Multiplayer Etiquette

[Azrael]

Hey Guys,

Rather than a rant board to list the things that really get your goat in MP, I'd like to see this post be a place where people who have just got the game, or are new to playing the MP element can get some friendly advice on etiquette while playing online.

Of course no one is obliged to follow mine, or anyone else's advice, because it's nothing more than that. Opinion. However, I hope that the things listed below would generally be considered to enhance gameplay.

Do:

- Wish people Good Luck (GL) as the game begins.
- Talk to your Allies.
- Tell people Good Game (GG) as the game ends.
- If you feel you can't possibly win, press CTRL-A to select your whole army, then CTRL-W to withdraw them from the field. If you don't, some Units may stay on the field and do nothing (except attack if provoked). This forces the winning player(s) to sweep the entire map, looking for the handful of your remaining troops to scare them away - and can take ages.
- If you're the attacker, attack. Technically, that's what you signed up for.
- Password protect Clan Games, so that normal folks don't drop in and get confused when you explain to them that you want them to leave.

Don't:

- Spam (note, in MP you can ignore individuals who are bothering you. Someone wiser than me will no doubt list how this can be done)
- Presume to order your Allies around. They will hopefully be happy to discuss strategy.
- Attack your Allies. This never goes over well.
- Be verbally (textually?) abusive to the opposition. Nobody likes being called a "Stoopidhead". Especially by a "Stoopidhead" http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif
- Drop the game if you are the Host. This kills the game for the people still playing.

Just a few pointers which many people will be already be familiar with, and which, in my opinion, enhance MP play.

Please feel free to add or discuss.

Azrael

[Azrael]

Sorry Guys,

With regards to:

" - If you feel you can't possibly win, press CTRL-A to select your whole army, then CTRL-W to withdraw them from the field. If you don't, some Units may stay on the field and do nothing (except attack if provoked). This forces the winning player(s) to sweep the entire map, looking for the handful of your remaining troops to scare them away - and can take ages".

This refers specifically to someone who has decided they have lost the battle and is about to quit the game.

Azrael

[NinjaKilla]

Good post. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif But...

I don't wish GL - I don't want the guy beating me by luck - HF is important though http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

Also, I don't bother saying GG if it wasn't - if we say GG after every game it's pointless.

I'd add that its real 'helpful' to tell opponents when their ally has dropped (my pet hate&#33http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[Kraxis]

Ninja, I agree. I never say GL (of course I do say it to my allies), I too want to win.

GG is only for a truly Good Game.

My own little rules for myself:

- Don't rant if you are losing. Such as, "it was my partners fault", "Your Arbs had better range than mine", "My Peasants should have destroyed your Knights". Ok I stretched it a little bit, but you get the point.

- Be humerous, even to bad manner enemies. Can be quite fun.

- Be prepared to talk a little bit with your partners and/or enemies about the game if they want to.

[LadyAnn]

If people dont say GG at every game, perhaps we should say T4G (Thanks for the game)? At least when host didn't quit early, T4G would be appropriate thing to say to the host.

Annie

[Mithrandir]

Do not EVER withdraw when you cant win, rather fight & die than run...

I HATE IT http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif, I never play a second time with immature losers who cant handle defeat...

SOOO lame...

after cheating tis the lamest thing imo... http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/angry.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/angry.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/pissed.gif

[Crandaeolon]

Here's some friendly advice from me:

- When yer thinking of joining a game, _check_ the map AND climate and bring an appropriate army. Bring armour to desert only if you and your allies have agreed to attack quickly.

Last night I hosted a desert/hills map and was on defense; all defenders were Egyptians with relatively lightly-armoured troops and the attackers were all Byzantines. The attackers took a long time to maneuver their armies, and of course tired quickly as the result. One fellow got all hot-headed, declared me the most dishonourable host to ever live, and left. Dang, I _knew_ I should have been an attacker like I do in 95% of my games... http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

Another bit of common courtesy:

- IMO the host should give players ample time to check kills and save replays after the game is over. Personally, I'll either quit last or give the players about 1 minute to check the results. I usually also do a "10 seconds" warning before quitting.

[Nobunaga0611]

Also, don't say things like "Die clan SCUM" and stupid things like that. I don't care if you're kidding, its just not appropriate to say to anyone. I've seen my allies say this to clan people and it makes me want to beat them with a barsoap-filled sock.

