New Player - Confused?

[galad]

So I am new to the sight and I have some questions but my new status prevents me from asking in chat (pretty dumb)so I am asking here.

I played a game of Dragonheart with somebody and they disconnected in the middle of the game and I didn't get credit for the win. Is that how it is supposed to work?

Also I am finding people disband their game if I try to join, presumably because I am new and very few people will join a game I create.

So in order to be promoted where I can ask a basic question in chat I need to get 3 games played, which nobody plays me or they disconnect so I don't get credit, 3 days on and 3 reputation points which again no one will play me or rate me.

So far not really impressed with this site guys. Not very new user friendly.

[Een]

Hello and welcome,

So I am new to the sight and I have some questions but my new status prevents me from asking in chat (pretty dumb)so I am asking here.

This restriction on the general chat has been motivated by some people misusing the system. Banning their account had no effect if they could just create another and go on misusing the chat straight away, and ban by IP proved not to be effective enough as some were proficient enough to change IP by proxying. Thus the need for a 'probation time' on new accounts.

I played a game of Dragonheart with somebody and they disconnected in the middle of the game and I didn't get credit for the win. Is that how it is supposed to work?

Yes. On BGA, a game where someone left before the end is considered 'broken' (as it didn't end appropriately), so there is no ELO won for such a game. Also, the player that left gets a penalty for leaving.

Also I am finding people disband their game if I try to join, presumably because I am new and very few people will join a game I create.

So in order to be promoted where I can ask a basic question in chat I need to get 3 games played, which nobody plays me or they disconnect so I don't get credit, 3 days on and 3 reputation points which again no one will play me or rate me.

Only the general chat is restricted for new players.
When at a table, there is a 'table chat' box under the 'general chat' box, that you can use to ask if the players are ok to accept and help a beginner (usually when such a request is made, there is some friendly players willing to welcome new players)

Also, when creating a table, you can put a title indicating that it is your first game and asking if someone has some time to help you discover it. This may make it easier to get some people loving the game and willing to share to join your table.
It is also easier if you select shorter games (such as Can't stop, Gomoku, Quarto... you chan check the average time for a game on the 'Games' page) as the time investment is not as big as for longer games.

Hope it helps!

Cheers,
Een

[DNAmers]

Galad,

I had the same issues when I first joined, and I must agree that these features don't exactly make the site appealing to new members. It's something that the site's admins need to think on, but I guess they're juggling other concerns, as Een has noted.

One thing though, the 'probation period' with respect to chatting doesn't last too long, so with a little patience you should be able to use chatting. I see I can, and I've only been a member for a couple of weeks. Of course, this doesn't help you if you've just joined and you're simply keen for a game or two.

Also, when creating a table, you can put a title indicating that it is your first game and asking if someone has some time to help you discover it. This may make it easier to get some people loving the game and willing to share to join your table.

Where exactly is this? I've played around with creating games/tables but I can only find options to denote game Speed, Rating, and to Restrict Table Access. How does one add a text title? As you say, this option will come in very handy for new players looking to try a game for the first time, and looking for someone equally inexperienced, or very tolerant.

[Een]

Also, when creating a table, you can put a title indicating that it is your first game and asking if someone has some time to help you discover it. This may make it easier to get some people loving the game and willing to share to join your table.

Where exactly is this? I've played around with creating games/tables but I can only find options to denote game Speed, Rating, and to Restrict Table Access. How does one add a text title? As you say, this option will come in very handy for new players looking to try a game for the first time, and looking for someone equally inexperienced, or very tolerant.

When you create a new table, you have a '(no presentation yet)' label at the top. As the table administrator, you can click on the 'Modify' link on the right of this label and set a presentation text for your table.

Cheers,
Een

[DNAmers]

'No Presentation' you say? Wouldn't it make more sense to label it 'Game Description' or something? 'No Presentation' seems like an odd term to use.

No matter, I'll give it a shot. Thanks for the help.