Turn-based → Real-time switching when players are online

[Jellby]

They are here playing if they are.....PLAYING, i.e., making moves almost immediately after you move.

Where do you draw the line between playing and thinking? 2 seconds? 5 seconds? 10? 60?

Where do you draw the line between thinking and gone? 10 seconds? 30 seconds? 1 minute? 2? 5?

The only solution I find is if, after converting a turn-based game into real-time, expelling was not possible any more, and instead it reverted to turn-based (even without the other players' agreement). Once back in turn-based, expelling should work as usual. This means the feature would need a little more work than "just" turning a game into real-time.

[Meeplelowda]

Where do you draw the line between playing and thinking? 2 seconds? 5 seconds? 10? 60?

You don't have to draw a line ANYWHERE because the OP didn't suggest that conversion to real-time would be automated based on people playing within a certain timeframe. If you are wrong about them actually being willing to play right now even though it looks to you like they are active on BGA right now, so what? Then they will simply decline or ignore the request to convert the game.