[GO] Unrated, Unranked, or No Points Games

[wreckead]

Hows about making it possible to play practice games. either against bots or even other players but preferably bots:

include an option when starting a game to play it as a practise game which will not affect your rank/ratings in any way:

This will improve the following aspects of the site:

will encourage more people to try new or different maps rather than just sticking to the same old ones as most of us do

will help cut down the games where people are new to the map and can possibly mess up other peoples games


what yas think?

[iamkoolerthanu]

I would love this idea, because I am afraid of playing on complex maps for fear of not knowing how, and only being able to play against players that are expert at the map...

[drunkmonkey]

Stop worrying about your rating.

Problem solved.

[wreckead]

couldnt care less about it. not a problem just a suggestion.

heres another:


stop spamming posts with useless dribble, not what this is for.

[wreckead]

I would love this idea, because I am afraid of playing on complex maps for fear of not knowing how, and only being able to play against players that are expert at the map...

this is exactly what i mean, some of the more complex maps you just have no chance to learn.

not anymore useul comments on ere im amazed

[iamkoolerthanu]

Stop worrying about your rating.

Problem solved.

I wouldnt care if I had to play a complex map a few times and lose a few points in order to learn it. Its the fact that with the really complex maps, the only people that play them are really high ranked players that are experts on the map, therefor I am not going to learn the map, because I am getting destroyed by an advanced player... But if there were practice games, I would have a much better chance of being able to play against someone with the same skill as me on that map.

[darkangelsguy205]

i would love it

[gregory7]

i like it

[Fascisti]

I love complex maps, but sometimes they aren't as clear as they should be. A practice run through could really help before trying your hand against others.

[Orange-Idaho-Dog]

I'll tell you this much now, from a coding perspective, although I'm not big on php, Having a bot simulate a human player to a T would be nearly impossible. You could make it attack, or suicide basically until it ran out of attacking troops or make it do something specific. But as far as having a bot act like a human player in knowing when to stop attacking, where to fortify and all would be rather difficult.


Something to consider, though, would be to setup some sort of Campaign or Tutorial on the tougher maps that you could play with no point alteration, or eventually all of the maps. It would essentially be taking over what the Society of the Cooks handle, It would show new players the ropes.

This way you could make the neutral player do exactly what you want it to do, every time.

[squishyg]

the way i've learned how to play complex maps is by playing real people. in return, i offer new players friendly games on maps i know really well. yes, at first when i joined cc, i was hoping to just find a place to play bots, but after a few games i really appreciated the human element. plus won't bots kick your ass harder than a brig?

[wreckead]

I'll tell you this much now, from a coding perspective, although I'm not big on php, Having a bot simulate a human player to a T would be nearly impossible. You could make it attack, or suicide basically until it ran out of attacking troops or make it do something specific. But as far as having a bot act like a human player in knowing when to stop attacking, where to fortify and all would be rather difficult.


Something to consider, though, would be to setup some sort of Campaign or Tutorial on the tougher maps that you could play with no point alteration, or eventually all of the maps. It would essentially be taking over what the Society of the Cooks handle, It would show new players the ropes.

This way you could make the neutral player do exactly what you want it to do, every time.

no need to simulate humans then just have it was one of the options when you set up game anyone can join same as usual but no points change hands. people can just join so they can learn or practice different tactics.

i know there are many maps i would love to try but they just seem too hard to play at first, infact you could easily screw up other more experienced players by playing the map all wrong, seen that happen many times...

[The Neon Peon]

Stop worrying about your rating.

Problem solved.

I wouldnt care if I had to play a complex map a few times and lose a few points in order to learn it. Its the fact that with the really complex maps, the only people that play them are really high ranked players that are experts on the map, therefor I am not going to learn the map, because I am getting destroyed by an advanced player... But if there were practice games, I would have a much better chance of being able to play against someone with the same skill as me on that map.

Which is why your rank is low. The absolute BEST way is to play experts on a map and see what type of strategy they use.

Logic:
1. if you don't play experts, you won't see the best strategy for the map
2. if you don't see the best strategy for the map, you're going to have to figure it out for yourself
3. if you can figure it out for yourself, you wouldn't be complaining about "complex" maps. (honestly... ABSOLUTELY NO MAP on CC should take more than 3 games to learn = one 2 player game, one multiplayer standard, one team game)

[wreckead]

Stop worrying about your rating.

Problem solved.

I wouldnt care if I had to play a complex map a few times and lose a few points in order to learn it. Its the fact that with the really complex maps, the only people that play them are really high ranked players that are experts on the map, therefor I am not going to learn the map, because I am getting destroyed by an advanced player... But if there were practice games, I would have a much better chance of being able to play against someone with the same skill as me on that map.

Which is why your rank is low. The absolute BEST way is to play experts on a map and see what type of strategy they use.

Logic:
1. if you don't play experts, you won't see the best strategy for the map
2. if you don't see the best strategy for the map, you're going to have to figure it out for yourself
3. if you can figure it out for yourself, you wouldn't be complaining about "complex" maps. (honestly... ABSOLUTELY NO MAP on CC should take more than 3 games to learn = one 2 player game, one multiplayer standard, one team game)

so you enjoy map noobs playing with you and totally screwing up your game because they try to do or get somewhere which is wrong?

