CC is declining again!

[Dukasaur]

The reason I posted in here was because I read that you wanted to hear from new members and find out the reason so many people that join don't stay long. Well, I've said why I joined and became instantly disappointed with the site. All I've been told is to learn these maps, but I have no interest in playing these games. I came here to play risk. I think the site will continue to slowly decline in numbers but will be around for a couple of years yet. There are many good points about the site so it's not all bad.

If you want to play original risk, there's quite a large subcommunity that does exactly that. Just search for games on Classic map with escalating or flat rate spoils and you will find plenty to choose from.

Those of us who choose to play more interesting maps are not in any way preventing you from playing Classic.

I consider myself to be a competent risk player and would have liked to see how high up the leader board I could have got. To get anywhere on the scoreboard however, you must learn games that are only available on this site. Maybe an answer would be to have a pure risk scoreboard as there's well over 100 quality risk type maps available and a as you put it " a more interesting" map scoreboard?

I don't disagree with separate scoreboards for settings and maps that essentially constitute different kinds of games. However, both lackattack and bigWham examined the idea and eventually decided it was too complicated to implement. We actually did have a multiple-scoreboard situation on the Beta site for a while until it crashed and bW gave up on it. Still, I keep my hopes up that it will eventually happen.

In the meantime, you are NOT forced to learn maps you don't like to march up the scoreboard. Points from maps you don't like aren't worth any more than points from maps you like. Only you choose what to play, and there are quite a few people who only play a narrow range of maps or settings.

As noted, there is quite a healthy subcommunity here that only plays Classic 90 or 95% of the time and you're welcome to be part of that. Or, if you want to broaden your horizons to the 100 maps you consider "quality risk type maps", you can do that too. Nobody can force you to play maps you don't like. You could even start a usergroup devoted to playing those maps.

Specializing in what you like certainly won't hinder your progress up the scoreboard. Look at the games of the current top 10 players. Four of the ten highest-ranking players are specialists who only play one or two maps. You can certainly march up the scoreboard playing only one map, but if you like 100 of them, so much the better!

[WILLIAMS5232]

The reason I posted in here was because I read that you wanted to hear from new members and find out the reason so many people that join don't stay long. Well, I've said why I joined and became instantly disappointed with the site. All I've been told is to learn these maps, but I have no interest in playing these games. I came here to play risk. I think the site will continue to slowly decline in numbers but will be around for a couple of years yet. There are many good points about the site so it's not all bad.

If you want to play original risk, there's quite a large subcommunity that does exactly that. Just search for games on Classic map with escalating or flat rate spoils and you will find plenty to choose from.

Those of us who choose to play more interesting maps are not in any way preventing you from playing Classic.

I consider myself to be a competent risk player and would have liked to see how high up the leader board I could have got. To get anywhere on the scoreboard however, you must learn games that are only available on this site. Maybe an answer would be to have a pure risk scoreboard as there's well over 100 quality risk type maps available and a as you put it " a more interesting" map scoreboard?

I don't disagree with separate scoreboards for settings and maps that essentially constitute different kinds of games. However, both lackattack and bigWham examined the idea and eventually decided it was too complicated to implement. We actually did have a multiple-scoreboard situation on the Beta site for a while until it crashed and bW gave up on it. Still, I keep my hopes up that it will eventually happen.

In the meantime, you are NOT forced to learn maps you don't like to march up the scoreboard. Points from maps you don't like aren't worth any more than points from maps you like. Only you choose what to play, and there are quite a few people who only play a narrow range of maps or settings.

As noted, there is quite a healthy subcommunity here that only plays Classic 90 or 95% of the time and you're welcome to be part of that. Or, if you want to broaden your horizons to the 100 maps you consider "quality risk type maps", you can do that too. Nobody can force you to play maps you don't like. You could even start a usergroup devoted to playing those maps.

Specializing in what you like certainly won't hinder your progress up the scoreboard. Look at the games of the current top 10 players. Four of the ten highest-ranking players are specialists who only play one or two maps. You can certainly march up the scoreboard playing only one map, but if you like 100 of them, so much the better!

I agree with ducky here.

That mc guy got a general star by playing 8 player default classic. In only about 100-200 games.

I joined to play risk, but that's not been what's kept me here. It's been the variety of things to do here.

