Werewolf game size and frequency discussion thread

Baggly

Digital Solitude wrote: »

Necrominus? He posts here a good bit

As usual, he hasnt made a point in a while though

Sorry Digi, i see the post you are responding to now. My mistake!

I would be up for modding a game or giving a hand with it in the future.

Considering though that I had to ask one of my fellow wolves "..and what exactly does the Priest do?" during the BTTF game, maybe it's not my time to mod/help just yet.

After another couple of games, I should be fit to help if needed.

Baggly

Deleted User wrote:

After another couple of games, I should be fit to help if needed.

Slot yourself in now for a game in a few months. Any of the games with 2 mods would probably welcome a hand. Send them a pm and you will get yourself a game to mod!

Necro

Yeah I was just coming here to say if you're free in August Stu, you can join myself and QB. We don't bite... too hard :P

Digital Solitude

[Deleted User] wrote: »

I would be up for modding a game or giving a hand with it in the future.

Considering though that I had to ask one of my fellow wolves "..and what exactly does the Priest do?" during the BTTF game, maybe it's not my time to mod/help just yet.

After another couple of games, I should be fit to help if needed.

This is actually a great point for something we used to do, putting the role's common name with the themed name. It's like 1 word per role that would help newbies figure out who we're talking about. Probably something we should pick up again

Baggly

Digital Solitude wrote:

This is actually a great point for something we used to do, putting the role's common name with the themed name. It's like 1 word per role that would help newbies figure out who we're talking about. Probably something we should pick up again

I'll be linking the roles in our game to their description in our roles thread as well.

tritium

Really good points in this thread. My random collection of 2cs to add!

Numbers is a tricky thing. While large games have an excitement it creates a huge mod overhead. I sometimes think large complex games have a real risk of becoming unmanageable, especially where modkills become needed. In terms of getting new mods on board ( at least initially) smaller simpler games are a positive. Large games have a place too so I’d agree the mod for a game needs to call it based on what they want from the game

I didn’t get just how much time modding takes until I modded one, and I had two experienced mods doing a lot of the lifting. I’ll absolutely mod again btw but I’d probably do a small game with subs if fr ted looks like the approach is useful ( I think it is and I say that as I sit on the subs bench with fingers crossed . ) the modkills situations onvthe Christmas game was a learning experience for me

Occasional additional simple games might be a good balance. They can easily be signposted and we’ve tried similar before- MrsF ran one on the fly after community that worked really well.

Also, and I hope mods don’t mind me mentioning this. It’s not a bad thing for folks looking for a quick fix to also look at what might be running on MU or IPB. Yes it’s different but different styles I’ve found are useful for player development.. I’m not looking to push people elsewhere as we have I think a great community here, just maybe give them additional options (granted I am a little bit addicted)

Baggly

tritium wrote:

Also, and I hope mods don’t mind me mentioning this. It’s not a bad thing for folks looking for a quick fix to also look at what might be running on MU or IPB. Yes it’s different but different styles I’ve found are useful for player development.. I’m not looking to push people elsewhere as we have I think a great community here, just maybe give them additional options (granted I am a little bit addicted)

Banned.

Pter

Pter wrote: »

Slot yourself in now for a game in a few months. Any of the games with 2 mods would probably welcome a hand. Send them a pm and you will get yourself a game to mod!

Necrominus wrote: »

Yeah I was just coming here to say if you're free in August Stu, you can join myself and QB. We don't bite... too hard :P

Bit late with the reply here, but I'd definitely be interested in helping the more experienced players to mod a game to help me get started. Thanks Necro, depending on what the date is, will you put me down provisionally for that in August?

Wohoo, assistant mod!


Necro:

Necro

Now that the game is over, just wondering what people thought of the limited numbers game.

To be honest, I wasn't gone on it.

The game itself was fine - so it's not a slight on the game, but it feels sh1t having to limit game involvement from my perspective as a mod.

I think in the future if it's clearly outlined by mods prior to announcement in the Sign Up thread then it might be fine - but I'd personally prefer not to limit player numbers anyways.

The difficulty, as laid out by Pter and Molly tbf though, was the game mechanics were designed for a set number of people, and also the week it was run.

So... how do you balance it?


From my perspective, I always design a game based off a larger number of players. Now, this led to two issues:
1. Necro spamming the PM system asking past players to return for appearances
2. Fretting and worrying about making it all work perfectly if I didn't get the requisite number of sign ups.

