I withdrew from the friends ladder simply because I am too impatient to wait for games. I like to make good use of the little time I get to spend online playing games and wish I could find a game with a good competitor within at least a couple of minutes or so from entering a game room. I am wondering if it's because there are so few ladder players or is it because I am coming into the pairs2 room at the wrong times or just a combo of both?? The 2 games per player factor adds to waiting time as well.
I'm not sure it's helping that the only players that seem to know how to play the game the way it was intended to be played hide out in a secluded, practically secret room. I realize that this decision was made out of frustration, lack of space, and everyone tiring of the constant bickering over rules and styles of play but to be honest I think it has only worsened the situation.
It used to be that when we were playing our ladder games amongst the social crowd that we would have non-ladder matches with newbies and others while waiting for ladder matches. This both helped to ease the boredom of waiting for a ladder match and it also helped to show newbies the ropes. There were always a few that whined and complained when they didn't like "point stealing" and "tile dropping" but NOW it seems that the vast majority of players have this ingrained in their minds as taboo practises because either they don't know any better, they are just too nice for cut-throat competition or they just plain feel like making up their own rules. Most of them have been taken under wing by other anti-point-grabbing "missionaries" that have shown them the "acceptable and polite" way to play. The only ladders these newbies are being exposed to are the ones that follow these rules since you're all in a place that they have no idea even exists. Too bad it's turning out this way.
You're response to this would probably be to suggest that I try and start my own ladder out there with the sharks but I just don't have the time or the right kind of stuff to pull it off.
I enjoyed being a part of the fun but will play my games in the social and pairs rooms. It's not easy but maybe I'll find a few out there that know how to play, if not I'm sure as heck gonna try and show them ...lol (nicely and without arguments of course). Wish you guys would come back and mingle with the masses and play more games in pairs or social :).
Take Care,
stinkerbelle25
P.S.: I realize those rooms are quite full at peak times but we're becoming a dying breed, honestly - I feel like a criminal "grabbing and dropping" tiles amongst the new DC crowd. (not to mention *GASP* leaving unstable "messes" on board!)