M-FM Rick and Morty

[Never Unlucky]

Let's just pretend that my opinion matters for this one post, ok?

This is the problem and many of us feel the same way. Why waste time signing for a game and putting a ton of energy in it when say 3/13 players are going to be replaced out, another 2-3 are going to be hardcore lurkers, and another 2-3 are going to be heavily anti-town regardless of alignment and for no particular reason? Just doesn't make for a fun game when only half the players or less are trying to play the game. The site could benefit from rules allowing hosts to disallow signups by players who are going to tank games and who have done so repeatedly. I understand the ethos of wanting everyone to be able to play, but the bad apples are ruining it for the rest of us. We should not have the same smurf accounts signing up for games and not playing game after game. If you no-show games, you should not be allowed to sign for future games. Other sites do a much better job policing this type of thing.

The solution I am proposing here is inspired from TrueAchievements.com's gaming sessions. When somebody creates a gaming session to boost for/work towards achievements, he has the option to make his lobby semi-open.

Spoiler : Picture :

Gamingsession.png

Anybody may apply, and the host has the freedom to accept or deny applications.

I personally think this would be a great feature for this site. Players who want to partake in a game will have to convince the host that they are going to be active and try to play to their win condition to be allowed to play.

Also, after completing a gaming session on TrueAchievements, players who were in the session have the possibility to give the other participants feedback. On one hand, someone who was a no show or who griefed during the session will most likely get negative feedback from the other players. On the other hand, the person who did his best to make the session enjoyable and productive will likely receive positive feedback. There is also the possibility to get "OK" feedback.

Spoiler : Pictures of giving and receiving feedback. :

2016-09-20 18_49_41-.pngGiving.png

Hosts who create new sessions have access to everybody's feedback. If they see someone with 10 straight no shows, they are likely to refuse said player's application.

Combined with my proposition of implementing "semi-open" games, this feature could be of great use. Post-game, we would give everybody else constructive feedback regarding their play that game. If a player lurked/trolled too much, the others would give him an "OK" or a negative feedback. Lurkers or very low volume posters like Gyrlander would have to move their asses if they ever want to be accepted in another FM game. Likewise, if a player tried his hardest to solve the game and made the game enjoyable, he would be given positive feedback.

Feedback is accessible to everyone even the player in question. If the feedback one receives is erroneous/biased, he should have the possibility to contest it, much like the appeals work over in the "Punished Players and Appeals" section of this site.

These two features would give the hosts more power to decide how they want their game to be played and would make for a more enjoyable experience as the lurkers and company wouldn't make it into the game.

EDIT: Tagging the FM Moderator crew @MattZed , @Orpz , @Calix as I am confident this would aid the community a ton.

The host issue is a circular problem. Yes, hosts should be much more stringent on replacing inactives out of games, but we just don't have the glut of possible reserves given the depleted ranks. A number of recent hosts have had to beg anyone they could find to replace in or else modkill a slot or allow a zero poster type to remain in the game. Perhaps the solution is smaller games where we can actually line up 3 reserves in case they are needed? These days, 1-2 reserves are a luxury and often times, they aren't able to play when called on.

Yes, the limited player base is a problem. This site could use some advertising.

A solution for replacements: Make a separate thread for replacements like it is done on TeamLiquid. Hosts looking for replacements would know where to go if they are ever in need of one, and members who do not always keep up to date with FM but are interested in replacing would find their way easily.

EDIT: Apologies for my English. It is particularly bad today for some reason.