I like the Harlequin practice. I think its nice knowing exactly what is needed for a game to start, rather than some kind of nebulous announcement like "Game 489 needs free peoples and Dark Servants". I think I am more likely to sign up for a game when I know what I will be playing and have a good sense about how long it will take to fill. That is one of the reasons I prefer Harlequin to Deft (along with the listings of teammate emails, the more communicative player base and the generally better moderating). Friends can sign up for the same games anyway, so neutral stacking isn't that big an issue.
On the other hand, I have been recruiting players recently (3 in the last year, 2 of whom are now playing in second game, with another probable new player lined up for next game I join), and I feel a LOT better about getting a new player into a game if I can tell them with some certainty what kind of position they are going to be playing (military or character based, probable opponents and strategy, etc) that I will be in the same game and that they will not be saddled with a difficult nation like Rhun Easterlings or Rhudaur or Woodmen.
What I would like to know is if this merge will have any impact on GSI's willingness to let Harlequin make changes in the code, like changing encounters, SNA's, set-ups, maps or scenarios, etc... As the primary destributor Harlequin ought to have more access.
Also, will the front sheets on currently ongoing Deft games (I'm still in one) be changed to the normal Harlequin format? I'm in a game where I would LOVE to know if a couple of teammates are still playing.
Winn Keathley
Benjamin Shushan wrote:
Also, while I generally prefer Harlequin's "first-come, first-served" basis
for allocating positions, it _does_ lend itself to "neutral stacking" (not
only by friends playing neighboring neutrals, but by friends of players
playing an aligned nation taking neutral positions and essentially being
"with that allegiance" before the game ever starts ...). I might suggest
some combination of preference-listing and first-to-sign-up gets priorirty,
along with GWC preferences ... more or less like DGE (and formerly GSI) has
done it.
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