[riskllama]

The reason I posted in here was because I read that you wanted to hear from new members and find out the reason so many people that join don't stay long. Well, I've said why I joined and became instantly disappointed with the site. All I've been told is to learn these maps, but I have no interest in playing these games. I came here to play risk. I think the site will continue to slowly decline in numbers but will be around for a couple of years yet. There are many good points about the site so it's not all bad.

If you want to play original risk, there's quite a large subcommunity that does exactly that. Just search for games on Classic map with escalating or flat rate spoils and you will find plenty to choose from.

Those of us who choose to play more interesting maps are not in any way preventing you from playing Classic.

I consider myself to be a competent risk player and would have liked to see how high up the leader board I could have got. To get anywhere on the scoreboard however, you must learn games that are only available on this site. Maybe an answer would be to have a pure risk scoreboard as there's well over 100 quality risk type maps available and a as you put it " a more interesting" map scoreboard?

I don't disagree with separate scoreboards for settings and maps that essentially constitute different kinds of games. However, both lackattack and bigWham examined the idea and eventually decided it was too complicated to implement. We actually did have a multiple-scoreboard situation on the Beta site for a while until it crashed and bW gave up on it. Still, I keep my hopes up that it will eventually happen.

In the meantime, you are NOT forced to learn maps you don't like to march up the scoreboard. Points from maps you don't like aren't worth any more than points from maps you like. Only you choose what to play, and there are quite a few people who only play a narrow range of maps or settings.

As noted, there is quite a healthy subcommunity here that only plays Classic 90 or 95% of the time and you're welcome to be part of that. Or, if you want to broaden your horizons to the 100 maps you consider "quality risk type maps", you can do that too. Nobody can force you to play maps you don't like. You could even start a usergroup devoted to playing those maps.

Specializing in what you like certainly won't hinder your progress up the scoreboard. Look at the games of the current top 10 players. Four of the ten highest-ranking players are specialists who only play one or two maps. You can certainly march up the scoreboard playing only one map, but if you like 100 of them, so much the better!

I agree with ducky here.

That mc guy got a general star by playing 8 player default classic. In only about 100-200 games.

I joined to play risk, but that's not been what's kept me here. It's been the variety of things to do here.

[iAmCaffeine]

Yeah, but "that mc guy" was a very rare exception to the rule. The majority of players that care about climbing the ranks specialise in maps more complicated than classic, usually with obscure settings too. Of course there are team games, and these are a nice thing to adapt into for a standard risk player in my opinion, but again forming a solid team and getting good partners as a brand new player who knows nobody here is not the easiest thing.

Also, the fact that the game of risk isn't what kept you here is irrelevant. There are many different things that keep people around: friends, the community, tournaments, clans etc. I know personally if I didn't have Aeternus then I wouldn't be playing this game anymore. The point is, what brought you to Conquer Club and what did you first play? I doubt it was Napoleonic Europe.

Edit: I've just made 15 games on Classic with the standard settings of flat rate and chained (closest possible to original fort type), four players. Enjoy.

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[WILLIAMS5232]

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i don't disagree with you, the point is, there are games waiting that are geared towards the actual game of risk. i just counted 59. that's with 5-8 players on default settings. +flat rate +manual.

i can see the problem he has with the scoreboard, more filters could be a good thing, but i think we only need one scoreboard. whatever the heck we got going on now with all that monthly leader stuff is a sham. i can't believe it is still with us to be honest.

when i joined, i played about a year before i started exploring the site, the classic map was just a bunch of hexagons color-coded in the basic shape of the classic map, with no way to tell that it was a classic map. i can't even remember what it was called. something like "color shapes" or something to that effect. i stuck with world2.1 no spoils games. i preferred the diplomacy you get with foggy no spoils games. then i discovered the rest of the site, which is why i've now been here over 6 years. i know that's not as long as some, but i can't believe i've stayed here and checked in on a near daily basis for over six years.

i do think there are too many settings now. but that's mainly because our population is not high enough to support them all. it was fine back when we were at 15,000 members. but now that we're only around 7,300 or so, it kind of cuts down on the activity when everyone is so spread out trying to play very specific game settings. i don't know the best way that could be fixed though, even if it could be fixed. probably head in the sand works best for now.

i guess the point is that no one is telling him he must play games other than risk type games, they're just encouraging him to sample some of the other ways to play. he may find something else he likes. in the meantime go join some of the waiting games on basic risk until he's blue in the face.

