View unanswered posts | View active topics It is currently Fri Mar 29, 2024 1:04 am



Reply to topic  [ 16 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
 Game Difficulty Rating Scale? 
Author Message
Ambassador
User avatar

Joined: Fri Feb 23, 2001 3:00 am
Posts: 4016
Location: USA
Unread post Game Difficulty Rating Scale?
Someone's probably already thought of this before, but what about some sort of edits standard for ranking the game difficulty?

If we had a system, to rate the difficulty of the game edits so that players can more easily choose the game for them. This may help players to choose a game that’s not over their abilities. We’d have to develop a scale from builders to stock to Kill’em All and everything in between. This way players can also advance levels as they master one level, or choose to drop down a level or two until they are confident enough to advance.

I think this would be easier than trying to each everyone what all the edits mean.

The only trouble I can see is more advanced players jumping down to the easier levels for easy pickin’s. This isn’t like some online games that prevent players of certain advancement from attacking someone far below them. This may still need to be policed by the sysops.

The difficulty level would have to be in the name of the game. For an example a stock game without photons may be ranked “Game XYZ-L3”, stock with photons “Game XYZ- L3P”.

What do you think?

_________________

BOTE 1998 Champs: Team Fament
HHT 2015 Champs: Cloud09
Big Game 2016 Champs: Draft team
HHT 2018 Champs: Rock Stars
Big Game 2019 Champs: Draft Team


Classic Style Games Here:
telnet://crunchers-twgs.com:2002

Web page from 1990's: https://web.archive.org/web/20170103155645/http://tradewars.fament.com/Cruncher/tradewar.htm
Blog with current server info: http://cruncherstw.blogspot.com
Discord: https://discord.gg/4dja5Z8
E-mail: Cruncherstw@gmail.com
FaceBook: http://www.facebook.com/CrunchersTW


Tue Jul 20, 2010 2:07 pm
Profile ICQ WWW
Ambassador
User avatar

Joined: Mon Feb 09, 2004 3:00 am
Posts: 3141
Location: Kansas
Unread post Re: Game Difficulty Rating Scale?
Cruncher wrote:
Someone's probably already thought of this before, but what about some sort of edits standard for ranking the game difficulty?

If we had a system, to rate the difficulty of the game edits so that players can more easily choose the game for them. This may help players to choose a game that’s not over their abilities. We’d have to develop a scale from builders to stock to Kill’em All and everything in between. This way players can also advance levels as they master one level, or choose to drop down a level or two until they are confident enough to advance.

I think this would be easier than trying to each everyone what all the edits mean.

The only trouble I can see is more advanced players jumping down to the easier levels for easy pickin’s. This isn’t like some online games that prevent players of certain advancement from attacking someone far below them. This may still need to be policed by the sysops.

The difficulty level would have to be in the name of the game. For an example a stock game without photons may be ranked “Game XYZ-L3”, stock with photons “Game XYZ- L3P”.

What do you think?


What makes a game difficult for some is a preferred edit for others. The competition is actually what makes a game difficult or easy. The frustration factor for me is low turn games and I rate them as unplayable.

You will also have to have a method of rating players and that will basically be impossible in today's environment. I play different aliases so you do not know if I am a noob or a fair to middling skilled player. Personally I don't care what people think of using different aliases for different games (this said so someone doesn't go off on that tangent).

_________________
               / Promethius / Enigma / Wolfen /

"A man who has no skills can be taught, a man who has no honor has nothing."


Tue Jul 20, 2010 2:39 pm
Profile ICQ
Ambassador
User avatar

Joined: Fri Feb 23, 2001 3:00 am
Posts: 4016
Location: USA
Unread post Re: Game Difficulty Rating Scale?
Promethius wrote:
What makes a game difficult for some is a preferred edit for others. The competition is actually what makes a game difficult or easy. The frustration factor for me is low turn games and I rate them as unplayable.


That’s fair, and I do agree that competition is a huge factor.

OK, rather than edit difficulty, classifying by playing style? Would that be a better descriptor?

I know just looking at the open games at stardock, we see server, # of sectors, turns and age of game. Sysops are getting descriptive in naming the games, or the menu tells you which games are builders, which are Kill’em all. But even the Kill’em all’s vary in edits and difficulty.

I’m very visual so what about a sliding scale something like this:
Stock <----\----\----\----\----\----\----\----\----\----\----\----\----\----\----\----> Lots of Edits

Promethius wrote:
You will also have to have a method of rating players and that will basically be impossible in today's environment. I play different aliases so you do not know if I am a noob or a fair to middling skilled player. Personally I don't care what people think of using different aliases for different games (this said so someone doesn't go off on that tangent).


I think we all use different aliases from time to time. So that would best be left to the player to determine if they are in over their head or need more challenge. And I think we can all see in the game if one player or team is beating down the rest easily, in which case the sysop would probably be notified anyway.

