Re: Mechanisms to combat multiple-entry by a player

From: Enno Rehling <enno@despammed.com>

Date: Mon, 09 Jun 2003 16:02:54 +0000

> 1) Allow it and encourage it. Everyone can do it, so it's not unfair
 > on anyone. This is often pretty straight forward to implement both
 > rules-wise and implementation-wise.

That inhibits the game far too much, in my opinion. For example, I
usually want players to make hard but meaningful choices. Specialize one
way or another, not both. If a player can chose to do both, just because
he plays two factions, this becomes a pretty futile excercise.

Also, good PBEMs should encourage cooperation. But no means of
cooperation can be as good as when I'm cooperating with myself, so if
two factions are played by the same player, he's got an advantage over
two players that need to synchronize and communicate.

How do you detect multis then? Hard to do. You can do a number of
things, but nothing that doesn't take insane amounts of work is perfect.

Cookies? I've told my browser to trash any cookie whenever I close the
browser session. However, you can detect a lot of people that way,
especiylly if they don't know that you're doing it.

IP Addresses? A lot of people have dynamic IPs. However, you could make
it a rule to only allow one signup per subnet, and even redialing won't
get them in - unless they have multiple providers, which is possible
(when I lived in Germany, I used 4 different ones. They have
pay-per-call internet there, with no registration or monthly charge
required).

With each rule you add, you're not just catching a few multis, but
you're also spoiling the game for husband & wife, close friends, etc.
who want to play together. Is that something you want to deny as well?
If not, is it worth making it difficult for them to play, in order to
catch a multi?

Payment is usually a good deterrent. Charge a sign-up fee, and players
won't play 10 factions. Or if they do, at least you'll get some
compensation for the time you spend on having to track them down...

Enno.

References

Mechanisms to combat multiple-entry by a player
wavey@parcelfarce.linux.theplanet.co.uk
Sun, 08 Jun 2003 10:01:26 +0000
Re: Mechanisms to combat multiple-entry by a player
bcd@pvv.ntnu.no (Bent C Dalager)
Sun, 08 Jun 2003 14:37:03 +0000