[jmyork82]

You make a good point caffeinated one. We all have our reasons for sticking around. Whether this sight will be what it once was is unlikely. But we are here now. A Conquer Club. We are the best risk players in the world. Any map, any setting, and with the shittiest dice you can find. I put my money on any CC player over any other risk player.

[IcePack]

I agree with ducky here.

That mc guy got a general star by playing 8 player default classic. In only about 100-200 games.

I joined to play risk, but that's not been what's kept me here. It's been the variety of things to do here.

I agree with william, I came here searching for "free online risk". I was happy to hear I could play 4 games at once for free, but when I saw all the maps and setting options
I was amazed and grabbed my wallet because I KNEW I would be around for a long time and would really enjoy playing all the maps.

Risk brought me here, but that is definitely NOT the reason I'm still here. The variety, the maps, the chat and clans were all key to me sticking around more then just a brief period
had it only been "regular" risk.

[jmyork82]

I love this site!

[iAmCaffeine]

I agree with ducky here.

That mc guy got a general star by playing 8 player default classic. In only about 100-200 games.

I joined to play risk, but that's not been what's kept me here. It's been the variety of things to do here.

I agree with william, I came here searching for "free online risk". I was happy to hear I could play 4 games at once for free, but when I saw all the maps and setting options
I was amazed and grabbed my wallet because I KNEW I would be around for a long time and would really enjoy playing all the maps.

Risk brought me here, but that is definitely NOT the reason I'm still here. The variety, the maps, the chat and clans were all key to me sticking around more then just a brief period
had it only been "regular" risk.

Yes, again, someone misses the point. The discussion is about what brought you to Conquer Club, not what made you stay. I think for the majority that searched "online risk" (probably this site's most successful search term and I seriously hope there is an AdWords campaign with that in) came to play risk, stayed a while to play risk, and then eventually branched out. It's evident that there are people coming here expecting risk and getting put off by the magnitude of what is available. I'm not saying all these maps and options are a bad thing (although some maps look like my piss after asparagus soup), but if they're deterring new players from sticking around, why not have them unlocked? It's a suggestion that has been put forward many times and the same old naysayers wonder in with their ten year old arguments which mean f*ck all.

I think it's immensely ignorant to pretend things are fine as they are. I mean does CC even have a proper advertising campaign yet? Instead of pathetic gimmicks and sneaky attempts to make more money, do things legit and things properly. It's really not that hard.

when i joined, i played about a year before i started exploring the site, the classic map was just a bunch of hexagons color-coded in the basic shape of the classic map, with no way to tell that it was a classic map. i can't even remember what it was called. something like "color shapes" or something to that effect. i stuck with world2.1 no spoils games. i preferred the diplomacy you get with foggy no spoils games. then i discovered the rest of the site, which is why i've now been here over 6 years. i know that's not as long as some, but i can't believe i've stayed here and checked in on a near daily basis for over six years.

Yes, Classic Shapes and Classic Art. I mean, the original map couldn't be copied for copyright reasons obviously, but for anyone with half a brain who just joined it was obvious both these maps, and today's Classic, follow the exact same gameplay.

Nine of those 15 games filled in under 12hrs. Another is almost full. Not bad going. Clearly the standard styles of risk are still popular.

[Donelladan]

we do have classic risk http://www.conquerclub.com/player.php?mode=gameengine

I tried it. It's terrible. Barely work, lot of bugs, not even half as good as CC.

We do have classic risk for real without using this worst versions of Risk I've ever seen. Just game finder / classic map / and that's it !

I don't understand why we have two other different versions of risk in the other games.

[IcePack]

Oye. I'm sorry I didn't address your point, but I wasn't trying to. I didn't miss it, I was adding to a different part of the discussion.
The majority of other maps are locked when new players arrive so I'm not sure what your point is there? Classic is emphasized already to new players. There are plenty of games available and fill pretty quickly for those looking for it.

Last I heard ConquerClub was advertising a bit again. I don't know your definition of "proper" nor do I know the level of efforts made in that area.

I think classic still is missing one attack link from the original, but yeah gameplay is almost the same.

