How can I make a player play?

[Volker_B]

My game cannot continue because this player doesn't make his move. Asking him to do had no effect. The table has not timed out yet. Are there any other options but to wait until he eventually times out? I'd like to avoid ending the game in zombie mode.

[Shivaware]

I don't think there's anything you can do to force a player to make a move.

In the sad case where a player is just trying to deny you your victory and is still playing other games, and is using time jokers to keep from running out of time, I still think BGA won't take any action against them.

At some point, their time will go negative and someone will probably kick them out and they will lose reputation and Elo at that time. Regrettably, BGA treats the rest of the players as having a tie, so the one with the highest Elo will get cheated out of their Elo gain. In the past, that person could even lose Elo, but I think they have a check now so that can't happen. Try voting for this suggestion, and maybe it can be implemented before you have to skip that player.

If no one kicks the overtime player out, the game will be deleted after 40 days with no Karma penalty or Elo changes.

[tbhp]

If you're afraid the game won't be over by the time the maximum game duration is reached, it's fair to voice this concern to them. It's possible they don't even realize how this works.

Edit: If it is that multiplayer game with the time joker, I'd advise to politely ask the other players to not kick them out. As you may or may not know, in a multiplayer game you're not in control of whether someone gets kicked out, so be careful that no one tries to play shenanigans on you.

[Cile]

I'd like to avoid ending the game in zombie mode.

Of note: once a player is removed from a table for running out of time, every other player at that table is free to leave without penalty. If it is a two player table you are not required to "finish out the game" against the automated actions.

[Volker_B]

So, there are only three possible outcomes and I have no control:

1. The player continues playing voluntarily
2. He eventually times out, is kicked by someone, and gets a penalty
3. The game is deleted after 40 days without any penalties

@Shivaware: The suggestion you mentioned makes alot of sense. I voted for it.

@tbhp: What's the point in not kicking him out? I don't get this one.

@Cile: I know that I can leave a game in zombie mode without penalty. It is the only thing that makes sense because the game is broken, then.

Thank you all.

[ChiefPointThief]

Asking a player to play faster is actually considered bad behavior and is reportable. This issue was spoke on in a past thread and most replies indicated that they found this behavior inappropriate as long as the person even has 1 second on their clock. I argued that why is the “hey, are you still there” button then acceptable because imo that is just a passive aggressive way of telling someone they aren’t playing as fast as they should be.

[Volker_B]

On the other hand "Take an unnecessary and unreasonable amount of time at the end of game in an obvious losing position." is discouraged by the Code of Conduct. I can wait, that's not the issue. I just wanted to know my options before there's a timeout and things get out of control.

[Jellby]

Isn't there a "this player is not playing, what can I do?" or similar link in the table?

so the one with the highest Elo will get cheated out of their Elo gain

Only if they would otherwise win. If they would lose, they're just saved from a big elo loss (which may be a good enough reason for them to kick out a player out of time as soon as possible)

once a player is removed from a table for running out of time, every other player at that table is free to leave without penalty.

Not only that, but continuing to play after that is (if at all possible) useless statistics- and ranking-wise. The end result is already fixed the moment a player is removed, nothing you do will change it.

[tbhp]

@tbhp: What's the point in not kicking him out? I don't get this one.

It is like your first option. The player can continue as long as someone doesn't kick him out.

[tbhp]

On the other hand "Take an unnecessary and unreasonable amount of time at the end of game in an obvious losing position." is discouraged by the Code of Conduct. I can wait, that's not the issue. I just wanted to know my options before there's a timeout and things get out of control.

That's a good point. I had cases where losing players tried to stall games in order to get me to run out of time while I'm away. Unfortunately for them, I always have my account online so it's hard to catch me like that.

In your case though, this player has no way to avoid losing the game, so at worst they are doing it out of spite. If they really keep not playing then you'll have some ground to report them and maybe get the site to try to make them play.

The problem is more the other players in your game, since you have no way to ensure they won't kick out that player if they go out of time. That's a flaw of the system that has been talked about a lot on those forums.