No Open Games?

[76mm]

Last couple of weeks I haven't been able to pick up many open games, but I figured everyone was playing IF, which I had not bought yet. I finally bought and installed IF, hoping to pick up a couple of games...but the last few times I've checked, there are no open games, or maybe one or two for 350 or 400 pts, which don't interest me....is it just me, or is the number of open games really dropping?

[Xiggy]

You can issue your own challenges, they seem to be picked up pretty fast. I have been playing 7 or 8 game simulanteosly, plus league games. But I have not seen that many open challenges. It is summer and people do go on holiday.

[76mm]

Yeah, I can post my own challenges, but haven't built any new armies yet...I guess you're right, it is summer and all, but just wondering where everyone went...

[Blathergut]

The open ones just go fast. I've put 2 or 3 up and within 10min they are gone.

[hidde]

Hi 76mm.
I'm up for a 1000 pointer if you want. I'm playing my first of that size right now.
I think I remember that you said once you like monster games I might very well agree, given that it's between the right lists.
IF please and I don't think it should be with any list with hordes of MF.
You have any wish of meeting any particular list just name it and I'll take it (within reason )

Hidde

[deeter]

I usually post a couple of open IF games a day when I'm active and those get pick up right away. If you'd like a game, post was passworded game and let me know.

Deeter

[grumblefish]

I don't think there's any problem, OP. Issue however many challenges you want, and they should all be taken within the hour. There's no shortage of people lurking around looking for challenges to accept. I made a few 9 challenges and they were all snatched up extremely quickly. Good choice on IF, too, it's the best expansion so far.

[Mercutio]

I have noticed the lack of challenges to accept as well. Doesn't it seem a disconnect that I cannot accept a challenge, because none are there, but if I post a challenge, I get one quickly? Seems that at least on a hypothetical level, most want to see the other persons challenge and perhaps rank/army before accepting vs. taking whoever comes by posting an open challenge?

[deadtorius]

Open challenges just don't stay up very long, if you want a game post an open challenge and you will have an opponent in no time.

[76mm]

OK, I've got to build a couple of armies and will go from there. Hidde and Deeter, be pleased to play both of you again, I'll pm you once I've created posted a challenge.

[IainMcNeil]

The problem is people much prefer to accept than issue challenges, hence there are far fewer challenges available than there are players to accept them.

Any ideas on how we can encourage people to issue challenges as the demand is huge?

[rbodleyscott]

The problem is people much prefer to accept than issue challenges, hence there are far fewer challenges available than there are players to accept them.

Any ideas on how we can encourage people to issue challenges as the demand is huge?

At least in 400 points, some of the terrains seem to favour the challenger more than the accepter. So until the designers change the program to randomly flip the terrains, it may be better to be the challenger than the challengee.

Also you get to choose the conditions under which the game is played (FOW, double moves)

I don't even look to see if there are any challenges to accept, whenever I want to restock my portfolio of games I issue challenges. I am never short of games to play.

Go on, you have nothing to lose but the game! (And you might win).

[76mm]

The problem is people much prefer to accept than issue challenges, hence there are far fewer challenges available than there are players to accept them.

Any ideas on how we can encourage people to issue challenges as the demand is huge?

I post lots of open challenges, and will continue to do so, but there are generally two reasons why I like accepting challenges more than posting them:

1) I ALWAYS post which army I'm fighting with, and I get kind of tired of playing against Late Repub Romans and Seleucids, which most of my opponents seem to pick, because they tend to do better (especially Late Repub Romans). I recently finished four MP games, and in three of them my opponents had chosen Late Repub Romans. This is obviously tedious for two reasons: it is very difficult for many armies to beat them, and it gets old playing the same old enemies.

2) While I play a wide range of opponents, I enjoy playing some of them more than others (more evenly matched, more sporting, fewer gamey tactics, more interesting army choices, quick turns, etc.).

As to how to fix: I would like to be able to put a note in my challenge such as "Please pick Mid-Repub Romans" or "Please no Late Repub Romans". Ideally this would include some mechanism that would actually check to ensure that the specified army is selected/not selected.

I don't see a way to fix the second issue, as I am not interested in blacklisting people, etc. One way might to to introduce "semi-locked" games, in which I could post a challenge and allow any number of pre-selected players (20-30) to accept it.

[ianiow]

Any ideas on how we can encourage people to issue challenges as the demand is huge?

You could pay us £££

Actually, you could do a club card scheme like the supermarkets. For each challenge posted, accepted, and successfully completed, the player can earn 0.1 pence/cents towards a Slitherine gift voucher!

[cothyso]

I think we are just lazy, that's all.

You can have the server post automatically random DAG (or even scenario) challenges with both teams open. Also make sure there is a certain number of them up all the time (like 3 or 5 or so; ie generate new one as soon as an old one has both players filled up and started), nad replace the ones not picked up for more than 2-3-4-5 days.

As simple as that.

[76mm]

You can have the server post automatically random DAG (or even scenario) challenges with both teams open. Also make sure there is a certain number of them up all the time (like 3 or 5 or so; ie generate new one as soon as an old one has both players filled up and started), nad replace the ones not picked up for more than 2-3-4-5 days.

Not a bad idea, although to do it right they'd have to have games covering various size armies (400-600-800 pt).

[Blathergut]

The problem is people much prefer to accept than issue challenges, hence there are far fewer challenges available than there are players to accept them.

Any ideas on how we can encourage people to issue challenges as the demand is huge?

Let the challenger either be able to select which armies he would like to fight against or let the challenger be able to accept the person who accepts him!!

[Morbio]

I have noticed the lack of challenges to accept as well. Doesn't it seem a disconnect that I cannot accept a challenge, because none are there, but if I post a challenge, I get one quickly? Seems that at least on a hypothetical level, most want to see the other persons challenge and perhaps rank/army before accepting vs. taking whoever comes by posting an open challenge?

I figure most people are just like me.... to lazy to make a decision about what scenario / army to play and post it. It's much easier just to accept one

Edit: The choice of opponent armies is a factor I forgot. I dislike playing Bosporans so I'm always nervous about posting in case a bosporan player accepts!

[Igorputski]

The problem is people much prefer to accept than issue challenges, hence there are far fewer challenges available than there are players to accept them.

Any ideas on how we can encourage people to issue challenges as the demand is huge?

Offer reward points like blue coins from Gamersgate that issuers can turn in for bounty or marked down games (not the new ones but for older games like Spartan or Troy etc.)

[IainMcNeil]

Nice idea but a huge amount of work