Why/when do you replace into games?

[Ydrasse]

I don’t think this thread’s topic has been discussed (in a thread I can find), so!

What influences you to replace in?
Do you read the slot you’re taking or go in blind?
Do you read the game in full or do you go from where you join? How do you orient yourself?
Is there a type of game you’d replace into (normals, themes, etc) if you had the option and why?

Basically, replacing into stuff is appreciated but I’m curious about the motivations, as well as how to be an impactful rep in!

[Micc]

A large portion of the games I’ve played are ones I’ve replaced into. I find it so much easier to engage with a game that is already ongoing rather than starting from the beginning. Especially true when the game state is 5 or less players, anything more is just me feeling completely lost and unnatural inserting myself into the conversation.

I don’t read the slot before replacing in, just take a quick look at the last page or so and current votecount. Mostly I just want to know what I’d be getting into before taking the slot. How much time before deadline, how much pressure on my slot, how much scum left, how mean are people being to each other can all impact whether I’m willing to commit to joint the game.

I’ve considered writing a theory article on how to replace into a game, and I might still some day. I don’t read the game front to back - at least not right away. When I replace in, the first thing I’m reading is the build up of the current leading wagon. I want to understand where the votes came from and whether they make sense or not. I’ll keep reading back for additional context and asking questions as needed. My goal is to identify the parts of the game that are important and understand those first. At some point after I feel comfortably engaged with the game I will go through (not necessarily even read) everything front to back. that process is more purposed at making sure I’m grasping the timeline correctly and not missing anything opposed to catching up.

Game type has no impact for me. Looking at the game tells me if it’s appealing or not much more than assuming based on game type.

[Infinity 324]

i generally only replace into games that i'm already spectating or that i really wanted to play but didn't get up a chance to sign up for so i got on the replacement list.

i think it would be good to replace in more, but the prospect of reading however many pages is to daunting.

[Gamma Emerald]

What influences you to replace in?
Do you read the slot you’re taking or go in blind?
Do you read the game in full or do you go from where you join? How do you orient yourself?
Is there a type of game you’d replace into (normals, themes, etc) if you had the option and why?

A great many, but often I see something of note while spectating and want in
I tend to at least check I’m not replacing into a DOA slot
I frequently read in full
I’m not really choosy about which games I’d rep into but themes probably are my most preferred

[Ythan]

I replace into games because games need replacements. I tried saying more but I kept getting bogged down so have that.

Blind.

I try to read the game in full though once I'm there.

Any game except maybe a theme I'm particularly disinterested in.

[Ythan]

Oh getting to skip rvs is cool.

[T3]

1. i like the flavor
2. i previously skimmed over the thread and was 100% confident in multiple reads (i really wanted to rep into radio buzz because of this )

[fferyllt]

I don’t think this thread’s topic has been discussed (in a thread I can find), so!

What influences you to replace in?

The moderator, the player list, the flavor, and more times than not, having enough time to play another game. Also, to pay it back to the site for all the players who've replaced into my games (both modded and played). Replacements make forum mafia possible.

Do you read the slot you’re taking or go in blind?

Sometimes read, sometimes blind. Not really a rhyme or reason to read vs blind.

Do you read the game in full or do you go from where you join? How do you orient yourself?

Depends on the thread length. If it's a really long thread, I go from where I join and read isos as I can. I prefer to read the game in full, though.

Is there a type of game you’d replace into (normals, themes, etc) if you had the option and why?

I mostly replace into Newbies and Themes.

Basically, replacing into stuff is appreciated but I’m curious about the motivations, as well as how to be an impactful rep in!

My motivation is to have fun and to help mods out.

[Jake The Wolfie]

I generally stay away from personalized games, such as uPicks and such.

I always replace into games with Not_mafia to get the nae nae wagon on him

I prefer to just start games fresh, so that I'm not caught offguard by questions that the previous slot could have answered.

[Not_Mafia]

When I get the urge to shitpost but don't want to wait for a game to fill

[fferyllt]

I generally stay away from personalized games, such as uPicks and such.

I'm the opposite. I've replaced into several uPicks.

[Morning Tweet]

Games are way more fun with existing content! I really don't like the beginning portion of mafia, much better to skip to the part where there's already something to figure out! The later into a game and the less players alive, the more likely I am to be interested in replacing for it.

Just like ffery it's pretty much completely random for me whether or not I read anything before going in.

i'll usually read over the entire game if i have the time, it's pretty major to have stuff that happened earlier in the game and was forgotten get brought up again

[Gypyx]

i usually rep into games if i wanna play but nothing in queue is of much interest to me

[Wisdom]

I replace into games when I need more games to play but don't find something interesting in the queue or don't want to wait until what I've signed up for fills (especially true if I'm coming from a break and I am not in any games)

I will replace if the setup/theme/mechanic and/or playerlist is to my liking

I will read the entire game

[House]

I replace in to help out a mod in need.

Given my inherent limitations (I have neither the patience nor the confidence to mod from mobile), it's a way I can give back to the community.

Whether I read the game or not upon replace in depends on circumstances (irl as well as in game), but I prefer not to do more than targeted ISO diving unless there is a compelling reason.

[Boonskiies]

when I feel like playing a game :shrug:

[Nancy Drew 39]

i generally only replace into games that i'm already spectating or that i really wanted to play but didn't get up a chance to sign up for so i got on the replacement list.

i think it would be good to replace in more, but the prospect of reading however many pages is to daunting.

+1

This for me. I’m way more picky when it comes to replacing into games as opposed to joining them upfront. Also what T3 said. If I think I have a pretty good handle on the current gamestate. Another very important factor is the slot. I absolutely hate replacing into a doomed scumslot probably more than anything, so I usually try to determine if that slot is likely town usually.

[Zachrulez]

Games tend to need replacements a lot and can be difficult to find so it's really just a great way to pay it forward when you're playing.