full communication

[Wookie Panz]

I've been scrolling through this thread and only see 6 of the 12 players have posted anything.  It seems ironic that this is the first full communication game in several years and 1/2 of the players don't seem to be taking advantage to talk to their neighbors.

There are plenty of different ways to play this game and some folks don't like to communicate.  It does take more time but I have found that it makes for more successful play and it certainly helps the learning curve.

[Maximus Dominus]

I've been scrolling through this thread and only see 6 of the 12 players have posted anything.  It seems ironic that this is the first full communication game in several years and 1/2 of the players don't seem to be taking advantage to talk to their neighbors.

There are plenty of different ways to play this game and some folks don't like to communicate.  It does take more time but I have found that it makes for more successful play and it certainly helps the learning curve.

Hail, Wookie Panz!

You didn't mention which game number that you're referring to, so here's a list of all games of Alamaze currently being played.

   

One thing that I posted recently in the Alamaze forum, though in another discussion thread, was this:

one of the problems with the forum here is that there tends to be more quiet than shit talking going on. A quiet forum is never gonna attract as many newcomers as a bustling one.

Of the two Full Diplomacy games currently running, 5684 and 5703, neither are exactly overflowing with forum postings by players in those games. Some communications occur outside of the forum in Full Diplomacy games, as you well know, and sometimes it takes a little while for forums on different sites to begin generating postings in earnest. Of course, you can't make people post in the forum. That's something that they have to want to do on their own. And when you factor in that some won't talk to others, nor play with them, that only reduces the likelihood of postings occurring.

Not everyone's situation is the same. Some have more time available to both read the forum postings, and to reply to them (or to create new discussion threads on their own). And even though the Alamaze player community has transitioned to the new forum, one that actually works (the old one under previous ownership was broken), the overall size of the Alamaze player community is still relatively small, all things considered.

But your gut feeling about the whole postings ball of wax is right on the mark. If people don't post, and post frequently, then there's less to attract the attention of others, and less to respond to. That's just a fact.

According to the forum stats, which I checked just now, for today, at least, I seem to be holding my own on the posting end of things.

Today's top poster: Maximus Dominus (27 posts)

But those are mostly non game-number-specific threads. I can try to post more going forward, but in game 5684, I've posted a good bit. Yet, not all of the players in that game have bothered to post in that game thread, yet.

[Wookie Panz]

I've been scrolling through this thread and only see 6 of the 12 players have posted anything.  It seems ironic that this is the first full communication game in several years and 1/2 of the players don't seem to be taking advantage to talk to their neighbors.

There are plenty of different ways to play this game and some folks don't like to communicate.  It does take more time but I have found that it makes for more successful play and it certainly helps the learning curve.

Hail, Wookie Panz!

You didn't mention which game number that you're referring to, so here's a list of all games of Alamaze currently being played.



One thing that I posted recently in the Alamaze forum, though in another discussion thread, was this:

one of the problems with the forum here is that there tends to be more quiet than shit talking going on. A quiet forum is never gonna attract as many newcomers as a bustling one.

Of the two Full Diplomacy games currently running, 5684 and 5703, neither are exactly overflowing with forum postings by players in those games. Some communications occur outside of the forum in Full Diplomacy games, as you well know, and sometimes it takes a little while for forums on different sites to begin generating postings in earnest. Of course, you can't make people post in the forum. That's something that they have to want to do on their own. And when you factor in that some won't talk to others, nor play with them, that only reduces the likelihood of postings occurring.

Not everyone's situation is the same. Some have more time available to both read the forum postings, and to reply to them (or to create new discussion threads on their own). And even though the Alamaze player community has transitioned to the new forum, one that actually works (the old one under previous ownership was broken), the overall size of the Alamaze player community is still relatively small, all things considered.

But your gut feeling about the whole postings ball of wax is right on the mark. If people don't post, and post frequently, then there's less to attract the attention of others, and less to respond to. That's just a fact.

According to the forum stats, which I checked just now, for today, at least, I seem to be holding my own on the posting end of things.

Today's top poster: Maximus Dominus (27 posts)

But those are mostly non game-number-specific threads. I can try to post more going forward, but in game 5684, I've posted a good bit. Yet, not all of the players in that game have bothered to post in that game thread, yet.

I was referring to 5703

[Maximus Dominus]

I was referring to 5703

I figured as much, but you didn't say in that previous posting, and I also felt that it would be good to show the replies and views counts of active games currently running, for comparison's sake.

[Jon Deaux]

I've been scrolling through this thread and only see 6 of the 12 players have posted anything.  It seems ironic that this is the first full communication game in several years and 1/2 of the players don't seem to be taking advantage to talk to their neighbors.

There are plenty of different ways to play this game and some folks don't like to communicate.  It does take more time but I have found that it makes for more successful play and it certainly helps the learning curve.

It's a little early to be talking with more than just your immediate neighbors. Also, there is no way of telling how many people are actually talking because they could be emailing each other.  The way it should be

I'm sure you and I will be talking very soon.

[Maximus Dominus]

Also, there is no way of telling how many people are actually talking because they could be emailing each other.  The way it should be

Understood. How do you negotiate going to war with others openly, in full public view? You lose all element of surprise, that way.

That said, newcomers to Alamaze won't see off-forum communications about playing Alamaze, when they come here to the forum and read. Arguably, they will end up missing out upon some of the better episodes of communication that takes place between some of Alamaze's best players.

A quiet forum attracts virtually no one. Forum postings, even those in text form (i.e.: no images nor videos) are a form of visual eye candy. Imagine, if you will, a candy store with little or no selection to choose from. Who wants to play a game that they perceive to be dead? Noise is life. Postings are life. The back and forth between Alamaze players is life.

How many times have I browsed the old Alamaze forum, and witnessed laments posted by experienced Alamaze players who love the game, complaining about the player base for the game being small? Now, imagine two different versions of the Alamaze forum - one with lots of recent postings, and one without. If someone is swinging by the Alamaze forum for the very first time, what visual impressions (as in plural) does it make upon them?

Not all players of any game like to communicate, nor communicate a lot. That's just a fact, and Alamaze is no different in that regard. Yet, the underlying problem is not so much off-forum communication, but rather, a lack of or a shortcoming in forum postings that others can read (enjoyment of reading) and benefit by (learning more about the game and the players).

Wookie Panz doesn't begrudge anyone off-site communications about Alamaze. Rather, what he seeks is more active participation in the forum from other players, from all players. Even those not in a game of Alamaze, but who might just like browsing even if they are not in a game of Alamaze, themselves, are welcome to join in by posting.

In a nutshell, what's the point of having Full Diplomacy games, but the forum discussion threads devoted specifically to Full Diplomacy games end up being withered and starved for postings to read? The fun of Alamaze, I would suggest, extends beyond just the playing part. It also extends to discussing the game, and reading about the game - even if it is just reading about a game of Alamaze that one isn't even in.

[Maximus Dominus]

It's a little early to be talking with more than just your immediate neighbors.

Why is it early to be talking with more than just your immediate neighbors?

[Jon Deaux]

It's a little early to be talking with more than just your immediate neighbors.

Why is it early to be talking with more than just your immediate neighbors?

Well, it's certainly just my opinion, but I generally want to see that someone makes it through the opening phase of the game intact before I start wondering whether or not they would make a good ally.  With neighbors, people generally be like "hey, don't mess with me, I won't mess with you." kinda thing.