I have never really liked "real-time" play games - which is why I stick around all the turn-based games sites.

But I know many people do like "real-time" games (and for some reason, many of those people want turn-based games sites to be more like real-time game sites)

I would actually like to see the programming time spent on new turn-based games/variations then have the time spent on configuring real-time games. There are already many real-time game sites out there, but only a few good turn-based games sites - and would love to see this site keep improving itself!

Stardust KM: I'm guessing your comment about paid members & tournaments being held by someone else was about my comment to limit $$ tournaments to paid members.

The main reason I suggest that is I believe a lot of cheaters are not going to pay $10 just so they can cheat. (Most are going to try to cheat with free pawn accounts) That is why I think that will get rid of many cheaters.

Andersp: Well let me ask you this. What should GothicInventor do with the tournament?

Do you think he should let anyone play?
Do you think he should collect personal data?
Do you think he should not let any pawns play?
Do you think he should limit one per household?

GothicInventor has already changed the rules around a couple of times, and if anyone can come up with a beter way to try to get rid of cheaters, he (and me and Fencer) will be happy to hear all opinions.

Andersp: Yes, I still think it might be possible for you and your wife to both play in the tournament if you contact GothicInventor - but by posting everything in here, he is going to say no. But again, I can not talk for him - and if he does not, well then that is the rules he goes by.

Cheaters - there is no way to get rid of all cheaters. Someone will find away around the system.

What I think should be done: Just let paid members play. If someone wants to cheat THAT BAD, at least they are paying BrainKing money for the option of cheating! (But I'm not in charge - and the person who creates the tournament has the option to make whatever rules they want.)

You know there are many tournament I can not enter as a paid member.

There are Pawn-only tournament.
There are Fellowship tournaments (which i do not belong to)
There are High-rated tournaments
There are low-rated tournaments.

Now why is it I can not join the 1500 BKR and under tournament when a pawn can join!

If Andersp is upset that a paid rook can't play in the $3,000 tournament - I'm upset that I can't play in the tournaments listed above!

BBW (BIG BAD WOLF)

Note: This post is full of sarcasm. Ignore most of it! :-)

Even though I can not speak for GothicInventor, I would think if you discussed it with him, and he knew exactly what is going on - he may allow it - but again, you would probable have to talk to him.

He is a nice guy, but at the same time he does not want people who are trying to cheat in the tournament. :-)

I miss all the good stuff!

Now I'll never know what "F***" was - it will be bothering me all day!

Fork-in-line 1800+
Food-in-line 1800+
Face-in-line 1800+
Flip-in-line 1800+

.... ugh!

BBW (BIG BAD WOLF) :-)

Currently about 20 pawns in the tournament. About 30 paid Knights & Rooks in the tournament.

.... and if someone want to cheat so bad, at least make them pay a little money to BrainKing for a membership! :-)

You know that is not a bad idea.

If someone really want to play in the $3,000 tournament, they should at least support BrainKing with a Knight membership!

I've been thinking a long time to start having some small $$ tournaments - and I would probable have them in my Fellowship - to reward people who support this site!

Well my thinking is getting a persons information before the tournament will not help much.

If I wanted, I could make 1 ID and put my brother-in-law's name and address (and let him know if I win, I get the check) - I could then use my friends address, etc... etc... Along with other tricks, I could probable find 10 different ID and information to send in.

Also, for the "pawn" accounts - you could just send if fake information anyway - and just purposly lose with those accounts so you already know you are not going to get money sent to them!

Even though I understand trying to get rid of cheaters, I do not really see this helping much.

BBW (BIG BAD WOLF)

So do people like me (who has about 0.05% chance of winning a section) have to worry about this?

Backgammon CHAMPIONSHIP Invitational (1-10) - This is a tournament set up for the winners of the first 10 "fast start - first 5" backgammon tournaments that I have.

Well not all the games are played yet, but enough are played to determin the winner of the Backgammon CHAMPIONSHIP Invitational (1-10) tournament - and the winner is: neznalek

BBW (BIG BAD WOLF)

Starting in about a day, I have 2 fast tournament starting.

Time per move: 2 days

One game version - CLICK HERE TO JOIN!
Two game version - CLICK HERE TO JOIN!

Good luck to all!

BBW (BIG BAD WOLF)

The whole tournament would not start if for example:

Tournament has 4 players in it.

One of the players is a pawn and does not have enought room for the games (so pawn is removed)

Tournament only has 3 players left - not enough to run tournament, so tournament is actually canceled!

