How are the players sorted when they are listed on the pond before it starts? It is not a high priority request, but would it be possible to have it sorted by rating? Or is there an important reason for the way it is now?

emmett: I heard Fencer is going to change the rules a bit to make it more to fair-game... I don't know what.

Hasami Shogi is a game I regret even being rated for, as it is utterly biased towards the person who moves first. I would like to wipe off all records of a rated game type, with the caveat that I can never play it again on this site. Hasami shogi would be the one I would wipe off, as it is unfair.

Also Italian, and Pool.

I have a question: Why are not Russian Draughts, Brazilian, and 10x10 variants offered on Brainking?

When you have a moment Fencer, could you add a little more info to the Fellowship page where the Team matches are displayed. It would be nice to see the result of the match without having to look at each one for a start.
It would also be VERY helpful if the Big Bosses of a Fellowship gets a message when any match finish so they can post it on the Fellowship DB and keep everyone informed of how the Teams are doing.
It would be nice if Brainking itself could display the results somewhere (Running: 55 Finished: 7 Won: 3 Draw: 0 Lost: 4), it does get hard sometime trying to keep up with alot of matches, makes it harder when we dont know if they have finished

Mr. Shumway: Very true, so how about having a box that we could set the URL of, like in the context menus OR even linked to the context menu.

So we could move and goto a Fellowship DB, another board (Tournaments, computers whatever) in fact anywhere we choose to set the URL.

Since the "go to next game" dropdownlist is now customizable (yeeha!), and new options don't disturb everybody I think it is time for the "go to the next game with a friend" option :)

rednaz23: Or, if that's hard to do (because of the many different languages) use the yyyy/mm/dd format, that is less ambiguously interpreted.

On the individual game graphs for a player (example), can the dates on the bottom be changed from all numbers for the day/month/year to have the months have the actual name of the month?

The difference being between the U.S. and Europe, and how each of these areas see dates.

BIG BAD WOLF: BBW said: Maybe there should be the rule that in dark loop chess, you can only place a pieces in a space that you can see is free (not all available free spaces) - since I would think that would give up too much information.
I third that idea.

I also like the idea of dark crazy screen chess...

grenv: Oh, I think it will work well - I'm just saying that if the chess pieces are not in a standard position, then it's not really dark loop chess - but dark loop random chess.

I think dark loop random chess will work since if you put the captured pieces anywhere, you can see where your opponents pieces are but you don't know which is which.

If it is not "random" and just the standard position is uses, then i would say that pieces can only be placed where you have a line of sight and know there is nothing there.

BIG BAD WOLF: I think my point is the following:

This game has been played a lot. I've played it a lot, and it's one of my favourites.

Games that are already play tested are usually better than brand new made up rules with no testing.

Try playing it if you're not sure. :)

grenv: Well with rules like that, it would help a little - but in my eyes it is no longer dark loop chess, but dark loop random chess. I think if it's going to be like that, it might as well skip it and just make dark crazy screen chess where each player can organize their own pieces - that way a person does not get stuck with a "bad" setup vs. good setup with the random setup.

Pason69: There is a list of ongoing games here: http://brainking.com/en/Statistics?p=2 - of course it is not ordered like you want, just ordered in most games being played to least. (for others who are interested in looking)

BIG BAD WOLF:

grenv: Maybe there should be the rule that in dark loop chess, you can only place a pieces in a space that you can see is free (not all available free spaces) - since I would think that would give up too much information.

well, this could be a very good choice. the space you can see is covered by at least one of your own pieces, so the placed piece is saved at least a little bit.

I am sure this has been requested before, but i will ask for it again as it just cost me alot of BKR and my No.1 spot.
Can we have an extra column to show how much time is left in Fischer clock games for us. Its a bit wrong when you leave here thinking your next move isnt for over a day in any game, to log in to find games timed out because you didnt know how much time was left.

I guess we could always go through every game before we log off just to check, bit time consuming i think.

I think it would be nice to see a summary of ongoing games, preferably in a tree structure like:
Chessvariants: 50
of which chess 25
Dark 15
Cylinder 10
Shogivariants x
of which

and so on.

