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playing hours -- smaller intervals possible ????
Posted: 09 October 2025, 18:48
by Fuchur
Hi everybody,
it seems there are only 12-hour intervals for playing hours possible (0h - 12 h, 1h - 13 h and so on) ?!
As far as I am concerned 12 hours is too much. On a normal weekday i could manage 6 hours (18h - 24 h local time) (which rules out any other appointment for that evening) but i would prefer even smaller playing hours like 3 or 2 hour intervals.
Is there any way to create games with these settings ?
If not, why ? Who can stay during 12 hours near the keyboard on working days ?
Re: playing hours -- smaller intervals possible ????
Posted: 09 October 2025, 20:17
by Jellby
You don't need to be 12 hours at the keyboard, you just need to be able to make your move within the allowed time (30 min - 90 min, depending on the setting).
If you want to be active only for 2-3 hours a day, you can play slower turn-based games (e.g. 1 move per day), or real-time.
Re: playing hours -- smaller intervals possible ????
Posted: 09 October 2025, 20:24
by Meeplelowda
Jellby wrote: ↑09 October 2025, 20:17
You don't need to be 12 hours at the keyboard, you just need to be able to make your move within the allowed time (30 min - 90 min, depending on the setting).
And that's without even touching your time bank.* You can "borrow" time from your time bank during the hours your absolutely cannot play (within limits, obviously), and pay it back by playing quicker than the increment in later turns.
*Yes, I know technically the time bank always counts down on your turn during playing hours, but if you stay within the increment when it's maxed out the effect is as if you haven't lost any time.
Re: playing hours -- smaller intervals possible ????
Posted: 09 October 2025, 21:36
by Fuchur
Usually i choose 2 turns or less per day (no playing time).
Sometimes there is no table available with these slow settings, i get excessively confident and subscribe to faster games -- 4 turns CAN pass if the other players will let me take two moves every evening. Usually that works fine -- and every few months i run into a landmine : The other players aren't in my time-zone, have started the game after i went to bed -- and the next evening, making my first move, i've got only a few hours left. Again the others make their moves after i left BGA -- and i get kicked before i had the chance to make a second move.
ONE table like that doesn't matter, but when there is a second table like that soon after the Karma hit gets quite expensive.
So NO, i can't play quicker if the others aren't around in my playing interval (each evening i will only be able to make one move) and my credit gets burned in no time.
Re: playing hours -- smaller intervals possible ????
Posted: 09 October 2025, 22:08
by Meeplelowda
Fuchur wrote: ↑09 October 2025, 21:36
i get excessively confident and subscribe to faster games
I'm trying to figure out how this is a framework problem and not a you problem.
Re: playing hours -- smaller intervals possible ????
Posted: 10 October 2025, 08:12
by Jellby
If with the limited selection available it's already difficult to find tables, do you think it would be any easier if you could have say 8 turns per day, between 6 and 9 pm?
Re: playing hours -- smaller intervals possible ????
Posted: 10 October 2025, 09:36
by FrankJones
Fuchur wrote: ↑09 October 2025, 21:36
Usually i choose 2 turns or less per day (no playing time).
Sometimes there is no table available with these slow settings, i get excessively confident and subscribe to faster games -- 4 turns CAN pass if the other players will let me take two moves every evening. Usually that works fine -- and every few months i run into a landmine : The other players aren't in my time-zone, have started the game after i went to bed -- and the next evening, making my first move, i've got only a few hours left. Again the others make their moves after i left BGA -- and i get kicked before i had the chance to make a second move.
ONE table like that doesn't matter, but when there is a second table like that soon after the Karma hit gets quite expensive.
So NO, i can't play quicker if the others aren't around in my playing interval (each evening i will only be able to make one move) and my credit gets burned in no time.
If you cannot commit to making 8 turns per day within a 12-hour time window of your choosing, then do not choose that time setting. fast turn-based is not designed for players who are only available for 6-8 hours of the day.
Would it be ideal for there to be "fast turn based" with an 8-hour window instead of 12? Perhaps it would. But, even then you might run into a similar problem. There's a setting that I think would be good for someone in your situation: turn-based, 4 moves per day. It's not my preferred setting - I prefer fast turn-based - but sometimes I accept turn based 4 moves per day so I can get a game started. And it almost always ends up being faster than 4 moves per day.
Re: playing hours -- smaller intervals possible ????
Posted: 10 October 2025, 15:58
by Fuchur
Jellby wrote: ↑10 October 2025, 08:12
If with the limited selection available it's already difficult to find tables, do you think it would be any easier if you could have say 8 turns per day, between 6 and 9 pm?
Not sure; i don't know how you (or anybody with a normal live) manages to be available during 12 hours. I, personally, need some hours of sleep and i have to work (and i'm not paid for playing on BGA).
So with the actual setting i can't join fast tables BUT i could join fast tables (any speed) IF the playing hours would match my free time (18:00 - 24:00 local time).
I suppose that there are many people in my situation (not able to play during working hours, but free to play after work), so filling up fast tables might be easier than now.
BGA should have a pretty good idea when and how long any of us is able to join the site ...
Re: playing hours -- smaller intervals possible ????
Posted: 10 October 2025, 16:17
by FrankJones
Many people with normal lives are at or near a computer often enough to make moves in a 12-hour window. People have lunch hour, breaks, etc. Some people are retired or only employed part-time. There are lots of [possible explanations. Students might have availability on and off throughout the day.
For me, it's a non-issue to check in every 90 minutes and make a move, especially since I usually know what my next move will be.
Re: playing hours -- smaller intervals possible ????
Posted: 10 October 2025, 19:06
by Meeplelowda
FrankJones wrote: ↑10 October 2025, 16:17
Many people with normal lives are at or near a computer often enough to make moves in a 12-hour window. People have lunch hour, breaks, etc. Some people are retired or only employed part-time. There are lots of [possible explanations. Students might have availability on and off throughout the day.
This reminds me of the recurring discussion of being able to filter opponents by time zone because "normal" people only play during the same times as the person making the proposal. To them I say, "no, friend, your personal circumstances don't define what's 'normal.'"