► ALL games for dummies (under 1500 & unrated) #2◄

Tournament will start in just a few days. For players rated BELOW 1500. Unrated players are also allowed as long as they are not "too" good.

Games need at least 4 players to start, and there are a few that still only have 2-3 players. So if you are looking for more games & you don't like to play against the "expert" players - here is the tournament for you!

To Sign Up: CLICK HERE

Thanks, and good luck to everyone who has signed up so far!

BBW (BIG BAD WOLF)

This may be a stupid question, but why do you have an "Invitational" tournament that everyone is welcome to?

..... maybe I'm just missing something... :-)

BBW (BIG BAD WOLF)

I think that a pawn should be able to enter 1 fellowship as a "guest" - and that is he can NOT join the team, and he can NOT enter a Fellowship tournament. (basicly all the pawn can do is read/post in the message area - but once he see's some "cool" tournament and soon inter-fellowship tournament, it might be something that will encourage a pawn to upgrade!

.... just my thoughts... :-)

OK, here is how it works:

Each person gets 1 point for a win, 1/2 point for a tie, and 0 points for a lose. Both you and dexter got 5 wins, so you each got 5 points. That is where the S-B comes into play.

First lets take dexter: He won against player 2, 4, 5, 6, & 7. Now you add how many points each of those players have. Player 2 had 5 points. Player 4 had 4 pointst, #5 had 3, #6 had 1, and #7 had 0. Add those up and you get the S-B (which is 13)

For you, you won against player #3, #4, #5, #6, #7. So you add those points up. (3+4+3+1+0 = 11)

I hope I explained that well enough! :-)

Gubbe: Which tournament? A persons rating does not really have anything to do with the points or the S/B in a tournament. (If I know the tournament, I can try to explain it a little better if you want.)

There is about a week left to sign up for the second "All games for dummies" - which is for players rated under 1500, and unrated players.... as long as the unrated players are not "too good".

This is the perfect tournament to try new & different games. You can play without too much worry about being "killed" right away by an expert player.

Tournament: SIGN UP HERE

BBW (BIG BAD WOLF)

The games from the Battleboats #7 - you have already played all the games from that tournament - and currently there is 1 game left in that section (both players looking for last boat) - and once that last game is done in the section, you are allowed to enter a new tournament.

If you do not want to wait for that last battleboat game to be complete, you can send a nice message to Fencer and ask him to allow you to enter your next tournament since you have finished all the games in the Battleboat #7 tournament.

Hope this helps!

I've created (again) the second tournament for players rated BELOW 1500 and for unrated players (as long as you are not too good at a game.)

Who is this tournament for?

1. Is there a game you would like to learn - and don't want to get "killed" by the expert game players - this tournament is for you!

2. Is there a another game you like, but again do not want to get beat really bad by the great players - this tournament is for you!

If you are interested - SIGN UP HERE!

Tournament will start at the end of the month (August 2003)

babken: As you can read from some of the other messages, tournaments that started yesterday have been "rolled" back.

You are still signed up for the tournament, and once the creator of the tournament is back on-line, the tournament will probable be restarted.

(What do you have to do: just wait!) :-)

Yea, Currently #38 of my "Fast start Backgammon" tournament is up now - and I know I was at least at 40... if not #41 yesterday... :-) Plus all my posts are gone, etc.... :-(

It seems that Brainking had to be restored from an old backup, and now the tournament is back in the "tournament list" waiting for people to sign up!

I'm going to wait until Fencer is on to make sure this is how it is going to stay - and I will start the tournament again I guess?????

(So you may want to go and make sure you are still signed up for the tournament - hopefully I'll start it within 24 hours)

BBW (BIG BAD WOLF)

I've been making some "Fast Start - First 5 to sign up - Backgammon" tournaments (which I'm currently up to #18), but the first 10 tournaments are complete! (or at least complete enough to know who the winner is)

Here are the 10 winners:

#1 - bumble
#2 - jeffm316
#3 - ellieopp
#4 - MadMonkey
#5 - neznalek
#6 - Erika
#7 - lilac fairy
#8 - MadMonkey
#9 - MadMonkey
#10 - Jays Girl

Congrats to the 8 players above - and all 8 have been invited to a Championship tournament. Good luck to you all, and again congrats to all the winners!

