Additionally sorry for waiting so long on the response I had to go to class.

@abgemacht: "Frankly, as long as I can play the games I want to play, I don't care how many points I have, nor do I care how many my competitors have."

That's what people with low points say... *ducks* ;)

@fortknox

I'm sorry, I can't hear you over all the drawing I just did in a game you were defeated.

"However, there are logistical problems (we would need to code an interface or do it manually (ugh) through donations). "

If I get a cut, I'm more than happy to do that^

The site is now self-sufficient, largely due to Plura, which is probably all Kestas is after. Building up a fund for development would perhaps be a good thing though.


"That's what people with low points say... *ducks* ;)"

Nah, people with low points develop a new rating system XD

Gee, thanks frank.. But from what I've read, most think it's a good idea, if u can read...
So your argument is moot.

I don't like the idea of buying points unless Kestas was sure that Hasbro's interests weren't affected by such a development; I'd hate to see Kestas dragged through the courts on our behalf.

However, I would like to see an optional membership fee. The site can carry on free to everybody, but some members would pay an annual subscription. The only benefit of this is that every other paid member would know who who has paid and who hasn't. The paid members would agree to be a bit more serious about the games they play; no CDing; NMRing or delaying finalising without good cause. Every year the paid members would vote to remove paid membership from anyone who continues to flout those 'rules'.

I think this could (a) bring Kestas some income; (b) make a more enjoyable experience for the serious gamers. My concern is that the experience for unpaid members might deteriorate somewhat so we would have to ensure that any adverse effects were mitigated.

> Everyone knows that they're already making bank on their Plura checks.
FYI guys Plura has been disabled for months now, I should really take it off the FAQ.
The site no longer needs a revenue stream to support itself since I'm no longer in uni. (Plus as others have suggested $->points is a bit of a legal minefield)

I appreciate the thought though :-) but if you want to play in the high stakes games you'll need to get points the old fashioned way. (If you want to play in advanced play games there are alternatives like tournaments as well, thanks to TGM/abgemacht et al)

@Kestas - and what do you think of a paid for advanced memebership - just so that peopel can choose to play with others who commit to not CDing; not NMRing and finalising quickly?

Kestas:

Does that mean you're paying for the server out of pocket? That doesn't seem fair at all...

@abge: Touche, abge.... touche :P

As far as a C&D is concerned, it would be likely fairly quickly. I'm fairly close with the former owner and creator of words with friends, and as soon as their app had sold a few thousand dollars worth (Happened within a few months) whoever owns Scrabble (hasbro?) sent them a C&D letter. Fortunately he had some in house law advise who told him Hasbro(?) didn't have a case.

Point is, even if nothing happens at first, it isnt a time limit or rate that we would have to be concerned with, but how much money over all. Also if someone at Hasbro is just pissed off.

@Puddle

The difference is that Scrabble is still a bread-winner for Hasbro. Diplomacy is not.

"But from what I've read, most think it's a good idea, if u can read... "

I just did some counting, and it's pretty evenly split. So, I guess Frank's point should be taken somewhat more seriously.

"and what do you think of a paid for advanced membership?"
I would say that is a fine idea. As long as the payment is small, and it is used to support server costs/back up improvements financially. I'm quite interested to hear what Kestas' opinion is on this matter.

I like the optional pay for points but I don't like the pay for advanced membership. When I first started looking at Diplomacy sites to join I found two. The other one asked for payment for advanced memberships and this one didn't, so I joined this one.

What would the advantages of paid membership be? I think we'd be hurting the community if we took away features from people and made them "advanced" features. And, frankly, I don't see us coming up with new benefits for members any time soon.

As a new player on this site, I am cheesed off with the frequency with which players abandon games in WebDip. It seems that at the lower levels it is statistically likely that a game will have a CD.

Surely if people pay for their points it is less likely that they will drop out just because it is not going well? In other words, paying for points might actually make the quality of play go up, not down.

Yes, I am a crappy brand new player. But allow me the luxury of actually playing a full game for a change so that I have a snowball's chance of attaining a millionth of the exalted skills of luminaries such as fortknox and abgemacht.

Maybe just allow a pay for "Hardcore" badge. Some games could be hosted and allow for Hardcore players only. Just an idea.

I don't like the idea of a pay option at all, to be honest. There's a sort of romanticism in a free site that appeals to me - part of the reason I'm here and not at playdip, as some of my friends are. This site feels much less gimmicky, much more serious.

I don't think paying for points would benefit anyone, really. With an additional 100 , all a player like Sydney could do is join more low-pot games. You're much more likely to find a high-quality game by advertising on the forum than by joining more random low-pot games.

Also, my brief flirtation with high-pot games has been extremely disappointing. None of them were played with any sort of interesting dynamics, always ending in a draw determined from the very beginning of the game or forced by a third power. I've had a much better time playing low-pot, high quality games off the forum.

I don't think buying diplomacy points leads to much and I don't see the problem with it. I do, however, see a problem with creating a membership fee. Membership fees would only increase problems on the site. For example

--what happens if a member quits paying the fee, does he go into CD? There are problems with that, especially for league games or higher stakes games
--adding a fee means that the number of people on the site will drop off quite a bit in favor of free sites
--your average game already takes a month or longer to play (assuming 1 day phases or higher) and if a membership fee spans only a month, then you may not even get to play an entire game for the cost of one month's fee.

the site is great primarily because it's free and has a ranking system (two technically).

why would I want to pay for a badge?
Also why would people want to play "badge only" games, the badge doesn't signify skill and some terrible player like myself could buy it and then join the "badge only" game

although if you all really want to help kestas with the cost of servers why not just have the option to donate?

Buying points? Thumbs down from me. I find the idea tacky. Not necessary either. Just budget wisely, and if you are good you will soon win some more points.

@Maniac - I think it'd probably be more trouble than it's worth, but if a majority thought it would help gameplay I'd consider it (seems like most disagree though)

@☺- It's not a big deal, but thanks for the concern :-)

@tallfred: "Yes, I am a crappy brand new player. But allow me the luxury of actually playing a full game for a change so that I have a snowball's chance of attaining a millionth of the exalted skills of luminaries such as fortknox and abgemacht."

First, you give me far too much credit. Second, you've never asked to play a game with me.

@fortknox: "Second, you've never asked to play a game with me." Of course not. I am too new on the site, and am not in your league. For me it has been a dream to play Diplomacy for close to thirty years, and it is a real pleasure to do so at last, despite my moaning about CDs.
My lament is that there must be some way to reduce the number of CDs that spoil the games for everyone. My point is that financial incentive might help to reduce the CD rate. Perhaps Sydney City's solution is not quite right, but maybe it could trigger some innovative thinking.
Maybe it's just me, but I have seen far too many comments from players not willing to play newbies. It does not make me feel welcome. I'm sure that when some players land in trouble in their first games they think "This is no fun. I'm not even wanted here. I'm leaving."

Of course, they then just disappear without thinking or caring about the impact on others.

hhmmm

FK, would you like to play a game with tallfred?

Didnt read thread lol forshame

but anyway... interesting idea.

i'm not vehemently opposed but it would kind of... distort the whole points=how good you are even further than it already is.

and would give rich people an inherent advantage. lol. i'm sure putin would be outraged.

but... i mean... if it makes kestas some dough i don't really care tbh.

I'm up for a game with anyone who will play long enough turns and won't CD. Tallfred, create a thread in the forum, get players, PM me the link & password to the game you create, and I'll jump in. Play with people outside your league. Even if you get stomped out (which isn't necessarily what will happen), you will learn a great deal to help get you up to being a great player.