Board Game Arena

UnregularSpace wrote: ↑28 July 2023, 14:14 I am new to BGA and so far I like it, but I'm a little confused about spectating. I have been using the watch a game feature to learn to play better, but this morning I was asked why I was watching someone play. I said I was trying to learn and then I was blocked. No explanation. Was I in the wrong?

nik592 wrote: ↑29 July 2023, 00:30 Does anything happen beyond you being kicked from the game in question? It doesn't sound like it's the same penalty as a red thumb, etc. I would assume you can't red thumb someone who is only spectating, as whenever I've tried to red thumb someone not from a game, it tells me I need to have played with them recently to do so. So if it is only being kicked from that game, I wouldn't worry about it. I wouldn't even notice a spectator unless they were chatting, and I assume many are similar.

ChiefPointThief wrote: ↑28 July 2023, 22:18

UnregularSpace wrote: ↑28 July 2023, 14:14 I am new to BGA and so far I like it, but I'm a little confused about spectating. I have been using the watch a game feature to learn to play better, but this morning I was asked why I was watching someone play. I said I was trying to learn and then I was blocked. No explanation. Was I in the wrong?

I learned this from a friend because I didn't know why sometimes spectators had an x next to their names. Apparently spectating games is perfectly fine. They can't kick you unless you talk. So once you replied in the game chat to their question an x appeared next to your name. It seems like you were tricked. I am unsure what happens if you are spectating a game and someone goes to your page and red thumbs you.

UnregularSpace wrote: ↑28 July 2023, 14:14 I am new to BGA and so far I like it, but I'm a little confused about spectating. I have been using the watch a game feature to learn to play better, but this morning I was asked why I was watching someone play. I said I was trying to learn and then I was blocked. No explanation. Was I in the wrong?

Meeplelowda wrote: ↑29 July 2023, 06:43

UnregularSpace wrote: ↑28 July 2023, 14:14 I am new to BGA and so far I like it, but I'm a little confused about spectating. I have been using the watch a game feature to learn to play better, but this morning I was asked why I was watching someone play. I said I was trying to learn and then I was blocked. No explanation. Was I in the wrong?

I treat BGA like going to a board game convention. When you're playing in the free play area anyone can just walk up and watch. As long as you don't actively interfere with the game there shouldn't be an issue.

But if the potential conflict makes you uncomfortable, you can just watch replays of someone's games.

UnregularSpace wrote: ↑29 July 2023, 08:23

Meeplelowda wrote: ↑29 July 2023, 06:43

UnregularSpace wrote: ↑28 July 2023, 14:14 I am new to BGA and so far I like it, but I'm a little confused about spectating. I have been using the watch a game feature to learn to play better, but this morning I was asked why I was watching someone play. I said I was trying to learn and then I was blocked. No explanation. Was I in the wrong?

I treat BGA like going to a board game convention. When you're playing in the free play area anyone can just walk up and watch. As long as you don't actively interfere with the game there shouldn't be an issue.

But if the potential conflict makes you uncomfortable, you can just watch replays of someone's games.

The thing is I wasn't interfering in any way and there WAS a problem. I was "blocked" by one of the players. I'm concerned it may affect my reputation and the question I was really trying to ask is if I should report this person for this action or if the fault was mine. Unless the intent is that players should be able to block anyone from spectating for no reason then one of us is at fault.