SO THIS IS A PLEA FROM ONE SCRABBLE JUNKIE TO ALL CASE MEMBERS EVERYWHERE. PLEASE COME BACK!! Or at least air your reasons for leaving the fold.

• Re: Where have all the players gone? View
    by Jheronimus on August 10, 2002 at 05:18:57 PDT
  
  : PLEASE COME BACK!! Or at least air your reasons for leaving the fold.

  Between the time Unk_Myst challenged PUR and Calica challenged AMRITAS, I once went 97 consecutive games without anyone making an incorrect challenge. I returned to V1 shortly after this. Real scrabble is a messy, messy game. Play on this ladder is eerily clean. Not that anyone's cheating or anything.

  Scrabble 3 is due out on September 25. When a ladder for that version emerges, maybe it will evolve differently.

  
  

• Re: Where have all the players gone? View
    by Heavenly_HHJ on August 7, 2002 at 15:45:27 PDT
  
  Quite frankly, "we" (the players who formerly played frequently at this site and now play predominantly elsewhere) left this site because of the blatant dishonesty AND the vicious, vitriolic exchanges that constitute the majority of forum communiques. Who needs the headaches?

  Also, for whatever reason, many of the players here feel that they absolutely must use every second on their clocks, while others of us play much faster. For a faster player, there are other sites where one can set the amount of time for a particular game and, for me at least, playing at those sites is much more fun. You don't have to concern yourself with cheaters as much when you play 10 minute games; they don't have time to go input their racks into search engines and come back and make plays! Just MHO. Helen
  

  • Re: Where have all the players gone? View
      by Nishtya on August 7, 2002 at 16:26:24 PDT
    
    : Quite frankly, "we" (the players who formerly played frequently at this site and now play predominantly elsewhere) left this site because of the blatant dishonesty AND the vicious, vitriolic exchanges that constitute the majority of forum communiques. Who needs the headaches?

    : Also, for whatever reason, many of the players here feel that they absolutely must use every second on their clocks, while others of us play much faster. For a faster player, there are other sites where one can set the amount of time for a particular game and, for me at least, playing at those sites is much more fun. You don't have to concern yourself with cheaters as much when you play 10 minute games; they don't have time to go input their racks into search engines and come back and make plays! Just MHO. Helen

    Helen, where are you playing that they are fast? Please tell me, email me if you rather. I had tried v1 but that seeing your leave business left me cold, I didn't play my usual game. I don't want to go to netscrabble sites that they take a week or a month for one lousey game. That's like email scrabble and sucks the big one. Those players admit to using aids, that is part of it, I think more like a debating club than real scrabble and I got this game hoping for close-to-a-real life gameplay.

    I am fast. Not as fast as you but I can play ten minute games no problem. Let me know.

    Please. Thanks.
    

    • Re: Where have all the players gone? View
        by nyl99 on August 17, 2002 at 21:27:02 PDT
      
      Please tell me as well!
      I love fast scrabble and sorely miss the Mplayer 30 second turns for V1 that was disbanded years ago.
      thanks!
      Nile

      
      

• Re: Where have all the players gone? View
    by patricca on August 7, 2002 at 13:42:53 PDT
  
  : It's a sad state of affairs! We have lost so many players to other sites. Why?

  Astounding. You really don't know yet do you? I will type this slowly for your benefit. People think there are "various" players here who cheat. They have been "unmasqued" in many posts by many different players. People have been complaining since the very conception of this ladder. Most of the posts regarding cheating always seemed to point to you. How could you possibly NOT know that? Look at your own tourney report for chrissakes. Don't you think people find it odd that you lost 3 challenges in one single game when you play 1,000's of games here with never a phony and 100% challenge? What color is the sky in your world?

  : I don't know about the rest of you, but I enjoy this site. (Besides which, it's the only one I can open. I'm useless on the computer.) Very soon there will be no point in keeping it alive. Then what will we do?

  I am glad you enjoy this site site since it seems you have "won it", so to speak. I guess it's the prize for being the unbeatable #1 for so very long. What shall you do when it dies? I have news, it's dead. The players who have left are playing scrabble elsewhere. They have been for a while now.

