Team Matches auto-start begin when?

I have joined a bunch of team matches and after I choose, "Join This Match," I usually see the list of currently assigned matches and below the list it says, "Waiting...". But I do not understand when these are supposed to begin when they are listed as "Auto-Start" games.

For example, I would expect that a team that allows 1-25 players would "auto-start" as soon as there is at least 1 player on each team. This does not happen. I often never get notification about the matches after I join them - which I assume is because my rating is often too low to make the top 25 cut or top 50 cut... based on however many players are allowed. But there were numerous times when I was sure I would make the cut  - for example, when I was rated 1589 for a "<1600" match against another team with many members... and I never hear about these again either. Hmmmm.

But auto-start means the match starts when?

Thank you, Gato

p.s. - I'm also surprised that there is not a help section called "Team Matches."

in a team match of 25 players, the games auto start when all 25 players from both teams have joined

Well, of course... but that's not what I asked.

But what about in a team match allowing 1 to 25 players? If 1 player is allowed to create the match, then why does it need to wait until it hits the maximum number of players: 25?

Thanks, Gato

In order to ensure that all matches are paired correctly, the system has to start all matches at the same time.  It can't start any games earlier than any others because it needs to know where everybody stands compared to everyone else.  Every time someone new signs up for the match, the pairings change.

With what you are suggesting, then, as soon as one person from each side joins, the match would start and nobody else would be able to join in.  Waiting allows more people to play and attempts to ensure that players relatively close in rating will play each other (although there could be some odd matches if the ratings distributions don't match up well between the teams).

Thanks for the response, omnipaul. Sorry, I didn't see that you had responded until now.

So if I understand what you're saying correctly: A team match that allows 1-25 players really only allows 25 players? It's strange to me, then, that it doesn't list it as, simply:

Players: 25

So then I still don't understand what the difference is between these two:

Players: 1 - 25

Players: 25

Or is it that it waits for more people to play - but how many is enough? It seems like 1 should be enough if it says 1 - 25. If someone wants to make sure to get at least 5 players, then why wouldn't they make it:   Players: 5 - 25 ?

And how long does it wait?

I still don't get it. But thanks,

-Gato

Alright, I'm basing the following off a quick look on the set up for a team match.  Since I've never actually made one, I could be wrong.

Under the "Players per Team" setting, there is a place to put a minimum number and a maximum number.  It appears that the default on the minimum entry is one, but can be changed.

Just underneath this, it states "You must set a max players for Auto-Start matches."  There is a checkbox later that gives you the option to Auto-Start when the maximum number is reached.  This is consistent with what I was figuring was the situation.

When only a single number is given, for example "Players: 25," then this is the minimum number of players wanted.  Since there is no maximum number of players, then the captains of the two teams must choose when to start the match, it will not start automatically.  This would be an ideal setting for matches between two large teams.  It is very likely that each side would get the minimum number of players wanted, and they want to control when the match starts to give as many people a chance to play as possible.

When a range is given, for example "Players: 1 - 25," then the game may (if that checkbox is checked) automatically start once both teams reach twenty-five players, but may start sooner if the captains decide they have enough players and aren't likely to get enough to fill the slots.  In this case they would lock the teams and manually start the match.  This would be an ideal setting for a match between two relatively small teams.  The minimum of 1 would make it easier to start if very few people join.  The max of 25 would allow the games to start automatically if a large percentage of people in the teams join.  If not, the captains can choose to start the match manually after a "sufficient" time has passed.  If one or both of the captains don't pay attention, then the match may never start if it doesn't fill up or if it isn't set to "Auto-Start."

I hope this helps.  I'd appreciate it if anyone else that actually has experience in making team matches can chime in to correct anything I have wrong or to help explain why there aren't more instances of having a situation like "Players: 5 - 25."  It seems to me like the matches can be set up like that.

omnipaul,

I really appreciate your time in reviewing the set-up for a team match and thinking that through, and explaining it so well. I also looked over a set-up page, but it never occured to me that both captains could manually start the matches when they choose... even when the match is listed as "Auto-Start." But I think you must be right about this. It makes sense to me, and I can't think of another explanation for the seemingly random start times of many matches.

Your time and thoughtfulness are appreciated!

-Gato