Khal, the new-old guy

[Khal]

Hi all, Khal here and loving this version of MULE. I played when I was a kid on the Atari 800XL, then over the years I’ve been known to break out an Atari emulator and have a bash, this has to be my favourite game of all time. One of the great things about this version of MULE (so far) is that the people are on the whole really friendly, a great community; which means I'll be hanging around quite a lot. Even if I do always lose

[Blitzen]

Hiya Khal, come on let us know which one of your conflicting personalities is doing the thinking:

http://www.planetmule.com/forum?topic=1052.0

 

[Khal]

One of the great things about this version of MULE (so far) is that the people are on the whole really friendly, a great community; which means I'll be hanging around quite a lot.

Scrap that, I've now played about a week. Best position I've come in a game is 3rd (that I remember), that's not a problem, I don’t mind losing. I can only play between 11pm and 2am (GMT) due to work and found often that there went many games to join, so I found out how and hosted a few of my own, 3 in total. The 3rd game will be my last. Apparently there are rules that a host should follow so that they don’t have an advantage, fair enough. But could we have those rules documented somewhere so that new players that decide to host games (also allowing others to play when otherwise they may not have been able to) can learn them? This might avoid said new players being called a 'dick' by sub 100 rank players when they do something wrong that they don’t know about.

This high level of competitiveness and a lack of tolerance for new players may be the reason that not many people play. The phrase 'cutting your own nose off to spite your face' comes to mind.

So, I will no longer be hosting games or playing online games of mule, mainly because as a new player I do not appreciate being called a dick by someone that should know better.

So in summary, if there are rules for hosts to follow that everyone should know please document them and make them highly visible on the website.

So long, an ex-mule player.

[leahcim99]

That's too bad Khal - I hope you do not let an isolated incident cause you to abandon MULE.

As to rules.....I have hosted over 200 games and I am not aware or any OFFICIAL Rules....my own - NO QUITTERS, NO KICKING.

Sometimes you will find people who, for whatever reason are not very friendly....these are the exception....NOT the Rule - I keep a Do Not Play list and will not play them a second time.

There are a few things to note however....
a) There exists a "host advantage" because of PINGs. A host can "see" slightly sooner than the other players and it may seem that they sometimes "cherrypick" the high plots.
b) There is a debate over a host trying for a plot when he is in the lead and only 3 plots left - the "spirit" of the game is that those in last 3 positions should get those plots...if you a host and in 1st, you may still be able to steal a plot. Different hosts have different view points on this (mine is to ALWAYS PRESS THE BUTTON regardless and sometimes I get one and sometimes I don't)
c) During land auctions....the host "sees" the true price while the other players have a slight lag - this also give an advantage to host in that your screen shows you higher BUT the host's screen shows true and they get plot - this can be a little annoying to some players and they may respond in a negative manner.

Stick with it a little longer, try to get in some games on your days off so you not stuck in the "low" time when few players signed on, and I think you will find MOST of us here at Planet Mule are pretty decent sorts.

We joke and cuss each other but not usually meant in a mean way. (EXCEPT for MuleyMan's desire for the Brad Bomb    we are not sure about that)

Again, we need players, and we need hosts, so don't let the isolated incident turn you off - REMEMBER the NEW VERSION is SERVER based so HOST advantage should go the way of the DOO DOO and you will no longer be erroneously perceived as a "dick"

[doktorbuzzo]

For the record, Khal is posting regarding a game in which I was the sub-100 player. You can see the chat transcript here: http://www.planetmule.com/server/chats/chat_game_31075_user_18085.html.

I'm not going to belabor the point, but the transcript speaks for itself.

Saying a player's move is a "dick move" is not the same as insulting the player, but I understand that this distinction may not matter to some. For which I accept responsibility. But Khal misrepresents events on two significant counts, namely:

1. I and another player were quick to assert that neither of us believed Khal's move was a deliberate abuse. In fact this assertion was repeated several times. I don't know what more I or anyone else could do to mitigate my outburst (mild at best) of frustration, but such is life.

2. Khal's reaction to this was to sulk and then terminate the game, robbing another player of what was a likely win. And in addition to being a "dick move" it also, IMO, betrays a selfish "dick personality," the PM analogue of the child that quits games and takes the only ball home.

