FAQ: Arena mode

[aesche]

I really like the arena mode as additional playing mode and to give incentives to the top players to keep playing. I‘d like to raise some points how this could be improved further:

1. Is it possible that currently the button „There are opponents in arena mode available“ always is shown, even if it‘s not an opponent that matches your arena matchup preference settings?

This is confusing, and, since the preference settings are stored actually, wouldnt be necessary. Currently, you see this button, so click it to play that available arena match, but then instead you get into the waiting mode (forever, in games with low activity). If you then leave that waiting mode and go to the regular game mode, it shows you again that there are arena matches available...

2. Related issue, or maybe actually the source of the problem: How is it decided how many arena tiers a game has? Is the first season of new games always with the full ladder by default? You can see it currently in Connect 4 how this is broken: All levels implemented, but hardly some advanced to the higher tiers, so it actually is pretty impossible to climb, because the very few higher tiers are either unavailable or undefeatable, and the low tiers are pointless to go against (e.g. Platinum vs Bronze, or Diamond vs Bronze & Silver, result in 0 tier progress gain). Many games with potentially similar activity levels only have Bronze and Elite tiers available, plus maybe Silver (& Gold if very extreme), which means that every tier can climb vs every tier.

3. The arena mode needs the functionality implemented that rematches are recognised, and that players orders is swapped in these cases! This is a large issue in games where either the opening player or the 2nd player has an advantage. The check actually could go over the whole history between two players, and the upcoming match should even this out then.

4. For the low activity games, the restriction that non-premium users only can queue in 3 games is an issue, because it usually means non of these games will start ever... Possible solutions could be that these low activity games (with e.g. max 3 tiers) dont count to the limit, or that the limit is increased? I know, one could just get premium and it‘s not expensive, but currently I‘m wondering what is left of the activity on this page when all the lockdowns are lifted again. If all the abstract games are dead mostly then, I‘ll rather get bored real quick too...

(5. In Nine Men‘s Morris the default in arena should be changed - to flying when only 3 stones are left - but I guess I‘ll have to post this in the specific forum).

Thanks for consideration & and I‘ll look forward to hear what others think about this.

[Rogue_Meeple]

I have noticed that in Arena mode some players refuse to "Accept" a game. I have never had that option. I "Accept" automatically. Is there an option that allows for this?

[Grey Lord]

I have noticed that in Arena mode some players refuse to "Accept" a game. I have never had that option. I "Accept" automatically. Is there an option that allows for this?

I think there is option to reject game only if some player is in another turn based game when table is starting. Otherwise start is automatic.

[sprockitz]

I have noticed that in Arena mode some players refuse to "Accept" a game. I have never had that option. I "Accept" automatically. Is there an option that allows for this?

they do a check to make sure everyone is still connected to the server and active, so rejected starts are likely not people actively rejecting a game start but someone who has left their computer idle.

[compte obelète]

I think the metromaina's setting are a bit to much for this very low activity.
3 players, but there is like 60 persons online that have it on favourites.

[DavidBadalona]

I like a lot i love the arena mode but i think there are one big problem:
In the games of low activity, its impossible to play a game, for example troyes.
is it possible to change for take reward for play in this games?

Another question is for example in Stone Age i think is to much better to play minimun 3 players, not 2 configuration. Thanks i wait excited to play Kingdom Builder

[terky]

アリーナモードにはひとつの問題がある。
持ち時間を超過して考えるプレイヤーが多いことだ。

これではアリーナモードの持ち時間の意味を成さない。
その為、持ち時間を使いきった場合自動的に敗北するようにできないものだろうか？

[nairobiny]

I like a lot i love the arena mode but i think there are one big problem:
In the games of low activity, its impossible to play a game, for example troyes.
is it possible to change for take reward for play in this games?

Perhaps, borrowing from Puerto Rico: for every day an Arena match isn't started for a game, 1 present point per player is added, to be shared between the next players brave enough to try?

[Yaps]

If ELO on a game falls below 100, do you get booted from Arena play for that game (even if you had been playing in a season)?

[Cheery Dog]

If ELO on a game falls below 100, do you get booted from Arena play for that game (even if you had been playing in a season)?

It's impossible for elo to drop below 100. That's the lowest threshold it reaches. Once you've passed 100 the first time, you'll always be over 100.