The developer recently added a popular feature to allow users to check words during the game. I can see this being popular and useful, especially for foreign language players, or scenarios where there are differences between US Scrabble and British Scrabble.
However, I feel this feature is a mistake that will damage the integrity of this wonderful game in the long run:
- We had several historical issues with cheaters especially when arena mode and ELO was enabled
- Allowing mid game checks (even not on your turn) opens the door to users thinking its ok to refer to dictionaries/solvers etc while playing (it strictly is not!). Over time it will slowly increase the number of users who get into the habit of using an anagram solver to help assist them with creating words.
Hardback is my favourite board game of all time and I am immensely grateful to this website and the developer for making it available. I feel like I am able to play it here in an environment competitive enough that I feel a sense of achievement in having reached an 800+ elo. Adding the word check, feels a bit the beginning of turning the game from something we can use for proper competition, into something that is strictly just for fun and not serious at all.
It would be great (at bare minimum) if we could have an option in game setup to disable in game word check for the game. Even better (in my opinion) would be to have "Strict mode" and "Relaxed mode":
- Strict mode: No in game word check, max 3 retries per turn, skip turn if clock overruns
- Relaxed mode: Allow in game word check, unlimited retries, no skipping turn.
With these options I even see potential to bring back arena(?) subject to being able to have arena for real time only games with a very fast turn clock.
However, I feel this feature is a mistake that will damage the integrity of this wonderful game in the long run:
- We had several historical issues with cheaters especially when arena mode and ELO was enabled
- Allowing mid game checks (even not on your turn) opens the door to users thinking its ok to refer to dictionaries/solvers etc while playing (it strictly is not!). Over time it will slowly increase the number of users who get into the habit of using an anagram solver to help assist them with creating words.
Hardback is my favourite board game of all time and I am immensely grateful to this website and the developer for making it available. I feel like I am able to play it here in an environment competitive enough that I feel a sense of achievement in having reached an 800+ elo. Adding the word check, feels a bit the beginning of turning the game from something we can use for proper competition, into something that is strictly just for fun and not serious at all.
It would be great (at bare minimum) if we could have an option in game setup to disable in game word check for the game. Even better (in my opinion) would be to have "Strict mode" and "Relaxed mode":
- Strict mode: No in game word check, max 3 retries per turn, skip turn if clock overruns
- Relaxed mode: Allow in game word check, unlimited retries, no skipping turn.
With these options I even see potential to bring back arena(?) subject to being able to have arena for real time only games with a very fast turn clock.