Title^


Pretty much.. we pick an era, then pick team captains. The captains will choose from our list of players and each will create a team. Then we fight for first place on chosen era.

The rules are explained on page 6 in this month's tribune: viewtopic.php?f=395&t=27424&hilit=school+yard

I could host if no one else wants to! I didn't get to participate in the last one, and I really want to try this out!

Last time it happened, my team didn't even form. It was a total BS era


I honestly can't say i'd recommend another one.

I wouldn't mind another one. I probably wouldn't play. But it'd be nice to bring to a server that needs some more competition.

I will say, I believe it was Kenny who said part of the issue was the team captain aspect of the schoolyard showdown. It was a very unique and cool idea, however, it also resulted in multiple half made teams because of members not showing. The biggest issue was people putting their names up to play, but not willing to put in the effort. Sometimes not enough effort to play actively, other times, it was an issue of not even putting enough effort to plant their damn colony.

This then resulted in many teams merging or pulling from outside of the listed contenders, and that resulted in a lot of arguments as people were then able to basically, pick their team (whereas the other's were forced to pick unknowns).

One of the suggestions if this was to be done again was to assign captains and get a list of players available, but instead of the pick 1 at a time system, simply have the captains make their own teams to bring and then pull from the list if they needed more. Those left on the list without a team can then create teams together.

The problem with this idea however, is the exact reason we did the last system of choosing players. The teams that come will pretty much be the same teams we always see with little in the way of people playing with different players they're not used to and we usually end up with only 1 or 2 big boosting teams and then a few small teams with non-boosters that can't keep up and get disinterested quickly.

Soooo, pick your poison!

People just need to stop being wussies.. I think this was originally inspired of what we did on Kong, since it was the exact same method and I remember bringing it up. But there it was mostly players that all knew each other in some way or another, so there was some incentive for them to actually man up and just play hard for whatever team they were chosen for.

Can't we just name and shame those that didn't actually play for the team they were put on? Because having no problems with whatever team you go into really is at the core of this whole idea.

I didn't mind the idea of picking and choosing your team from a list 1 at a time. But, my team also came into the era with only 6 of us... The bigger issue was reliability. Then, even when we did get a full team, about half of those that we picked from the schoolyard list barely logged in and so we ended up replacing them eventually as they may of well have not placed.

I REALLY like the idea of playing with a fairly new and different team. Meeting new people is fun. I'm just giving the inside scoop from what I've heard

Hey Josh,

How about a threeway system?

3 chosen by a captain.

2 by a random number generator.

3 by the organizers.

1 (leftovers) can choose their own team.


Include "replacements" who will fill in roles of last second quitters, maybe an entire team of them.


Start earlier up front.


I'd suggest you organize it as you're both, open for discussion and well versed in the community.

Create a skype group of people to discuss who to place in certain teams - I'd suggest Gaurav, Milan, Matt, Simmen, some newer players I dont know, and yourself. I'd happily help out with that aspect too (though I wouldn't play if my life depended on it).



I think if it's to work, you need to be the one to make it work. You're a BD.com guy who knows a lot of people and knows the issues in BD's community, further, you're capable of argument and reason.




I don't personally think it's a very good idea, because there's a lot of issues with the BD.com community - but this is my opinion on how to attempt.


- Alex checking wether he still has tokens to troll someone. I swear on my life I arent playing. Will prove if PM'd.

would love a fun era like this

if players are known for quitting or not logging in dont draft them

also would it help to keep the teams disclosed to the leaders so that other players dont quite or react different because they know their buddy is on the other team

Secrets are never kept, good diplomats tend to root them out fast. And sadly discluding anyone would be impossible really - who would judge who can, and can not, join? What would come from those who cant? Would they start their own, lessening the already small numbers..?

Besides, the moment you let people decide who can join, you risk it becoming a friendsfest of likeminded people, leading to a probably boring era.


Hence my suggestion, let the leaders choose their "lieutenants", the random number generator force people to play with some strangers, and then have people who either don't want to play and have a decent idea of what a team needs, or who are generally trusted all around as neutral even whilst playing, look at the teams and balance them.

I do like the idea to combine the 3 ways of recruiting to make a team. I think it'll help allow for a better turn out of players as well. Pretty much, those who don't have a particular idea of who they want to play with can simply sign up and wait to be chosen. Those looking to lead can pick their best lieutenants to back them up and then the fun begins.

Now the bigger questions are what world to hold it in and what tick speed.