_________________

BOTE 1998 Champs: Team Fament
HHT 2015 Champs: Cloud09
Big Game 2016 Champs: Draft team
HHT 2018 Champs: Rock Stars
Big Game 2019 Champs: Draft Team


Classic Style Games Here:
telnet://crunchers-twgs.com:2002

Web page from 1990's: https://web.archive.org/web/20170103155645/http://tradewars.fament.com/Cruncher/tradewar.htm
Blog with current server info: http://cruncherstw.blogspot.com
Discord: https://discord.gg/4dja5Z8
E-mail: Cruncherstw@gmail.com
FaceBook: http://www.facebook.com/CrunchersTW


Tue Jul 20, 2010 4:41 pm
Profile ICQ WWW
Commander
User avatar

Joined: Wed May 03, 2006 2:00 am
Posts: 1722
Location: USA
Unread post Re: Game Difficulty Rating Scale?
Actually many of the gold edits are easier to play well with minimal direction than stock. Stock is not easy to play well.For example BOTE is almost over on day 3 barring a major issue, This is due to Corp 2 and 3 wasting there startup turns playing dock games.800 turn stock is not easy in a tourney environment.

Pirates is a Blue game with a simple startup so I would say that Pirates is a good edit for the returning player. BLue planets and Blue ship advantage along with out of balance Tholian ship odds.

2 cents

_________________
Coconut Telegraph (ICQ)#586137616
Team Speak3@ 220.244.125.70:9987
Founding Member -=[Team Kraaken]=- Winner of Gridwars 2010 - Ka Pla
Image
Jesus wounldn't Subspace Crawl


Wed Aug 11, 2010 1:13 pm
Profile ICQ YIM
Veteran Op
User avatar

Joined: Sat Dec 29, 2007 5:06 pm
Posts: 2059
Location: Oklahoma
Unread post Re: Game Difficulty Rating Scale?
Parrothead wrote:
Stock is not easy to play well.For example BOTE is almost over on day 3 barring a major issue, This is due to Corp 2 and 3 wasting there startup turns playing dock games.


Not to turn this into smack, just a little clarification..... Corp 3 was not playing dock games, mainly because 1/2 of our corp could not make it to dock and 1 other could not make it off. But I agree on your other points just stating a simple fact, we were out gunned from the git go, but were trying.

_________________
T0yman (Permanently Retired since 2012)
Proverbs 17:28 <-- Don't know it, most should it would stop a lot of the discussions on here.


Wed Aug 11, 2010 3:20 pm
Profile ICQ YIM WWW
Commander
User avatar

Joined: Wed May 03, 2006 2:00 am
Posts: 1722
Location: USA
Unread post Re: Game Difficulty Rating Scale?
This was about edits not the almost over BOTE

_________________
Coconut Telegraph (ICQ)#586137616
Team Speak3@ 220.244.125.70:9987
Founding Member -=[Team Kraaken]=- Winner of Gridwars 2010 - Ka Pla
Image
Jesus wounldn't Subspace Crawl


Thu Aug 12, 2010 12:13 am
Profile ICQ YIM
Veteran Op

Joined: Tue Nov 28, 2006 4:04 pm
Posts: 5025
Unread post Re: Game Difficulty Rating Scale?
A low turn, stockish style game is one of the hardest type edits for a newer player to get started in IF there is any competition. However, no one really plays these type edits except players that can't compete in the more popular edits, so considering the competition level, a lot of these low turn stock edtis are very easy to get started in.


Thu Aug 12, 2010 7:40 am
Profile
Gameop
User avatar

Joined: Tue Sep 25, 2007 7:27 pm
Posts: 530
Location: Long Island
Unread post Re: Game Difficulty Rating Scale?
Parrothead wrote:
This was about edits not the almost over BOTE


Then it is a good thing you did not bring it up first... oh wait... :lol:

_________________
If you have a building game, they will come...

Proud Sysop of ICE9 TWGS
Home of Building and Non Regulated Games
http://www.oregonsouth.com/ice9
telnet://ice9-tw.com:2002


Thu Aug 12, 2010 8:22 am
Profile
Ambassador
User avatar

Joined: Fri Feb 23, 2001 3:00 am
Posts: 4016
Location: USA
Unread post Re: Game Difficulty Rating Scale?
Big D wrote:
A low turn, stockish style game is one of the hardest type edits for a newer player to get started in IF there is any competition. However, no one really plays these type edits except players that can't compete in the more popular edits, so considering the competition level, a lot of these low turn stock edtis are very easy to get started in.



OK, you guys know best, that's why I'm asking you.

