Conquer Club

Woodruff wrote:

Queen_Herpes wrote:I can see how that would be beneficial to the seasoned user. Would it be better for the person looking for help on a map to have a link to the strategy guide in that location? Or perhaps have both links?

I would say "both", personally. A link to the strategy guide has obvious usefulness. But I wouldn't want to eliminate the link to the discussion topic, for the reason I mentioned above about recommending changes/fixes on maps.

However, this isn't really relevant to the topic, and should probably be a different topic.

One of the base reasons for the suggestion is to improve the experience for new recruits, such that they stick around the site. I think even a small tweak like this could improve the experience for new recruits (and other players as well) and could positively affect retention and therefore has application to the suggestion.

Queen_Herpes wrote:

Woodruff wrote:

Queen_Herpes wrote:I can see how that would be beneficial to the seasoned user. Would it be better for the person looking for help on a map to have a link to the strategy guide in that location? Or perhaps have both links?

I would say "both", personally. A link to the strategy guide has obvious usefulness. But I wouldn't want to eliminate the link to the discussion topic, for the reason I mentioned above about recommending changes/fixes on maps.

However, this isn't really relevant to the topic, and should probably be a different topic.

One of the base reasons for the suggestion is to improve the experience for new recruits, such that they stick around the site. I think even a small tweak like this could improve the experience for new recruits (and other players as well) and could positively affect retention and therefore has application to the suggestion.

Then you need to VASTLY change your original post, as well as the title for the thread. Because currently, it seems off-topic to me. Not only that, but if that's the goal of this thread, then this thread could simply be a link to the "SUGGESTIONS FORUM".

Woodruff wrote:Then you need to VASTLY change your original post, as well as the title for the thread. Because currently, it seems off-topic to me. Not only that, but if that's the goal of this thread, then this thread could simply be a link to the "SUGGESTIONS FORUM".

In my opinion, this suggestion is an attempt to make some site-wide changes that affect retention. The most striking, glaring, and debateable aspect is the Limiting and Unlocking. Within the suggestion are other debateable perspectives and I am hoping to continue conversation on certain aspects within the whole suggestion. I can change the Title, if that is more appropriate. What follows is (what I hope) to be the current debate on the topic:

Queen_Herpes wrote:Lets return to topic. At present, I'd like to know how players woud like to group the maps:
- whether part of this suggestion or not.
- whether this suggestion gets submitted or approved or shredded.

It seems that most people agree that the way the maps are displayed to all users (especially new users) is not the best.

1. My concept of how to group the maps is listed in the original post....what is your thought?
2. There should be a link to the "map room" on the title bar across the top of the page.
3. There should be a link to "strategy guide" when a player opens a map to review it. Same link should be available on a game in progress.
4. The link to the "discussion topic" when a player opens a map to review it should be removed, it doesn't really help anyone.
5. Map Room should be broken down into categories of maps.

Thoughts?

Queen_Herpes wrote:Lets return to topic. At present, I'd like to know how players woud like to group the maps:
- whether part of this suggestion or not.
- whether this suggestion gets submitted or approved or shredded.

It seems that most people agree that the way the maps are displayed to all users (especially new users) is not the best.

1. My concept of how to group the maps is listed in the original post....what is your thought?
2. There should be a link to the "map room" on the title bar across the top of the page.
3. There should be a link to "strategy guide" when a player opens a map to review it. Same link should be available on a game in progress.
4. The link to the "discussion topic" when a player opens a map to review it should be removed, it doesn't really help anyone.
5. Map Room should be broken down into categories of maps.

Thoughts?

*kicks the dirt from his heels*

1. I like your grouping of the maps.
2. Yes, put a link to the map room.
3. Better to have a strategy guide link than a link to a dead discussion about how to make the map
4. Yep.
5. I agree: categorize the maps!

shanksdigs wrote:*kicks the dirt from his heels*

1. I like your grouping of the maps.
2. Yes, put a link to the map room.
3. Better to have a strategy guide link than a link to a dead discussion about how to make the map
4. Yep.
5. I agree: categorize the maps!

sorry, but most of these are not QH's suggestion... its just that she keeps throwing out whatever she can in the hopes that something will "stick". In particular, the grouping of the maps QH suggests has no bearing on actual play in those maps, despite the many times she has changed it. However, a grouping idea is good... and has been suggested by others. Real groupings that is, not this that QH has presented.

Take what you like and make a new suggestion yourself. This thread has fustrated every old-timer who tries to read it. It does not deserve to be bumped again.

My opinion is that tutorials and such would more likely stop prospective players from staying as opposed to encouraging it. Also, don't most people who start playing here already know how to play the board game? Will the tutorial cover all the different maps available? That would be way too time consuming. I do have an alternative Idea however: Make it so new recruits can only play new recruits until they have played a set number of games. This would at least cut down on farming.

