Why do my no time limit / friends-only games keep getting removed?

[Bray]

I'm trying to play without a time limit with friends only. If the game itself matters, in this case it's Azul.

The only option I have in friendly mode says: "Friendly mode: no rankings, no time limit per turn, no penalties. Real-time game."

I don't want a real time game. I want an async game, but without a time limit there really should not be a difference. Except that the game never lasts overnight. It gets deleted by the next day. In the last game we were a few turns in and today it's just gone.

[GTSchemer]

This is a longstanding issue -- realtime games get deleted, and unfortunately friendly mode games can be secretly realtime. There is no obvious indicator that a friendly mode game is realtime.

To avoid this, you can change your settings to turn-based, and then create a friendly table. Or, create a friendly table, click the top right menu, and then click the button to vote to switch into turn-based.

Otherwise, your game will automatically be deleted after 4 hours of inactivity.

[Bray]

To avoid this, you can change your settings to turn-based, and then create a friendly table. Or, create a friendly table, click the top right menu, and then click the button to vote to switch into turn-based.

I appreciate you trying to help, but I'm still a bit lost. I have the table set to "turn-based", but in friendly mode (which is the only thing I'm allowed to use with
no time limit), the game gets set to "real time" anyway. When I start these games with my friends, they get deleted overnight.

Screenshot from 2023-10-10 18-34-51.png (322.08 KiB) Viewed 1064 times

[Meeplelowda]

I'm trying to play without a time limit with friends only. If the game itself matters, in this case it's Azul.

The only option I have in friendly mode says: "Friendly mode: no rankings, no time limit per turn, no penalties. Real-time game."

I don't want a real time game. I want an async game, but without a time limit there really should not be a difference. Except that the game never lasts overnight. It gets deleted by the next day. In the last game we were a few turns in and today it's just gone.

Why won't a turn-based game set to 1 move every two days be long enough to effectively be no time limit? Is it literally no time limit? No. But unless you plan to stop playing for a week, does it really matter? Remember, it doesn't mean *everyone* is making a move every two days. Just the next active player. If you just need to pause overnight and finish the next day, then 1 move per 2 days lets you do that.

[GTSchemer]

Why won't a turn-based game set to 1 move every two days be long enough to effectively be no time limit? Is it literally no time limit? No. But unless you plan to stop playing for a week, does it really matter? Remember, it doesn't mean *everyone* is making a move every two days. Just the next active player. If you just need to pause overnight and finish the next day, then 1 move per 2 days lets you do that.

I understand your point, but it should definitely NOT be the case that choosing "no time limit per turn" causes a game to be deleted with no warning, but choosing a time limit means a game can last for weeks.

I'm trying to play without a time limit with friends only. If the game itself matters, in this case it's Azul.

The only option I have in friendly mode says: "Friendly mode: no rankings, no time limit per turn, no penalties. Real-time game."

That is definitely weird. I tested and confirmed that I can create a friendly mode game in turn-based mode, yet the description DOES still say "real-time game".

If it shows the yellow icon in your list of active games, yet deletes itself overnight, it is almost certainly a site bug.

[GTSchemer]

I understand this is frustrating, but if you do want to help test, what we would need to do is this:

1. Make sure the lobby shows the yellow icon for a friendly game (like in your screenshot).

2. Start the game. Click the top right menu, and make sure there is NOT an option to vote for turn-based mode.

3. Let the game run overnight and check if it is deleted.



*edit* I started an Azul game in turn-based friendly mode as a test. I started around 11pm EDT, so I will report tomorrow if it vanishes.

[cigma]

I have the table set to "turn-based", but in friendly mode (which is the only thing I'm allowed to use with no time limit), the game gets set to "real time" anyway. When I start these games with my friends, they get deleted overnight.

Unfortunately, there is only one description for "friendly mode" which always says "real time". But if you do as GTSchemer has described (change your settings to turn-based and then create a friendly table, or create a friendly table, click the top right menu, and then click the button to vote to switch into turn-based), it will stay open as long as any turn-based game (40 days after last action taken). At least that's my experience.

[GTSchemer]

My game has not reached 24 hours yet, but I believe cigma is correct.

Whether you use the old ("Play Now") or new (game page) lobby system, you can create either a real-time OR turn-based "friendly" game. Unfortunately, the table configuration text for either game still says "real-time", even if the icon contains a clock, indicating turn-based.

However, this appears to only be a display bug, and turn-based friendly games correctly persist overnight.

The easiest way to check once a game starts is to click the top right menu, and look if the button is available to switch to turn-based.

[Bray]

My game has not reached 24 hours yet, but I believe cigma is correct.

I'll try again when my current game ends. Thank you.

[GTSchemer]

Good news, my Azul test game lasted 24 hours.

So, it works, as long as you make sure to check the menu for the vote to go turn-based option. If it's not there, you are good.