BIG BAD WOLF: Actually it works great with the random piece placement. Here are the rules from SchemingMind.com:

SunTzu Chess

Inspired by the great war philosopher SunTzu, this variant combines three previous variants into one game that simulates the fog of war.

The first thing you will notice is that your pieces are (likely) not in the normal chess configuration. The pieces are set up according to Fischer Random rules, however unlike Fischer Random Chess, black and white have different starting positions.

The second thing you will notice is that you can only see your half of the board when you start. That is because you can only see your opponents pieces when they are in your 'searchlight' (you can see which pieces you have taken). Your opponents moves are displayed as question marks, however these will still be appended with '+' and '#' for check and mate.

The third thing you will notice, and this will come as a real surprise if you haven't read these rules, is that pieces you capture become yours to use as you wish on a future turn (and vice versa for your opponent). You can "drop" them anywhere on the board including checking the King. Pawns cannot be dropped on the 1st or 8th rank, and if a promoted pawn is captured, it reverts back to a pawn, so be sure you know which Queen you are hunting!

One special note, after you capture your first piece, you'll be able to see all the free squares available to place a piece. This is a large tactical advantage because it gives you the terrain. However you still have very little idea which of the dark squares represent which enemy pieces!

grenv: Maybe there should be the rule that in dark loop chess, you can only place a pieces in a space that you can see is free (not all available free spaces) - since I would think that would give up too much information.

diogenes: Dark loop chess is played on other sites. Actually on Schemingmind there is a variant of random, dark loop chess (each side sets up pieces randomly and asymmetrically behind the pawns).

The main difference is that if you have a piece that can be put down you need to see all the possible squares it could be put, making it a little easier to find the opponents pieces (but not necessarily which is which).

diogenes: I know at one time, Fencer did not like the idea of making variants of variants, but I would agree that a few dark variants of variants would be a great addition. For a chess player like me (Not very good), I always feel I have a better chance at dark chess and would love to see dark cylinder chess, dark knight relay, and dark crazy screen chess.

Dark loop chess would be interesting, along with dark Majarajah Chess - which might give white a little more of a chance to get a "surprise" win.

About the only Chess variants that it would not work too well with is Ambiguous Chess. Los Alamos Chess probable would not work too well since the board is already pretty small.

Fencer could almost double the amount of chess games if he wanted to. But of course right now, Dark Chess is the 47th most popular game so the question would be is it worth making more variants which probable would not top the original?

diogenes:This reminds me of my old requests:  Dark Knigh Relay Chess and Dark Cylinder Chess.  Dark Loop Chess should indeed be fun too.  For Fencer I think it's just a mixture of codes!

After playing an interesting position with walter montego in dark chess, where he wasnt able to determine where my "third rook" was from, we were thinking about increasing the chaos with this chess-variant calles "dark loop chess". sure it could be wonderful and surprising... - it should be possible, eh?

emmett:Especially when the game is between two other people, yes.  I second that. 

Is it too difficult to have a rotate board feature? In line games, go variations and chess it would be interesting to see the board from different points of view.

grenv: Correct naturally.

Fencer: Also, very nice! Not many use Jellyfish anymore, but I know GNU supports it and Snowie will import it.

Thanks!

nabla: Obviously n-1 since everyone (except the winner) loses exactly one match. right?

Fencer: Very nice! Is this just for chess, or all games? If it is for gammon games as well (for say, a proposition - no one has programmed a bot to play Crowded), will we be able to put in any cube adjustments ahead of time, or will we have to keep our own bookkeeping for that?

