(Anonymous) Risk-Free "Friendlies"

[Hatchman]

Keep the insults out of suggestions guys

Hatch, we're not going to be having no-rank games for a long while, if at all.

The idea of anonymous games is interesting, but if it were for points, people would really abuse it.

Thanks Twill

If you read the original post, I'm talking about anonymous, with no rankings involved, and no points awarded/deducted for a win/loss. People have been doing it for decades in their living rooms and rec rooms. Playing for the hell of it.

[jiminski]

Keep the insults out of suggestions guys

Hatch, we're not going to be having no-rank games for a long while, if at all.

The idea of anonymous games is interesting, but if it were for points, people would really abuse it.

Thanks Twill

If you read the original post, I'm talking about anonymous, with no rankings involved, and no points awarded/deducted for a win/loss. People have been doing it for decades in their living rooms and rec rooms. Playing for the hell of it.

I don't see why not.. of course i don;t have to programme it...

But does it have to be Anonymous Hatch? could it just be 'non scoring' games? (it would probably be easier to change)
I would think the biggest reason new fellas would join (in the absence of points) would be the chance to play and learn from quality players like yourself! no way for them to tell unless ID and rank is visible.

[Hatchman]

Yeah I'm thinking the main objective would be for practicing strategies one would not try in a points game.

[kwanton]

Doesn't anonymous games undermine the whole feedback/ignore list system.

If players are kept anonymous people can be jerks in game chat with no consequences.

No thanks.

[Hatchman]

No points on the line and no effect on win ratio would hopefully mean no nastiness. The name of the game is "friendly match".

[Anarkistsdream]

No points on the line and no effect win ratio would hopefully mean no nastiness.

people would just try to be a dick, then, thinking anonimity would save them

[Aerial Attack]

The subject line for this post is misleading. You really need to switch it to something like "no points matches" or "anonymous no point matches". Additionally, these games would not count towards your games completed (win/loss) record.

Anonymity is probably not a good thing. Even for no points, the ability to be "invisible" in a game would make it easier for multi and secret alliance play. I am unsure of the benefit of multi in a no point no win game, but for secret alliances if two anonymous people know they are in the same game (fairly easy if person A tells person B the game number), then they can communicate about another game and it would be really difficult to tell what they are talking about (or even who they are).

[insomniacdude]

Anonymous games might be interesting - mostly for the potential uses for tournaments - but overall I gotta say they're a bad idea. Too much potential for abuse, most of which have been outlines already. I will say though that is the idea ever were to come around, a good circumvention to random dickholing without fear of a negative would be too reveal the players at their elimination or the end of the game.

"Casual" games, however, are a brilliant idea. Playing for the sake of playing. I'd certainly use it for newly quenched maps and pratice. Pat of the reason I never play Circux Maximus is because I'm terrible at it and and I don't want to lose the points in "practice" games that I know I'll lose. It would only be worthwhile if the casual games didn't affect the win-loss record, or if casual games had a separate record tallied.

[austex]

IMO, it doesn't have to be anonymous. Like Hatch suggested, they could be called "friendly matches". They wouldn't be for points and wouldn't count in your wins/losses. The point would be to learn, play with players of all rank, learn new maps, try out new game styles, etc. For example, I'm a singles player, but would like to learn team play from good team players without the RISK of losing points. I'd also like to play friends/family that suck or are just beginning for just the fun of it and to teach them the game. How effective can I be teaching them when I stand to lose 60+ points if they win?

I've even considered opening a second "my brother/my wife" account for this exact reason. One account to be serious and one to have fun and not care about points. The accounts wouldn't play each other, so there should be no reason to accuse me of being a multi. BUT, for the risk of being labeled a cheater, I haven't done it.

[kalishnikov]

But I'm in a hole so deep I can no longer see any light at the top LOL.

Lieutenant is far from in a hole, it's pretty good if you ask me.

[Piestar]

IMO, it doesn't have to be anonymous. Like Hatch suggested, they could be called "friendly matches". They wouldn't be for points and wouldn't count in your wins/losses. The point would be to learn, play with players of all rank, learn new maps, try out new game styles, etc. For example, I'm a singles player, but would like to learn team play from good team players without the RISK of losing points. I'd also like to play friends/family that suck or are just beginning for just the fun of it and to teach them the game. How effective can I be teaching them when I stand to lose 60+ points if they win?

I've even considered opening a second "my brother/my wife" account for this exact reason. One account to be serious and one to have fun and not care about points. The accounts wouldn't play each other, so there should be no reason to accuse me of being a multi. BUT, for the risk of being labeled a cheater, I haven't done it.

Point-free games makes more sense to me, and it would still allow for feedback.

Setting up a second account would still be a problem though, because we are only supposed to get four games for free. Setting up a multi for extra free games is perhaps not as bad as for cheating, but it's still stealing, in a very real way.

[Ishiro]

Are you so worried about points that you are unwilling to try new strategies in games?

That just sounds silly... but if its true, I'm going to read up on all your old games and then join every game you are in so I can beat you all the time since you never try new stuff.

I seriously don't get why people are so protective of their score...

[austex]

Are you so worried about points that you are unwilling to try new strategies in games?

That just sounds silly... but if its true, I'm going to read up on all your old games and then join every game you are in so I can beat you all the time since you never try new stuff.

I seriously don't get why people are so protective of their score...

LOL... Do you actually think that I have one strategy? And do you think you could learn my strategy from looking at my games? Strategies are continuously changing with every players move.

I never said I'm unwilling to try new strategies. What I said is that I'd like to play some games just for fun. To try new games styles/maps (I've played almost all of them), play friends or family that suck or are new, or play open games. Playing open games when your high ranking sucks because stupid noobs think your a target because they can earn a lot of points. What's fun about joining a game just to get attacked by everyone?

I have two goals in mind when playing. First comes having fun. Second is to do well. I do have lots of fun here playing the game style I enjoy most (6 player, standard, sequential, esc- aka game of champions ). Unfortunately, the second doesn't allow me to play all games with all people. That's why I'd like to have some "friendly games".

There is no reason to even get into the whole "I don't get why people are so protective of their score" debate. Its always said by people who have lower scores. I don't know one person who has over 2000 points that doesn't care about their points precisely because they do and that's how they got there.

[austex]

Setting up a second account would still be a problem though, because we are only supposed to get four games for free. Setting up a multi for extra free games is perhaps not as bad as for cheating, but it's still stealing, in a very real way.

What if one account is premium? Technically cheating, but not really cheating. Again, this is what I'd like to do, not what I've done.