Builders <----\----\----\----\-Stock'ish-\----\----\----\----\----\-Unlim-\----\----\----\----\----> Kill'em All

I'm just looking for a general framwork to start basing a game difficulty rating scale on. Most everyone looks at the "S" settings when choosing a game, not everyone knows to look at the "*" menu options. So, if we had a general scale they could use in conjuction with the "S" menu, I think that may be helpful.

_________________

BOTE 1998 Champs: Team Fament
HHT 2015 Champs: Cloud09
Big Game 2016 Champs: Draft team
HHT 2018 Champs: Rock Stars
Big Game 2019 Champs: Draft Team


Classic Style Games Here:
telnet://crunchers-twgs.com:2002

Web page from 1990's: https://web.archive.org/web/20170103155645/http://tradewars.fament.com/Cruncher/tradewar.htm
Blog with current server info: http://cruncherstw.blogspot.com
Discord: https://discord.gg/4dja5Z8
E-mail: Cruncherstw@gmail.com
FaceBook: http://www.facebook.com/CrunchersTW


Thu Aug 12, 2010 9:54 am
Profile ICQ WWW
Ambassador
User avatar

Joined: Fri Feb 23, 2001 3:00 am
Posts: 4016
Location: USA
Unread post Re: Game Difficulty Rating Scale?
Cruncher wrote:

OK, you guys know best, that's why I'm asking you.

Builders <----\----\----\----\-Stock'ish-\----\----\----\----\----\-Unlim-\----\----\----\----\----> Kill'em All

I'm just looking for a general framwork to start basing a game difficulty rating scale on. Most everyone looks at the "S" settings when choosing a game, not everyone knows to look at the "*" menu options. So, if we had a general scale they could use in conjuction with the "S" menu, I think that may be helpful.


OR, since we already have the general Builders, stock, unlim, kill'em all then maybe a sliding scale 1-10 diffuculty in each style mod based on the settings in the * menu, some of which aren't viewable but very important to know or have a clue about when choosing a game to play.

Does this make sence?

_________________

BOTE 1998 Champs: Team Fament
HHT 2015 Champs: Cloud09
Big Game 2016 Champs: Draft team
HHT 2018 Champs: Rock Stars
Big Game 2019 Champs: Draft Team


Classic Style Games Here:
telnet://crunchers-twgs.com:2002

Web page from 1990's: https://web.archive.org/web/20170103155645/http://tradewars.fament.com/Cruncher/tradewar.htm
Blog with current server info: http://cruncherstw.blogspot.com
Discord: https://discord.gg/4dja5Z8
E-mail: Cruncherstw@gmail.com
FaceBook: http://www.facebook.com/CrunchersTW


Thu Aug 12, 2010 10:06 am
Profile ICQ WWW
Ambassador
User avatar

Joined: Fri Feb 23, 2001 3:00 am
Posts: 4016
Location: USA
Unread post Re: Game Difficulty Rating Scale?
OR make this system even simpler

1 - can be played manually
2 - can be played manually, some helper useful
3 - need helper or scripts to play
4 - recommend using TWX
5 - TWX plus Mombot required

How does this sound? So after each game name it would have a rating of 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5.

Then the sysops would have to agree to some general guidelines as to what edits fall in each difficulty rating.

Humm... ? Are we getting closer? :)

_________________

BOTE 1998 Champs: Team Fament
HHT 2015 Champs: Cloud09
Big Game 2016 Champs: Draft team
HHT 2018 Champs: Rock Stars
Big Game 2019 Champs: Draft Team


Classic Style Games Here:
telnet://crunchers-twgs.com:2002

Web page from 1990's: https://web.archive.org/web/20170103155645/http://tradewars.fament.com/Cruncher/tradewar.htm
Blog with current server info: http://cruncherstw.blogspot.com
Discord: https://discord.gg/4dja5Z8
E-mail: Cruncherstw@gmail.com
FaceBook: http://www.facebook.com/CrunchersTW


Thu Aug 12, 2010 11:59 am
Profile ICQ WWW
Veteran Op
User avatar

Joined: Thu Jun 02, 2005 2:00 am
Posts: 5558
Location: USA
Unread post Re: Game Difficulty Rating Scale?
Cruncher wrote:
1 - can be played manually
2 - can be played manually, some helper useful
3 - need helper or scripts to play
4 - recommend using TWX
5 - TWX plus Mombot required


That assumes that nothing else will ever come along. Perspective pls.

Instead of game difficulty, which is a completely random and arbitrary
definition that will change from person to person, why not just do 2
scales: the level of aggression and the level of automation.