Yes, again, someone misses the point. The discussion is about what brought you to Conquer Club, not what made you stay. I think for the majority that searched "online risk" (probably this site's most successful search term and I seriously hope there is an AdWords campaign with that in) came to play risk, stayed a while to play risk, and then eventually branched out. It's evident that there are people coming here expecting risk and getting put off by the magnitude of what is available. I'm not saying all these maps and options are a bad thing (although some maps look like my piss after asparagus soup), but if they're deterring new players from sticking around, why not have them unlocked? It's a suggestion that has been put forward many times and the same old naysayers wonder in with their ten year old arguments which mean f*ck all.

I think it's immensely ignorant to pretend things are fine as they are. I mean does CC even have a proper advertising campaign yet? Instead of pathetic gimmicks and sneaky attempts to make more money, do things legit and things properly. It's really not that hard.

Yes, Classic Shapes and Classic Art. I mean, the original map couldn't be copied for copyright reasons obviously, but for anyone with half a brain who just joined it was obvious both these maps, and today's Classic, follow the exact same gameplay.

Nine of those 15 games filled in under 12hrs. Another is almost full. Not bad going. Clearly the standard styles of risk are still popular.

[iAmCaffeine]

Maps are unlocked after five games. How much did you learn in your first five games on this site, probably playing Classic / World 2.1 or some other similarly basic map, that would then enable you to start playing King's Court, Trafalgar or Waterloo?

[rockfist]

World 2.1 is not nearly as simple as Classic. Its not even close. There is a counter move for every move in W2.1...some moves have no counter move in Classic. Point rank me in both maps if you doubt that statement. Granted I've used classic to obtain Freestyle and Assassin medals but still.

[iAmCaffeine]

World 2.1 is not nearly as simple as Classic. Its not even close. There is a counter move for every move in W2.1...some moves have no counter move in Classic. Point rank me in both maps if you doubt that statement. Granted I've used classic to obtain Freestyle and Assassin medals but still.

I wholeheartedly agree. Play me 1v1 speed freestyle on World 2.1 compared to Classic, the difference is massive, on any settings. I was just throwing in another map without specialist gameplay, since so many people are basing their argument off the fact they didn't solely play Classic when they joined.

[iAmCaffeine]

For the record, all 15 of those games started in under 24hrs. I think I counted two forum regulars who've seen this thread in them, so clearly classic risk is still something the players want. Based on a small sample size anyway.

[Donelladan]

For the record, all 15 of those games started in under 24hrs. I think I counted two forum regulars who've seen this thread in them, so clearly classic risk is still something the players want. Based on a small sample size anyway.

And it's something they have.
2046 active games on classic among 10843 total active games. That's close to 20% of the games being on the classic map. It's obviously the most played map.

Which is what we said to The asylum, if he wants to play classic risk, he can do it.

Not sure what was your point ?

[iAmCaffeine]

For the record, all 15 of those games started in under 24hrs. I think I counted two forum regulars who've seen this thread in them, so clearly classic risk is still something the players want. Based on a small sample size anyway.

And it's something they have.
2046 active games on classic among 10843 total active games. That's close to 20% of the games being on the classic map. It's obviously the most played map.

Which is what we said to The asylum, if he wants to play classic risk, he can do it.

Not sure what was your point ?

My point is that veteran players are still ignorant enough to believe that an array of confusing settings and maps won't put off brand new players who're looking for regular games of risk. You can say "but there is this group" or "you can learn this" but which brand new, fresh to the site player, is going to know this, or even know the means of how to find this out?

[Donelladan]

My point is that veteran players are still ignorant enough to believe that an array of confusing settings and maps won't put off brand new players who're looking for regular games of risk. You can say "but there is this group" or "you can learn this" but which brand new, fresh to the site player, is going to know this, or even know the means of how to find this out?

I am not sure someone really said so.
Some were arguing we should restrict number of map and/or settings. Answer is : classic risk is still available, so what's the problem ?

I believe there is a common consensus among every posters here that a classification of maps and/or settings between basic and advanced ( or something similar) would be a good thing.
At least I don't recall anyone saying smthg against this.

[iAmCaffeine]

My point is that veteran players are still ignorant enough to believe that an array of confusing settings and maps won't put off brand new players who're looking for regular games of risk. You can say "but there is this group" or "you can learn this" but which brand new, fresh to the site player, is going to know this, or even know the means of how to find this out?

I am not sure someone really said so.
Some were arguing we should restrict number of map and/or settings. Answer is : classic risk is still available, so what's the problem ?

I believe there is a common consensus among every posters here that a classification of maps and/or settings between basic and advanced ( or something similar) would be a good thing.
At least I don't recall anyone saying smthg against this.

