh which has cost me time in the course of the game, but on a final Catan move there is a lot happening, which can take time...not to mention if you make a mistake and have to start over. I'm a 300+ Catan player, and a 400-500+ wingspan player who has played way too many games on this site, and who has had 100% karma on this site almost my entire time, but now my karma is 50. While I accept some responsibility here, it is incredibly poor sportsmanship to boot a player that is about to win a game on a final turn just to avoid the loss. This has happened so many times with high level players (300+) that it's become personally disgusting to me.

I'll be deactivating my account. To be fair, this is partly because I waste too much time here, but it is also partly because I simply don't want to go through the hoops of restoring karma that was lost on games that I would have and SHOULD HAVE won.

Something needs to be done to fix this problem. I've recommended to BGA a one minute grace option to allow a player the time needed to make a complex move and to help avoid a scenario where a play in an active turn gets booted by a poor sport trying to avoid a loss.

I'm writing this because I think I'm probably not the only one who feels this way. I understand the need for time constraints. They are necessary. I just think something must be done to correct this abuse, and a "once off" one minute grace period would remedy this. I did suggest this in my final email to customer support, but no meaningful response was given.

Happy gaming to you all!

There is a grace period. You get 20 extra seconds if you reach zero.

If you regularly have trouble playing within the allotted time, pick games with higher time limits. Its not that hard. If you want the "fast" games, then play faster and suffer the consequences if you can't.

When I am in any game and an opponent hits zero, I get the kick button going. Don't waste my time.

[Ganymede_rocks]

The issue is that there are players who know they are going to lose and kick players out that are seconds away from winning to avoid the loss. After playing an hour long game, this is BAD sportsmanship and it's particularly an issue in C&K, and BGA is unwilling to and unapologetic about fixing it.

I had a player recently say GG on a final turn of Ark Nova that I was about to win, and then they used the time i took to reply to expel me on a final turn. The two seconds that I used to reply literally made the difference. This is infurating after giving an hour to a game and then you get booted by 300+ or 400+ player who just wants to protect their ELO. These "winning tactics" are sad.

It's pretty sad that so many people here are unwilling to acknowledge this as a problem, and that BGA will do nothing to fix it.

This is not chess and the comparisson is not a fair one. This is a great example where the letter of the law is is being used at the expense of the spirit of the law.

[Jellby]

The issue is that there are players who know they are going to lose and kick players out that are seconds away from winning to avoid the loss.

The issue is that there are players who take more time than allowed and still think they're winning.

[Ganymede_rocks]

The issue is that there are players who know they are going to lose and kick players out that are seconds away from winning to avoid the loss.

The issue is that there are players who take more time than allowed and still think they're winning.

Question - Given your active interest in this post, do you get paid by BGA, or are you someone who is guilty of doing this? I'm assuming it's the former as people who do this are quick to ghost you because they know they are being a jerk.

[Jellby]

I have no connection with BGA. Guilty of what? I don't usually expel, but I wouldn't hesitate too much to expel someone (whether they think they're winning or not) who takes too long in their turn, if I'm not otherwise enjoying the game: I strive to make my moves in time, why should they have the advantage of using more time? The main reason for expelling is not to get an "easy win", but to get out of an annoying game.

Could I abandon instead of expel? Yes, but I also want the other player to know they did something wrong (and yes, also get a win).
Would I be more likely to expel if I'm losing than if I'm winning? Yes, because if I'm winning I'm probably enjoying the game.
Do I internally swear and berate (and maybe red thumb) players who expel me or a 3rd player? Sometimes, but I accept it's their right and don't come complain about it in the forums.

[Jontia]

I have no connection with BGA. Guilty of what? I don't usually expel, but I wouldn't hesitate too much to expel someone (whether they think hey're winning or not) who takes too long in their turn, if I'm not otherwise enjoying the game: I strive to make my moves in time, why should they have the advantage of using more time? The main reason for expelling is not to get an "easy win", but to get out of an annoying game.

Could I abandon instead of expel? Yes, but I also want the other player to know they did something wrong (and yes, also get a win).
Would I be more likely to expel if I'm losing than if I'm winning? Yes, because if I'm winning I'm probably enjoying the game.
Do I internally swear and berate (and maybe red thumb) players who expel me or a 3rd player? Sometimes, but I accept it's their right and don't come complain about it in the forums.

Just so you don't have to take the heat alone. +1
It's a timed game, with a time limit. If you don't like it, play slower games. Or turn based games. There are options out there. But if you run out of time, it's no longer up to you to decide if you get to finish the game.

And as for why people who disagree with the opening statement come along to post that they disagree, well it would be a bit pointless if we only ever heard from people we agreed with.

[AlmostHaddem]

This reminds me of a time I was playing 7 Wonders Duel and an opponent got mad at me and said "YOU ONLY WON BECAUSE YOU GOT LUCKY!!"

And I responded "Well, luck is part of the game!"

You're saying "I ONLY LOST BECAUSE I RAN OUT OF TIME!"

Well... losing by running out of time is part of the game. If you don't like it, play a slower setting instead of blaming everyone else for your own failing.

[Paxdrago]

Seriously! In my experience people I kick have played on the edge and taken extra time here and there throughout the game. It is grabbing an advantage where ever you can get away with it in my book. I am totally with those folks saying if you need more time sign up for a slower time. I don't ususally kick people til they have gone at least 15 sec into the red which gives them a totol of 35 extra sec. But if I am smart enough to hold you to the rules and kick you on your last and winning turn, Good on Me.