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rod03801: Yes, I think that is right. I posted a question on this message board some time ago about getting brains. Some generous soul read my post and asked Fencer to transfer 30 brains to me. As far as I can tell, there is no other way that I could have gotten brains.
Marshmud: I would guess it's a case of someone asking Fencer to transfer some of their own brains to someone else, so that they can use them for the brain tourneys.
Aganju: How did you get a gift of brains? I didn't know that was possible. The last brain action (where you could get some free) was April 08. I think the brain system is disabled. The only members who have brains are those who bought them in the past or won a brain tournament.
I think I understand what he means. I also got a generous gift of 20 brains, and have entered 5 tournaments with them yet (I won 6 brains in one of them), so that leaves me with 1 brain, and four running tournaments. Or should I say ongoing tournaments; they are not running in any sense. They are not even going well, but that is another topic. But maybe around Christmas, one of them might end, and I might be able to join another one.
I asked that question before (and it resulted in the donation), but I'd really like to know - how do you get brains? - you can win them (but only if you have some to risk) - you can get them donated (thanks again, but that can't be the preferred way) - you can buy other people memberships? not sure about that one? - there is a page that claims you can get them for free if you complete some easy steps, but I could not find those easy steps (here it says 'By completing a simple process of easy tasks, you will be awarded with 20 Brains and you can start to explore all other possibilities with no actual investment. Please visit this page for details.'), but there is no simple process of easy tasks described?
I was given 30 brains some time ago, a kind gift from another. I'd like to use these brains to enter so prize tournaments, to increase my brains. However, even with the free gift this is very difficult to do. If I played backgammon or chess, maybe, but for the games I play, there don't seem to be many options.
Fencer, a while ago you had mentioned maybe another color code for memberships. Have you thought any more about that? This was your comment ( Well, I think we could make one more membership action with colour codes. Or something like that.)
Mélusine: There are still a few players playing. And one of the slowest, as I said, is a person I really respect, good player and friend. So, this is nothing personal, and if he/she read this, I'm sure he/she'll understand!
Fencer: "I don't think it's a critical issue when people can play unlimited number of tournaments"
True, but not everyone can - even those with paid subscriptions (knights and bishops) may be prevented from playing tournaments of a particular game for years.
coan.net: Yes, you are right. Either solution would require programming and testing, which I currently don't have time for. Anyway, I don't think it's a critical issue when people can play unlimited number of tournaments.
Roberto Silva: I agree it would be nice if the site could determine a winner of a section even before all games are done. Another idea would be to make it a way for a few "tournament masters" or something - people who understand tournament scoring could "mark" winners of a section so the next round could start before all the games are complete.
It would be some more "manual" work, but honestly it would be what - one or two tournament a week at the most that would need winners marked so the next round could start. (I would volunteer for the job.)
Of course both solutions would include additional site programming, but would be a nice addition to the site.
Modificat de Roberto Silva (12. Noiembrie 2011, 19:57:12)
Thad: Indeed, it should be possible to start the next round once the section winners are mathematically decided, even if there are games left. I'm not sure how much of a trouble it would be to code that however...
Gabriel Almeida: In the tournament you site, the games that are unfinished *don't matter* for determining who will play in the next round, therefore it should be started already! Fencer, why do you allow this?
This board is turning into my favorite board to read. I especially like one person's post here (who name I won't mention because of the potential harsh penalty)
I don't have any brains and with all the tourneys I play in, you'd think I'd have at least one (even the one in my head is questionable)
Let me tell you an example of what has been said here. This tournament. A lot of "pawn players" are waiting that it ends. Almost 3 years to play a 7 points cube gammon in groups of 4 or 5 players? It's obviously too much. And I know that players who haven't ended their games are great people. I'll say no names, but one of them is a great friend, a "clean and fair player", and I really respect and like him very much. But those pawns can't play any other tournament since January'2009! Some of them may be expecting to win it and the prize associated, and... nothing more than wait. (Listen to Waits music, BTW... eheh). This is "legal", but it's not understandable, in my opinion!
