Multiplayer Lix players, we need to talk!

[Flopsy]

Lix people, we need to talk.

I want to address the fact that we haven't had very well attended Lix multiplayer sessions since pretty much just after the Handicap update was implemented, about a year ago now (20th Nov 2022). That was the last time we played an eight player multiplayer map.
Since then, we've been lucky to get 5 people each session.

We typically play on Sunday evenings when we do arrange a session but I have been doing all the arranging and Sunday is my most available night of the week. But I feel like we have fallen into the trap of arranging on a Sunday because it is the most convenient thing to do now with it being the "safe" day.

Is it the time of day which is preventing you from playing? We typically play at about 5pm UTC in the summertime or at 6pm UTC in the wintertime to account for the clocks changing periodically but that is pretty much the same time. It is usually 6pm UK time.

The handicap feature has been implemented to help the new players play on a level playing field when compared to myself, IchoTolot, geoo and Simon who are more experienced at the game. This should theoretically make it easier for new players to have fun.

If the fact that I have been making a lot of experimental new maps every session has been a problem with helping people who are new to the game, I can stop making new maps for the time being.

I want to hear from the people who are wanting to come and play Lix with us more often or even new players who haven't played and would like to:
- is playing on Sundays the barrier which is preventing you from playing? What would be a better day to play?
- is playing at 6pm UK time (5pm-6pm UTC) preventing you from playing? What would be a better time to play?
- is the intense learning curve of the multiplayer game preventing you from playing?
- is the large amount of new maps been a problem in introducing you to the game properly, would playing more classic maps help?

Maybe this post is not necessary but I just want to know if there is any problems with the current system we seem to have in place.

[mobius]

I haven't joined in a quite a while because I basically lost interest in the game. I was never real fond of the more complicated maps to begin with and preferred the simpler ones but now I realize its more just I'm not motivated to spend the time needed to get good at the game to really have fun. I hope those who want to keep playing can find a way to make it work!

[IchoTolot]

I usually can make sunday, but it depends a bit on my "exhaustion level" that weekend. Let's say being totally tired is not a fun way to play Lix.

I would say saturday is even a bit more conveniant for me but otherwise the timeslot is totally fine for me.

[Simon]

The optimal way for new players: Find another new player, and play together. Discover some strategies yourself.

The central gameserver is always online (Network Game -> Play on the Central Server). You don't have to wait for our scheduled sessions. Ask your friend in your favorite chat tool for a spontaneous session.

Don't memorize hotkeys before your first game. Maybe learn a single hotkey, e.g., for the builder, and click all other skills. After all, IchoTolot plays a strong game and still clicks on the skill buttons.

Our scheduled sessions take 2 to 4 hours and I livestream them, that's a lot of energy for me. You don't have to attend all of it, you can join or leave between any two games. A single game takes only a few minutes.

If you have nobody to play: Ask me in IRC (Quakenet #lix, you can join chat in your browser). I'm happy to play 1v1, or with a group of new players. We can play even games or handicap games, as you like.


About Flopsy's questions: Saturday or Sunday are both fine with me. I've left it to you because you work for your job on weekends and I don't.

I'm happy to play with fewer players. After all, Lix is most strategic at two players, or with two teams. But bigger sessions reach more players, which spreads the love further.

-- Simon

[Silken Healer]

The time and date is fine for me and I currently have no preference.

As for feedback for the sessions, I notice sometimes we play a map a few times, I slowly but surely get familiar with it and then we just switch to a new map after only a couple of games where I am familiar. I would prefer it if we played maps for a few more times before switching. I don't really know what maps count as "classic" or not. I'm speaking more about specific to the session, than between sessions. I suppose I would prefer playing the same maps between sessions too, though. Does "classic" mean simple? If so, I suppose more simple maps would be better too. However, I don't really mind what maps we play, I would just prefer to play them more times in a row per session. I do like the map where you have to send your Lix down, build a bridge back up and then free them. Just throwing my feedback out there though, nothing has to be changed.

Also iirc have we even been using the handicap feature, I think we only used it the first session after it was released?

The central gameserver is always online (Network Game -> Play on the Central Server). You don't have to wait for our scheduled sessions. Ask your friend in your favorite chat tool for a spontaneous session.

I used to have a couple of friends from other online communities but they now we're not friends anymore now. If we can make up and be friends again one day in the future, I'll ask them if they want to play Lix, and maybe we can have a couple extra players, but I don't know if they're busy, if they'd like Lix, etc.

If you have nobody to play: Ask me in IRC (Quakenet #lix, you can join chat in your browser). I'm happy to play 1v1, or with a group of new players. We can play even games or handicap games, as you like.

Sure! I'd be happy to play 1v1 with you. I heard that the IRC was deprecated now but I guess not.