I want my goddamn points back, CC -- better team system

[Incandenza]

Concise description:
A better "join a game" system for team games

Specifics:
The problem of coordination of joining public team games has always been a problem. It has already been suggested (and has been on the to-do list since the Cretaceous Era) to allow the creator of a team game to make the game initially private until one or more teammates joins, whereupon the game becomes public.

However, I believe that this doesn't go far enough.

Allow me to elucidate. This evening, I fancied a speed doubles game against some skilled opponents, partnered with a friend of mine. However, somewhere in the half-second between which I and he clicked "join game", some stroke joined the game. So I ended up partnered with an uncommunicative private with what I would speculate to be a severe learning disorder and perhaps some mild mental retardation. Or perhaps it was his pet iguana actually playing the game. Tho that would have to be a somewhat-brighter-than-usual iguana.

That notwithstanding, t'would be nice for a player to be able to configure his profile so that when he or she is the first to join an existing team game as a member of the opposing team(s), a teammate cannot join the game without a password or membership on the first player's friend list or some sort of verification to prevent this sort of massively annoying spectacle from occurring.

This will improve the following aspects of the site:
It will be easier for people to join already started team games with the expectation that they can play with friends without elaborately coordinating schedules
It will prevent the sort of inadvertent partnership described above, a partnership that I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy.

To be perfectly honest, the fact that the existing public team game system has continued as long as it has is an embarrassment. I guarantee that every team player on this site has a story about some wanker wandering into their games by accident.

And to the first person that says "just create and join private games", I say that YOU are the problem, public games need to be encouraged, and sometimes I want to play new competition without fear of being partnered with Corky from "Life Goes On."

[MrBenn]

This can be frustrating - and partially explains the volume of team games sitting on the waiting list with only 1 team joined up.

If you join/set-up a team game, there could be an option to temporarily reserve the team-slots for named-players, or for a temporary password. This would have to be an option, as some people don't have regular teammates, and others enjoy the 'random partner' aspect.

[Incandenza]

If you join/set-up a team game, there could be an option to temporarily reserve the team-slots for named-players, or for a temporary password. This would have to be an option, as some people don't have regular teammates, and others enjoy the 'random partner' aspect.

This concept is already on the to-do list, I think. It's protection for the second/third/fourth teams to join public games that I agitate for. Besides, it would sure be nice if even the already-on-the-list suggestion were finally implemented.

[xxtig12683xx]

Oh god, i did say i enjoyed your posts!!

I happened to be the victor of the game in question and a pretty even drop was turned into a fast game by bizarre moves on Incan's partner!!

However while i understand your angst, its late for me so maybe i didnt fully grasp your post, but why not just make the game private? If you dont wanna chance getting a random p, then pm them and tell them to make it private??


-tig

[firth4eva]

Start your own game

[yeti_c]

I reckon you should be allowed to choose your slot... and it could be added so that you could have a password for your team slots (set (or not) by first team mate - expires after 3 days (so people can't stop games))

This way you could have an 8 player game with 4 different teams joined up at differnet times...

Would work a charm!

C.

[MrBenn]

I reckon you should be allowed to choose your slot... and it could be added so that you could have a password for your team slots (set (or not) by first team mate - expires after 3 days (so people can't stop games))

This way you could have an 8 player game with 4 different teams joined up at differnet times...

Would work a charm!

C.

This would also help tournament team games...

[yeti_c]

I reckon you should be allowed to choose your slot... and it could be added so that you could have a password for your team slots (set (or not) by first team mate - expires after 3 days (so people can't stop games))

This way you could have an 8 player game with 4 different teams joined up at differnet times...

Would work a charm!

C.

This would also help tournament team games...

Very much so... the amount of times I've been stuck waiting for 1 team to join - and then I forget and I get a message 5 days later cos they eventually joined and I haven't!!

C.

[Incandenza]

I reckon you should be allowed to choose your slot... and it could be added so that you could have a password for your team slots (set (or not) by first team mate - expires after 3 days (so people can't stop games))

This way you could have an 8 player game with 4 different teams joined up at differnet times...

