How to prevent people with low karma from joining?

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Slarden
Posts: 11
Joined: 08 May 2016, 13:57

How to prevent people with low karma from joining?

Post by Slarden »

I use the setting to restrict karma to 75+, but people with low karma are still able to join my games.

I was initially inclined to give these people a 2nd chance, but after some attempts at that I think it's best to just prevent low karma people from joining entirely. There is a setting that seems to do this in the table limitation screen, but it's not working for me.
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Shivaware
Posts: 322
Joined: 26 November 2012, 17:00

Re: How to prevent people with low karma from joining?

Post by Shivaware »

It looks like all of the players in your current games have Karma values that are more than 75%. The running games do show what restrictions are in place, and I see the 75% restriction in place in the running games that I checked. For example, you can see the restrictions in the following "cover page" link: https://en.boardgamearena.com/table?table=865504194

You can get these links by removing the "15/" server number from the regular table link.

I do see a game that ended about a day ago with a 0% opponent, but unfortunately, I don't think you can see the restrictions once the game has ended. The next time you notice a low karma player join your game, take a screenshot of the "cover page" described above to help demonstrate that there is a problem. This may even help developers track down the cause.
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Meeplelowda
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Joined: 14 March 2020, 10:31

Re: How to prevent people with low karma from joining?

Post by Meeplelowda »

Slarden wrote: 14 June 2026, 18:14 I use the setting to restrict karma to 75+, but people with low karma are still able to join my games.

I was initially inclined to give these people a 2nd chance, but after some attempts at that I think it's best to just prevent low karma people from joining entirely. There is a setting that seems to do this in the table limitation screen, but it's not working for me.
My first question was going to be if these were turn-based games. The sample Shiva posted above was indeed turn-based. It is easy for someone to be qualified for the table when it forms, then get two or more expulsions in a short time period and fall below 75%. It recently happened at a table where I also had restrictions.
Play Now lobby 4ever! https://boardgamearena.com/lobby
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Shivaware
Posts: 322
Joined: 26 November 2012, 17:00

Re: How to prevent people with low karma from joining?

Post by Shivaware »

Meeplelowda wrote: 14 June 2026, 22:24
Slarden wrote: 14 June 2026, 18:14 I use the setting to restrict karma to 75+, but people with low karma are still able to join my games.

I was initially inclined to give these people a 2nd chance, but after some attempts at that I think it's best to just prevent low karma people from joining entirely. There is a setting that seems to do this in the table limitation screen, but it's not working for me.
My first question was going to be if these were turn-based games. The sample Shiva posted above was indeed turn-based. It is easy for someone to be qualified for the table when it forms, then get two or more expulsions in a short time period and fall below 75%. It recently happened at a table where I also had restrictions.
I did not link to the game with a 0% opponent, but that was a real-time game and the opponent had low karma at the time of the game. If the restriction was in place, it certainly sounds like a bug, so a screenshot showing the restriction would be useful in that case.
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ErikLevin
Posts: 218
Joined: 06 January 2024, 14:13

Re: How to prevent people with low karma from joining?

Post by ErikLevin »

This setting is broken. It sometimes doesn't apply. https://boardgamearena.com/bug?id=87742

I think it is more likely to break if you enable certain flexible options, like flexible player count. Then, sometimes, BGA opens multiple tables and only the first has the reputation restriction. I've never been able to pinpoint exactly when it happens.

When this bug happens, the table does not show as having reputation restriction.

If your table does show reputation restriction and still someone appears to have joined with lower karma, there is also the possibility as said above that they joined with >75% and then lost some while still in the game.
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Shivaware
Posts: 322
Joined: 26 November 2012, 17:00

Re: How to prevent people with low karma from joining?

Post by Shivaware »

ErikLevin wrote: 15 June 2026, 15:28 This setting is broken. It sometimes doesn't apply. https://boardgamearena.com/bug?id=87742

I think it is more likely to break if you enable certain flexible options, like flexible player count. Then, sometimes, BGA opens multiple tables and only the first has the reputation restriction. I've never been able to pinpoint exactly when it happens.

When this bug happens, the table does not show as having reputation restriction.

If your table does show reputation restriction and still someone appears to have joined with lower karma, there is also the possibility as said above that they joined with >75% and then lost some while still in the game.
Thanks for the link to the bug report which does have screenshots verifying the problem.

There is a similar report about group restrictions being ignored which is probably the same issue.
Slarden
Posts: 11
Joined: 08 May 2016, 13:57

Re: How to prevent people with low karma from joining?

Post by Slarden »

Thank you for all the helpful replies - this is such a great community!

Yes, these are all live games where I have the problem. I don't recall having the issue in a turn-based game. - and I play both.

I will take a look at the article and see if there is something I can do it to fix it on my end. I do restrict ELO to be >100 and <500 as I am not ready to take on the top players and from some articles I've read they probably prefer not to play me as my ELO is too low.

The only reason I exclude <100 is that almost every "new" player that joins is clearly an experienced player that not only knows the game well but also BGA. I am not sure why people do this, but I found they are more likely to quit when it's not going well so I just decided to exclude <100 players and this seems to be the only type of person I ever get with less than 100 ELO anyhow.

Perhaps I am putting too many restrictions and that is what is causing the bug.

Thanks again!
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tbhp
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Joined: 16 April 2025, 00:35

Re: How to prevent people with low karma from joining?

Post by tbhp »

I have a question.

In the theoretical example where everyone who creates tables on this site decided to restrict access to users below a certain karma, how would users who fell below that threshold ever regain that karma?

They wouldn't be able to regain it in normal games. They wouldn't be able to enter tournaments either since they enable karma restrictions too.

I'm not sure about Arena, but in the event where the player hasn't reached 100 Elo in any game, they wouldn't be able to play Arena games and regain karma that way.

So wouldn't they just be forever stuck? Or am I missing something?
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Shivaware
Posts: 322
Joined: 26 November 2012, 17:00

Re: How to prevent people with low karma from joining?

Post by Shivaware »

tbhp wrote: 15 June 2026, 20:03 I have a question.

In the theoretical example where everyone who creates tables on this site decided to restrict access to users below a certain karma, how would users who fell below that threshold ever regain that karma?

They wouldn't be able to regain it in normal games. They wouldn't be able to enter tournaments either since they enable karma restrictions too.

I'm not sure about Arena, but in the event where the player hasn't reached 100 Elo in any game, they wouldn't be able to play Arena games and regain karma that way.

So wouldn't they just be forever stuck? Or am I missing something?
Hi, I've started this other thread where this off-topic discussion can continue.
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Shivaware
Posts: 322
Joined: 26 November 2012, 17:00

Re: How to prevent people with low karma from joining?

Post by Shivaware »

Based on the comments for the two bugs, it does look like the new game lobby might be related to these issues.

The question I have is whether you can avoid these issues by using the old reliable "play now" lobby?

OP, which method do you use to start your games?
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