snoot.org message board: not so fun to play (zoom)

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not so fun to play
[51791] by "alpha" (12.145.108.11)   on Mon 12 Sep 2005 13:08:55     [ reply ] [ up ]
Perhaps making this game not so fun to play is the object of both experienced players and trolls.

I agree that some of the chat is uncalled for, but your comment that "these people are never going to learn how to play or even want to learn how to play" really has nothing to do with the chat where trolls are concerned. They LOVE being called jerks - it's spurs them on the make even more outrageously low plays. The problem is that inexperienced players are now immediately thought of as trolls, since they, too, ignore the chat.

In my experience, if someone asks politely (and I do mean politely) why a play was made, they get no response whatsoever. We then go along for awhile making NO comments, and players start to get ticked off when sets are repeatedly blown, and that's when things explode.

Your comment that "It's the attitude of certain people who make this game a not so fun game to play" works for both sides -- just how much fun do you think it is to work with others to make a set-up for an 8 ltr word containing a premium score tile (which should get 150+ pts, some scoring in the 200 or 300 pt range)only to have it blown by someone playing an 18 pt word, a 30 pt word, or even a 50 pt word? Quite bluntly, it sucks, especially when there's no response to chat asking why they made the play.

I've asked it many times before: how much fun can it be to plunk down any old word? How could you possibly think that using the z for 12 pts is contributing to a high scoring game, or having seen the scores on an 8-ltr trip, why would you think 30 pts is a great score on a trip? Why do players always feel it's there duty to use the premium tiles or the esses on low scoring words, even if they could make another word without them? I've never been given an answer to these questions, so I believe there isn't one -- those plays are deliberatly made to spoil someone else's fun.

This game is meant to be played cooperatively, and while the trolls LOVE to point at the experienced players and say we cause trouble by yelling about their plays, the real troublemakers are those not working toward a high scoring game.
re: to 'nance' on playing expert games
[51793] by "Mike™" (pool-68-161-61-101.ny325.east.verizon.net)   on Mon 12 Sep 2005 13:36:55     [ reply ] [ up ]
I think that when someone new arrives, they are generally not treated harshly at first, but either given tips or just told nicely to read the instructions. "Someone new" meaning someone with a new IP, or even someone with a common IP (aol, webtv) using a new name. Sometimes this works and new team players are formed.

But when they start to make the same types of plays repeatedly, without acknowledging that anything is being said to them, the yelling begins. Sometimes, it's just a case of the person not realizing there's any chat in the first place, but there are definitely some players who mess up games for fun. I don't really experience this anymore since I mainly play alone, but I'm sure it's exceptionally frustrating to see a potential 1200-point game (or 300+ point word, or whatever) go up in smoke.

Talking to the other players does help -- if you look at the archives, there are far more games over 1000 points nowadays then there were two years ago. Mostly because of newer players who were taught the "better" way to play.

Bottom line though... some people just need to lighten up. Being called a moron in an online game isn't nice, but it isn't the worst thing in the world either. Learn to play a little better, and the insults will likely stop and be replaced by compliments.  :-)