  : SO THIS IS A PLEA FROM ONE SCRABBLE JUNKIE TO ALL CASE MEMBERS EVERYWHERE. PLEASE COME BACK!! Or at least air your reasons for leaving the fold.

  Come back? No. Reasons? Aired.
  

  • Re: Where have all the players gone? View
      by larrysden on August 7, 2002 at 21:05:48 PDT
    
    Oh, for cripes sake Lori, what does that have to do with a SITE?

    Your 'obvious' personal vendetta with Connie has nothing to do whether one site has more cheaters than another!

    Helen has now introduced those who play a "LONG" game 'which I assume means' close to 25 minutes somehow suggest cheating. What a bunch of nonsense. You guys are out to lunch and a total 'turn-off'.

    All this crap is all the more reason why I haven't played here.

    : : It's a sad state of affairs! We have lost so many players to other sites. Why?

    : Astounding. You really don't know yet do you? I will type this slowly for your benefit. People think there are "various" players here who cheat. They have been "unmasqued" in many posts by many different players. People have been complaining since the very conception of this ladder. Most of the posts regarding cheating always seemed to point to you. How could you possibly NOT know that? Look at your own tourney report for chrissakes. Don't you think people find it odd that you lost 3 challenges in one single game when you play 1,000's of games here with never a phony and 100% challenge? What color is the sky in your world?

    : : I don't know about the rest of you, but I enjoy this site. (Besides which, it's the only one I can open. I'm useless on the computer.) Very soon there will be no point in keeping it alive. Then what will we do?

    : I am glad you enjoy this site site since it seems you have "won it", so to speak. I guess it's the prize for being the unbeatable #1 for so very long. What shall you do when it dies? I have news, it's dead. The players who have left are playing scrabble elsewhere. They have been for a while now.

    : : SO THIS IS A PLEA FROM ONE SCRABBLE JUNKIE TO ALL CASE MEMBERS EVERYWHERE. PLEASE COME BACK!! Or at least air your reasons for leaving the fold.

    : Come back? No. Reasons? Aired.

    
    

    • Re: Where have all the players gone? View
        by Heavenly_HHJ on August 7, 2002 at 22:08:20 PDT
      
      You miss my point Larry. I am not suggesting that everyone who uses all of their times is cheating; in fact, I recognize that many if not most of the top NSA experts pride themselves on using all their time. However, I prefer faster games and one of the benefits of playing faster games is that most, if not all, doubt is removed as to whether your opponent is using an aid. The best part of playing fast games for me is that I can play more than one game during my lunch break at work.

      I did not forsake this site because of suspected cheating; I left primarily because it's boring, boring, boring, to sit and wait for opponents to play. I have to do that at tournaments; I don't have to do it online -- there are other options available.
      

      • Re: Where have all the players gone? View
          by antimaven on August 19, 2002 at 10:19:30 PDT
        
        : You miss my point Larry. I am not suggesting that everyone who uses all of their times is cheating; in fact, I recognize that many if not most of the top NSA experts pride themselves on using all their time.

        
        I believe you're also missing the point, Helen. It's not a matter of "prid[ing] themselves on using all their time," but a realization that playing too fast usually diminishes one's ability to find the best play. Therefore, many players will use as much of their allotted time as they require to accomplish that objective. Best play is the point of the game, isn't it?

        Scrabble is not a race; at its best levels, it's a game of skill with a dash of luck thrown in to foul up the best-laid plans. While 25 minutes probably is overly long for online games, being the computer does all the "paperwork", 10 minutes is 'way too short. (And timing individual turns at any length is simply ludicrous.) 20 minutes seems more reasonable for most players, and for those who are blessed to be both fast and talented, 15 should be about right to balance skill and expediency.

        
        anti
        

      • Re: Where have all the players gone? View
          by larrysden on August 7, 2002 at 23:57:30 PDT
        
        Hi Helen,

        Hmmmm, somewhat confused here!

