FrankJones wrote: ↑20 April 2026, 04:03
4gub6hcs4g wrote: ↑17 April 2026, 08:10
I am new to BGA and am struggling to understand a system whereby you are constantly promoted but never relegated, apart from at the end of the season. This is different to league systems I have encountered previously. I was hoping other forum users might be friendly, welcoming, tolerant and patient. Clearly this was not a hope I should have entertained.
1) Welcome to BGA. This is a great site! Try out your favorite games, and enjoy.
2) The Arena system here is not perfect, but it doesn't need to be. For starters, no group of people will ever have the same ideas of what "perfect" means. It also voluntary. You can play Elo ranked games completely outside the Arena. I do this for most of my games.
3) Each new 3-month arena season here has everyone start with a fresh clean slate, if there are 3 tiers or fewer. If there are 4 or more tiers, players in the top tier(s) will start one or two leagues up from the bottom, but will still need to advance several leagues to get back to Elite. I think it's fine. At the start of each season, all players need to earn their way upward, and new players have a chance to do the same thing.
4) What other league systems are you referring to, and why would you expect BGA to operate the same way? In pro sports, each season every team starts with a 0-0 record and has the same path and requirements to reach the championship game at the end of the season. The Dodgers won the World series last year, but they still started this year with an 0-0 record. You make it sound as though the teams that make the playoffs one year get to start in the major leagues and the other teams get relegated to the minor leagues.
5) The good players in each game make their way to the top of the arena leaderboard each season. What's the problem, exactly? What are you proposing, exactly?
6) Most people here are friendly and welcoming. If you feel as though people in this thread were not, perhaps your own tone and demeanor was a factor.