Concise description:
Either require someone to have completed 5 games (be no longer a full newbie) OR at least post a special advisement to any new person wishing to join an assassin game. OR combine the two (don't allow newbies to join assassin games, AND give an advisement to anyone who has not played assassin before).
Specifics:
Either a new person would not be able to join an Assassin game until they have completed 5 games or anyone who has not previously played an assassin type game would be given an advisement such as:
"you are asking to join an Assassin game. Joining and not taking your turns on Assassin type games is particularly harmful to the other players. Please review the rules [link] and be sure you are able to finish the game. If you cannot, please be sure to find someone to "babysit" the game for you (see explanation [link])
This will improve the following aspects of the site:
Yes, I realize this has been brought up before, but this specific problem needs to be reconsidered.
Normally, I am very happy to play new people. Sure, they deadbeat more than others, but as has been said before, limiting their games would do far, far more harm than good.
However, Assassin games are unique. The person targeted by the deadbeat gets an inherent advantage and the person who's target has deadbeated now finds they have to completely change their strategy. In many games, by three turns this is a serious, serious handicap. Having someone deadbeat in an Assassin game ruins it for everyone ... straight out. Further, because Assassin games are unusual in and of themselves, I believe that many new people join without really understanding what is involved. This happens to more experienced players, too. However, there is not a lot that CC can do about that (or should .. some things are just inherent and a bad player is one).
I made 3 suggestions here.
Limiting new people would do 2 things. First, it would give them a chance to learn the "regular" game play first. This is the game type that attracts most people. Letting them experience that before moving on seems to make sense and seems to be a better way of letting new people get aquainted to the site. Those who really want to try Assassin can, they just have to play 5 games first. Five games is not a long time to wait for this game type if someone is even halfway serious about playing! I don't feel it would seriously detract from those joining. If anything, it offers a reason for even freebies to continue (they get to try a new game type if they stick around). It might even increase the attraction to the Assassin type ("saving" it makes it somewhat special ... the forbidden is always a bit more attractive).
Offering and advisement is, I believe, pretty basic. This would both help prevent people from joining an assassin game by accident. (yes, I know the games clearly say "assassin", but I doubt I am the only one who quickly joined and only realized AFTER that it was an assassin game .. lol). Also, it would highlight for those who really don't know that there is something differant about this game and that they really ought to review the rules for it. This won't keep every idiot from joining, but it woudl help ensure those who do join really want to play assassin.
Combining the 2 ideas would offer the best benefit of all.
