How to prevent people with low karma from joining?

[FrankJones]

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?

Solo games count toward the Karma improvement.

[Slarden]

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?

I pick the game I want to play and then from the game page choose the options and I want and click Start. I am not sure which way this is - I am only familiar with this way of setting up games.

Thank you for the help!

[Meeplelowda]

I am not sure which way this is - I am only familiar with this way of setting up games.

Shivaware linked to the lobby they were asking about in their post (it's also in my signature; that's how strongly I feel about it). You should try it out. It's what we used before the single-game page even existed, and it has several advantages in terms of transparency imo.

[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?

I pick the game I want to play and then from the game page choose the options and I want and click Start. I am not sure which way this is - I am only familiar with this way of setting up games.

Thank you for the help!

It sounds like you are using the newer style lobbies attached to each game page. These were created by BGA as a simpler interface than the "play now" lobby that I linked to, and can be found at the top of most BGA pages.

When you visit the "Play now" link, there will be three big dropdown menus. Try setting the first menu to "Simple game" and the third menu to "Manual". You will probably have to add games in the "Find a game" field, but they will be remembered once you add them. You will see a list of games there to join, or you can create your own with just the preferences you want.

If you change the third menu from "Manual" to "Automatic", you will get a very powerful interface. For each game, you have to click the little gear icon, and then you can configure exactly which options you would be willing to play with. This is similar to the "flexible" options on the new game page lobbies, except they mostly work correctly and are not plagued by several serious bugs.

[Meeplelowda]

It sounds like you are using the newer style lobbies attached to each game page.

I thought this as well (hence my reply promoting Play Now), but they've had an account since 2016, so they must have seen the old Play Now lobby before. Perhaps they think it was taken away? Or maybe their description of how they start games is not what it sounds like.

[Slarden]

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?

I pick the game I want to play and then from the game page choose the options and I want and click Start. I am not sure which way this is - I am only familiar with this way of setting up games.

Thank you for the help!

It sounds like you are using the newer style lobbies attached to each game page. These were created by BGA as a simpler interface than the "play now" lobby that I linked to, and can be found at the top of most BGA pages.

When you visit the "Play now" link, there will be three big dropdown menus. Try setting the first menu to "Simple game" and the third menu to "Manual". You will probably have to add games in the "Find a game" field, but they will be remembered once you add them. You will see a list of games there to join, or you can create your own with just the preferences you want.

If you change the third menu from "Manual" to "Automatic", you will get a very powerful interface. For each game, you have to click the little gear icon, and then you can configure exactly which options you would be willing to play with. This is similar to the "flexible" options on the new game page lobbies, except they mostly work correctly and are not plagued by several serious bugs.

Thank you, yes I will use this link in the future. I played a game and didn't get anyone with bad karma joining.

It seems to be working although I only played 1 game this way so far.

With regards to other comments about how people with low karma can improve if nobody will let them join - I did try to give people a chance, but I found karma is a really good indicator of who is likely to quit when they fall behind.

So unfortunately working out of bad karma is something they will have to do on their own. I have limited time and don't want to game with them.

[Slarden]

It sounds like you are using the newer style lobbies attached to each game page.

I thought this as well (hence my reply promoting Play Now), but they've had an account since 2016, so they must have seen the old Play Now lobby before. Perhaps they think it was taken away? Or maybe their description of how they start games is not what it sounds like.

True, I had my account since 2016, but didn't setup my first game until 2023. The way I was previously setting up games it the only way I was aware of.

I definitely appreciate the time you and others spent helping me with this Thank you!

[Shivaware]

Thank you, yes I will use this link in the future. I played a game and didn't get anyone with bad karma joining.

It seems to be working although I only played 1 game this way so far.

I'm glad you got it working, and I do hope the problem doesn't show up again when using the old lobby. If it ever does happen, please report back here, because that would be useful, if sad, information.