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Training Lobby Change Proposals

Bumpers
over 10 years

Hi training lobby. I haven’t properly introduced myself here but you’ll know TheBrontosaurus well as your lobby owner. One of the things we want to improve on EpicMafia considerably is the harmony and synergy of other lobbies, and give players old and new many different ventures on the site.

One of the stumbling blocks that we have is finding a way to keep training running the way it is, whilst also not making it exploited by point farming with new users who wish to play the game.

I’ve made a thread in competitive which I hope you take time to look at too which has more ideas that can make their way to this lobby, it can be found here.

https://epicmafia.com/topic/63209

So what are the ideas that we have for training?

1) Lobby rename

One issue that’s easy to notice with training is that it has lost its meaning for most of the players in this lobby. We don’t wish to splinter another lobby for new players only, but would like to rename it to something more appropriate. At the moment the leading name is Casual, but I realize that there is an online stigma behind this. If you can think of better names, please let us know.

2) 10K points cap

One of the problems with training is users using it to farm up points. There’s been a lot of aggressive suggestions on how to fix this, one method we had very long ago was forcing people to join comp lobby once they reached a certain threshold. We do not want that to happen again, but we also do not want point farming by playing with newer users.

What does this mean if implemented? It means that once you reach 10000 points in Training/New name pending, you won’t earn more points for future wins you have. We think this is a generous amount to deter point-farming, but you are still fully free to play in the lobby unrestricted if you wish. Stats and other achievements will still be viable and tracked.

3) Greater input with moderators

One bias we notice is how most new moderators are picked from competitive. We realize that most mods have been picked from the comp lobby in the past, however we certainly want to embrace new variation when we look for new moderators in the certain future. If you’re ever interested in being one, feel free to PM an application for it to be reviewed.

Finishing notes

I realize this might look like a forced attempt to boost competitive player numbers. Partially, it is, but I hope you check out the comp thread too if you would like to see more information.There are news ideas in that thread that will be added to training too. Please give any feedback you have, thanks again.

Steven
over 10 years
Oh I'm almost positive it won't happen, sadly for us
deletedover 10 years
that's what usually happens
TheVigil
over 10 years
Im going to laugh if none of this happens and we are all debating for nothing.
Satan
over 10 years

Satan says

On a slightly unrelated note, if you guys have opinions on the mentoring program, take a look at this thread: https://epicmafia.com/topic/63253

TheVigil
over 10 years

EmmerrLouise says

What would be pointless is to play setups for the sake of being in comp lobby. It's still important to enjoy the website and the game.


I feel like if this happens many players will lose that enjoyment. Simply because it's change.
Steven
over 10 years

TheVigil says


CharlesMark says


TheVigil says


CharlesMark says

why don't we just give everyone with a comp ticket who has spent all their hearts in any round a trophy so the facade dies and everyone knows its a worthless persuit


Or do away with it altogether.



CharlesMark says

just delete comp

and rename training to MAIN

then add a comp to main with a point requirement





SOLUTION = FOUND


Yep
CharlesMark
over 10 years
that^

*edit* meant to point at stevens post
EmmerrLouise
over 10 years

CharlesMark says


just delete comp

and rename training to MAIN

then add a comp to main with a point requirement


This seems the most logical solution and should please everyone. The players from comp lobby can still play comp games, the players in training will find joining said comp games easier (if they even want to) with minimal site disturbance and player loss.
Satan
over 10 years
On a slightly unrelated note, if you guys have opinions on the mentoring program, take a look at this thread: https://epicmafia.com/topic/63253
Steven
over 10 years

SyphruM says


Steven says


SyphruM says


Satan says


EmmerrLouise says


Player A reaching 10k points and no longer able to score in training BUT still able to play ranked games.


they can move to competitive lobby and play the same games. and they could also maybe meet some comp players who don't fit the typical comp stereotype and they could you know, join the competition.



That's the thing: most training players don't "play the same games" or setups as comp players. That's mostly the reason behind comp's waning population, many people would prefer to not learn an entirely new setup.


This will be fixed by deleting the competitive lobby, however, because the setups picked will be by the winners as always, and the winners will come from that lobby.

It really is the best thing IMO to delete competitive lobby, I just don't think it will happen sadly


Not necessarily. You still need to get a first wave of people to get into the competitive games in the training lobby (assuming comp were to be deleted) playing the unfamiliar setups they already do not play alongside people they 'don't want to play with'.


I don't think it will be hard for this to happen.

With time, furthermore, the double community will change the setups they play and like as each side encourages the other to try out the ones they like etc. and eventually there won't be any much difference
TheVigil
over 10 years

EmmerrLouise says

Depends how 'committed' they are to the site. Would I leave? Not at first, that's for sure. But I wouldn't spend much time in Training - I'd have to be a homeless wanderer for a time until I found a lobby suitable for my needs as a player and somewhere I LIKED being.

I think this would be the case for many people, and if they couldn't find a lobby they liked, then I think users would definitely spend less time on it.


Exactly, I would stay but i could see players who haven't committed years to this site leaving quickly. It's a variable to consider.

I feel like we should give players a special incentive to go to Comp not just points. Points alone aren't enough as players could just flock to other lobbies and Comp would still be dead.
EmmerrLouise
over 10 years
What would be pointless is to play setups for the sake of being in comp lobby. It's still important to enjoy the website and the game.
EmmerrLouise
over 10 years

TheVigil says

Over the next few days im going to play some Comp games to get a feel of what's to come.


