There is such an easy fix to this.
1) Anyone can have an internet disconnect. My internet device typically fails once per day, and in some games, the turn timer is not long enough to reset the device (Which usually takes 2-3 minutes from the time I realize it has failed and I power cycle it).
2) So, if that happens, I do not think a player should be heavily penalized. The existing penalty is already absurdly harsh. I lost 27 ELO points and also Karma points in a game that was essentially over and I was winning by a landslide. I was about to put down the last ocean and raise the last temperature.
3) But, if a player has this happen twice in a short time span, then we can assume it is not faulty internet. Apply the usual penalties, plus a 24-hour ban from playing any more games.
4) If that same player has two abandoned games AGAIN, apply a 5-day ban. Keep increasing the ban as needed. Quitters should not be allowed to play.
5) If a player has what appears to be an internet disconnect, but then immediately joins or starts a new game, thereby indicating it was NOT an internet disconnect, apply a very severe penalty immediately. 10-day ban. I mean, if criticizing a moderator is a 10-day ban, so should quitting a game.
6) To better help with internet disconnects: The system can tell when a player is no longer logged in / connected, right? When this happens, give a pop-up notice to the opponents when the timer hits zero.
Or rather, modify the existing one. Include,
"Please keep in mind this may be an internet disconnect through no fault of the player. Please consider giving a couple extra minutes for that player to return. It is your right not to do so, but overall, everyone's gaming experience improves if legitimate internet failures do not cause a game to be ended prematurely. If a player with 100 Karma seems to have a disconnect, give that player the benefit of the doubt."
1) Anyone can have an internet disconnect. My internet device typically fails once per day, and in some games, the turn timer is not long enough to reset the device (Which usually takes 2-3 minutes from the time I realize it has failed and I power cycle it).
2) So, if that happens, I do not think a player should be heavily penalized. The existing penalty is already absurdly harsh. I lost 27 ELO points and also Karma points in a game that was essentially over and I was winning by a landslide. I was about to put down the last ocean and raise the last temperature.
3) But, if a player has this happen twice in a short time span, then we can assume it is not faulty internet. Apply the usual penalties, plus a 24-hour ban from playing any more games.
4) If that same player has two abandoned games AGAIN, apply a 5-day ban. Keep increasing the ban as needed. Quitters should not be allowed to play.
5) If a player has what appears to be an internet disconnect, but then immediately joins or starts a new game, thereby indicating it was NOT an internet disconnect, apply a very severe penalty immediately. 10-day ban. I mean, if criticizing a moderator is a 10-day ban, so should quitting a game.
6) To better help with internet disconnects: The system can tell when a player is no longer logged in / connected, right? When this happens, give a pop-up notice to the opponents when the timer hits zero.
Or rather, modify the existing one. Include,
"Please keep in mind this may be an internet disconnect through no fault of the player. Please consider giving a couple extra minutes for that player to return. It is your right not to do so, but overall, everyone's gaming experience improves if legitimate internet failures do not cause a game to be ended prematurely. If a player with 100 Karma seems to have a disconnect, give that player the benefit of the doubt."