Would work a charm!

C.

That would work fine, or perhaps it could be tied to your friend list, or whatever. Something. The fact that the ad hoc team game system has been exactly the same since CC launched is, to be honest, kind of a joke.

If people want to play with random teammates, fine. But there's no good reason why I or anyone else should run the risk of having to do the same against their will.

[e_i_pi]

Incandenza, I feel your pain. But what annoys me more about the way it is at the moment is that if you have an organised team starting a game, it's normally just blow-ins that join, which more often than not ends up as a loss. I can't count the number of times I've lost to DBZ/Blitz/et al because of a team that isn't organised. Hats off to them, but I've played in organised teams, and makeshift ones, and I believe the playfield and dice are even, and that given the right team, I could give them a run for their money.

There's currently 2 players I play quads games with and they round up a fourth thats Colonel+ no problems. There's also 2 players I play doubles with every now and then. Problem is, joining the same games, especially as doubles. I log on, find PMs in my inbox, and the games are already filled. It's annoying.

I don't like the idea of 'reserving' the match until your team is in. It seems sloppy. How about this for a draft idea:

Have in your control panel, like your friends list, 3 teams lists. One is for doubles (one slot), one for triples (two slots), one for quads (three slots). You can add other players in each team list, but the other player has to allow it (via some sort of interface/permission PM thingy). Then when you sign up for a game, you can sign up as a team, and it automatically signs up the other players.

[Steelhorse]

I don't know whether that idea is on the close horizon or not, Inky...not exactly my area of concentration. But, I must say, that was one of the more eloquently written, and humorous, posts I have read on here in a long time.

In fact, had I been partaking in a frothy libation, it surely would have spewed from my nose causing serious eye waterage. As it was, I just burst out in a loud, uncontrolled, chortle causing my cute office mate to inquire if I was "ok."

Thanks for lightening my day, even if it was only for a few minutes

[Frop]

I reckon you should be allowed to choose your slot... and it could be added so that you could have a password for your team slots (set (or not) by first team mate - expires after 3 days (so people can't stop games))

This way you could have an 8 player game with 4 different teams joined up at differnet times...

Would work a charm!

C.

That would work fine, or perhaps it could be tied to your friend list, or whatever. Something. The fact that the ad hoc team game system has been exactly the same since CC launched is, to be honest, kind of a joke.

If people want to play with random teammates, fine. But there's no good reason why I or anyone else should run the risk of having to do the same against their will.

You've got medals and ratings now, all the convenient improvements have a slightly lower priority. Great idea by the way.

[KoE_Sirius]

Making a private game is not an option and will exclude the CC community at large .I'm with you on this Incandenza ...Give him his goddamn points back !
Then change it so team games are private until the maker hits the start game button .

[Incandenza]

Thanks to all for the kind words, support, and general level of entertained-ness.

Personally, I'll never be in the second team to join a speed doubles game ever again, and I'll think twice before even starting one...

[bedub1]

1.....2......3........click join!

Or...."quick...quick...i just created the game....game # blah blah...go join before somebody else does and I get screwed"

Fantastic idea to allow teams to join/start a game in 1 move instead of 2....
Lets polish it up and get it deployed!

[t-o-m]

Or maybe have an option of something like:

"freeze game for your team" then type in usernames of your team mates.

And it freezes the game for about 15 seconds while your team join, not allowing anyone else in other than who you allowed.
(not allowed to freeze a game again for another X minutes, to prevent abuse)

[Timminz]

I like this suggestion. This thread has made me think that it should be 2 separate suggestions though.

1) Being able join as the first (or second, or third) member of the last team in a public game, and specify who your team mate(s) will be, to avoid a random team mate when you don't want one.

2) Let tournament organizers specify which players will be on which team, to avoid the delays, and mis-joined games.

[PLAYER57832]

I like this suggestion, but also do not feel it is clear enough. I have thought about this a lot and will post a similar suggestion, with a reference to this thread included.