        Your response to Connie's post:

        Helen>> Quite frankly, "we" (the players who formerly played frequently at this site and now play predominantly elsewhere) left this site because of the "blatant dishonesty" (emphasis mine) AND the vicious, vitriolic exchanges that constitute the majority of forum communiques. Who needs the headaches?

        Your response to me:

        Helen>> : I did not forsake this site because of suspected cheating; I left primarily because it's boring, boring, boring, to sit and wait for opponents to play. I have to do that at tournaments; I don't have to do it online -- there are other options available.

        As far as the vicious, vitriolic forum exchanges, V2 'pales' in comparison to V1 but I can understand your feelings on it.

        Helen>> Also, for whatever reason, many of the players here feel that they absolutely must use every second on their clocks, while others of us play much faster. For a faster player, there are other sites where one can set the amount of time for a particular game and, for me at least, playing at those sites is much more fun. You don't have to concern yourself with cheaters as much when you play 10 minute games; they don't have time to go input their racks into search engines and come back and make plays!

        Isn't the implication of 'possible' cheating relating to amount of time used during a game being made here?

        Helen>> You miss my point Larry. I am not suggesting that everyone who uses all of their times is cheating; in fact, I recognize that many if not most of the top NSA experts pride themselves on using all their time. However, I prefer faster games and one of the benefits of playing faster games is that most, if not all, doubt is removed as to whether your opponent is using an aid. The best part of playing fast games for me is that I can play more than one game during my lunch break at work.

        I have nothing but admiration for ANY player using only ten minutes in a game considering all the possibilities there is. Gosh, I never realized I bored you so much in our games.

        All and all, I enjoyed our games and wish you the best:)

        Larry
        
        

• Re: Where have all the players gone? View
    by dabomb_L on August 6, 2002 at 12:21:52 PDT
  
  I have tried different sites, but so far this is my favorite. It is frusterating when I finally have that moment of peace and I can come here to play and it's empty!!!
  I don't have too much to say, but wanted to respond. Hope more players show up. (I thought maybe there were lots on summer vacation or something haha)
  : It's a sad state of affairs! We have lost so many players to other sites. Why?
  : The ladder room is nearly always empty during the day. It's so hard to scare up a game.
  : I've taken to playing in Basic, even though most of the players are very unskilled, just to get a game. Today, even Basic was empty. It's 1pm and not one game is being played anywhere on our zone.
  : The message forum hasn't had a post since mid-July. No one reads. No one cares. Probably no one will see this post.
  : I made a congratulatory post for Cyberwolf a month ago. Not one of you got on the bandwagon after he won the tourney in A.C.
  : It seems that the only time there is any converstion is when a negative post is made. We don't even have that anymore, not that I'm looking for that kind of activity.

  : I don't know about the rest of you, but I enjoy this site. (Besides which, it's the only one I can open. I'm useless on the computer.) Very soon there will be no point in keeping it alive. Then what will we do?

  : SO THIS IS A PLEA FROM ONE SCRABBLE JUNKIE TO ALL CASE MEMBERS EVERYWHERE. PLEASE COME BACK!! Or at least air your reasons for leaving the fold.

  
  

• Re: Where have all the players gone? View
    by larrysden on August 4, 2002 at 20:51:58 PDT
  
  Hi Connie,

  Remember me:)...In a nutshell, here is a game comment TODAY between 'morrocastle' and 'nana_1930'.

  MATCH INFORMATION
  8/4/02 14:41:42
  MATCH COMMENTS:
  "uses franklin"

  What gall!!!... Guess it seems nana_1930 has some crystal ball that enabled her/him to come to the conclusion that morrocastle is a cheat. Whether this player may have spent hours studying words or who knows how many years they may have spent playing this game. This 'nana' character' has determined them a cheat. What a turn-off!

  I've simply lost interest here although I do miss our comradery. Several players I've noticed went to V1, maybe due to more players in the ladder. I've noted even MR_CASE there.

  I still continue to check both forums, V1 is much more active and has always been. Rapier the "duck" seem to have some secret formula that V2 has an exorbitant amount of cheaters compared to V1. What an idiot!

  For some reason, ladders seem to bring out the worst in people, beats me why! As for myself, I've joined 'net scrabble' sites. It's convenient for many reasons but foremost, there isn't the petty nonsense both ladders here get involved with. I seriously doubt I will ever return to ladder play.

