Make rankings optional?
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TheThinker
- Posts: 46
- Joined: 02 Jun 2008, 21:34
Make rankings optional?
I was just wondering if ranks could be made invisible, since every time I start a new account I'm automatically given a newbie rating and therefore face hoards of snot-nosed players thinking I'm unworthy of playing, let alone being a spec. I know human prejudice is not a result of the ranking system, but it would be nice if I could make my rank invisible so that this form of prejudice may be harder to for others to justify. Any thoughts?
Re: Make rankings optional?
One-stripe ranks are pretty much the only use for the rank system, especially for identifying smurfs and such.
Re: Make rankings optional?
To the OP:
Don't worry lad, there are tons of us out here smurfing away, chipping down the preconceptions about 1-stripes and low ranks :D.
also, more on-topic:
Honestly, this kind of situation (1stripe joins big teamgame, "what is a smurf?" gets specced or kicked) is understandable a lot of times. Don't start learning how to play BA on 5v5 or 6v6 games. (An equivalent would be joining in a CS clanwar and going OMG you BUY WEAPONS?) Or if you do, don't start with games that have 70-80% star players. There are games out there for new players.
You have to understand that having a complete noob on a team in a fairly balanced environment means that team has basically lost. Of course, if the enemy is slow and plays badly, and the rest of your team plays well, you have a chance, but it is still a burden for your teammates. They can be nice about it and help, but, well, its the internet, so most people are impatient dicks.
Don't worry lad, there are tons of us out here smurfing away, chipping down the preconceptions about 1-stripes and low ranks :D.
also, more on-topic:
Honestly, this kind of situation (1stripe joins big teamgame, "what is a smurf?" gets specced or kicked) is understandable a lot of times. Don't start learning how to play BA on 5v5 or 6v6 games. (An equivalent would be joining in a CS clanwar and going OMG you BUY WEAPONS?) Or if you do, don't start with games that have 70-80% star players. There are games out there for new players.
You have to understand that having a complete noob on a team in a fairly balanced environment means that team has basically lost. Of course, if the enemy is slow and plays badly, and the rest of your team plays well, you have a chance, but it is still a burden for your teammates. They can be nice about it and help, but, well, its the internet, so most people are impatient dicks.
Last edited by BaNa on 11 Dec 2008, 23:15, edited 1 time in total.
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Pressure Line
- Posts: 2283
- Joined: 21 May 2007, 02:09
Re: Make rankings optional?
why are you starting new accounts? you know you can just rename...TheThinker wrote:since every time I start a new account
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TheThinker
- Posts: 46
- Joined: 02 Jun 2008, 21:34
Re: Make rankings optional?
I'm actually quite experienced. The reason why I had to create a new account was because I had forgotten my password, and I did not back up the settings of springlobby when I upgraded my OP from Ubuntu Hardy to Intrepid. Thus, my ranking is woefully undervalued and it will take time for me to rebuild it.
Anyway, I think having an option to make your rank invisible for others to see would be nice to have. Personally I find the ranking system to be unreliable anyway; too many times have I seen "pros" make stupid mistakes, or that a "noob" cleans the floor of the opposition even though he had only been playing BA for a short while (some people are quick-learners, or RTS veterans in general).
Mind you, while having a noob on one's team may be a detriment, remember that team cooperation as a whole is what determines the game. Too bad the ranking system doesn't take into account how uncooperative a player has been, even towards fellow pros like himself/herself.
Anyway, I think having an option to make your rank invisible for others to see would be nice to have. Personally I find the ranking system to be unreliable anyway; too many times have I seen "pros" make stupid mistakes, or that a "noob" cleans the floor of the opposition even though he had only been playing BA for a short while (some people are quick-learners, or RTS veterans in general).
Mind you, while having a noob on one's team may be a detriment, remember that team cooperation as a whole is what determines the game. Too bad the ranking system doesn't take into account how uncooperative a player has been, even towards fellow pros like himself/herself.
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SwiftSpear
- Classic Community Lead
- Posts: 7287
- Joined: 12 Aug 2005, 09:29
Re: Make rankings optional?
