I'm not usually big on the alternate "fan-made rules" type games, but I recently played a random L1 casual game, and it was a pretty bleak scene. Some didn't understand basic mechanics, and quitters are still shockingly frequent (in a 10 player game, 3 people quit). This is also a potential way to sell some L2s and build our player base.

The basic idea is a 2v2v2v2(v2), where each team of 2 is a skilled player(knight) and a newish L1(squire). The knight works with the squire and is compelled to help them be a better player, because their own success depends on it. While the knight and squire are required to work together, they may make diplomacy or attack other teams just like in any other game of subterfuge.

Step by step break-down:
-We gather 4-5 knights (like at least 1400 rating) here on the forum or possibly by direct invite through game.

-The knights create a standard mining casual public game open to the random L1s squires. So if there are 4 knights, the room would be for 8 players.

-It would be non-anonymous, both to make organization possible and to allow for vetting of the L1s to make sure they have at least a few games completed without any resignations.

-Before the game starts, explain to all the L1s that we are doing 2v2v2v2(v2), as set teams and make sure they are cool with the custom rules.

-Play. Win condition is flexible, but my initial thought is:
---Leaderboard is determined by the lower teammate. (So if a team is in 2nd and 6th place, they are considered to be in 6th place).
---If either teammate is eliminated, the other teammate is also considered eliminated for purpose of the leaderboard, but may continue to play to seek revenge and influence the board.

I wouldn't mind playing as a knight. In the next 24 hours my rating should jump up to meet your standards of a 1400 rating.

Sounds like an amazing idea that I wish I could join, but my 1245 rating is not good enough

This sounds fun. I am new and would happily play as a squire, though I have already upgraded to L2.

I also think that this is a good way for new players to get a positive experience in their early games. I can honestly say that my first game was a whole lot of fun for 8 days, until I got backstabbed ruthlessly by an ally I'd had since day one, turning it in to a *mostly* negative experience. Now, I don't blame him, and I understand it is part of the game. But if I had someone along with me to explain how/when/why these things might happen, I could have still enjoyed it.

I only bring this up to say that, though this is just a guess, many new players may play that first game, get in to a situation like this, and quit because of it. A game mode like this could help to alleviate that.

Yeah, I was a little concerned that this might be a bit discriminatory against people in the middle of the spectrum.

My primary focus for now is to train some L1s and hopefully encourage them to buy L2. Basically to level them up to nojo and menace status . Maybe next round if the Knight and Squire format works, we can try including some low rated L2s as squires.

And vext I'm not gunna hound you over being a few points of rating shy. 1392 is close enough.

count me in as one plz

~20 gamez
15 something rating idk exactly

Can only L2's be Knights?
I am quite sure that my rating would be over 1400 if I had L2 (On my other account, because that's the account I've played legitimate games on)
And we don't necessarily have to be L2's to make it a positive experience do we?

Hey, if you need another player, I'm in. 1428 rating.

tw2000 wrote:Can only L2's be Knights?
I am quite sure that my rating would be over 1400 if I had L2 (On my other account, because that's the account I've played legitimate games on)
And we don't necessarily have to be L2's to make it a positive experience do we?

If it were up to me, I'd make the qualification based on number of games played (Maybe 30?), but, based on Kevlargolem's standard, I don't think you qualify.
I'm not saying I doubt your ability, I'm just saying that the cutoff is there for a reason: If your rating is 1400, you've objectively proven that you know how to play the game well. If you don't have a rating, well, we have no reliable information on how good you are.

roadkiehl wrote:

tw2000 wrote:Can only L2's be Knights?
I am quite sure that my rating would be over 1400 if I had L2 (On my other account, because that's the account I've played legitimate games on)
And we don't necessarily have to be L2's to make it a positive experience do we?

If it were up to me, I'd make the qualification based on number of games played (Maybe 30?), but, based on Kevlargolem's standard, I don't think you qualify.
I'm not saying I doubt your ability, I'm just saying that the cutoff is there for a reason: If your rating is 1400, you've objectively proven that you know how to play the game well. If you don't have a rating, well, we have no reliable information on how good you are.

Reliable information? You mean 3 x 10 player gold medals in a row? And only 4 games? I don't exactly think that's co-incidence either.
Plus, as I already said, it doesn't take a L2 player to make it a positive experience, and since that's the main idea of this game mode, it shouldn't exactly matter whether or not you're good. Just that you're decent enough and you give a good impression.