If you're gonna quit, which you NEVER should, unless you really really have to go, at least have the courtesy of pressing ctrl-a, then ctrl-w so your allies don't get morale penalties, and the opponent doesn't have to waste time killing your units at games end. But like Mith said, people who don't fight till the end make me never want to play with them again. If you got beat bad, don't be such a baby

And DON'T tell people to hurry up If I host a game and someone tells me to, they're booted, no discussions. Some people just take more time in choosing their armies and deploying. This isn't a bad thing, be patient, or DON'T PLAY. hmm...now that I think about it, I'll probably start banning and ignoring people who do this regularly.

hmm...I could go on....but don't want to get myself too upset http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[Dionysus9]

Mith,

I can see your point, but I disagree (in some circumstances). Sometimes it is just clear that you cannot win, and that continued fighting will simply result in massive bloodshed of your troops without any real impact on the enemy. Or, it will unneccesarily delay the game and keep everyone from starting a new game when the outcome is clear. At some point the remaining players should "rout out" to save lives and time. This is not dishonorable, but infact, quite honorable.

I agree that a player should fight to the end and to the last man if it might give an ally the chance to win in the end. But if all hope is lost, and I really mean all hope, then why prolong the inevitable?--it is better to resign.

At some point a general must admit defeat. In chess, a general will resign when it is clear he has lost. When I play MTW I try to put myself in the mindset of a real general with real troops--If I can save 100 men from a senseless death, I will save them. They are my men, they would die for me-- I must protect them from senseless death.
At least that is the way I feel about it.

Of course, if this is just a computer game and they are just a bunch of ones and zeros, then what does it matter that they die? It doesnt. But that mindset seems to detract from the realism of the game.

Also, I see, many times, players refusing to "rout out" when they have 3 v1 alan cav on the opposite of the edge and they face a horde of 3 full armies. They say "come and get me." This is just silly, and annoying. It unneccesarily prolongs a game that has already been decided.

If the game is effectively over, then please rout your remaining rag-tag units. If there is absolutely no chance of victory, then resign.

If there is a chance, no matter how small, that you might help an ally by staying in the game--by all means stay. It is rude not too.

ALSO, if you are planning to drop the game then PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE rout all your units out.

Routing out is probably better than withdrawing, because sometimes a withdrawing unit will stop and get stuck on the map. If you rout your entire army nobody will rally. Also, when you force-rout, your allies dont get hit with any penalties and your units make better movement-path decisions.

See you online


http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/pat.gif

[baz]

i agree with bacchus, if your got a chance to win then stay but sometimes it is so obvious that it is just matter of when, not if, so routing your troops is advisable
nb. if any of your allies are still there then you should stay, because there still is a chance of a victory http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

i guess you just got to use common sense and experience http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Azrael]

Hey Guys,

I both agree and disagree with Dionysus.

An online game is a Fight to the Death, not part of a strategic campaign, so your troops should be fighting like there's "no retreat".

That being said, I appreciate the point of looking at your army "like a real general" with "real troops", but MP battles are a one off confrontation. You should fight to the end. You never know. Sometimes people can get so enthused as they see they are winning, their troops can end up just as scattered as yours, and counterattacks can change the tide of battle.

I agree that people who have a couple of troops at the edge of a map can be annoying when they tell your "entire army" to "Come and get me".

My biggest peeve is people who suddenly see their General route or die, and then just drop from the game, annoyed. Leaving the people still playing, annoyed http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif .

If the bulk of my army has left the field, I always try to get the remaining Unit's organised and help out buddy, if I'm playing with allies.

Even if my whole army has been decimated (which happens far less frequently nowadays), if I'm playing with allies, I like to stick around and see how the battle ultimately ends up.

Finally, I think the previous point about the Host giving people time to view the results screen, and save the battle is an excellent one, and hope people take it on board.

See you online.

Azrael

[Dionysus9]

The main thing is to not be a pain. Courtesy toward your allies and enemies alike is the golden rule of MP. Sure, you can talk smack before, during, and after the game (provided you arent just being a jerk)--but conduct yourself in a courteous manner befitting a knight.

At some point you have to admit defeat. 3 v0 peasants aren't going to chain rout 2.5 full armies....so why try to hide them in the forest for that last "sneak attack" in the 1/2,000,000,000 chance that they will win the day?

Anyway, good topic Az. I've been thinking of compiling a concise list of globally accepted multiplayer etiquette rules to be posted in the Newb area.

[Cheetah]

Quote[/b] (NinjaKilla @ Nov. 20 2002,20:21)]Good post. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif But...

I don't wish GL - I don't want the guy beating me by luck - HF is important though http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

Also, I don't bother saying GG if it wasn't - if we say GG after every game it's pointless.
I always wish Good Luck to my opponents. I dont want to create the impression that they have lost only because of their bad luck http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

I also always say GG after the game. IMHO this is a kind of "thank you playing with me". If it was a real good game, then I say VGG for "very good game" and usually explain that why it was so good.

About routing: DIE HARD I always fight when I can fight. After all, you join a game to fight. It is a game, it is fun. I rout only and if only there is no chance to win and there is no enemy unit nearby that I could charge.