We don't support "starting new accounts". It's not strictly against the rules, but you key alot of red flags to our moderators if they find you doing it.
Use the rename command if you want to change your name. If you're making an account for a friend then they probably haven't played nearly the hourage that you have, and deserve to start with a low rank.
If you've forgotten your password, PM a moderator, they might be able to recover the account, or at least transfer your game time from your old account to your new one.
Use the rename command if you want to change your name. If you're making an account for a friend then they probably haven't played nearly the hourage that you have, and deserve to start with a low rank.
If you've forgotten your password, PM a moderator, they might be able to recover the account, or at least transfer your game time from your old account to your new one.
Re: Make rankings optional?
Trouble is brewing....SwiftSpear wrote:We don't support "starting new accounts". It's not strictly against the rules, but you key alot of red flags to our moderators if they find you doing it.
Re: Make rankings optional?
i have over 400 real accounts, mainly smurfs, ask aegis
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TheThinker
- Posts: 46
- Joined: 02 Jun 2008, 21:34
Re: Make rankings optional?
Swiftspear:
I didn't make the name of the last account easy to remember either, but what's done is done. I'm sticking to this one for my games, and I would think that largely unused accounts would be deleted by moderators anyway, correct? I've only had 2 accounts, the first one being forgotten because I did not make a point to write it down somewhere and the second being the one I'm currently using.
I think we're digressing; the original topic was not so much about an account but about the ranking system. I think it would be a great idea if we as players were allowed to make our ranks invisible to others for the reasons I've already mentioned.
I didn't make the name of the last account easy to remember either, but what's done is done. I'm sticking to this one for my games, and I would think that largely unused accounts would be deleted by moderators anyway, correct? I've only had 2 accounts, the first one being forgotten because I did not make a point to write it down somewhere and the second being the one I'm currently using.
I think we're digressing; the original topic was not so much about an account but about the ranking system. I think it would be a great idea if we as players were allowed to make our ranks invisible to others for the reasons I've already mentioned.
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SwiftSpear
- Classic Community Lead
- Posts: 7287
- Joined: 12 Aug 2005, 09:29
Re: Make rankings optional?
Ranking is there for a reason... There's the negative side effect of those who would use this simply to make it harder for moderators and other users to identify them.
I agree, it can be rough running a low rank for an experienced player, but just explain the situation, most people will understand, and it really only takes a few hours of play time to jump a good couple ranks. Ideally it's a situation that doesn't have to happen either.
I agree, it can be rough running a low rank for an experienced player, but just explain the situation, most people will understand, and it really only takes a few hours of play time to jump a good couple ranks. Ideally it's a situation that doesn't have to happen either.
Re: Make rankings optional?
Stop smurfing for f*** sake. It took me 5 min to get my password back when I forgot it last time so you can't use that as an excuse. You actually whine about how you're getting kicked for smurfing which is kinda funny and ironic.
Did I mention you guys should stop smurfing? Yeah even you Beh.
The main problem here is chain reaction that one smurf can (did, will) cause. Someone gets pissed about losing against smurf team and starts smurfing. Than I get some cocks joining my 1v1 games raping me in 3min couse I take it easy thinking I'm up against complete newbie who needs to get some advice n shit.
ps. stop smurfing.
Did I mention you guys should stop smurfing? Yeah even you Beh.
The main problem here is chain reaction that one smurf can (did, will) cause. Someone gets pissed about losing against smurf team and starts smurfing. Than I get some cocks joining my 1v1 games raping me in 3min couse I take it easy thinking I'm up against complete newbie who needs to get some advice n shit.
ps. stop smurfing.
Re: Make rankings optional?
rename your vet acct?TheThinker wrote:I was just wondering if ranks could be made invisible, since every time I start a new account I'm automatically given a newbie rating and therefore face hoards of snot-nosed players thinking I'm unworthy of playing, let alone being a spec. I know human prejudice is not a result of the ranking system, but it would be nice if I could make my rank invisible so that this form of prejudice may be harder to for others to justify. Any thoughts?
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TheThinker
- Posts: 46
- Joined: 02 Jun 2008, 21:34
Re: Make rankings optional?
