Late Turns And Price Increase

[unclemike]

What do players think about waiting around for late turns? Should it continue or should players learn the hard way when their turn is late and move on from there.

Perhaps a poll is needed, something like:
1 - Never accept late turns (get results faster)
2 - Give players a break every once in a while (delayed results)
3 - Only allow late for turns 1-10 in a primeval game (since they're still learning) but not after that point otherwise you'll reward the bad habit

Any opinions? BTW, put me down for #3.

Also, about the possibility of raising costs due to the extra processing time for handling turns: the online order entry/validator program was completed several weeks ago but Cipher has been very busy with the new ESO, 565 changes, game corrections, vacation, ...etc. and hasn't had a chance yet to finalize it. Just need a couple of free days for him then we can knock this out and the new program will be available for everyone to submit their turns online (and hopefully, no price increases).

[The Usurper]

I'll vote for 3.

[Mauler]

When your entire player base is under 75, I think that you'll have to make exceptions.

If there is a new automated system, that might be the opportunity to create a new paradigm.

[BlueGolem]

Frankly, I may sound like a heretic here (and, admittedly I'm new - though I AM waiting on a game start-up);
but I vote for the HQ guys, or Cipher, at any rate, to just put everything n hold and take the few days to finish
up the online order thingy straight away. This will make their life easier, the players' lives easier, and gives the
system/GMs more flexibility regarding a host of other issues, including late turns, pricing, etc.

Regarding the main question at hand, I think one piece of information is key in deciding this. Is it the sense of HQ
that turn lateness comes mainly from a small subset of players? Or is it just generally spread out, i.e., a reasonably-sized
player base + statistical chance re: real life issues = some significant chances of a turn's being late to run fairly often.

If the first is true, I'd lean toward the third option.
If the second one is more the reality, I'd lean more toward the second option. (Remembering that a completed online order
thingy lowers the demands this places n the GMs.)


+

[Jumbie]

What do players think about waiting around for late turns? Should it continue?

I thought it had already ended. Wasn't that what Grasshopper's post in the game processing thread was about?

The first two times I sent in late orders or a messed up spreadsheet I got emails to get myself right.

But my last turn was 1/2 hour late and wasn't processed. I figured they were taking cut-off times seriously.

[unclemike]

The reality is, almost every player had screwed something up at one time on another, and it's generally not one player that is a culprit. And Mike and Cipher have been working on the new system, but I don't even have time to check it. Meanwhile, players have to accept they need orders submitted on time, and better, at least 2 hours before the deadline, and know that it is not our fault if you mislabel or don't submit turns. And there should be no expectation of being notified of an error. If we can just process turns no later than noon and hopefully two hours before, and never have to worry about a player, then it's not a big deal. But what happens is each of 60+ players one or two kind of messes up a day, and thinks, this is my first mess up ever, or in, say, 60 days. So they don't see it as a big thing. But everyday, it's something. And we keep trying to charge $2. And when we hear a couple people think $2 is too much, it is uninspiring. Meanwhile, we appreciate the efforts some like Lord Diamond and The Wise One are doing.

Hopefully, all those troubles go away with the new online system. We are so close to finishing it, we just need to copy files between directories on the server and have the players' username/password on record.

Actually, this may be the right time to ask for all players to email support with their username/password values for the new system which has a login screen for extra security.

You may choose any value for your username/password (nothing vulgar though), is case sensitive and include spaces if you have them. So if I use my alias of The Wise One as my password (not recommended btw), I'll have to include the two spaces in the password.

Once we have all the player's usernames and passwords on file and Cipher has time to complete the server's copying of files, we are good to go. We're that close to making everyone's lives easier

[Mauler]

To save time and effort, why not simply use their forum login/password and give them the option to change it if desired.

[unclemike]

To save time and effort, why not simply use their forum login/password and give them the option to change it if desired.

The forum is a different system. We wanted a separate and more secure system for players to send in their turns.

[Rogal]

Just remember, human error can happen on both sides of the fence. I have had 2 issues where I was told my turns were not in and both times I was proven to be not in error. One was an input error on the game mods side and one was a mix up on processing times vs the time orders were due was different then what was printed on the turn sheet. I agree if we players are late, too bad, but remember, sometimes we are not at fault, and would hate to see a game go a certain way due to a noon player issue.

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Just remember, human error can happen on both sides of the fence. I have had 2 issues where I was told my turns were not in and both times I was proven to be not in error. One was an input error on the game mods side and one was a mix up on processing times vs the time orders were due was different then what was printed on the turn sheet. I agree if we players are late, too bad, but remember, sometimes we are not at fault, and would hate to see a game go a certain way due to a non player issue.

[Hamlet]

I also vote for 3

Because I travel a lot, I often send my turns in a couple of days in advance. Is there any additional risk in this? Obviously, there is always risk of it not arriving or HQ not finding it, but does sending it in too early cause any additional difficulties?