TheForgivenOne wrote:Queen_Herpes wrote:TheForgivenOne wrote:Hmmmm Maybe you could only play so many Practice games per week/month?
I've read some of the other comments regarding limitations on practice games, but I don't understand why the limitations would need to be put in place. Can you, TheForgivenOne, or someone else explain why it would be bad if a freemium player filled up all 4 game slots with practice games?
Hmmm Well, it kinda takes the point out of having a point system. If we could only play practice games, why would people risk points? Just basically take out the whole points system, and we just have a practice site. I bet people would use this to just destroy new players, knowing they won't have to risk anything if they lose to them
That is a completely unreasonable perspective. You're claiming that everyone will simply dumb it down to the lowest common denominator, and that doesn't make sense.
First, it doesn't take the point out of having a point system. It legitimizes the point system. Those willing to risk their points to increase their point total or to increase their rank will play games as usual. An inexperienced player who plays several practice games will join a regular game and the result in the regular game will be a better determination of ability than the current system. Currently, inexperienced players cough up 3 or 4 games worth of points to experienced players before "understanding" the map or the setting. Now those points that were awarded due to lack of understanding and inexperience WON'T be awarded in a practice game.
Second, Those who are on this site to simply have a good time will likely play more practice games than anything else. This is a social site, where people are here to have fun, right? Competition for points can sometimes be frustrating and lead to competitive attitudes that are less than social. Providing an opportunity to play without points might be VERY interesting to some users. Maybe a poll would help determine some perspectives? I certainly would enjoy to play a game every now and then that doesn't come with the stress or frustration of dice and/or spoils causing my opponent to spout off that the "Dice Suck!" and then I end up getting a low rating from that player because the dice weren't great.
Third, Practice is a valid reason for players to play in practice mode. Perhaps I want to try out a new strategy to see how effective it might be in real competition. I cannot do that currently without risking points. Perhaps I want to try out a new partner or partners in team games. I cannot do that currently without risking points. I've had plenty of doubles games where my new teammates were less than desirable. Often their ability to play team games could not simply be determined by their rating or their rank. I, for one, am not very good at playing triples. Yet, I have a decent rank and a decent rating. Though I've blown it several times in triples games, none of my teammates have rated me down for "poor strategy" which would have been a good tag for my performance in some of those games. I can see how my teammates would have liked to (or would enjoy future opportunities to) play practice games with me.
Every team, every sport, everywhere has practice opportunities...yet...they still attend competitions and still play competitively for "rank" or "position." And, to your point, yes, there are players who retire from competition. And when they do, that doesn't cause everyone else to simply fall out of competition.
Fourth, you're assuming that experienced players would "use this to just destroy new players, knowing they won't have to risk anything if they lose to them" and that assumption on your part is just wrong. Sure, there will be one or two out there. Maybe they will hold their freemium opponent "hostage," and if they do, they risk getting an abuse report. Outside of holding a freemium "hostage," I cannot think of a reason where a new player would be "destroyed." Certainly, if you are referencing "helpfulness" there will be some players who will be more helpful than others. As a way to spend time on this site, I doubt there are going to be players who will waste their time playing a new player to simply "destroy them." I believe in the human spirit, I think that even the worst offenders will be helpful and positive in a practice game, knowing that there will be no effect on rank, and that instead a new friend might be found.
Players will use practice mode in a positive manner. Farmers and Point whores will be opposed to practice mode because it means they won't be able to garner more points via beating inexperienced players in games that don't offer points.