Having learned from my mistakes, I think that I would still plan in that fashion - but scale back as necessary if the sign ups don't match my plans. It means a little bit more work in the planning stages, but - I live, sleep and breathe a game I'm modding in the run up to it so that's not too much extra hassle.

Just the late night thoughts of a Necro on late shift. Would like some feedback though when normal people wake up :P

Kolido

Designing a game for 25 players is my approach. Any number above or below can be easily adjusted if you pick a theme that is not tied to a specific number. Personally, Id try to avoid themes like this.

As the community grows that average player number will increase, may then need to start thinking of bigger games.

Necro

Kolido wrote: »

Designing a game for 25 players is my approach. Any number above or below can be easily adjusted if you pick a theme that is not tied to a specific number. Personally, Id try to avoid themes like this.

As the community grows that average player number will increase, may then need to start thinking of bigger games.

Yeah I kinda like that thinking tbh.

It is a dream of mine to one day host a game for 50 players here on boards.

MU did an 80 player game, but run before I can walk :pac:

I have a brief outline of how the mechanics would work, to enable it to conclude in a similar timeframe to normal games.

But, it's probably a little while away yet before we get those sort of numbers.

Triceratops Ballet

I honestly can't say I noticed much difference really. The game was shorter but I put that down to the high kill rate rather than limited numbers and there were 25 ppl its hardly a tiny game

Personally I prefer smaller games as a mod and player, with too many players keeping up with the posts is too much, you either have to be online every minute or spend your game skimming which is zero fun.

I think it's totally up to each set of game mods how many people they want to host for, and if it's limited it's limited we're all grown-ups

Necrominus

Necrominus wrote: »

Yeah I kinda like that thinking tbh.

It is a dream of mine to one day host a game for 50 players here on boards.

MU did an 80 player game, but run before I can walk :pac:

I have a brief outline of how the mechanics would work, to enable it to conclude in a similar timeframe to normal games.

But, it's probably a little while away yet before we get those sort of numbers.

Did someone mention guns?

No?

O

Carry on

Necro

Deleted User wrote: »

Did someone mention guns?

No?

O

Carry on

A 50 or more person game would have lots of guns :P

I'm trying to work out how to implement what is known as an 'In Thread Attack' period on boards which is a lot of fun from playing on MU.

Basically, all players are given one bullet per day with a base hit rate. This can be increased through tasks/competitions/other fun stuff.

Then there are two designated hours each day where people are entitled to shoot at each other. The percentage chance of hitting is quite low, so it doesn't actually result in mass casualties and people have to be mindful they only have one shot per day so they can save it till the second phase if they like.

The difficulty is that all of this is automated on Mafia Universe. Implementing it manually would be a lot of work... but... there may be a way as suggested by others.

I don't know if it's fully workable, but an attempt will probably be made at some stage to implement it in a future game.

Necro

Triceratops Ballet wrote: »

I honestly can't say I noticed much difference really. The game was shorter but I put that down to the high kill rate rather than limited numbers and there were 25 ppl its hardly a tiny game

Personally I prefer smaller games as a mod and player, with too many players keeping up with the posts is too much, you either have to be online every minute or spend your game skimming which is zero fun.

I think it's totally up to each set of game mods how many people they want to host for, and if it's limited it's limited we're all grown-ups

No the game itself was not the issue for me, I think it worked well. And yeah, definitely agree it's entirely up to game mods.

Just think that some folks (not me, but I'm crazy) don't frequent this section of boards every day so advance notice of a limited player number game would be a good idea going forward.

Triceratops Ballet

Necrominus wrote:

Just think that some folks (not me, but I'm crazy) don't frequent this section of boards every day so advance notice of a limited player number game would be a good idea going forward.

Maybe we should add it as a column in the game mod q

Mollyb60

Necrominus wrote: »

Yeah I kinda like that thinking tbh.

It is a dream of mine to one day host a game for 50 players here on boards.

MU did an 80 player game, but run before I can walk :pac:

I have a brief outline of how the mechanics would work, to enable it to conclude in a similar timeframe to normal games.

But, it's probably a little while away yet before we get those sort of numbers.

I for one wouldn't/couldn't play a game with 50 players in it. As it is, some of the games with high posters (ahem Necro) can get to 1000 posts after a day and it is just too much of an ask to try keep up with a thread like that. Like TB said there, once I get a certain distance behind the main thread I just start skimming and it's just not enjoyable for me, especially when people pick at posters in game who are behind.

I don't think that having limited numbers restricts the fun in a game. 20 people in a game is still a lot of discussion and banter. My point of view is that restricted numbers increase interest in games. If the long term plan was to run more than one game a month then this is a good way to get people into the forum and signed up to them. If they miss a game they wanted to play they'll be sure to get on the list for the next one as soon as it comes out.

