In post 58, EspeciallyTheLies wrote: In post 57, Iecerint wrote:Replacing out as an IC or SE should result in a ban from mafia games for 2 weeks (or whatever the community decides is a suitable amount of time).
If your replace-out reasons are legitimate, you probably need time off, anyway, so I don't think this would punish legitimate cases particularly unfairly.
Yes. Agreed. Thank you.
I disagree, but only because I find "SE" a somewhat laughable role and agree with the people who have noted that it seems a questionable distinction and not really having much point - just allow people to play in Newbies if they wish; done.
I would agree with it as far as IC goes - there is a certain core amount of responsibility that I think an IC accepts, and not replacing out barring extenuating circumstances is assuredly one of them.
I think the "coach" idea is amusing, and would probably do it, and suspect we could staff that position. That said - it would be a delicate line to walk regardless, as the coach would still need to simply answer Mafia theory questions...and, meh, isn't that what the Wiki and MD are for? There is some sort of line in there as far as being 'in the game' and I agree with the people noting the possible pratfalls for the Mod doing it as well. I will admit that I usually end up fielding only a handful of legit theory questions most of the time also - usually what people ask are 'what should we do in this specific situation' which is, by definition, a subjective as opposed to objective call most of the time. Most of the rest are "how do I multi-quote" or "what's OMGUS" type stuff which, at the end of the day, could be answered via links.
I am very much a proponent that the real idea behind an IC is just sort of 'playing the game'. As creative as I get, usually, is simply asking variations of 'why do you think that?' to Newbies just to try to kickstart braincells (with the amusing result of some people loving my IC style and others thinking I'm a dick who is judging them).
I actually think the thing I do most as an IC that gets the most happiness out of players is simply assessing them in post game with a few thoughts of what they did right, what they did poorly, and a thought or two on ways to overcome my perceptions of any weak spots. Functionally you don't even need to be in the game for that, you just need volunteers who could read the game and post the critique.
I do not support the idea of combining Normal and Newbie queue - mostly because Newbie queue *does* defend the site from the players who come in and then realize they loathe the game. I do like the ability to feel moderately safe from that issue in non-Newbie queues. I do agree with the core concept of the idea that the way to really "teach" Mafia is simply to get people to play Mafia, and do not oppose having more varied games in the mix. But I do think a testing ground area is very beneficial to the game quality of the site. To answer Mina's original core questions;
1. Yes, though I think the SE aspect is superfluous.
2. I would tend to drop SEs, but not to limit the queue to Newbie only options. People should be allowed to play a lot of Matrix 6 if they wish, and also to keep playing Newbies till they feel comfortable with themselves enough to head out into the rest of the site.
3. I see no issue with the current requirements for IC status, I would suggest they are comfortably loose and open to interpretation, and I think there's actuall an odd mystique about the job that doesn't really hold up to scrutiny.
