The tournament and a question of ethics - newbie question

[tbontob]

Let's define some terms first insofar as they may apply to the tournament:

1) Illegal - an action or non-action that contravenes the rules of the game.
2) Unethical - an action or non-action which is not illegal (i.e. there is no specific rule against it), but it is something which is generally frowned upon.

I went to the game site and found little to guide a players conduct.

For example: Communication...what is permitted?
a) Only Messages which are allowed through the game interface.
b) Any kind including e-mail, telephone, face to face etc.

a) above would seem to be the fairest but there is the question of discovering the infraction (very difficult), and enforcement.

So b) would seem to be the applicable standard to be applied...that is any and all kind of communication is permitted.

I have a whole bunch of additional questions, but want to take this step by step...in case I take a wrong turning along the way

[geoschmo]

Typically for games I ask that there be no specfifc game information (loactions, plans, etc.) sharing prior to making contact in the game. The exception to this might be a team game with predefined teams.

After contact I almost never have problem with email or any other sort of out of game communication. Unless it is some type of special role play game.

The nature of this tournament is quite different than the typical game however. I am inclined to allow email communication even prior to in game contact for these games. Some players may want to cooperate for several rounds in a row in an effort to assist each other late into the tournament. This will be difficult to do if out of game communication prior to in game contact is restricted.

Geoschmo

EDIT: Sorry if I did not definativly answer your question. I will do so beofre the start of the first round so there is no doubt about where everybody stands. If anyone cares to make their opinion known one way or the other please do so.

[ August 23, 2002, 18:25: Message edited by: geoschmo ]

[capnq]

Geo once posted a fairly long set of guidelines to consider when setting up a PBW game, but darned if I can coax the thread out of the search engine.

[tbontob]

Originally posted by geoschmo:
Sorry if I did not definativly answer your question. I will do so beofre the start of the first round so there is no doubt about where everybody stands. If anyone cares to make their opinion known one way or the other please do so.

Unfortunately, the damage may [edit "have"] already been done.

For example...alliances. They may have already formed. Simple ones, like 1) We will not attack each other in this game or 2) when we meet, we immediately enter into a treaty to share resources & research etc. and trade our discoveries. 3) Or worse, you research this area and I'll research another and then immediately give the other our discovery.

And some players may not even have to verbalize the alliance they intend to use...there is just a "understanding" to continue with the type of alliance they used in the past...

[ August 23, 2002, 18:38: Message edited by: tbontob ]

[geoschmo]

Exacltly. And that's the kind of thing I want to encourage in this tournament. Normally I try to discourage it, but I think it will add a lot to the cutthroat nature of this format.

So I guess I will go ahead and say there is no problem with doing these sorts of things in this game. However no one should assume since I am allowing it and encouraging it here that I support it for all games. You should always defer to the game owner on those sorts of things. And you should ask before you make any of these kinds of pre-arangments in a game.

But for this tournament, it's ok.

Geoschmo

[tbontob]

So, it would appear to this newbie (i.e. me) that the person's odds to win increase with the size of the alliance he enters into.

The one who either goes it alone or enters one with [edit] only a few members is likely to be a prime target.

[ August 23, 2002, 19:02: Message edited by: tbontob ]