Host's Prerogative and Standards

[[GG]ThinRedLine]

Gentlemen,

I have just had a most frustrating experience.

Instead of going into the details I would like to just say a few things about the Host's prerogative and some standards that have been established over several months of playing this game in the MP arena and in countless games at this point.

While the host can set the rules however he likes, he should also be prepared for the reactions from more experienced players. The voice of the majority and or reason will raise it's head when the rules are extreme or not in the established standards of the players who have been doing this for quite some time. While the host is of course free to set whatever standards and rules he likes, he should also be aware that some of us 'old salts' may not want to play that way.

Once I had a host who was somewhat unfamiliar with NTW MP compared with SP. He set a limit of up to 4 Artillery Each!!! Needless to say the more experienced players tried to educate him a bit on MP realities and Lag issues.

So, just don't be shocked when some of the older players offer an alternative or decide to leave. After all it is only a game and it is their decision as to whether they want to play or not.

Now onto what is considered polite and sporting. Hosts that quit the game after they have been defeated and do not allow for the scores to be seen or even the battle to be completed are frowned upon. Most of us will not tolerate too much of that melarchy. So, please do not do it. If you have been kind enough to host, know that we all really appreciate it. Especially those of us who cannot host ourselves, but if you get a reputation for quitting as host, your hosting days will be few.

Last thought here. It is not very sporting to tell everyone that 2 artillery are allowed per side and allow those players to buy artillery only to find that there is a blizzard out or it is an arid desert. I am not complaining about the terrain here men. A good host will set up the game and tell the players what they can expect so that each man can make what he thinks is the best decision for himself. I have actually played in a game where the host said 'up to 2 arty per side" and then set an arid desert clime and brought no arty himself!!! Not very sporting Hey! What?


This is in part the reason that continually requiring that all participants be required to bring a general is frowned upon by most of the NTW MP community. It is just a fact that most MP players want the option of taking what they think is best for their own army/force. Now, that is not to say that you can't require it as a host, but again be prepared for discussion and/or drops.

Having mentioned some of these issues around hosting I would just like to add that if most of this is covered either on MSN or somewhere prior to the actual battlefield screen, it will all be resolved and worked out for everyone's benefit without the risk of players feeling that their time is being wasted or that they are being unduly controlled.

You want to set the rules in a certain way because of a concept or idea you have, Great! Just let everyone know as soon as you can and then be open to the possibilities of a few drops here and there.

Cheers,

[GG]TRL

[[GG] Lord Ashram]

My reply in the Jr. Officers Mess.

[[GG]ThinRedLine]

Gentlemen,

This post was not directed at any one host. In fact I started it because I thought that it was a good place and time to begin discussing these matters again in our forum as it has become painfully clear that not everyone has read the Lordz forum on some of these issues or at all for that matter.

I have been wanting to elicit discussion on this topic and because of a frustration concerning one of these issues, I was motivated to start it.

This was done in fact to get this stuff out in the open and clear, so that we can move on and know what to expect.

So, please take this not to heart, kind hosts, but rather look at this post as a way for all the MP community to establish some semblance of common standards.

Also, this is a game, and, GameSpy sucks, so trying to keep in mind that games might be overly laggy or ppl might unexpectedly drop will help to keep all of this less personal or charged.

I love this game and will continue to play it for a very long time (or at least until a better, dedicated Napoleonic game or a MOD to RTW comes out), but if I get frustrated for whatever reason, or a family or work emergency comes up, I will drop. I will apologize later, but I will drop.

So, if I left you gents the other night too abruptly or thinking that this was some personal commentary or attack, I do apologize. This simply was not the case.

I had the flu, I logged on to do some work and was then asked to join a game. The game rules and circumstances began to frustrate me so I quit. I did not quit in game. I stated that I was 'losing it' and then quit.

That needs to be ok even if it feels a little bad at the time. I think we need to realize that this is gonna happen.

So, Sorry Ashram. I did not mean to anger or frustrate anyone. I should not have agreed to play in the first place, was just not up for it. Also, I am just starting to lose patience with some of the time that I waste while we all figure this out.

Often I am trying to get a game in at lunch or some such, so time is of the essence. Please try to understand that it is not and was not personal.

Thank you,

TRL