In game chat - the brick wall of silence?

[Holien]

Hi having come from a table top background where you are playing ftf you usually get a human with a bit of social interaction and friendly banter. Not sure how this works in ftf competitive games but at least ftf you have an idea of the person.

Just started playing the DL and WtC I have found a few players in the digital world that are just brick walls of silence. I personally think that is rude especially when they don't respond to questions.

I guess if I wanted to play the AI I would not be playing people.

What do people think? Is it unreasonable to expect a few bits of text from an opponent?

[stockwellpete]

Maybe English is not their first language. The FOG2DL is a global tournament.

[Holien]

Maybe English is not their first language. The FOG2DL is a global tournament.

Absolutely if that's the case then I can gauge by the textual response and an allowance made.

I guess maybe I have an unrealistic expectation, but what it does do is make the game less enjoyable for me and could mean a different play style that might diminish the experience for the opponent.

Pete would you expect a bit of text from native English speakers? What's a reasonable expectation?

[devoncop]

I always engage in some friendly banter and chat during my DL games but maybe I have been lucky with my opponents.

[stockwellpete]

Pete would you expect a bit of text from native English speakers? What's a reasonable expectation?

Just "hello", and "good luck" at the start. And then if you ask a question or make a comment then it is polite to receive a reply. But some players have limited time available to play, so I don't get offended by their silence.

[Karvon]

In my experience, most players don't chat much in games. Most just type a short greeting at the start of play and some sort of farewell at the end. Part of that may be language issues and part of it may be cultural ones. Part of it may be simply players may have a lot of games going and don't have the time or inclination. I'm happy to chat if my opponent wishes to do so, but don't go out of my way to strike up conversations. I've had a few games with new players seeking feedback or with questions, and I'm generally happy to respond to those. Occasionally, I've had training games with a frequent opponent to tune up for a tourney; in these we usually chat to some degree. If you want to chat, make a polite inquiry and see where that leads would be my advice.

[SimonLancaster]

I don’t expect people to chat. Some just don’t. It can also get quite competitive in the league, especially when you go up the divisions.

I have made a lot of friends from the game, though. You just have to concentrate on the people who you get to know.

I also think that the actual chat function is a little poor. At the very start there is a quick screen flash with some text as you load up. You can’t respond till the end. I frequently forget to type something because I am ending my turn.

[tyronec]

Some people want to chat and some don't. I don't have any expectation that they should engage if they don't want to. Certainly if anyone asks me a question I will respond to the best of my ability.
My experience is that everybody I have played has been polite and gracious.

[Swuul]

What do people think? Is it unreasonable to expect a few bits of text from an opponent?

There are a few things to consider, at least for me.

First of all, often times I simply don't have time to chat that much because time is limited and for example in DL I have several games running at the same time. Essentially, get the turn done, send it, on to next game, get turn done, send it, etc.

Secondly, it is very easy to get offended and to offend people when you do not actually see their expressions or hear their tone of voice. Add in that there are not many native English speakers here, and it is easy to understand something wrong; ie something I intended as a joke might be offending for the other one because I am using all wrong words or the opponent understands the words all wrong. Likewise, it has happened I understood something as a joke, and replied in a funny way (or at least what I believe to be funny), which is quite horrible when the other one was dead-serious from the beginning.

There are however people I like to banter with during the matches, because I have played with them before, and thus I believe they will take my words in the correct way. I find it always fun to play with people like devoncop, kronenblatt, grumpydaddy845, etc, because I have learned to believe they somehow are on the same "wavelength" with me

[deeter]

Holien, I enjoyed chatting in our game so much that I was sorry to see it end, aside from my crushing defeat that is. As I'm here for the social interaction, I prefer chatty players and suspect some players' silence is either an attempt to psych you out or to demonstrate their contempt for you as an opponent. Not fun. Also, I have found that some of the most vocal players are from non-English speakers so the language barrier doesn't seem to be a problem. I dislike players who say nothing at the end of the game. Rude.