I'm keen to see what setups get comped for next round. If I like them, I'll play them. If I don't (which was the case with the last round), I won't.
CharlesMark
over 10 years

TheVigil says


EmmerrLouise says

I think it'd be important to a lot of players (myself included) to see a MASS transfer to Comp at the same time - a bunch of us moving and playing games (even on the same day). The fact you're playing with people you know of a similar level to you would ease it. The last round I ran in, I came 5th but noticed at the time how many training players were running. I think that made the whole experience of the round easier and more enjoyable.


Over the next few days im going to play some Comp games to get a feel of what's to come.




i did this a few years ago and lured most of the experienced players who wernt hopeless pointfarmers into comp.

then we all quit the site
TheVigil
over 10 years

CharlesMark says


TheVigil says


CharlesMark says

why don't we just give everyone with a comp ticket who has spent all their hearts in any round a trophy so the facade dies and everyone knows its a worthless persuit


Or do away with it altogether.



CharlesMark says

just delete comp

and rename training to MAIN

then add a comp to main with a point requirement





SOLUTION = FOUND
EmmerrLouise
over 10 years
Depends how 'committed' they are to the site. Would I leave? Not at first, that's for sure. But I wouldn't spend much time in Training - I'd have to be a homeless wanderer for a time until I found a lobby suitable for my needs as a player and somewhere I LIKED being.

I think this would be the case for many people, and if they couldn't find a lobby they liked, then I think users would definitely spend less time on it.
TheVigil
over 10 years

EmmerrLouise says

I think it'd be important to a lot of players (myself included) to see a MASS transfer to Comp at the same time - a bunch of us moving and playing games (even on the same day). The fact you're playing with people you know of a similar level to you would ease it. The last round I ran in, I came 5th but noticed at the time how many training players were running. I think that made the whole experience of the round easier and more enjoyable.


Over the next few days im going to play some Comp games to get a feel of what's to come.
CharlesMark
over 10 years

TheVigil says


CharlesMark says

why don't we just give everyone with a comp ticket who has spent all their hearts in any round a trophy so the facade dies and everyone knows its a worthless persuit


Or do away with it altogether.



CharlesMark says

just delete comp

and rename training to MAIN

then add a comp to main with a point requirement

SyphruM
over 10 years

Steven says


SyphruM says


Satan says


EmmerrLouise says


Player A reaching 10k points and no longer able to score in training BUT still able to play ranked games.


they can move to competitive lobby and play the same games. and they could also maybe meet some comp players who don't fit the typical comp stereotype and they could you know, join the competition.



That's the thing: most training players don't "play the same games" or setups as comp players. That's mostly the reason behind comp's waning population, many people would prefer to not learn an entirely new setup.


This will be fixed by deleting the competitive lobby, however, because the setups picked will be by the winners as always, and the winners will come from that lobby.

It really is the best thing IMO to delete competitive lobby, I just don't think it will happen sadly


Not necessarily. You still need to get a first wave of people to get into the competitive games in the training lobby (assuming comp were to be deleted) playing the unfamiliar setups they already do not play alongside people they 'don't want to play with'.
TheVigil
over 10 years

EmmerrLouise says


CharlesMark says

the real issue here is that we have a waning elitist sect of the site that desperately wants to survive and must recruit new cult members to survive


I legit laughed because I can't see any issues with this definition of the current situation.


TheVigil says

Another question is if these changes happen how much of the player base will we lose?


Do you mean leaving the site or leaving Training? I'd foresee a few moving to comp (myself included if I didn't want to play a bunch of unranked SITD/test setups) and naturally the more that make the move, the better (familiar faces in an unfamiliar lobby can make the transition easier). Other than that, I think most people would just continue to play in unranked training or maybe even switch to Reverse lobby (if points/pies are important to them) - maybe even SB for the varied setups/roles.


Im sure many will scatter to other obscure lobbies but i was referring to players leaving the site altogether.
EmmerrLouise
over 10 years
I think it'd be important to a lot of players (myself included) to see a MASS transfer to Comp at the same time - a bunch of us moving and playing games (even on the same day). The fact you're playing with people you know of a similar level to you would ease it. The last round I ran in, I came 5th but noticed at the time how many training players were running. I think that made the whole experience of the round easier and more enjoyable.
Satan
over 10 years

Steven says

because the setups picked will be by the winners as always, and the winners will come from that lobby.


I wouldn't say that's the case. Either way it exposes people to new setups and that's the real problem here (not enough exposures to setups other than classic/FP)
TheVigil
over 10 years

CharlesMark says

why don't we just give everyone with a comp ticket who has spent all their hearts in any round a trophy so the facade dies and everyone knows its a worthless persuit


Or do away with it altogether.
CharlesMark
over 10 years
why don't we just give everyone with a comp ticket who has spent all their hearts in any round a trophy so the facade dies and everyone knows its a worthless persuit
EmmerrLouise
over 10 years

CharlesMark says

the real issue here is that we have a waning elitist sect of the site that desperately wants to survive and must recruit new cult members to survive


I legit laughed because I can't see any issues with this definition of the current situation.


TheVigil says

Another question is if these changes happen how much of the player base will we lose?


Do you mean leaving the site or leaving Training? I'd foresee a few moving to comp (myself included if I didn't want to play a bunch of unranked SITD/test setups) and naturally the more that make the move, the better (familiar faces in an unfamiliar lobby can make the transition easier). Other than that, I think most people would just continue to play in unranked training or maybe even switch to Reverse lobby (if points/pies are important to them) - maybe even SB for the varied setups/roles.