BBW (BIG BAD WOLF)

As a side note to my 1500BKR and under tournament - I also let unrated players join as long as they are not that good - so the last time I had a 1500 BKR and under tournament - I ended up having to remove 2 players that were already in the 1800 BKR by the time the tournament starts. (If someone has a 1510 rating, I probable would ignore that) :-)

As a side note about players rating changing to OUTSIDE the set range. In my 1500 BKR and under tournament - once it gets ready to start, I'll actually go through and remove any player who's rating is now over that (just to keep it fair to everyone else who has joined so they don't play anyone that is too good)

Even though I don't think it would matter as much for your tournament (since most "good" players won't mind playing a now lower rated player), it is a some-what new option to be able to remove players from your tournament.

BBW (BIG BAD WOLF)

This is a reminder for everyone that in about 4 days, the ALL games for dummies (under 1500 & unrated) will be starting.

Details:

This tournament includes ALL games - for players rated below 1500 OR unrated (as long as you are not too good) With the sections limited to only 5 per section, it will only start at the most 4 new games.

So if there are any games you would like to try (but too afraid of losing after 2 moves), or if you would like to play without playing an "expert" that will beat you in 2 moves - here is a perfect chance!

A great way to play & learn & have fun all at the same time!

ALL games for dummies (under 1500 & unrated) - Sign Up Now!

BBW (BIG BAD WOLF)

Actually I know that Fencer had at least for 1 tournament (the $250 Gothic Chess tournament) made it so the person ranked #1 was in section #1, rank #2 was in section #2, etc...

BUT I don't know if this was just a 1 time thing, if it is random, or some sort of pattern.

NEW TOURNAMENT: ALL games for dummies (under 1500 & unrated)

OK, the new tournament is not actually for dummies - just people who may not be good at certain games.

ALSO are there games on this site you have never tried? Like Tablut or Tank Battle? Well here is a perfect chance to try them because I allow unrated players to join also! (and long as the unrated player is not too good).

Pawns & Knights only need 4 free spaces for each tournament. Tournament to start at the end of July.

To sign up - Check out the Tournament!

BBW (BIG BAD WOLF)

As it is currently set up, the pawn can NOT join a new tournament until the SECTION they are in is complete. (So if there are many sections, you just have to wait until the one you are in is complete - and you are not the winner)

And in case you are the winner, you will have to wait until the next rounds starts and then completes before you can join a new tournament.

hope this helps!

BBW (BIG BAD WOLF)

And now that I take a look at the tournament you are talking about, that tournament was created AT LEAST 12 days ago - if not more.

So with 2 weeks of playing, my guess is that the lower rated players ratings droped over the past couple of weeks! :-)

A couple of things might have happened.

If unrated players are allowed to enter, they may have entered as unrated then got a low rating after signing up.

Or they signed up when the had a rating over 1800, then quickly lost a few games sending their rating down quickly.

WHAT I would do is contact the tournament creator because they can actually kick people out of the tournament, and may want to if they want to keep the "lower rated" players out - then again, the tournament creator might not care. :-)

I just wanted to post a reminder that in about 2 days, the ALL Checkers for dummies Tournament will start.

This tournament is for people rated 1500 or below (and unrated players - as long as you are not a very good player).

If you don't know how to play some of the Checker games, this is the perfect time to learn - while others are learning so you won't get beat in 2 moves! :-)

Side Note: Once the tournament starts, I will remove any player who happens to be over 1500 to keep it fair for everyone. (Since some unrated players signed up, then won 4 games and got a high rating.)

Glad to help! As I write this right now, there are 6 Chess variants that do not have enough players... so hopefully (HINT HINT) some more people will go try some Chess games that they normally would not play - I know for myself, I don't play much chess - but you never know if a variant version of Chess would be something you like or not without trying it first - And what better place to try it then at THIS TOURNAMENT ..... yes, I know - another shamless plug. :-)

Chess and variants for dummies :)(under 1500 BKR) - This is a tournament created by kitti which I just love this idea - it will let me play many different chess games that I have not tried before (without being "killed" by good players in the other tournaments - BUT there are many games still with under 4 players, so I'll do a little more advertisment for kitti and let people know if they want to try new or different games, GO SIGN UP! (games start in about a day)

---------------------------------

I've actually liked the idea so much, I've created ALL Checkers for dummies (under 1500 + unrated) - Which like the Chess tournament created by kitti, it is a great way for me to at least play a few Checker games and try them out..... without being killed by the good players! (games start in about 2 weeks)

BBW (BIG BAD WOLF)

How about the being able to make "private" tournaments where the creator has to invite players to play in the tournament.

Right now to do that, you would have to create a fellowship, create a fellowship tournament, the invite the players you want to play.

