Kicking players from games

[Tyler1986]

In my opinion, too many players use the option to kick players from games without any necessity. It ruins the game for everyone and most of the times players just lost their connection for a few minutes. Excluding players from a game should be the last option if nothing else is possible. I've seen players kicking others just because they're playing slowly (knowing they are still available). Switching to turn-based solves the problem in almost any case.

Recently, I just got kicked from a turn-based game being just 30 min below the time limit and offline for a few hours. I don't understand the point if it's not a tournament or arena mode. I mean, the other players were not blocked from playing at other tables. And I would have been back again just 30 minutes later. Being one of the most active players on BGA, I'd be very happy if there were less of these unnecessary situations where players get kicked for minor things.

Best
Tyler

[Exotic Dreams]

Agreed, although I especially think players who are unable to play should not be kicked.
We had a brief power outage in my area before and of course by the time I got back to the game, someone had booted me. It would have been obvious since it says on the screen so and so goes offline. It would have been kinder switching to turn based knowing I couldn't have played.

When it comes to distracted players, it helps to be kind and try and try and alert the other player in the game chat. Sometimes that's all it takes.

This also helps if the game or webpage is lagging. It's a common issue that BGA lags and shows as the screen as it being another player's turn. In the meantime, the other player is waiting for you to play without knowing it's your turn.
I've seen players run out of time and be kicked out of games because the site was lagging and it looked like it was the other player's turn on their screens.

The obvious reason it's done so quickly and without trying to get the other player's attention is because it means freebie points for the other players including the one who kicked the other player out.

On the other hand, I think it's good to communicate to other players when there's a delay for some reason rather than letting other players randomly wait.

[Jellby]

If turn-based is an option for you, join turn-based games instead of real-time. If 30 more minutes is fine for you, join slower games with 30 more minutes per turn.

If I join a real-time game with 1 minute per turn, I want to play a real-time game with 1 minute per turn, not a multi-day game because someone forgot that they had a dentist appointment.

[dschingis27]

Recently, I just got kicked from a turn-based game being just 30 min below the time limit and offline for a few hours. I don't understand the point if it's not a tournament or arena mode.

The point is that players want that game to be finished in a certain time frame, otherwise they would play in a different time limit. You played a game with 30 minutes increment, 30 minutes per turn. When you are 30 minutes behind already after only 13% game progression, that's a lot. I think if the game had been close to the end, it is different. But if someone is behind already early in a game, I would also kick them because I lost trust that this person will hold on to the agreed time frame. I'd rather avoid having an investment in that game.

I think it's very healthy to kick players when they are out of time already early in the game. After all, we have a bunch of time frames we can choose from. Just choose the time frame that fits your bill.

[Tyler1986]

So? There's still no harm done in a turn-based game. Anyone can wait for another 1 or 2 hours and the player who is behind can get in the time window again. And if he or she doesn't play for the rest of the day, you can still kick them later.

Have you ever been kicked from a game just because your internet connection was gone for 2 or 3 minutes? I mean, you didn't leave the game intentionally, it's like an accident that happens sometimes. At least I've never left a game on purpose. And by my experience, in 80 to 90 percent of the cases players come back within a few minutes. When you say you "lose trust in other players", why do we have the reputation and information about the players in their profile?

[FDHenneberg]

To give my standard answer to many of these recurring topics: Different people value different things about playing on BGA. To implicitly expect that others share one’s views or motivations, sets one up for disappointment. As long as players adhere to the rules of BGA, it’s ok. That’s what I tell myself every time someone gets on my nerves, be it by kicking someone after a few seconds in a real-time game or by constantly dragging a turn-based game, massively running out of time without a heads up.

I don’t instakick people. I’ve kicked players without notice after some time but I agree that it’s better - while not at all mandatory - to say you’re going to do so. Communicating is key, either way.

No reason to change the rules for skipping though, IMHO. For example, I only play a certain game at one turn based table at a time, not at several parallel tables, to avoid mixing things up, so games that are way slower than expected are something I don’t enjoy at all. If someone plays real-time fast with a spotty connection, they accept that they might be kicked, just like the others players accept that they may play with someone who has a spotty connection or likes to take as much time as possible within the time limit even though they might expect that “fast” means “really fast”.

[JimBut]

Anyone can wait for another 1 or 2 hours and the player who is behind can get in the time window again.

If you're happy to wait longer between turns you could join a slower game - perhaps 1 or 2 turns a day would suit

[dschingis27]

So? There's still no harm done in a turn-based game. Anyone can wait for another 1 or 2 hours and the player who is behind can get in the time window again.

How naive do you want me to be? When you play the 24 turns per day variant, you start out with a 12 hours time bank and +30 min per turn. You used up your whole time bank already after 13% game progression, you made 2 turns in 13 hours. As an opponent, I have no way of knowing and very little reason to assume that you will honor the time limit from now on.

We have the option to choose our preferred time frame. If you don't care about waiting 1 or 2 hours, then just please choose a longer time limit. If you join tables with 30 min increments, you have to expect to meet people who want to play in that time frame. And if you diverge from that by a big margin, then of course people will penalize you.

[Jellby]

So? There's still no harm done in a turn-based game. Anyone can wait for another 1 or 2 hours and the player who is behind can get in the time window again.

No. I have time to play now, not in 1 or 2 hours. If I could wait 1 or 2 hours, I would have joined a game with 1 or 2 hours more per turn.

Have you ever been kicked from a game just because your internet connection was gone for 2 or 3 minutes?

Yes. It happens sometimes. No big deal, I accept the hit. Just like i accept to pay more when I miss some discount deadline, or to pay extra for a taxi if I miss the last bus because the baggage delivery at the airport was slow (I don't expect the bus driver to wait 1 or 2 hours, because it was "not my fault").

[Tyler1986]

Ok, fair enough. Thanks for your persepective!
I perceived it as a bit too harsh, since I'm a very reliable player. But I will respect your opinion and try to find a better solution next time.

See you at the table