  
  : It's a sad state of affairs! We have lost so many players to other sites. Why?
  : The ladder room is nearly always empty during the day. It's so hard to scare up a game.
  : I've taken to playing in Basic, even though most of the players are very unskilled, just to get a game. Today, even Basic was empty. It's 1pm and not one game is being played anywhere on our zone.
  : The message forum hasn't had a post since mid-July. No one reads. No one cares. Probably no one will see this post.
  : I made a congratulatory post for Cyberwolf a month ago. Not one of you got on the bandwagon after he won the tourney in A.C.
  : It seems that the only time there is any converstion is when a negative post is made. We don't even have that anymore, not that I'm looking for that kind of activity.

  : I don't know about the rest of you, but I enjoy this site. (Besides which, it's the only one I can open. I'm useless on the computer.) Very soon there will be no point in keeping it alive. Then what will we do?

  : SO THIS IS A PLEA FROM ONE SCRABBLE JUNKIE TO ALL CASE MEMBERS EVERYWHERE. PLEASE COME BACK!! Or at least air your reasons for leaving the fold.

  
  

  • Re: Where have all the players gone? View
      by Heavenly_HHJ on August 7, 2002 at 15:53:16 PDT
    
    Whoa Larry -- look who's jumping to conclusions. It's entirely possible that player 1 TOLD player 2 that he/she uses a Franklin. I played someone a few months ago who was making astonishing plays and at about mid-game told me he was using an electronic dictionary and didn't know the off-the-wall word he played before he found it with the dictionary! I advised this person that using a dictionary was highly unethical and he told me that other players on the Zone had told him it was optional!!!!! I asked who told him this and he declined to respond. After the game this player immediately started bugging me to report, which I decided to do, WITH THE COMMENT THAT HE WAS USING A DICTIONARY. The player became irate and quit the ladder (BIG loss there). My point is, for all you know Player A may very well have told Player B that he uses an aid.....

    Helen

    
    

    • Re: Where have all the players gone? View
        by larrysden on August 7, 2002 at 20:49:37 PDT
      
      Hi Helen!

      I may have jumped to conclusions BUT I don't think so. This is an on-line game, whether it's V1 or V2. To say that V2 has more cheaters is pure poppycock bullcrap.

      I'm gald you found a home in your scrabble game (from your comment to Connie). I never realized a "quick" game was so important to you nor did I realize a "slow" game made inferences to possibly cheating to you.

      Last I saw, 25 minutes was allowed, both here and NSA play. I find it interesting that when it's use here, it somehow implies one may be cheating. Go figure:)

      : Whoa Larry -- look who's jumping to conclusions. It's entirely possible that player 1 TOLD player 2 that he/she uses a Franklin. I played someone a few months ago who was making astonishing plays and at about mid-game told me he was using an electronic dictionary and didn't know the off-the-wall word he played before he found it with the dictionary! I advised this person that using a dictionary was highly unethical and he told me that other players on the Zone had told him it was optional!!!!! I asked who told him this and he declined to respond. After the game this player immediately started bugging me to report, which I decided to do, WITH THE COMMENT THAT HE WAS USING A DICTIONARY. The player became irate and quit the ladder (BIG loss there). My point is, for all you know Player A may very well have told Player B that he uses an aid.....

      : Helen

      :

      
      

      • Re: Where have all the players gone? View
          by patricca on August 8, 2002 at 02:21:59 PDT
        
        : Hi Helen!

        : I may have jumped to conclusions BUT I don't think so. This is an on-line game, whether it's V1 or V2. To say that V2 has more cheaters is pure poppycock bullcrap.

        Speaking for myself, it was never a question of "more" cheaters here vs. anywhere, it was the blantancy of the cheating itself. It certainly may be because of the challenge feature (ver 1 players can't aspire to the lofty 100% challenge ratio; they already have it via Maven), so the comparison between the 2 sites becomes a bit clouded. Your point about "more or less cheaters" seems skewed because ver 1 usually has at least 30 or so playing while ver 2 has far less. So does ver 1 have more? Maybe, but they are spread a little thinner. Or did you mean to say they have the same ratio?