Why? Lets take example some of the Backgammon Tournaments I have created. Maybe once I get the first 7 winners, I will want to invite them to an "overall" championship match. Or possible you have a group of friends that would like to get together for a friendly tournament.

Just an idea. :-)

I do like the idea of letting the person who creates the tournaments to be able to kick certain people out of the tournament.

This could come in handy when:

1. A pawn or Knight enters and does not have enough spots (like when the max players are set to 4 or 5 - it could mean the tournament will not start unless they are removed)

2. Also when someone somehow gets into a tournament and their rating is outside of the "scope".

...........
But on the other hand, I can see this being abused and causing some people to get mad when they are removed from a tournament. Something to think about though.

There is still plenty of room to join the BIG BAD WOLF presents: ALL 6 Pente Games! (#7)

It includes all 6 versions of Pente and will start in about 24 hours.

If you click to close a tournament, it has to have at least the minimum number of people signed up or the tournament will be deleted. (So if the minimum is set to 4, at least 4 need to be signed up)

What makes it tricky is if a pawn or Knight sign up and they don't have enough room, then they are "kicked" out of the tournament which might send the total number back below the minimum number - meaning the tournament will not start.

I hope this helps!

BBW (BIG BAD WOLF)

I've created a Screen Chess & Crazy Screen Chess tournament (These are 2 of the newer games here!)

Tournament is HERE

So if anyone wants to try out a new game, why not join now!

BBW (BIG BAD WOLF)

The person who creates a tournament actually has to start the tournament.

So it depends on when the creator is on-line to start it. I usually try to start all mine within 24 hours of the "last term to sign up".... but others... ???? :-)

Only Brain Rook (and above) can define a new tournament.

Dmitri: Now I know why people have a hard time trying to have a discussion with you - you keep pulling things in to a conversation that is ?????

OK, first: Yes, my example was just a "bad scenario" that could happen to a player. It does not have to do with Fencer (Never said it did) - all I said is THINGS LIKE THAT MAKE THE WHOLE SITE LOOK BAD. When a player only has a limited experiance and bad things happen in that limited experiance - do you really think they are just going to pay and hope things get better? (OK, maybe you do - but most others probable won't)

I NEVER said that it was wrong for people to play slow (Where you get this stuff... I have no idea??) - if they are within their time limit, FINE. I'm a slow player - I think I even posted that somewhere recently that I've been playing slow recently. (Mostly because when I do have a few hours, the site always seems to be down or something - but that has NOTHING to do with this!!!) --- but you still feel like bringing things up that has nothing to do with what I posted.

AGAIN, here is the point of the whole thing: A player is limited to 1 tournament at a time. (THIS IS A GOOD RULE). The problem is the one player could be done with all his games in 2 weeks, and he may lose all his games and knows he will not move on. In MY OPINION he is done with that tournament and should be allowed to join a new tournament. (And not have to wait up to 6 months for other players playing in other games) Do you understand this point????????? (IF not, just say so - and quit trying to argue it - I'll try to explain it better, OK??)

I'm not "chiming in about slow players" - players can play as slow as they want in my opinion - BUT if those games just happen to be in the same tournament section, it can effect the new pawn player who may get a bad impression of this site. AGAIN, I'm not saying that the other players should be playing any faster - just that if all the games are complete in the tournament section for a player, and he has NO chance to move to the next section - he should be allowed to join a new tournament. (Hopefully you will understand this and stop pulling new things into this) If you don't agree, just say you don't agree - and quit bringing other things into this. ugh!

And about joining non-tournament games - LIKE I ALREADY SAID - Many people play different ways - some do not like playing non-tournament games - I know I do not. ugh.....

This will be my last post on this subject... I should have known better then to try to discuss this with Dmitri...

BBW (BIG BAD WOLF)

[Dmitri King - 25. May 2003, 07:08:56] "If one tournamnet is not enouhg, then I would gather that means you would still have unanswered questions after playig in one tournamnet."

... It is not necessarly that you would still have unanswered questions about how the site works - but if you are limited to just one tournament (which how it is now - you might be "stuck" in only 1 tournament for up to 6 months after you finish your games) - your experiance in the tournament might be bad which will give you the impression that this site is bad - which it is not.

Some people do not play many non-tournament games, just tournament games. That is how I was, and I'm sure I'm not the only person. So take this example:

New person to the site, does not know many people but wants to try things out. Joins a tournament, plays all his games in the tournament within 2 weeks. Now because of other slow players in the tournament, he has to wait to join his next tournament. Even though it says he can only join 1 tournament at a time, and he is done with his 1 tournament - he is upset with BrainKing because he is signing on every day for 2-4 months just to find out that he STILL can not join a new tournament. Not only that, but he likes to chat during the games he played. In all this tournament games he played, he did not find anyone that wanted to chat with him. Not only that, during one of this games, he found someone that was really rude to him.