Aggression:
1. Tradehugs
2. Paint scratcher
3. Regular
4. Constant risk of death
5. Active grid wars

Automation:
1. Manual
2. Automation useful
3. Automation advised
4. Automation required
5. Script wars

_________________
May the unholy fires of corbomite ignite deep within the depths of your soul...

1. TWGS server @ twgs.navhaz.com
2. The NavHaz Junction - Tradewars 2002 Scripts, Resources and Downloads
3. Open IRC chat @ irc.freenode.net:6667 #twchan
4. Parrothead wrote: Jesus wouldn't Subspace Crawl.

*** SG memorial donations via paypal to: dpocky68@booinc.com
Image


Thu Aug 12, 2010 12:04 pm
Profile ICQ WWW
Ambassador
User avatar

Joined: Mon Feb 09, 2004 3:00 am
Posts: 3141
Location: Kansas
Unread post Re: Game Difficulty Rating Scale?
A "helper" by its very name is always useful. From what I've seen over the years games are usually classified with the following:

Basically two major game types with sub types

Turn base
Low Turn (500 - 1500)
Mid Turn (1501 - 5000)
High Turn (5001 - 65k) and no, 65k is not unlim since I can burn through those turns
Truce / non-truce
Blue slanted edit / Red slanted Edit
Corp size (solo to ?)
Ship off/def settings favor attack or defensive
Planet Cit number/sector, build times and capabilities


Unlims

Truce / non-truce / advertised DM
Builder (slanted blue or by server rules on attacks/invasion)
Corp size (solo to ?)
Ship off/def settings favor attack or defensive
Planet Cit number/sector, build times and capabilities
Blue/red balance

Sorry, gotta cut it short due to a meeting, but this gives the idea. Show the edit, tell who it is designed for in regard to game speed, and then let the users decide if it is for them. Unlims of the non-truce variety are never good for noobs/returning players IMO. They will die as they are learning/relearning the basics.

Script usage is up to the player - low turns are not good games for the scripts I write, but some scripts are very useful to defend/attack with.

_________________
               / Promethius / Enigma / Wolfen /

"A man who has no skills can be taught, a man who has no honor has nothing."


Thu Aug 12, 2010 12:33 pm
Profile ICQ
Ambassador
User avatar

Joined: Fri Feb 23, 2001 3:00 am
Posts: 4016
Location: USA
Unread post Re: Game Difficulty Rating Scale?
Singularity wrote:

Aggression:
1. Tradehugs
2. Paint scratcher
3. Regular
4. Constant risk of death
5. Active grid wars

Automation:
1. Manual
2. Automation useful
3. Automation advised
4. Automation required
5. Script wars


The automation makes perfect sence, Tradehugs and Paint scratcher are new discriptors for me. Maybe "Truce/moderated" and "Only if provoked" for 1 & 2?

_________________

BOTE 1998 Champs: Team Fament
HHT 2015 Champs: Cloud09
Big Game 2016 Champs: Draft team
HHT 2018 Champs: Rock Stars
Big Game 2019 Champs: Draft Team


Classic Style Games Here:
telnet://crunchers-twgs.com:2002

Web page from 1990's: https://web.archive.org/web/20170103155645/http://tradewars.fament.com/Cruncher/tradewar.htm
Blog with current server info: http://cruncherstw.blogspot.com
Discord: https://discord.gg/4dja5Z8
E-mail: Cruncherstw@gmail.com
FaceBook: http://www.facebook.com/CrunchersTW


Thu Aug 12, 2010 6:59 pm
Profile ICQ WWW
Ambassador
User avatar

Joined: Fri Feb 23, 2001 3:00 am
Posts: 4016
Location: USA
Unread post Re: Game Difficulty Rating Scale?
Promethius wrote:
A "helper" by its very name is always useful. From what I've seen over the years games are usually classified with the following:


Great ideas Prom! I think those would definitely go into determining how to classify a game edit.

I don't want to get too specific, let the sysops decide where they want to place their games in the rating scale. Then maybe each game selection menu can have a link back to the EIS forum directory where descriptions of each level are further explained with a note to each sysop's style or unique ship/planet edits?

We want to leave room for discovery but also make sure new or returning players don't wander into a game that may be beyond their current capabilities.

_________________

BOTE 1998 Champs: Team Fament
HHT 2015 Champs: Cloud09
Big Game 2016 Champs: Draft team
HHT 2018 Champs: Rock Stars
Big Game 2019 Champs: Draft Team


Classic Style Games Here:
telnet://crunchers-twgs.com:2002

Web page from 1990's: https://web.archive.org/web/20170103155645/http://tradewars.fament.com/Cruncher/tradewar.htm
Blog with current server info: http://cruncherstw.blogspot.com
Discord: https://discord.gg/4dja5Z8
E-mail: Cruncherstw@gmail.com
FaceBook: http://www.facebook.com/CrunchersTW


Thu Aug 12, 2010 7:12 pm
Profile ICQ WWW
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Reply to topic   [ 16 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 11 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
cron
Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group.
Designed by STSoftware.