Posted by jorj on 2014-11-29 21:16:42

I'm in the same situation (almost). coaches usually don't mind as long as you let them know in the chat.

Posted by harvestmouse on 2014-11-29 21:18:18

It's against site rules. If you sit to play, you should have time to play a 90 minute game. However I think a lot of coaches would be sympathetic to your situation.

Blackbox would be a no no, you aren't giving the choice to anyone. However if you use gamefinder, find a game you like then contact the coach....or arrange games via IRC. I think a lot of coaches would accept your games. You do have to let them know up front though, rather than start a game and run off.

I think life would be easier with irc, but not that many coaches use irc anymore. So you'll have to be creative.

Posted by Calcium on 2014-11-29 21:29:28

Can't imagine you'd have many problems in Blackbox other than the unsociable times.....I know I'd have no problem as long as I was told about it

Posted by SpecialOne on 2014-11-29 21:29:31

I remember back in the days. I was on the chat, and that was "the place" to get matches. Now I can't even get the IRC to work, yes I'm not a computer wiz.

Posted by uzkulak on 2014-11-29 21:29:59

If possible its better to do this kind of thing at half time rather than in the middle of a game - but Im sure most coaches would be sympathetic if you have an unexpected interruption.

Posted by Nemeton on 2014-11-29 21:38:13

@uzkulak The babes rarely are so kind as to only cry when it's half time ;-)

I know that I wouldn't have a problem with it, as long as I knew about it before hand.

Posted by Meltyman on 2014-11-29 21:46:03

I would not mind that.
If you are going to invest in a game that usually takes about an hour time,
a 9min break shouldn't be a deal breaker.

Posted by DeZigma on 2014-11-29 21:46:44

I would not mind, if i know it before ...

Posted by Roland on 2014-11-29 22:02:01

I dont mind about this. But i can imagine B coaches want to play fast.
Best environment should be League. There are plenty of open leagues.

Posted by SpecialOne on 2014-11-29 22:05:34

I have just signed up for at danish league, and I almost only play ranked.

Posted by CastleMan on 2014-11-29 22:23:11

I wouldn't mind. its the exact amount of time it takes to strangle one of my hookers.

Posted by pythrr on 2014-11-29 22:34:22

but what happens if you need to strange both? poor planning Castleman, poor planning!

Posted by PaddyMick on 2014-11-29 22:45:18

Get your games in when you can get them. Little delays are fine imo, i have enough myself. Most coaches don't mind.

Posted by Wreckage on 2014-11-29 23:19:24

taking a 7-9 minute game break isn't exactly game breaking...
I don't see how somebody could complain about that if it happend to them once. If somebody did complain you probably should remmeber the name and not do it again.
it always depends on the finer details. These kinds of things shouldn't push a game beyond 1 1/2 hours but if you're experiencing that it does, maybe do faster turns. They contribute way more to game lenght than the one or other break.
Likewise wether you take 1 or 4 breaks also makes a huge difference...
really depends on the details...
..if you are capable to really make a commitment like: 'the worst that can happen in the entire game is a 9 minute break'- then you're more reliable / able to make a bigger commitment than a lot of others here...

Posted by Lorebass on 2014-11-29 23:23:29

What HM says,

If you cannot sit down for 90 minutes or more its better to just wait till you can.

Things are also dependant on the coaches you face. I personally can almost guarantee that sometime during the game I have to leave for a few minutes because i play at night and the littlest one will occasionally need to be put back to sleep(i.e.: transferred to mom). I make sure that at the start of my games if this is a possibility that i inform the other coach. 95% of coaches here are ok with a one-off afk for kids/bathroom breaks. But they do not have to be.

One thing that should NOT happen though is a coach timing someone out because they were AFK due to something happening in real life. This should be immediately reported to admins. This isn't cyanide and if it was... well I'd have a much better W/L record.

If any coach is in a situation where the other one is constantly away from keyboard though... best to immediately notify admins.

Posted by Topper on 2014-11-29 23:39:14

Well I play Box only (or almost and have never had an issue with that. Never heard of anyone complaining about me getting a phone call, or salesman at the door either (which has happened both for and against me in games). Just tell them as the game starts IF you know it´s a possibility, and ofc. when it does. Most people just go fetch themselves a sandwich, a cup of cocoa or similar :)

Posted by MrBloodweiser on 2014-11-29 23:42:04

hey buddy im also in the same kind of boat i never know when i will need to just walk away for a couple of minutes pm me and we can set up a match?!...cheers

Posted by PurpleChest on 2014-11-30 00:32:26

i had both my kids doing exactly the same, but that was in days of everyone on IRC and i could make it clear beforehand. i still dont think many people will mind, but possibly best to try to let them know the possibility exists.

Posted by BillBrasky on 2014-11-30 00:34:29

If you told me (even in Black Box) I wouldn't mind at all.

If you just mysteriously disappeared several times for 7-9 minutes at a time, I might get a little butt-hurt.

I think communication is the key here.