Funkyterrance wrote:My opinion is that tutorials and such would more likely stop prospective players from staying as opposed to encouraging it. Also, don't most people who start playing here already know how to play the board game? Will the tutorial cover all the different maps available? That would be way too time consuming. I do have an alternative Idea however: Make it so new recruits can only play new recruits until they have played a set number of games. This would at least cut down on farming.

Would probably also decrease how many player would have stayed on the site.

Think about it, if you joined this site and got into 4 5 player games with NR's, and a majority of them deadbeated. Would you have stayed with this site?

Hmm...interesting point. How about a maximum point spread between all players for a set number of games. You could play against cooks and privates maybe but no higher? I am one who thinks there is usually a simple solution to any problem so I would love to try and figure this one out.

the problem is that not everybody gets the cc idea automaticly, e.g. does not know you really have to check every 24 hours and games are not instantaious.
some form of a tutorial can help in that respect, and with every other tutorial, it should be skipable

i had never played the boardgame and came here from kdice.com

over there the games are instant, much like the speed games here except turns are 10 or 15 seconds long

it didn't take me long to adjust to this site/game as i was not working at the time & was on more regularly than most nr's

i think the problem is not farming, it is the delay for games to start. there can be a long gap between signing up and the game filling, and then the nr's turn coming up.

the only real solution is to allow nr's to play speed sequential games, maybe limited to 4 or 6 so they get the feel of it. then give them a blurb that they can continue to play for free but with 24 hours turns or buy premium membership to continue to play the speed.

get them hooked then grab their cash

I agree that speed games in the beginning would be a good idea but only if coupled with the limitation on a point spread. Being severely beaten for several games and then being told "ok you will be downgraded now unless you want to pay some money" may not be a good way to get people to join long term.

Dislike this suggestion.

I like the suggestion. However, I think perhaps when you sign up there could be a form asking: Do you want to unlock a million features at once or would you rather the features get unlocked gradually for your account? Or: Do you want to enter our training program for new players? Guaranteed to ensure that you get up to speed!

I also think 16 games is extreme expecially if you are not allowing freestyle. It should stay as a multitiered system but the specific numbers should be reduced to 5 again instead of 15.

Also, while I can understand that people think the maps are the selling point of this site: Sean O'Connor's Conquest has a million maps and has been around a lot longer. The main attraction of this site is the social aspect and the HIGH QUALITY that results from this social element. Encouraging players to go through a training system should introduce them to the social options out there.

I would like to see some actual evidence that players are leaving since they do not understand the options. Maybe if new recruits were sent an email after they missed 2 turns reminding them about the games they are playing and providing a form for why they are not staying. I realize an optional survey has some major potential bias factors but this would be better than nothing.

Right now, conquer club feels like an old AOL game. Now that clickable maps is here, it is getting better. Once some BOB features get implemented I think the site will be able to retain more people.

@greenoaks... i have never played a speed game and don't ever plan on it. I don't agree that it is a big selling point of Premium Membership.

DoomYoshi wrote:@greenoaks... i have never played a speed game and don't ever plan on it. I don't agree that it is a big selling point of Premium Membership.

right now the problem is they join a game to play and their turn doesn't start for 4 days and the next turn isn't for another 5 days.

everyone in sales is taught to make the sale now because if they leave the store they most likely won't come back. speed sells the concept/features of the game/site right at the moment of them wanting to play. if they leave the site without getting to play they most likely won't be back. that is more what i am getting at.

once they use their allocated introduction speed games then a message should inform them of all the features of premium, i was just being lazy when i typed it yesterday.

greenoaks wrote:

DoomYoshi wrote:@greenoaks... i have never played a speed game and don't ever plan on it. I don't agree that it is a big selling point of Premium Membership.

right now the problem is they join a game to play and their turn doesn't start for 4 days and the next turn isn't for another 5 days.

everyone in sales is taught to make the sale now because if they leave the store they most likely won't come back. speed sells the concept/features of the game/site right at the moment of them wanting to play. if they leave the site without getting to play they most likely won't be back. that is more what i am getting at.

once they use their allocated introduction speed games then a message should inform them of all the features of premium, i was just being lazy when i typed it yesterday.

We do live in the "I want it yesterday" mindset.

The problem with allowing instant speed games to new recruits is that it encourages creating multis to get more free speed games...

DoomYoshi wrote:Sean O'Connor's Conquest has a million maps and has been around a lot longer.

You're talking about a single-player downloadable game which is like comparing apples to oranges. Of course, when compared to downloadable games, CC's attraction is the social aspect. But when compared to other similar online game sites, CC's main attraction is the huge variety of maps and game options.