before I get jumped on too much, I'm saying that I'm fine with the odd (one
or two) newbies who start a game, then quickly decide they don't like the
game and drop early on. I feel that 8 or 9 players still have a good chance
of winning a game. Actually I don't ever remember winning a game when I had
all 10 players putting in turn reports. 9 turn reports was the most I've
ever got.
If 3 or 4 newbies are on a side, and they all drop, or Clint gives critical
positions like NG to a newbie who drops on T1, then its a different kettle
of fish.
And if Clint is planning to remove the 10 pounds startup, I would favour
Laurence's idea of still collecting it, calling it a deposit and giving it
back to the players after a few turns. Clint must have done number crunching
to ensure he can afford to lose the money if we decide to take the money and
run. But if the money gets put in my account balance, I would only use it on
turn fees, so Clint would still get to keep the money.
The only thing is that Clint should clearly spell out why he is taking the
money, and then giving it back to new players (otherwise he would end up
looking like an idiot who doesn't know what he is doing). Its more
paper-work for him to move money around, but he can always delegate that 
thanks
m
ยทยทยท
>
> It's really very easy to stop early drops: make it cost real
> money for the
> player concerned. A deposit of twenty-five pounds, refundable upon
> elimination or the nation being taken over by another player,
> should do the
> trick.put that in legends and Clint will make a killing (spoken
from someone who
paid for the main rules, a game rulebook, some turns, and
then said 'ick'
when I tried to understand them all).Deposits are good for experienced PBMer like gavin, but I
wouldn't want to
make a new player cough up a lot of money upfront. I've got
no hard feelings
for newbies who start a pbm game, say 'not my cup of tea',
and wander off to
another pbm game.Laurence said it nicely when he mentioned that it was having
lots of newbies
in one side that was critical (or words to that effect). I
would prefer
having any newbies spread out in 'safer' positions.thanks
m> And don't give me that namby-pamby "some poor souls can't
afford it",
> either. Like any other leisure activity; if you can't afford
> it, don't do it.
>
> Sorry to be so blunt, folks, but I've been playing by mail
> for over 25 years
> and this is the only system I've seen work. And to be honest,
> putting my old
> curmudgeonly codger hat on for a minute, today's crop of
players seem
> willing to drop a game at the slightest excuse. There are
few players
> willing to work a position up and see a game through.
>
> Gavin (usually much more liberal than this!)
>
>
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