Can Fast and Slow Players Play Together?: To Separate or Not To Separate?
This week, our community held a debate on Discord: "To Separate or Not To Separate? Should slower and faster players avoid playing together?" During the discussion, 75% of participants voted no, showing that most players prefer everyone to play together, while 25% voted yes to separate faster and slower players. The debate revealed a diverse range of opinions and valuable insights from our community.
Why Some Players Support Separation
Separating slower and faster players can improve the overall experience for everyone. Key reasons include:
Pacing and Fairness: Fast players with limited time may prefer opponents who play at a similar speed. Long waits for slower players can reduce enjoyment. Slow opponents can reduce excitement for faster players.
Reduced Frustration: Deliberately slow players can frustrate faster participants and make games less enjoyable.
Focused Gameplay: Slower players may feel rushed when playing with faster ones, preventing them from thinking carefully about their next moves. Playing too quickly or too slowly can disrupt focus and strategy.
Turn Timing and Fairness: Longer decision times by slower players can make the game feel unbalanced. Separating players by speed can help create a fairer environment.
Matching Speeds for Limited Time Players: Some fast players simply don’t have time for slow-paced games, and prefer playing with those whose speed matches theirs.
Why Most Players Prefer Mixed Games
Despite the above, the majority of voters prefer to mix slower and faster players. The reasons include:
Inclusivity: Games should be accessible to everyone, regardless of speed. All players should feel welcome and included.
Learning Opportunities: Slower players can learn by watching faster players, improving their strategies naturally.
Social Interaction and Community: Mixed games encourage conversation, mentorship, and camaraderie, making each session more dynamic.
Practice and Adaptability: Mixed-speed games allow players to practice different strategies and adapt to new paces. Separation limits opportunities to develop new skills.
Optional Solutions: Instead of strict separation, turn time limits can balance fairness and pace, allowing all players to enjoy the game.
Insights From the Debate
The discussion highlighted several broader insights:
Variable Speeds: Players’ pace can change depending on their familiarity with a game. Fast players may slow down when learning, and slower players may pick up speed with experience.
Frustration vs. Fun: While slower players may frustrate faster ones, impatience from faster players can reduce enjoyment for slower participants. Balancing these perspectives is essential. Patience and understanding improve the game for everyone.
Adaptation and Flexibility: Patience, communication, and understanding are crucial to making mixed-speed games successful.
Lessons Learned
Key takeaways from this debate include:
- Inclusivity Wins: Most of our community values allowing everyone to participate, regardless of pace.
- Mixed Games Encourage Growth: Slower players can improve by observing faster players, and faster players can practice patience.
- Optional Rules Can Help: Turn time limits or optional "fast-only" rooms allow fairness without separating players.
- Communication Is Key: Discussing pace expectations can prevent frustration and make games more enjoyable.
What This Means for Freethedice
These insights can guide how we organize gameplay on Freethedice:
- Create optional rooms for "fast-only" or "casual" players.
- Use turn time limits in mixed games to balance fairness and excitement.
- Encourage a community culture of patience, mentorship, and flexibility.
Click now to join: freethedice's Weekly Debate at Discord