RBP2 Lurker Discussion Thread - No Players!

[WarriorKnight]

- Here's the great gamble: I think we should move *ALL* of the units from Hampton to Chancellorsville. Both archers and the spear! Remember, our two foes do NOT have line of sight into Hampton. They won't have a clue that we've emptied it out completely. And we need those defenders desperately. Hampton swaps to archer (already done it in-game), and whips it out next turn, for at least token defense.

Sullla might make a mistake here. The hill tile NENE of Hampton can see the city and it is under Jowy's control. I wonder what the CoW will do if the see Hampton with 1 archer?

[sunrise089]

Sullla might make a mistake here. The hill tile NENE of Hampton can see the city and it is under Jowy's control. I wonder what the CoW will do if the see Hampton with 1 archer?

If that's right Speaker should catch it.

[Kylearan]

Hi,

Sullla might make a mistake here. The hill tile NENE of Hampton can see the city and it is under Jowy's control.

Yeah, and a "lurker" pointed that out to them. I really don't like the involvment of "lurkers" in this game: They give micro tips, correct tactical errors, comment on diplo letters before they are getting sent...and because Sulla and Speaker have famous names and write excellent turn updates, they receive the most help of this kind.

It's not Sulla's or Speaker's fault of course, but I really don't like this. Not only are most "lurkers" spoiled already, they also don't help other, less well-known and less verbose teams as much.

C'mon people: If you really want to play MP Civ, form or join a team and enter a game of your own!

-Kylearan

[shadyforce]

I agree. Lurker conduct in this game has been abysmal. Disgraceful even.

[Mr. Svinlesha]

Oy. That's a bit harsh, isn't it?

Speaker and Sullla actively ask for advice and tips from their "lurkers", and really, what are these threads for otherwise? What interactions should lurkers be allowed?

Team India prides itself on meticulously exploiting every available resource, and lurkers are one such resource. If other teams posted as much info as regularly I suspect they would also receive support, advice, and so forth. In fact, if you look at the other threads you find lurkers do provide advice on occassion -- just not as often, because the teams don't post as often (or as in-depth).

In fact, I kinda have the opposite reaction -- I'm rather impressed with the restraint lurkers have shown, in general, to posting possible spoilers. I know one of the reasons I'm so careful about my postings is my worry in this regard. For example, I was considering posting a suggestion in India's thread that they maybe should send a note to Whosit -- since I know he's been wondering in his thread why they haven't contacted him yet. At first it seemed like an innocent piece of advice, but the more I thought about it the more I realized it could actually tip the game in a different direction, due to my possession of knowledge that Speaker and Sullla don't have -- so I decided not to.

Doesn't mean I wouldn't post a piece of advice that isn't spoilerish -- to point out an obvious mistake, for example. I'm just not sure what you expect lurkers to do otherwise, really.

[novice]

Oy. That's a bit harsh, isn't it?

Yes, I find it a bit harsh, too.

[zakalwe]

Strictly speaking, lurkers are supposed to lurk. We can comment about events after the fact, but not right as they unfold. For example, you could wait to see if Speaker noticed Sullla's mistake, and then post "cool, I was wondering whether you'd spot that".

That said, I think lurkers have been handing out a lot of advice in all threads in this game. In Spullla's thread the advice tends to be unsolicited (since they never ask the lurkers for advice). In Whosit's and Kathlete's threads, for example, the players have explicitly been asking for and receiving advice on numerous occasions. Paradoxically, unsolicited advice may be more "unfair", but the players can hardly be blamed for it.

Anyway, I agree with Kylearan in this instance, like I already said earlier:

I think there is way too much unsolicited advice being given in the lurker threads. In the upcoming Spullla war, I really hope nobody starts pointing out tactical mistakes by either side. It would be 1) unfair, and 2) almost certainly spoilered, since you might not have noticed said tactical mistakes without knowing what you do about the other side's moves.

[Mr. Svinlesha]

zak:

Actually, when you put it like that, I take your point and agree. I hereby rescind my previous objections.

I will say, however, that most of the lurkers who have posted advice have almost certainly done so in good faith, not intending to spoil the game.

[meatbalz]

I agree. Lurker conduct in this game has been abysmal. Disgraceful even.

WAY too many spoilers for my tastes. i think lurker involvement should be actively encouraged (we're certainly trying in our RBP3 thread), but there have been several occasions where lurkers have crossed the line between "helpful" and "spoiler", sometimes egregiously.

and as kylearan pointed out, it's the teams that need the least help that are getting the most

[zakalwe]

it's the teams that need the least help that are getting the most

Not that it's really relevant to how lurkers should behave, but I disagree with that part.

IMO, it's the teams who have been asking most actively for advice who have received the most help.