Over the last month and a half there has been plenty of discussion about the changed point system on this site. After the disappointment of a new month starting without the tables being restored, I took a few minutes to jot down what I?ve observed during this experimental phase.

First, the objections I feel and have heard from others about zero-point-only tables has actually very little to do with gaining points. The point of the separation of tables is so that players can sketch with people that they can compete against. Regardless of potential as future sketchers, new players simply can?t compete with regular players who are more familiar with the word bank and strategies for breaking down words. Several times over the last two months, I have witnessed new players coming to a table where seasoned players were sketching and promptly leaving, stating that they couldn?t compete. No one wants to sit at a table where there is absolutely no chance of ever progressing. If regular players are able to advance to minimum point tables, lower point tables are more evenly distributed with players who are still learning the game. Of course this doesn?t mean that new players will not ever advance. We were all new players at one time or another.

Second, having point based tables was a tremendous incentive to keep coming back to the site on a regular basis during the month. Building your score so that you could play more challenging games with more challenging players was one of the main reasons to be a ?regular?. If at any point during the month, your table options will always be the same, there is no reason not to just be a ?drop-in? player.

Third, regardless of how awesome our moderators are (and they truly are), there will never be enough policing of the site to avoid less-mature visitors from wreaking havoc. However, none of these ?players? ever advance past 1,000 points or so. They have their fun at the expense of others and then leave. If serious players are not allowed to advance, they have to endure the whims of rude and offensive people who show up at the table. How long will any of us be willing to do that?

I can only guess that this change has been made to increase profitability by increasing traffic on the site. I realize that by having only zero-point tables, anyone can play at any time, thereby increasing the number of people who can just drop in for a game or two. However, if seasoned players are driven away by the incredible frustration of having to sit through poor genitalia drawings, rape scenes, and hate words, there will no longer be anything for potential new players to see when they get there. Even if this new set-up drives up site hits temporarily, it isn?t a good long-term strategy.

If profitability needs to be increased, why not simply improve the site? Adding colors, effects, or tools to the game isn?t what?s needed. Having a hate-free site with working tables and no one being permitted to fill up table space by ?sitting out? for hours on end would be a good start. Many of us who love the game love it because of its simplicity. We simply want a place to meet with others who enjoy sketching and guessing. We used to have that. I hope someday we get it back.