Gabriel Almeida: colors? You mean politically flavored colors like gas-chamber green, or blood red? Or just normal like purple or pink? Or racially incorrect, like black? Oops. I learned the politically correct term is now 'of color', like 'a man of color' or 'a hole of color' (formerly called a 'black hole')...
warning, the above statement might contain sarcastic or humorous references
I see. I'd count that as 'bought' in the wider meaning - you paid money, well knowing you get brains for it. - I endorse the idea, don't misunderstand me. Just wanted to hear potential alternatives.
Aganju: I checked my “Brains History” and it says I got my first 50 Brains for having purchased a Rook membership for a person whose name I cannot mention here because it is prohibited to mention names here under a harsh penalty.
Modificat de Pedro Martínez (11. Noiembrie 2011, 13:32:33)
Thom27: I have never bought myself a single Brain on this site – only bought them for others. Yet, you must understand that the Brains are used as an equivalent of money here, since we can purchase membership with them. That's why I don't think “20 free Brains for all” is such a good idea, at least not from the owner's point of view. However, making the users be able to purchase them, that's a whole different story.
Pedro Martínez: This is also a way, of course. I personally would not like it to buy brains instead of earning them by playing games, because playing is what this is all about. But every player is free to try to avoid bying them, or at least buy as few as possible.
Gabriel Almeida: Yes! ATM it is difficult to get brains for a player who has 0 brains, like me. I participate in "pedros birthday tourney" and "not so random tournament", but to be realistic: it is unlikely that I will win any of them.
There might be a program like "20 free brains for all": one day soon all accounts are filled up to 20 brains, and newly created accounts from then on start with 20 brains.
Or: regularly (e.g. once a month) a free prize tournament starts automatically, where the first three players win some brains. It might be a random game tournament, so that there is a considerable luck factor in the choice of the game type against a specific opponent; there is always some game a particular player does not or barely know. And players having more than, say, 50 brains might be excluded from those tournaments, so that the "poor" players have better chances.
In the same spirit as the other recent posts, perhaps Fencer could sponsor a tournament (perhaps hosted by someone else if he gets a volunteer) that is only open to people who buy a new rook membership (no renewals). Fencer could donate a prize of some brand new brains perhaps as an incentive, or something else that catches his imagination.
Gabriel Almeida: Yes, I agree, it's a good spirit. But I think that some members with " little " subscriptions as a bishop for example are about in the same situation as a pawn (they often have difficulties to pay their membership) so, for me, we could offer something to these persons too. I think that your idea should be developed.
SL-Mark: The pawn must be "indicated" for a fellowship. It could work with a Fencer's PM, something like "Fencer, I want to pay a 6 months knight membership to the pawn ####, and it must be noted for the fellowship MONKEYS SWINGING MADHOUSE", for example.
Monkey: Fencer would create that Team Tournament for invitation(!!!), according to the PM received.
Melusine: The job in the fellowship would be to get a "paid godfather" to the pawn they would promote. And receive him/her properly. When I came to Brainking, I knew nothing about the site, and some very pacient people in Tugas explained me everything. My point is to inforce that spirit! And, of course, it would create stronger union between the new paying member and the fellowship... seems a very healthy thing, to me! :)
By the way... I would certainly pay a membership to a pawn, in that spirit! :)
Gabriel Almeida: And, in the team, who will pay the subscription of the pawn ? The captain ? Or each member of the team will give a little money ? I think that this offer (very nice for a pawn) can block people who have difficulties to pay their own subscription. As it's something about money, it can be discriminatory for people having little means (I think to a student or a unemployed person, for example). Sorry to tell you this, because I see that your intentions are good.
- A Team tournament (you choose game/games) where any team who wants to join in must promote a pawn to rook/knight/bishop for... 6 months, for example.
The prize for the winning team is a "credit" to promote another pawn, for 6 months.