This is my take on things, and I cannot claim to know the goals of every person who has created an hosting system, of course. However, this is a good place to start.
What are the aims of every single hosting system, and more specifically, what did they want to be?
- A system that only brings quality games, and encourages improvement of the site's meta, with minimal encroachment on both host's and player's freedom.
- A system that organizes setups, which means that the setups need to be put in correct time (not two 20 players games at once if the playerbase is 25, this kind of stuff). It also means that setups need to be approved, and a contact must be made with moderation in order to have signups going.
- As a continuation of the first aim, a system that rewards good hosts, good plays, and involvement in the community.
In other words: a system that keeps games going (quantity),
and that improves the game experience over time.
Welcome to the Kingdom of Utopia.
This is how setups are managed, in this great kingdom. From the creation of the setups to the completion of games.
- Someone posts a setup in the Setup Workshop. The thread is open, and since the description of the Workshop encourages people to give their input, saying how it is useful for the both hosts and players to have more input for fun games, people comment on the thread and give ideas.
- The setup is ready for review by FM Staff! On a sticky thread in the Workshop, the author of the setup posts a message, optionally with a mention to staff members, saying that the setup is ready for review, since the author feels it is fun and balanced: finished.
- An FM staff member reviews the setup, discussing the adjustments that need to be done, just like the current system. The thread is still open to discussion, and everyone can still contribute to the setup.
- The setup is approved, and the author of the setup contacts the staff to know when they may post signups.
- Signups are posted, fill, and the game starts.
- Once the game ends, if it has been successful (no major balance issue discovered while playing the game, or similar things), the setup will go in a subsection of the Workshop: the Approved S-FMs. They will they be free to be rehosted, and the only requirement is to contact staff to know when signups can be posted.
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
There is a Ladder, that lasts for a determined amount of games (10-12). The point attribution system is strongly inspired by the recent talks about this matter, I just reworded ideas because I found them really good.
- Hosts will gain 2 points, without restriction on the number of times this can be applied.
- Losers will gain 1 point.
- Winners of each game will receive points equal to the amount of players divided by the amount of winners.
- At the end of the season (when the game slot of the season is filled, and that the game is played and over), each player will earn a bonus based on their win percentage. A 100% win rate will result in a 100% point bonus, a 50% win rate will result in a 50% point bonus, etc.
The Ladder is a way to encourage serious, competitive, and sports-like play. Hosts may opt out of the Ladder if they wish to have a more casual game; FM Staff may also choose to approve a game for non-ladder only if it is deemed playable for fun, but not suitable for ladder.
This goes in the mindset of the first aim.
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
In the same mindset, awards are given to people who have accomplished something special. For example, very liked hosts, people who continously give good setup suggestions (not sure how that would work, those are just suggestions), or people who write approved game theory (outside of games, in the FM discussion). The award system already has a
Recommend Award thing, and it already exists! It's a great way to motivate people to do things, whatever those things are.
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
I hope that you appreciated your travel to the Kingdom of Utopia! Feel free to leave feedback on this.