I really don't know what came over Khal to terminate the entire game. Kick me out but don't rob somebody else's win just because your feelings got hurt by a sub-100 jerk that habitually disrespects new players (just ask them, they'll tell you what an ass I am).

PM... pout mule or planet mule? I'll let the transcript speak for me.

[leahcim99]

Thank You for the info dok - from the post I can see that perhaps Khal did over re-act - what was said seems tame to some of our conversations.

You acknowledged that he was new and may not have know of the "advantage bug" but you did not call him a dick, you told him it was a dick move (and would seems so when going for 12).

Again, thank you for the link so that BOTH sides are available.

Khal - I think you may be over reacting to dok's comments as they do not seem to be insulting.

[piete]

b) There is a debate over a host trying for a plot when he is in the lead and only 3 plots left - the "spirit" of the game is that those in last 3 positions should get those plots...if you a host and in 1st, you may still be able to steal a plot. Different hosts have different view points on this (mine is to ALWAYS PRESS THE BUTTON regardless and sometimes I get one and sometimes I don't)

The "spirit" of the game is that nobody likes the first founder anyway! And one of the other players could be picking their nose during the land grant, so for colony's sake better take the plot than not. 

BTW, if I hosted a game and someone offended me, I would kick them out. "Dick move" wouldn't have been an offense though, more like a compliment

Nowadays the few games I'm able to play I try to play with players I know.

[leahcim99]

I agree (and hope) that other player picking at something which is why I ALWAYS Press and Hold host or no

Don't like A.I. which is why I do not like to kick BUT I will put affensive people on my DNP list

[Khal]

Well, what annoyed me was the fact that dok believed he had the unspoken right to the last plot of land. I wasn’t leading the game and I tried for the other available plots on that round as well. To begin with I thought his comments were just banter, but it became apparent he was serious. I was unaware of any special rules regarding hosting a game. It just seemed that because that plot would have meant him getting his 12 plots (and bonus) he decided to ‘educate’ the noob by saying that that plot was his, and I ‘stole’ it. Ridiculous.

So, let’s get this straight, the circumstances were, I was 2nd and dok was 3rd. Player 1 was probably unbeatable at that point. There were 2 plots up for grabs. I tried for the first but didn’t get it so also tried for the next one, and luck would have it I got it. Is one tactic not to deny others certain resources in order to improve your own position? To me it seemed that because he didn’t get his 12 plots, and bonus he decided to have a go, there was no need.  According to the ‘rule’ (b), the ‘spirit of the game’ the leader would not gain a plot if there isn’t one for everyone.  How does that affect me? I wasn’t leading. Please explain.

[Khal]

Is it that because there was only 2 plots the last 2 should have gotten them? Another good reason for not playing, if there are rules on top of rules that the game itself doesnt know about or inforce theres a big problem. If you are going to be told that you did a 'dick move' ie, a move that would be made by a dick, just for trying to do well then that is not a worthwile, or friendly gaming environment. Bear in mind that i was only playing to get the best position possible, like everyone does, and I was up against players much more experienced than me. 2nd would have actually been my best finishing position ever. Chances are I still would have come last anyway.

[Khal]

2. Khal's reaction to this was to sulk and then terminate the game, robbing another player of what was a likely win. And in addition to being a "dick move" it also, IMO, betrays a selfish "dick personality," the PM analogue of the child that quits games and takes the only ball home.

Lastly, there you go again dok, like to thrown the insults around dont you. Everyone else I've played with over the last week will know that I was only in it for fun, and didnt mind losing so long as we had some fun doing it. You are way off the mark with the comment above. Please note also that in the other games I'd hosted I came last and at best 3rd.

And as for being selfish, i put a lot of effort in to finding out how and sorting out my netwrok so I could host games, not just for me but so others could also play, there are almost always people sitting around moaning because nobody can host.

[moodzzz]

dok is a sound player.
i was in that game and khal's sulk, then termination of the game was out of order. that is it.... khal's not as much as a noob as he keeps shouting about. I don't know any host that would use the host advantage to claim one of the last plots... It's kinda common knowledge, i learnt that after my 2nd game.
The more i hear the looooooong justifications of his actions in that game, the more it sounds daft.
that is all
(tho it prob won't be)