Too many rules in Bridge stifling growth

[Rain]

I think there are too many rules in Bridge. Rules of etiquette and alerting rules springs to mind.

 

I've finally decided to try another game, WOW. I didn't read any manuals and had little familiarity with any games other than Bridge and a game called master of magic, before trying WOW, arguably the most successful MMRPG of the past few years.

 

All I had to do was:

 

-Create a character

-Choose whether I want to do PVP and engage in combat with other human players, or start at gentler places.

-Enter the game proper

-Right click or left click to interact with characters and objects (including fight monsters)

 

-If my character isn't allowed to do something, that option doesn't appear.

-If I try to say ***** you or hitler (swear words according to WOW), they come out as #@$!

 

Back to Bridge:

 

To some extent, online bridge has addressed stupid rules like insufficient bids, play/bid out of turn, not following suit, misdealt hands, maybe a few others I can't bring to mind right now.

 

But there are still too many rules to attract someone new. Its such a steep learning curve, why would anyone like to play it.

 

1) Alerting rules.

When to alert, what to alert. Why make non competitive players do this, especially if their partners may not be someone they know, and they may have no agreements.

 

My solution:

I propose a new kind of optional games here. Predetermine a contract for everyone to declare in turn. Any contract. No bidding. The parties who take most tricks wins. A new kind of "mini-bridge".

 

Just have 4 people sit down, and make all norths play 3NT. Then next contract, all east plays 2H. etc. All contracts are randomly determined. It can even be educational.

 

ie, contract 1=1C

Contract 2=1D

Contract 3=1H

 

etc

 

2) Etiquette rules

 

Although this is a smaller part of any of those contract bridge law guides, its always there. So there'll always be rude people around, people who don't pay attention. I think people like that should be punished for it, but not by calling TD or whatever.

 

The apt WOW analogy would be nobody grouping with him and helping him (and obviously he needs at least 3 others to play with him in Bridge unless he goes the Bot route), or if he's careless, he'll just be killed by monsters.

 

My proposed partial solution:

 

Like WOW, all idiotic words should be @#$@@ out. People can always turn to more creative turns of phrases to insult if they choose to, of course, but then report it, and in this way liven up abuse's day some. (You F------ C--- day in day out gets really boring)

 

I don't see any other solution for etiquette problems because human beings are mostly jerks. BBO has some degree of social ostrocisation policy in place --Each individual can mark another as enemy and refuse to play with him. But for something deeper than that, we come back to the social/skill rating problem.

 

In WOW you're able to see each person's level, and be appropriately wowed by that. Higher level super beings like level 60 Tauren Druids also have special benefits, better armour, super weapons and of course, lightning hooves.

 

Maybe the Bridge equivalents should get more trumps or HCP. :P Okay, maybe not, because this will make Bridge even more boring to the newcomers. But although masterpoints can be a compelling incentive, maybe its time to reward not just skill/length of playing, but also desirable social behaviour.

 

We can start in BBO. Give users like these a cute online avator? And as you level up, you get to wear more fun clothes. Maybe a pet too, that gets "Fed" by game or higher level contracts. (ie, if you don't make slams once in a while, your pets will get disgruntled and die. Or maybe you can set your oppos 7NTXX and watch their pets claw out their eyes)

 

In short, I would like to see Bridge be more fun.

[hrothgar]

-If I try to say ***** you or hitler (swear words according to WOW), they come out as #@$!

The swear words on WoW are user configurable...

 

You can chose to block them or not as you see fit...

 

BTW, if you're ever on lightning hoof, give me a shout...

 

I go by the handle "Twobears"

[david_c]

I like rules :P

 

What is important is having good rules. It's having too many bad rules which stifles the growth of the game. [Along with a few other factors too, of course.]

 

For example, there are many rules which are necessary for the game to work, but which beginners do not need to know. Those are good rules. Most of the lawbook is like that. Also, most of the alerting rules are like that. Or at least they should be, but ...

 

[better stop here.]

[Rain]

I thought lightning hoofs was a horse. =)

[blackshoe]

If a pair have no agreement about a call, then they have no reason to alert it.

[zasanya]

I don't see any other solution for etiquette problems because human beings are mostly jerks.

In short, I would like to see Bridge be more fun.

I always thought 'jerkiness' of the bridge players makes the game the funniest one.And if you manage to get a P who is one of those rare non-jerks ....aah thats heaven!