Kronnenblatt's Evergreen League is intended to cater to chatty players and is very casual. You might give EGL a try.

Deeter

[devoncop]

Holien, I enjoyed chatting in our game so much that I was sorry to see it end, aside from my crushing defeat that is. As I'm here for the social interaction, I prefer chatty players and suspect some players' silence is either an attempt to psych you out or to demonstrate their contempt for you as an opponent. Not fun. Also, I have found that some of the most vocal players are from non-English speakers so the language barrier doesn't seem to be a problem. I dislike players who say nothing at the end of the game. Rude.

Kronnenblatt's Evergreen League is intended to cater to chatty players and is very casual. You might give EGL a try.

Deeter

Thanks for the info deeter about the Evergreen League.....as someone on the more chatty but less "forensic" (competent!) side of the FoOG2 experience it sounds ideal

[deeter]

EGL really is great fun but can be overshadowed by competitive leagues. Regarding the in-game chat screen, I wish it wouldn't come up until the end of the replay as it often spoils the suspense of watching your opponent's move play out. I would prefer seeing stuff like "Sorry about your general" and such after I see their move.

Deeter

[devoncop]

I agree re the pop up in the chat completely.

It should pop up after your turn.

[SnuggleBunnies]

...suspect some players' silence is either an attempt to psych you out or to demonstrate their contempt for you as an opponent

That would really surprise me honestly. People are busy, or they've taken on more matches than they really have time for, and as mentioned the inability to add to the chat during the game makes it easy to forget you were going to say something when clicking that End Turn button.

[deeter]

True. In my experience this is a great community to game with. That's why I came back after 10 years. Missed the chat.

Deeter

[toska]

For non-Anglo players like me the option to paste a text taken from the translator in the chat would be very appreciated. I barely get into conversations in chat because of this.

[Holien]

For non-Anglo players like me the option to paste a text taken from the translator in the chat would be very appreciated. I barely get into conversations in chat because of this.

Thanks for that explanation and I can now see how difficult it is for non native speakers (or typists)..

[Holien]

Holien, I enjoyed chatting in our game so much that I was sorry to see it end, aside from my crushing defeat that is. As I'm here for the social interaction, I prefer chatty players and suspect some players' silence is either an attempt to psych you out or to demonstrate their contempt for you as an opponent. Not fun. Also, I have found that some of the most vocal players are from non-English speakers so the language barrier doesn't seem to be a problem. I dislike players who say nothing at the end of the game. Rude.

Kronnenblatt's Evergreen League is intended to cater to chatty players and is very casual. You might give EGL a try.

Deeter

Thanks and it was an interesting discussion. It can only be topped by a discussion I had in the last Slitherine tourney against someone I had no idea who they were...

During the course of the chat we talked about college and what we did, it transpired that we went to the same college in the UK.

So a bit more chat and we were there roughly at the same time period...

A bit more chat and the Chap named my NAME!!! As I am pretty protective of my real name I was somewhat surprised and shocked... What black Magic....

So I was at college in the 80's a few years back and after a bit more chat I discovered that I had shared a house with the gamer for a year and I never knew he was a gamer!!! Mind you back then he was more into beer and other activities...

So what a wonderful co-incidence that was only discovered through a bit of in game chat.

We were not close friends I had answered an Advert for house mates and as he was on a different course we never hung out socially, but I do remember him as he persuaded me to apply for the Master Degree he was doing and that set me on a very different life path, so after all these years I was able to thank him for his advice and catch up with him... Small world..

So thank you for every one who has responded and given me their POV it has been useful...

[devoncop]

Wow Hollen that is spooky

[deeter]

What a great story. Life is stranger than fiction. It's probably just as well that you didn't know about his gaming. You might have spent those college years gaming instead of drink, chasing girls and maybe studying.

Deeter