I Played this game in the 90's. Decided recently to try and get back into it...the part I'm confused about is Why there are SO MANY games that have 1 player in them duping and no other player and it's virtually impossible to get into them of course. My question is,why would a player make THE whole game inaccessible to anyone else? How is this fun for them playing alone or any others wanting to play? And why do so many Sysops let the games run like this? Viper's Pit run by Starkiller literally has 1 playing "the same guy" in every game and he's taken over it completely keeping all other player out? why would you run so many games for this 1 single player? I have found alot of other games like this also, help me understand because it's seeming like this game isn't worth picking up again just because the community is very lacking and there are people like this locking out anyone from playing.

Really in the end it is all about winning, right? any time I join an unlimited turn game I play it like it is a deathmatch and hopefully only going to last 1 night.. if no one shows up until day 2 or 3 I can easily kill them and not have to worry about what they are doing to me while I am not at keys. I also gave everything I had to a player recently around day 3 or 4 in a subzero edit unlimited because I just do not have time to devote to it, and would rather give it to someone else that does. In the last few years though it seems that even in a low turn rebang of a popular edit on a popular server the key is to be there right when it opens or else you may not be "allowed" in by whoever was there on time. I agree this is not the same style game that we played in the 90's but I also do not want to be the king of Sht mountain day 1 and get killed while afk on day 3 and have to hear about how awesome someone is on the forums for beating me. I like 1 night games because I do not have time to devote to anything more.. I also like the idea (I do not play in them) the builder games on a couple servers including Star Killers server that you referenced that allows real building and game play without full time at key time.

Pretty much what Loc said.

Game selection is the key - on SK's server it's unregulated games I assume people are going to play to win. It's a war game, you win war games by controlling the field of play, and you do that via dropping figs.

You just can't win a competitive game by turning up late. If I do play a casual game, you've turned up 4 hours late, and you can move about easily. It probably means I've probed, going to let you build a base, and I'll know where you are to a level of certainty that you are already dead.

I highly suggest you go to Crunchers server:
Cruncherstw.no-ip.biz
2002
it's set up to ease returning players into the game. There are also games designed to keep grid muppets like me out from ruining your day
i.e. low turns, can't be online 24/7, you won't get instantly photoned by a pdrop script.

Also, if you don't have it you should consider Discord, and join her server. Lots of friendly discussion and help there.. I don't have a link but sure she can provide

I feel i must weigh in here also...

As when I spoke to you via email, I told you that Viper's Pit(My V1 server) Was totally unregulated. and that if you where not a scriptor and did not get in on day one you would not have chance.

I also suggested you try my V2 server(sk-twgs.com Port 2002) where there are many games with rules.

You mentioned the word Dupe in your post. A player playing multiple games on the same server is not a Dupe. Its only when a player tires to run multiple players in the game that is duping. Both of my servers run software to prevent this(tho I grant you this is getting hard and harder to do)

but if you really want to return on my V2 or on Crunchers I would be happy to help you get started any way I can.

sk

Keep an eye on new game resets and try to get in from the start. I do try to give players a week's notice before I open a game. In my sig you'll see all my server contact info, Discord server is where most hang out now, I also have a FB page and a blog.

Then there's Microblaster.net that lists all current servers. Lots to choose from but unless you're starting in a regulated game on Star Killer's server, you best be in at the start.

Happy Trading!