[eddie2]

sorry but like i was told this is not going to happen as has been brought up quite a few times view thread http://www.conquerclub.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=107831&p=2425753&hilit=friendlies#p2425753

[Jatekos]

I think it would be useful to have practice games, as a limited option.

It would definetely increase the number of players on more difficult maps, as people would be more willing to try new maps without the fear of losing points.

If it was a limited option, then it would have much more advantages than disadvantages.
E.g. make it to:
- allow playing 1 practice map at a time for a player,
- allow playing on maps on which the player has not played before,
- not count towards medals or points.

Having more experienced (or less clueless) players playing on more maps would not hurt anyone. It would only increase the activity on difficult maps and could be a useful, but limited option.

[BoganGod]

Invest your time, invest your points. There is no substitute for experience. Practice games would not be taken seriously, if played against a bot(besides the about of work required to program it) would be a waste of time, as bot would be predictable..... Lulling the poor fool playing practice games obsessively like a teenage boy with a Victoria Secrets Catalog into a false sense of competency.

[Jatekos]

There is no need for bots or catalogs either.
Practice games would work like free samples of food given in shops. You can have a free (point-free) taste of something that you may not have tried normally. The reason is, that producers can expect an increased demand in their products (their maps) later, because part of the people (players) who tried out the free samples will realize that they like the product (map) and will buy it (play on the maps) afterwards.
Again, it could be a limited feature (e.g. one practice game on a week, maybe max one game / map), which would be unlikely to create a false sense of competency, but would generate interest in difficult maps and enable to create friendly games. I have no doubt that the overwhelming majority of people would like it and if used as a limited option, it would not create any issues.

[wreckead]

Invest your time, invest your points. There is no substitute for experience. Practice games would not be taken seriously, if played against a bot(besides the about of work required to program it) would be a waste of time, as bot would be predictable..... Lulling the poor fool playing practice games obsessively like a teenage boy with a Victoria Secrets Catalog into a false sense of competency.

as i said before, no bots needed. just an option to make game practice and for no points but still be for real players. this would be very easy to code. and very useful to not have total noobs on more complicated maps cockin up the game

[Sebster10]

Stop worrying about your rating.

Problem solved.

I wouldnt care if I had to play a complex map a few times and lose a few points in order to learn it. Its the fact that with the really complex maps, the only people that play them are really high ranked players that are experts on the map, therefor I am not going to learn the map, because I am getting destroyed by an advanced player... But if there were practice games, I would have a much better chance of being able to play against someone with the same skill as me on that map.

Which is why your rank is low. The absolute BEST way is to play experts on a map and see what type of strategy they use.

Logic:
1. if you don't play experts, you won't see the best strategy for the map
2. if you don't see the best strategy for the map, you're going to have to figure it out for yourself
3. if you can figure it out for yourself, you wouldn't be complaining about "complex" maps. (honestly... ABSOLUTELY NO MAP on CC should take more than 3 games to learn = one 2 player game, one multiplayer standard, one team game)

I find this amusing.

[Queen_Herpes]

New Setting: Practice Game

• Players choose whether the game is "yes" practice or "no" regular

Specifics:

• "Yes" means a practice game, no points are earned and non are lost in a practice game
• "No" means a regular game (as we enjoy them now) where points are risked and rank is potentially affected

This will improve the following aspects of the site:

• Players looking to teach other players how to play can do so without risking points
• High ranked players can open games without being concerned about opponents low rank and risk of points
• New Players can train and learn how to play from experienced players without causing the experienced players concern over lost points
• Brings some integrity to the ranking system. Every sport, video game and board game has a trial, tutorial, practice mode where players don't earn any benefits from winning and losers don't risk rank or rewards by losing.

If AI is too difficult to code, I would think that coding a switch to either "earn points" or "not earn points" would be much, much easier to code. I've had a lot of players complain when I play them because my rank is "too low." "Come back when you are a lieutenant, or captain, or major," they say.

I also realize the risk a player puts out by starting a game (usually one v one or 1v1v1 FFA) because the opponent could be a low rank and could burn points based on dice rolls as opposed to strategy. And strategy is what the ranking system is attempting to measure, correct?

LMK, I think this might really work.

[edwinissweet]

i would say that this be only availible to premiums. I think the main concern you will find is that people will do this instead of playing. So i say that a "penalty" or "cost" be added. For every practice game, you lose 5 points, with the possibility to gain none. Knowledge at a "price"

[TheForgivenOne]

Merged a bunch of the Practice Suggestions

[Queen_Herpes]

i would say that this be only availible to premiums. I think the main concern you will find is that people will do this instead of playing. So i say that a "penalty" or "cost" be added. For every practice game, you lose 5 points, with the possibility to gain none. Knowledge at a "price"

Making it "Premium Only" would ruin the point. Most of the players on this site are not premium. Of those, a majority of them are among the lowest ranks and arguably, might not have the experience and knowledge (yet) to compete. Allowing new, freemium, and inexperienced players to play practice games would be benefical to them....beneficial to everyone...benefical to the site.

[TheForgivenOne]

Hmmmm Maybe you could only play so many Practice games per week/month?