In this thread, veteran players are suggesting to new that they should adapt to Conquer Club, it's obscure settings, variety of maps etc. when really, why should they? The player put "online risk" into Google and ended up here, a self-proclaimed online risk-playing website. Whenever suggestions to gradually unlock maps/settings have been made there have always been naysayers and, ultimately, it's been abandoned. I've tried it, Queen_Herpes tried it, and so have others.

It just grinds my gears.

[Donelladan]

Well gradually unlocking isn't a good idea imo. Classical / advanced ( for the game finder, the start a game, and the join a game page, all of them) sounds so much better to me.
It would allow people coming here for risk to easily find standard settings and maps, while allowing people that are more adventurous to directly find the complex maps and settings.
Because while I totally agree with you that CC is probably confusing for many people coming here looking for risk, there is also many that stayed, even relatively quickly, because of all maps and settings available. Locking them is therefore not an attractive idea to me.

I believe most people are smart enough to be able to stay in basic if that's what they want without having the need to put a "lock" on it.

Btw I also know there is many people that keep playing classical maps and settings even after years being on CC, so it's totally possible to do it at the moment. Though I still agree we should simplify the interface for the newcomers, it has never been necessary for anyone on CC to adapt to obscure maps and settings, it's always a choice.

[iAmCaffeine]

Well gradually unlocking isn't a good idea imo. Classical / advanced ( for the game finder, the start a game, and the join a game page, all of them) sounds so much better to me.
It would allow people coming here for risk to easily find standard settings and maps, while allowing people that are more adventurous to directly find the complex maps and settings.
Because while I totally agree with you that CC is probably confusing for many people coming here looking for risk, there is also many that stayed, even relatively quickly, because of all maps and settings available. Locking them is therefore not an attractive idea to me.

I believe most people are smart enough to be able to stay in basic if that's what they want without having the need to put a "lock" on it.

I could fully get behind that. I think a simple, easily used solution that clearly differentiates between "classic" and "advanced" would be ideal.

I just get frustrated when experienced players speak to newer ones as if they're better simply because they've been here longer. Almost like “this is how it’s done here so adapt or leave.” It’s a terrible attitude and one they wouldn’t have accepted kindly themselves when they were in a similar position.

[rockfist]

World 2.1 is not nearly as simple as Classic. Its not even close. There is a counter move for every move in W2.1...some moves have no counter move in Classic. Point rank me in both maps if you doubt that statement. Granted I've used classic to obtain Freestyle and Assassin medals but still.

I wholeheartedly agree. Play me 1v1 speed freestyle on World 2.1 compared to Classic, the difference is massive, on any settings. I was just throwing in another map without specialist gameplay, since so many people are basing their argument off the fact they didn't solely play Classic when they joined.

Speed Freestyle? How about I just hand you the points and skip the game? It'll save us both time and frustration.

[iAmCaffeine]

World 2.1 is not nearly as simple as Classic. Its not even close. There is a counter move for every move in W2.1...some moves have no counter move in Classic. Point rank me in both maps if you doubt that statement. Granted I've used classic to obtain Freestyle and Assassin medals but still.

I wholeheartedly agree. Play me 1v1 speed freestyle on World 2.1 compared to Classic, the difference is massive, on any settings. I was just throwing in another map without specialist gameplay, since so many people are basing their argument off the fact they didn't solely play Classic when they joined.

Speed Freestyle? How about I just hand you the points and skip the game? It'll save us both time and frustration.

If I had ever cared about points on this site then yeah sure. But more seriously, you get my point.

[WILLIAMS5232]

For the record, all 15 of those games started in under 24hrs. I think I counted two forum regulars who've seen this thread in them, so clearly classic risk is still something the players want. Based on a small sample size anyway.

i was pretty surprised with that. i would have bet against it, and clearly lost.

also, another thing that's good to see; i checked a few of those games out and there are relatively new players sticking around to take turns. i signed up for the guide program a while back, and had basically given up on the site because i never played a single game where a new recruit stuck around for more than five minutes. and i'm not talking like 2 games, more like 30-40..... ... ish. maybe less, i don't really remember but it was quite a few.

[IcePack]

The rate of repeat players is really low, but it has been increased by a decent factor since guide games and several other new player experience tweaks were made. Whatever poor turnover rate is currently, it could be worse!