There's not much we can do about people missing a sign up thread. We have the stickied thread with notifications for the new games. I don't think we should be PM'ing people to tell them about a game coming up, it's too much for a Mod on top of the normal modding and planning stuff to do. People who are interested in the games should follow the Notification thread and that's how they'll find out about it. I don't want to be holding people's hands too much. We're all adults.

Being honest about it I was quite disappointed with our last game. The restricted timing was our own fault though. We shouldn't have run it that week. It just put too much pressure on us to get the game finished by Thursday and it caused no end of headaches and stress. We had set the game up for 20 people and were comfortable enough with the timings. Adding the extra 5 just created chaos for us and it kinda ruined it for me. In hindsight we should've just stuck to our guns and stayed with 20 players.

Modding that game with 25 players was a full time job, or more than a full time job for me for that week. I was only able to do it because certain issues in work means my boss is out of the office for a while and I didn't have someone looking over my shoulder. I couldn't do that normally and I will always push hard in games that I mod for numbers to be limited to below 25.

Necrominus

Necrominus wrote: »

Yeah I kinda like that thinking tbh.

It is a dream of mine to one day host a game for 50 players here on boards.

MU did an 80 player game, but run before I can walk :pac:

I have a brief outline of how the mechanics would work, to enable it to conclude in a similar timeframe to normal games.

But, it's probably a little while away yet before we get those sort of numbers.

What's the highest number of players to play in a Boards WW game to date?

Here was me thinking/hoping we could get 28-30 for our August game, going on ideas we've discussed so far, but am I being a bit optimistic in that?

Out of the 4 games I've played so far, I think 28 was the highest number of players in any of those games.

Necro

I think the Walking Dead had 30 players which is the largest. Might be wrong though

Baggly

Necrominus wrote: »

I think the Walking Dead had 30 players which is the largest. Might be wrong though

I thought it had north of 30. One of the games did I think.

Necro

Pter wrote: »

I thought it had north of 30. One of the games did I think.

Nah started with 30 players.

Buffy *technically* had 31... but 2 were mods messing about :P

(Take a bow sKeith and Drumpot for a stellar performance)

Necro

Mollyb60 wrote: »

I for one wouldn't/couldn't play a game with 50 players in it. As it is, some of the games with high posters (ahem Necro) can get to 1000 posts after a day and it is just too much of an ask to try keep up with a thread like that. Like TB said there, once I get a certain distance behind the main thread I just start skimming and it's just not enjoyable for me, especially when people pick at posters in game who are behind.

After a day? I was aiming for 1k in a full game... Challenge Accepted! :pac::pac:

Ah I get what you're saying re: large numbers, Molly.

I just like to set myself crazy challenges and break new ground... but I'm a dreamer so just ignore me :pac::pac::pac:

Mollyb60

Necrominus wrote: »

After a day? I was aiming for 1k in a full game... Challenge Accepted! :pac::pac:

Ah I get what you're saying re: large numbers, Molly.

I just like to set myself crazy challenges and break new ground... but I'm a dreamer so just ignore me :pac::pac::pac:

I meant the thread can get to 1000 posts in a day. Not the poster! What have I done? :eek:

Triceratops Ballet

I think Simpsons was 30 no?

I'm not crapping all over the idea of a 50 player game either Necro, it's a fine ambition. I think we need to put some solid effort into getting more members if that's an aim, as it stands you'd probably need to get everyone who currently plays to sign up plus a handful more, not to mention probably 4 mods (maybe 5) and as with Molly I'd totally only be interested in watching a game that big.

Kolido

Simpsons was the biggest game afaik, 31 players.

duffman13

I don't anyone should be stretching for sign ups by mailing people, adds unneeded pressure to mods especially if theyve built a game for 30 or more people. You'd be stressing about sign ups and then needing to rebalance etc.

I do think there needs to be more of a focus on attracting new players, I think a second game on every 2nd month limited to 15 players or so might help attract new players, especially if we use mainstream themes to attract them.

kitten_k

I think for new players running some vanilla games every now and again may help as they won't need to worry about the themes on top of learning the game.

duffman13

kitten_k wrote: »

I think for new players running some vanilla games every now and again may help as they won't need to worry about the themes on top of learning the game.

I get were you coming from, my initial reasoning for signing up was based on a theme but others might be for different reasons. Id be thinking extremely mainstream themes that everyone would know.