        : Last I saw, 25 minutes was allowed, both here and NSA play. I find it interesting that when it's use here, it somehow implies one may be cheating. Go figure:)

        You say "go figure" as if this such an incredulous implication that it gives one pause for thought. Your 25 min in NSA play are spent not only playing, but tracking, keeping score, drawing tiles plus challenging and holding. Most players STILL don't use their 25 minutes. That's why to some it is irritating to play a full 25 min online game. There's really no reason for it. You are already getting a free gift of time what with Maven doing much of your work.

        
        Over and out
        
        

  • Re: Where have all the players gone? View
      by parteegirl on August 5, 2002 at 13:25:30 PDT
    
    Hi Larry! Nice to see your face, so to speak!
    I do miss you and wish you would return but there is really nothing to return TO. The ladder room is dead and the players are few and far between.

    Cyberwolf gave me info on another site but I couldn't get in. My Quicktime reader came up with a torn Q and wouldn't do the download. I don't know how to remedy that.
    If you know of an easy site to get into, onto, please let me know.
    I went to e-bay and bought a V1 cd. It hasn't arrived yet, but when it does, I'll try it out. I was told that the V1 glitch is that you can see your opponents "leave" each play if you hit game recap. Is that possible?
    Nice chatting with you. Bye for now!
    

    • Re: Where have all the players gone? View
        by larrysden on August 5, 2002 at 18:00:12 PDT
      
      Hi Connie,

      I'll Email you regarding how net/scrabble works. As far as V1 is concerned, YES...their 'glitch' is their "game recap" quandry which basically tells your opponent your 'unplayed' letters on your last turn IF they choose to inquire. Hmmmm considered "cheating".

      But then, according to DUCK rational, cheating only occurs in V2. HaHa! I'll get back to you hopefully tonight but definitely tomorrow!

      : Hi Larry! Nice to see your face, so to speak!
      : I do miss you and wish you would return but there is really nothing to return TO. The ladder room is dead and the players are few and far between.

      : Cyberwolf gave me info on another site but I couldn't get in. My Quicktime reader came up with a torn Q and wouldn't do the download. I don't know how to remedy that.
      : If you know of an easy site to get into, onto, please let me know.
      : I went to e-bay and bought a V1 cd. It hasn't arrived yet, but when it does, I'll try it out. I was told that the V1 glitch is that you can see your opponents "leave" each play if you hit game recap. Is that possible?
      : Nice chatting with you. Bye for now!

      
      

      • Re: Where have all the players gone? View
          by susan912 on August 5, 2002 at 20:07:35 PDT
        
        : Hi Connie,

        : I'll Email you regarding how net/scrabble works. As far as V1 is concerned, YES...their 'glitch' is their "game recap" quandry which basically tells your opponent your 'unplayed' letters on your last turn IF they choose to inquire. Hmmmm considered "cheating".

        : But then, according to DUCK rational, cheating only occurs in V2. HaHa! I'll get back to you hopefully tonight but definitely tomorrow!

        
        : : Hi Larry! Nice to see your face, so to speak!
        : : I do miss you and wish you would return but there is really nothing to return TO. The ladder room is dead and the players are few and far between.

        : : Cyberwolf gave me info on another site but I couldn't get in. My Quicktime reader came up with a torn Q and wouldn't do the download. I don't know how to remedy that.
        : : If you know of an easy site to get into, onto, please let me know.
        : : I went to e-bay and bought a V1 cd. It hasn't arrived yet, but when it does, I'll try it out. I was told that the V1 glitch is that you can see your opponents "leave" each play if you hit game recap. Is that possible?
        : : Nice chatting with you. Bye for now!

        Well I too enjoy this site But have joined the version 1 ladder as well. There are plenty of people to play there . I just come here because i love scrabble. I'm not interested in arguing or accusing. Winning or losing is unimportant as well, i think that games were designed to teach good sportsmanship. I sure hope this ladder is able to revive itself . It would be a shame to not be able to play here anymore.