Variants Server Suggestions [Post-4PC Merge]

Yep, this suggestion is already being addressed. See the response here.

One thing that needs to be added is an index for the variants and/or setups created by community members showing who created what position

There may be some who want recognition, but I've always been opposed to this idea. In addition to the fact that we simply don't know the creators of every position, it sends a message that you should create positions solely for the purpose of having your name etched into a hall of fame. I'm not saying creators shouldn't be proud of their work, but the starting point should always be a unique tactic/gameplay idea on the board, not "Oh, let's see what I can make today." For example, when I made ≶tand≸till, I started with the idea of needing to stalemate an immune zombie at the most opportune moment. ≋Across the River≋ started with the idea of two concurrent games in a teams format.  My idea for The ❂cean was to make KotH only one square, and only accessible by a royal knight. Good positions should speak for themselves, not their creators.

No, I disagree. Custom position creation is a creative work and the creator should be credited for their creation. About sending a message that you should create positions solely for the purpose of having your name attributed to it, that may be your opinion not mine. I have 3 positions that I created on the variants server right now (created in 2017, 2018 and 2019) which was before this whole custom variants thing. Further, I was told that I would be credited for the creation of the positions when they were added to the server

I generally agree with grable on this one. Creators should be motivated by creating fun games for everyone, and not for "the purpose of having your name etched into a hall of fame."

That said, I don't mind if credit is given to those who insist their name be mentioned. eg something like this:

I see. Even if creator names are shown, I still think it is for everyone, and I am asking that my name be put on those 3 positions I have contributed ("Infiltration Danger", "Trapped Queens", and "Stone Gravitation"). I believe lots of time and effort goes in to creating, balancing and testing the positions and credit should be given to the creator. And my opinion also extends to everyone. For example, I run a custom setups group and sometimes create tournaments. I have this tournament: https://www.chess.com/tournament/castled-kings-and-queens-position-by-warrior-vik for example where another user created the position. I be sure to make it abundantly clear who created the positon even when it is not me regardless or not whether the creator cares about being credited for the creation of their own position. 

I guess in summary we have different opinions on the matter but I'd like that I would be credited for the 3 which I created like you have shown.

It sounds to me like a good in-between would be to create a new custom position, and then there would be a designated 4PC admin that you could contact in order to put it into the list. That way, it’s not automatic, but it is easy to make new ones. Of course, one of the admins would have to volunteer for that position.

I think you misunderstand. The issue at-hand isn't whether or not players should be able to create custom positions. For a few years now, that has been allowed, and almost the entire source of new custom positions. I invite you, or anyone else interested, to join that community here. The process is along the lines of what you described: we have a team of dedicated testers and admins who evaluate the position, provide suggested improvements, then ultimately accept or reject the idea.

The suggestion by @RALRAL3333 is that when a position is accepted through these means, the player(s) who created it will be publicly recognised within the Variants app.

Ah, I see. Thank you for clarifying.

I think that if someone gets through that whole process, recognition could be good.

Okay here's my suggestion:  Include Old Standard Setup as a preset in the game creation menus.

I suspect the answer is "no" because I have tried using "edit board" to make an old standard game, and the moment I move the Blue/Green K/Qs into position, the setup I'm editing gets labelled "Old Standard Setup".

So the system knows what it is and correctly categorizes it.  But it's not in the list of presets.

When I do this, and turn on the "rated" option and click "play" the game becomes "live" and it appears in my "pending challenges".

However it does NOT appear in the list of "Open Challenges" in the Play or Lobby pages.  Further, nobody joins, so I infer that when I create and start a challenge for such a game, it does not become visible to anyone else.  Probably it would if I actually invited someone directly, but I'm not interested in doing the kind of work involved in coordinating 4 people being online simultaneously, and of course this would not be possible in a rated format.

That nobody joins is telling because in my conversations in Chat, which I have frequently, the majority tell me they prefer Old Standard. I have never met a player who claims to prefer New Standard, although I've no doubt some exist.  I did meet one player of some calibre who's been around who think's it's "okay".

I infer that I am not merely misunderstanding how games get displayed for others to join -- they really don't see them.

When I create other kinds of rated games they appear in the list of open challenges. It appears to be only "Old Standard Setup" that is suppressed in this way.

Why not allow the option?  I don't get it.  This is not "returning to how things were" it's only asking that the setup be enabled as an option and that it be added as a preset for convenience.

Also ... I miss the confuter. Yes, I know this is a "go back to the way it was" request but can't we allow it?  It affects neither play nor scoring, only analysis outside games.

Fix Private Notes.

I can add a "private note" on a player but when I go back to look at it, it's gone.

Also, it appears as if all the private notes we've kept on players in the past have been erased.  Can these be restored?

Can we have a variant of 4PC in which dead pieces of a deceased player disappear but remain as invisible land mines? :-)

It is. https://www.chess.com/variants/4p-old-standard, or from https://www.chess.com/variants using the menu options in the screenshots below.

Comfuter* , and again, I don't really get what you're on about. Comfuters are still around (although renamed simply to "Futer"), and can be added both as bots players in custom positions, or as player accounts which can be invited to games. See below:

Again, not what this thread is about, and I'd really prefer you and other commenters to not give folks who came here to complain the dignity of a response. But, I'm sure that in time, we'll see an "Old Standard" arena. I know from experience that the folks in charge of such things are always looking for new arenae to add, and ways to popularise the arena-space.

Sounds like a bug report. Should be posted in that thread, not here. I'm not a big utiliser of private notes, so I can't confirm whether they were cleared, but if so, ask on the bug thread.

Huh, was not aware of this, we'll fix this bug and restore old notes from 4PC (I assume you mean? or do you mean old notes from variants?). We have bugs with higher prio to fix, but we'll get to this. Patience, and apologies

Suggestion: Daily Game Suggestion

Admins pick a time control and variant each day (such as 1|5 FFA Labyrinth 82) and if players play it, they get 1 daily point (so basically like an incentive to try new things).

If this seems too far fetched, maybe a "Random Variant" button? Not like the one in game creation, but just something that finds a random variant (like Chaturaji) and redirects you to it, could give people who have no idea what to play a look...

What you show is selecting the comfuter as a bot to play against.  I mean in the board view when analyzing games.  Previous to the switch there was an option to click an icon to have comfuter make a single move for a player.  This was very useful in postgame analysis.

I have a comment about the screenshots you show:  You appear to have a different set of menus than I get. In particular your "home" icon is in the position where mine reads "play".  I cannot get the page you're displaying as far as I can tell.

Correction:  I just played around.  You're one level up in the page hierarchy.  I enter the site with a link direct to 4PC and do not see that page unless I navigate upwards or select it from the menus on the left.  I was there when the switch first happened and did not see old standard.  I'm cool with this. I'll try setting it as a challenge and see if that gets takers. I remain mystified as to why when I build it in edit board it can't be used to make an open challenge.

But when will we be able to make our own pieces????

In all seriousness the new custom settings are great though.

Also still available, press the space key in the analysis board, or this button: