PlanetsCentral

Here my two cents:

Dropping/Joining restrictions: I'd really like to see "reliable/experienced players only" games, such as the one PlanetsServer had, but we are still too few to make that workable if even an unrestricted game takes months to fill.

For the same reason, I'd like players to play with one account. Limiting an account to play, say, two games only will only encourage people with multiple accounts. PlanetsServer was plagued with players who would play with five sockpuppet accounts in a single game, and finally transfer the winning race to their main account to gain rank. At least I believe to have fixed that loophole in my math.

What I'm trying to train everyone to is to consider their main account a valuable resource, not a throwaway. Whatever, just invest a tiny amount of maintenance to keep it in good shape: if real-life prevents you from submitting turns, at least give up the slot and try to find a replacement. Again, I hope my rank math encourages that.

Dropping: It's not a sin to drop due to real-life issues. It's a game after all. But, again, please do the minimal effort to keep the game running for the others. You're in a multiplayer game, and that means you have a responsibility for others much like they have a responsibility for you. It is a sin to drop if you don't like your initial position, your alliance situation, the number of players in the game, or anything else in the game.

And even if you're on last place, I'd expect everyone on this planet to be able to learn something from that defeat.

Turn frequency: The turn frequencies given are minimal frequencies. If a game runs Mon/Wed/Fri, it will run each day if you submit a turn each day! I think the current schedule (7 days, then Mon/Wed/Fri, then Thu/Sun) gives a good framework for everyone. If you want to play faster, go ahead! I usually do my turn the same day I get the result (but enjoy not having to rush when I had a hard day at work).

Computer player: At least one commitment I can make here: there will not ever be a cheating computer player on this site. I'd really like to see an AI that at least maintains your economy and continues your auto-tasks, so you can use it even for cases where you're just absent for a week, but that still is a little work to do.

--Stefan