User research

[graeme_moss]

When playing a non-anonymous game, I presume it's fair play to look at past games in common with the other players, e.g. to see how they played, how trustworthy they proved to be, etc.?

I know it's against the rules to make any agreements across active or future games (meta gaming), but presumably it's OK to say something like "Look how faithful I was to you in that past game X -- I always told you the truth" or some such to try to establish your credibility for the sake of the current active game?

[Claesar]

Yes, as long as you don't enter a game with the pre-determined intent to ally another player (you've played with before). Furthermore, if we (moderators) notice you've been allying the same player in several games, we may get suspicious

[graeme_moss]

Seems fair to me!

[yavuzovic]

Yes, as long as you don't enter a game with the pre-determined intent to ally another player (you've played with before). Furthermore, if we (moderators) notice you've been allying the same player in several games, we may get suspicious

If a certain player never attacks me, I will continue allying them until he betrays. This isn't pre determined but when I see a trustworthy player, I can guess my future alliances.

[Friendly Sword]

I feel like using past behaviour to that extent *is* low-key metagaming, yavuzovic.

If as you say it isn't predetermined then I don't think it rises to the level of breaking the rules but I would certainly be unhappy if I was taken out of a game by players that reportedly allied in the basis of their behaviours from previous games.

[FlaviusAetius]

thus why anonymous games are a thing.
Non-anonymous games just ask for metagaming I don't think you can really stop that.

[Squigs44]

Yes, as long as you don't enter a game with the pre-determined intent to ally another player (you've played with before). Furthermore, if we (moderators) notice you've been allying the same player in several games, we may get suspicious

If a certain player never attacks me, I will continue allying them until he betrays. This isn't pre determined but when I see a trustworthy player, I can guess my future alliances.

This is something that factors into ftf games amongst friends even more heavily. The board game was designed for ftf play, where real life relations and past games are inevitable and have a heavier influence. I remember growing up, whenever I played Risk with my cousins, we would gang up on a particular cousin because he would ALWAYS win. This helped balance the game, and made it more fun for us.
However, I have also played board games with couples who refuse to betray each other, and this takes the fun out of the game since they had an inseparable alliance. Metagaming that creates an inbalance in a game takes out the fun and should have no place in gaming.
And of course, tournament games should be strictly anonymous.

[graeme_moss]

How do they avoid metagaming in f2f tournaments?

[Percy Williams]

They put them all in separate rooms, and run messages between each of them.

[graeme_moss]

So it's not really "face" to "face", interesting.

[Percy Williams]

That would at least be how I'd do it. Have everyone come to the same place, and then lock them in isolated rooms.
:D

[Claesar]

That would at least be how I'd do it. Have everyone come to the same place, and then lock them in isolated rooms.
:D

How many messengers do you think you'd need for a single game? I think you could make it work with only 7.

How much extra time due to the communication delay?

And at that point, why not just give them all a laptop and play via webDip?..

[Percy Williams]

No Messengers.
The rooms are close together, and have boats on strings in gutters that you can put the message on and push to the other country. This can also be done in a gymnasium with tarpaulins as walls, so that each player has a cubicle, or as I like to call it, a "command room". Depending on your setup, the messages can be sent by pneumatic tubes, telegram, or any other method available with a very physical system.

[Claesar]

Boats on strings sounds cool, but I hope at the WDC they'll provide us ravens.

[Deeply_Dippy]

As well as Anon, all FTF Tournaments should be played 'in character', with full and authentic national costumes.

That way, if you happen to catch a glimpse fo a player, you'll only know which country the represent, not who they are!

[Percy Williams]

As well as Anon, all FTF Tournaments should be played 'in character', with full and authentic national costumes.

That way, if you happen to catch a glimpse fo a player, you'll only know which country the represent, not who they are!

And all players must wear a mask in the shape of their country.

[Percy Williams]

Boats on strings sounds cool, but I hope at the WDC they'll provide us ravens.

I mean, It's whatever's easiest.
One communication line is a model train set.
Another is messages tied to fish.
While another still is skinnies falling down stairs to the other player.

It's just whatever works. If anyone needs a document of my Ideas for their next ftf tournament, let me know.

[Percy Williams]

Boats on strings sounds cool, but I hope at the WDC they'll provide us ravens.

I mean, It's whatever's easiest.
One communication line is a model train set.
Another is messages tied to fish.
While another still is skinnies falling down stairs to the other player.

It's just whatever works. If anyone needs a document of my Ideas for their next ftf tournament, let me know.

*Slinkies falling down stairs