It would be good to have a sort of contact book or friends list within the game, on the home screen. Players you meet in game sessions who have stood out for their positive behaviour and team spirit should then be able to be added regardless of their alliance, and you should be able to invite these players directly to new game sessions once you have joined one yourself. The recipient must confirm the request to add them to your friends list.
At the same time, it should be possible to block fellow players, who would then also appear in the list as blocked players. Diplomatic functions (messages) within the game session should be disabled for both parties in the case of blocked players. This also applies to the inbox on the home page. Blocked players in a shared game session should be highlighted within the session, or a warning message should appear stating that a blocked player has joined the session.
Treachery is an integral part of these conquest games—just as it can be in real life.
Allowing players to block others could be misused, and that goes against the spirit of these online games.
On the other hand, being able to add players you’ve enjoyed playing with is a great idea. While it offers no guarantees for the future, enjoyment is part of the gaming experience (after all, why else play?). It is only natural to want to repeat such a positive experience.
Treachery is an integral part of these conquest games—just as it can be in real life.
Allowing players to block others could be misused, and that goes against the spirit of these online games.
On the other hand, being able to add players you’ve enjoyed playing with is a great idea. While it offers no guarantees for the future, enjoyment is part of the gaming experience (after all, why else play?). It is only natural to want to repeat such a positive experience.
I don’t think this objection is really relevant or applicable in terms of gameplay. There can be many different reasons why someone might want to use this feature. Betrayal is one reason; the toxic and antisocial behavior of many players is another. What exactly would change in the gameplay?
The player in question can no longer send messages to the player who blocked them, nor can they receive messages from that player, and they can no longer send or receive offers from that player. Plus, the player can see for themselves that a blocked player is in the game session—something only they can see, and no other player.
The gameplay of the blocked player themselves is not affected in the game round. Offers and messages are of little significance or relevance when players are enemies or hate each other, since nothing is—or would be—accepted in the game. Even without this proposed system. Diplomacy has reached a low point here, and with it, the end. What added value would exploiting this situation bring? I don’t see any.
Most players in this game are toxic and have had no proper upbringing. It would save a lot of moderation effort if the support team didn’t have to track down every insult that comes their way. Blocking communication channels with the click of a button can spare a lot of suffering. No one has the right to expect others to have to deal with or engage with toxic messages or behavior—not even in a “strategy” game. The new features take the burden off both players and moderators alike.
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