BIG BAD WOLF: Thanks for spelling it out for me. I understand some of it but not all.:( I think my best way is not have.. all game sign up and just play the popular ones that fill up faster on 16. The others just 4 or 8. That way we can play all games for people to sign up for those that want to play. People seem to like the elimination better. I know I do. Not so long.
Thank you for your answers... BBW and everyone else.
BARB

grenv: But that is what kleineme suggested! The only thing I said is that adding 12 players as an option for creating a single elimination tournament is bogus. It's not bogus to have 12 players, but to say: this tournament is for 12 ;)

BIG BAD WOLF: A nice puzzle is : How many games are played in total in such an elimination tournament of n players (without counting the games vs "ghost players" of course) ?

grenv: I know it's called a bye - but for Fencer to make it easy to program, it might be easier to put an imaginary player into the spot for a second to automatically lose and move the next player on.... plus it may make it easier for others to visualize it.

BIG BAD WOLF: Ghost players???? It's called a bye!! Have a look at a few of the tennis tournaments that have players pull out to see how it works.

Fencer: Very cool, thematic tournaments and .mat backgammon format will be two great new features

xmas is soon: Now I would not think it would be too hard to put some sort of by system to work with less people.

lets say it is a 16 player single elimination tournament, and only 12 sign up.

Round 1: 16 players (with 4 of them "ghost" players which randomly get put into the tournament and automaticly give the person who played against them a free win/by into the next round - of course does not count as a won game - just a win into the next round of the tournament. - so 8 players advance.

Round 2: 8 players start, 4 winners

Round 3: 4 players start, 2 winners

Round 4: 2 players start, 1 winner!

So that is why a single elimination tournament needs to be to the power of 2 (2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256, ...) = and does not work with a multiple of 2. (2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, ...)

Edited to add: Of course only do this with the 8 & above single elimination tournaments where at least more then 1/2 of the players sign up. So if you set up a 32 player tournament and only 15 sign up, then it should be reduced to a 16 single elimination tournament with 1 "ghost" player to give a free by.

I don't see why this is an issue, just give byes to people depending on the number.

So with 12 you would have 8 play in round 1, eliminating 4, leaving 8 for round 2.

It's still single elimination (one loss and you're out).

BIG BAD WOLF: ah right, i get you now

xmas is soon: You could not have 12 (without giving someone a free by) and still have it a single elimination tournament.

For example:

Round 1: Start with 12 players, 6 winners
Round 2: Start with 6 players, 3 winners
Round 3: No way to keep it a single elimination without giving someone a free by.)

Mr. Shumway: How can adding 12 be bogus?

xmas is soon: Adding 12 as an option sounds kind of bogus to me. I think there are two reasonable options:

1) Keep the current system. In this case, if you know you won't get 16 players, you'll have to set up a tournament for 8 players. But everybody has the same amount of matches to play.

2) Change it to what kleineme suggested: Every tournament can be started, and if the number of players is not a power of 2, pick those who advance to the second round randomly, let the rest play it out. Or you could even pick them by BKR (if the tournament isn't random, hm )

Pbarb2: Thats a good idea, having 12 as an option

Fencer: Ok I get it now. Is there a way you can put a 12 in there. That seems to be about the number we can get.. 10 to 12. Going from 8 to 16 is to much to fill for my fellowship anyway. Thanks

Fencer: That reason would be obsolete if you were to consider an ancient proposal of mine ;-)

Pbarb2: Yes, there is a reason. The power of 2.

Fencer: I am having problems with the single elimination games. 4 and 8 are not enough and fill up to quickly. Then if you put 16 they do not fill. Is there a reason why you do not have unlimited for the elimination games?
From what I am seeing other fellowships are having the same problem.
Thanks
BARB

Rex Nihilo: MAT format is to be done. "Soon".

Rex Nihilo: Thematic tournaments are already in development.

Since chess players can download the PGN notation for their games, how hard would it be to give backgammon players the ability to download thier games in Snowie, BGBlitz, or GNUBG format?

Any opinions?

edit:content

A feature I would like to see implemented would be the ability to start a game from a predetermined position. Practical uses of this would include:

1. Thematic tournements (for chess and go varients)
2. Backgammon "propositions" -- which have fallen out of favor with the advent of the bots, but can can still be used for instructional purposes.
3. Instructional aids for people teaching the game to someone.

The interface is there for Espionage and Screen Chess, and I think would be very well received.

Any other opinions on this?

edit:typo