Wisse, read my posts before lecturing me on smurfing. I've only started 2 accounts, the first one being forgotten by me (which is NOT an excuse by its very definition, duh) so it's not like I made smurfing a religion.Wisse wrote:Stop smurfing for f*** sake. It took me 5 min to get my password back when I forgot it last time so you can't use that as an excuse. You actually whine about how you're getting kicked for smurfing which is kinda funny and ironic.
Did I mention you guys should stop smurfing? Yeah even you Beh.
The main problem here is chain reaction that one smurf can (did, will) cause. Someone gets pissed about losing against smurf team and starts smurfing. Than I get some cocks joining my 1v1 games raping me in 3min couse I take it easy thinking I'm up against complete newbie who needs to get some advice n shit.
ps. stop smurfing.
By the way, smurfing is inevitable given that a lot of players play offline for a long period of time before entering the network for the first time. I played for six months offline before making my first account. Reason: My internet access was temporarily unavailable, and had to borrow a friend's com just to get the installation files for Spring for my other com.
Thirdly, smurfing is a double-edged sword. Anyone who smurfs is going to face the same idiotic prejudice that discourages noobs from becoming pros. I don't quite enjoy being a smurf.
No one in their right mind should ever trust everyone to reveal everything they have before entering a game, nor should they force them to. And it's still a gamble with the ranking system, given how pros and noobs remain human. I think merely allowing the option for invisible ranks may encourage others to not underestimate or overestimate other players.
Re: Make rankings optional?
I have nothing against you, but I hate smurfs in general no mater what the reason is.
Someone could play 10 years offline and would probably get beaten by online pros anyway, so I think it's quite ok to start with low rank, you're gonna get 4 stripes fast anyway. And by than you'll get known for ur superb skill if that's the case.
See my problem is that I love to play 1v1, where I'm on my own and I decide how game's gonna run for my side since I have no allys doh. So when I get newbie joining and I feel like playing against him I'm gonna take it easy, try to show him what weak spots I can find, how to use map in ur favor and stuff like that. If they show any interest I usually try coaching them a bit also. I don't want to bash them instantly killing their interests in good old fun 1v1.
But on many occasions (which are actually more common than join by newbie) I get to play smurf. I usually scout on start but that doesn't rly help much since there's only that many ways to start so I just can't tell what skill my enemy is yet. So i take it easy, make alot of cons, expand and than get raped by 20 rocos coming out of nowhere. Which pisses me off like crazy and makes me hate smurfs, write hateful responses to smurf-ish topics.
I hope you understand me now. Ranks are important in my mind because they give you general idea about how good ur enemy is. That doesn't count for completely competitive cocks who wanna kill everyone ass fast as they can, not minding about actual fun (I don't know any tho).
Someone could play 10 years offline and would probably get beaten by online pros anyway, so I think it's quite ok to start with low rank, you're gonna get 4 stripes fast anyway. And by than you'll get known for ur superb skill if that's the case.
See my problem is that I love to play 1v1, where I'm on my own and I decide how game's gonna run for my side since I have no allys doh. So when I get newbie joining and I feel like playing against him I'm gonna take it easy, try to show him what weak spots I can find, how to use map in ur favor and stuff like that. If they show any interest I usually try coaching them a bit also. I don't want to bash them instantly killing their interests in good old fun 1v1.
But on many occasions (which are actually more common than join by newbie) I get to play smurf. I usually scout on start but that doesn't rly help much since there's only that many ways to start so I just can't tell what skill my enemy is yet. So i take it easy, make alot of cons, expand and than get raped by 20 rocos coming out of nowhere. Which pisses me off like crazy and makes me hate smurfs, write hateful responses to smurf-ish topics.
I hope you understand me now. Ranks are important in my mind because they give you general idea about how good ur enemy is. That doesn't count for completely competitive cocks who wanna kill everyone ass fast as they can, not minding about actual fun (I don't know any tho).
Re: Make rankings optional?
Want to stop smurfing?
1)make people have to authorize users through Emails.
Yes Emails can be created but it will deter a great percentage of players from constantly creating smurfs.
I think this is a very good way of reducing smurfing
2)Make smurfing a bannable offense.