So now a new player that does not know anyone, finds a rude person and people who don't like to chat. He is also being "punished" by waiting for slow players to play OTHER games that's not even his just so he can join a new tournament. His experince with BrainKing is very bad at this point - which means he probable will not keep loggin on to this site to play, let alone pay for this site. If he was allowed to start playing in his next tournament (AFTER he finishes all his games in the first AND has no chance of winning) - it is possible that he will then find that very friendly person who will chat and help the person out..... hopefully enough to stay around and possible pay to play!

So I guess if you can ensure that each players 1 tournament is a good experiance, well we would not need more then 1. But all it takes is something bad (like wait 6 months for slow players to finish games which your not even playing in, rude players, etc...) and if they are unable to play in new games (because they only like to play in tournaments) - well then the answer is NO, 1 tournament is not enough.

You have to rememeber, not everyone come to a games site for the same things. Some people like to play only non-tournament games. Some people like to play only tournament games. Some people visit the discussion boards, while others never have visited any of the discussions boards.

BBW (BIG BAD WOLF)

Exactly - each person has different reasons to be on a game site. One of the more important things for me is tournaments. For others, it is something else.

Again, I'm not saying to give pawns any more then they already have - All I'm saying is to somehow fix it so they can really just join 1 tournament at a time.

As it is now, they can join 1 tournament at at time BUT they may have to wait up to 6 months for slow players!

So basicly all I'm saying is if a player is done with 1 tournament (done with all his games and he can not win his section to move on to the next section) - let the pawn joing his next tournament. It's not giving the pawns any more, it's just helping the pawns who may get "screwed" by other slow players.

... and when they feel like they are getting "screwed" because they have the bad luck to join a tournament that has a player that is going to hold things up for months after they are done - well that might just give the pawn a bad impression of the whole site - which basicly means they will probable never pay to play. (Which most will agree one of the reasons for a pawn account is to get users to pay for a membership)

BBW (BIG BAD WOLF)

Kevin: ... OK, it should say in the 2nd sentence: "the FINISHED games would still be there and count TOWARDS the other players win/loss" So in "quiting the tournament", it does not remove there already finished games - and the finished games still count toward the win/loss of the other players that are still in that section of the tournament that that player and the other players are player - which the first player decided to just remove himself from the possiblility of winning the section. The games of that person needs to be finished BEFORE he is allowed to remove himself from the possiblility of winning the section and "removing" himself. OK, I hope that will explain it beter. (I'm really not trying to make it difficult - hopefully you will understand what I'm trying to say this time!)

... and for the second part, I guess I will argure it with you. Only 1 tournament would not be enough for me to figure out if I like a site or not - that is enough to decided wether I wanted to pay or not since I don't play that many non-tournament games. If I was a new pawn, and then I joined a tournament. (Which says I'm only allowed to join 1 at a time). I then finish all my games in that tournament in say 2 weeks. Well then I find out I have to wait for other slow players to finish their games in the section to start my next tournament (which I lost all my games so I know I'm not moving on) - so I wait....1 month.... 2 months..... 3 months.... (and by this time, I stop visiting this site - which I like, but stoped playing because I could not join my next tournament - which is the tournament I would have playing with a new friend which would have kept me playing on this site, and paying so I can play more games with my new friend! Now I have so many friends, and I'm a rich person - so I even pay the $1,000 for a awsome Maharajah account! O'wait - I forgot I left after 2 months of not being able to join my next tournament - the site never got my money. :-(

Anyway, that is just an "extreme" example - but things like that do happen - and when you first join, you do not know to join a small 4 player, fast tournament - you don't know that until it is too late and your stuck waiting.... and waiting... and waiting....

BBW (BIG BAD WOLF)

Kevin: OK, here is what I meant to say: When a person is done with all his games in a tournament, give that person an option to "remove himself" from any chance of winning and moving on to the next section. The person and his games would still "be there" and count, but even if that person does win the section but already "removed himself" - it would go to the next person down the list. In thery, you would not remove yourself if you still have a chance to win the section, but since the game site can not decided it for you at this time - this would let the user decide. (I hope I explained that better this time) :-)

I disagree that only 1 tournament is enough to determin whether a site is good enough or not - but we can disagree about that! :-)