3)no need for a #3 since the first 2 will do the job.
For the transition period give each player a "second chance".
When someone is caught smurfing a moderator should tell him to revert back to his old user and the next time he is caught he will be banned.
Second time ban the user for 1 day third time ban for a week.
Moderators should keep a list at least until it becomes very rare.
These are very simple solutions that could have been implemented ages ago but it seems that smurfing is such an integral part of spring nobody really wants it to stop.
Not the players.
Not the moderators.
Not the developers.
1)make people have to authorize users through Emails.
Yes Emails can be created but it will deter a great percentage of players from constantly creating smurfs.
I think this is a very good way of reducing smurfing
2)Make smurfing a bannable offense.
3)no need for a #3 since the first 2 will do the job.
For the transition period give each player a "second chance".
When someone is caught smurfing a moderator should tell him to revert back to his old user and the next time he is caught he will be banned.
Second time ban the user for 1 day third time ban for a week.
Moderators should keep a list at least until it becomes very rare.
These are very simple solutions that could have been implemented ages ago but it seems that smurfing is such an integral part of spring nobody really wants it to stop.
Not the players.
Not the moderators.
Not the developers.
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SwiftSpear
- Classic Community Lead
- Posts: 7287
- Joined: 12 Aug 2005, 09:29
Re: Make rankings optional?
It really depends on your definition of "smurfing". Changing your username is supported, it's an intended feature. Being able to log on from different IPs is also an intended feature. Being able to create a new account in the case of an old account being lost, or wanting to run an autohost, or bot, or whatever, is a supported feature.
It's really only a harmful scenario when someone intentionally uses a fake name to frustrate or harass other players, and that's already bannable. It's just hard to catch and hard to enforce.
I think we've looked into email authorization before... realistically, it's not a great preventative measure. Email accounts are absurdly easy to register. I do like that in the case that we have to play wakamole with a user it does make it that one step harder on their part, but realistically, there are a huge amount of things we can do to make that process more streamlined than it currently is without making account registration more frustrating for new users as well.
It's really only a harmful scenario when someone intentionally uses a fake name to frustrate or harass other players, and that's already bannable. It's just hard to catch and hard to enforce.
I think we've looked into email authorization before... realistically, it's not a great preventative measure. Email accounts are absurdly easy to register. I do like that in the case that we have to play wakamole with a user it does make it that one step harder on their part, but realistically, there are a huge amount of things we can do to make that process more streamlined than it currently is without making account registration more frustrating for new users as well.
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Pressure Line
- Posts: 2283
- Joined: 21 May 2007, 02:09
Re: Make rankings optional?
Why bother giving a second chance? You get a warning, if you dont stop IMMEDIATELY, LOLBAN. 1 warning, then a 1 day ban, then increasingly severe bans for repeat offences.
There are NO valid reasons for a non-moderator to be using a second account (other than the reasons Swiftspear already listed, eg authosts, and perhaps as a one-time use to get the password on your main account reset).
and get the hell off your high horse Gota, ive seen you crying "every time i try to smurf i get found out straight away, because im the only Israeli in the lobby" before. not to mention your (well publicised and failed failed) attempts at forum smurfing.
There are NO valid reasons for a non-moderator to be using a second account (other than the reasons Swiftspear already listed, eg authosts, and perhaps as a one-time use to get the password on your main account reset).
and get the hell off your high horse Gota, ive seen you crying "every time i try to smurf i get found out straight away, because im the only Israeli in the lobby" before. not to mention your (well publicised and failed failed) attempts at forum smurfing.
Re: Make rankings optional?
Disposable emails.Gota wrote:1)make people have to authorize users through Emails.
This is not China.Gota wrote:2)Make smurfing a bannable offense.
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Pressure Line
- Posts: 2283
- Joined: 21 May 2007, 02:09
Re: Make rankings optional?
Regret wrote:This is not China.Gota wrote:2)Make smurfing a bannable offense.
There is nothing intrinsically wrong with communism btw.Swiftspear wrote:It's really only a harmful scenario when someone intentionally uses a fake name to frustrate or harass other players, and that's already bannable.