Posted by Dalfort on 2014-11-30 00:55:56

The mere existence of this blogged question distinguishes you from coaches being an A**, you quite clearly would be able to confer your situation to your opponent and avoid any misunderstandings. If someone is hmm annoyed(?) by your circumstances just make a mental note not to play them in the future (or only when the VIPs are under someone else's care).

Take care Dalfort.

Posted by harvestmouse on 2014-11-30 01:48:56

"Never heard of anyone complaining about me getting a phone call, or salesman at the door either (which has happened both for and against me in games)."

The difference here is prior knowledge. If you are expecting to be delayed, you need to inform your opponent first and respect his decision on whether to take the game or not. If something happens mid game.....something happens mid game and is most likely more important than the game.

Posted by BillBrasky on 2014-11-30 03:37:13

@HM:

I'd say if he thinks the babes are sleeping, that's not different than salesmen, Jehova's Witnesses, Crazy Neighbors, and Salesmen (Which I've had happen).

I think he's ok for even the box.

Posted by SerenadeOfSorrow on 2014-11-30 05:06:15

if u have to disappear for 9 mins and u tell me ill use that time to go toilet and make a brew i have a son myself so i understand the issues id certainly not complain

Posted by Grod on 2014-11-30 07:38:28

Sometimes I start games knowing I might need to go to the toilet mid game ... is that ok?

PS I am in a very similar situation (3yrs and 1yrs). Finding a nice League environment can be a good way to go - people in ongoing Leagues are often quite understanding of time pressures.

Posted by Uedder on 2014-11-30 08:08:51

Wouldn't be a problem for me. But yeah, it can be annoying if someone is short on time, so maybe use gamefinder, send message to your opponent and tell him before the match begins.

Also, you could write this in your profile, just to warn possible opponents who look there before picking you.

Posted by koadah on 2014-11-30 09:00:17

"It's against site rules. If you sit to play, you should have time to play a 90 minute game."

Most matches will still finish inside 90 minutes even with a 10 minute break. So, why would it be against the rules?

Posted by bghandras on 2014-11-30 09:28:57

I would have no problem with it. I was in your shoes. I was always stressed more by this situation, than my average opponent. On the other hand it is much much better to play League in such environment. Then you can even stop a game, and resume later without much pressure in most cases.
(And children can present situations when you absolutely want to resume the match later.)

Posted by harvestmouse on 2014-11-30 10:45:32

There's a lot of nit-picking here and you know it.

Do we have delays? Yes, we do. However it's better if there are not. You should not intentionally delay the game in anyway, shape or form. Therefore you should not start a game you believe you'll have to delay in anyway, shape or form.

However that said, if both parties are in agreement before the game is scheduled, it's absolutely nobody else's business; including mine.

Comparing SpecialOne's situation with phone calls, the door bell or a toilet break is pointless. This all said, there definitely is and should be an avenue for him to play. Personally, I would have absolutely no problem with it.

Posted by akaRenton on 2014-11-30 10:51:12

As long as you inform the opponent, I can't see an issue. Anyone who honestly believes waiting a minute or two here and there whilst you feed your kids etc is a problem has a serious lack of grasp on what matters in life.

Posted by koadah on 2014-11-30 11:00:27

If that is really the rule then you can keep the 'competitive' divisions.

I don't play them much anyway but for me that is just a heap of crap.

Posted by harvestmouse on 2014-11-30 11:54:20

What do you mean? You are misinterpreting the site rules. The rules state you must not deliberately delay play. Starting a game where you knowingly will have to leave the game can be interpreted deliberately delaying play.

If somebody has to leave a game regularly for baby breaks (I cannot define 'regularly') this is most certainly knowingly delaying play. You can't blame the site or the site rules for that. They are there to make our game environment as smooth and as enjoyable for all of us.

Is SpecialOne's situation a problem? Probably not for most gamers. However if he was taking 8 minute breaks 4 or 5 times a game, every game. I think that would be a problem. However another guy takes a baby break 1 time every 2 or 3 games. Same situation, just different volumes. Same situation, so the same rule. This is why we have human staff to judge each situation individually.

The SpecialOne comes across as a sympathetic and mature individual. I am sure he can judge his situation, act accordingly to get his game fix and keep his opponents happy. And that's what it all boils down to. It's really not worth getting steamed up about, koadah.

Posted by the_Sage on 2014-11-30 12:56:00

To me, this is one of the best thing about fumbbl. I've played with baby breaks (during nap time), and pretty much everyone is understanding about this. I think we'd lose a big part of our userbase if we would not allow this kind of break.

Posted by koadah on 2014-11-30 13:07:00

That sounds fair enough.

So I will just ignore "Therefore you should not start a game you believe you'll have to delay in anyway, shape or form."

Posted by SpecialOne on 2014-11-30 19:28:07

thanks you all. It has been great to hear what you have on your mind on this. I always start a match in the comfort that my children will not wake up, because here in the evening the 6 month old usually gets her bottle after 22.30, so that gives me a couple of hours gameing time, and the 2 year old? You never know, but when she is fast asleep she rarely wakes up before midnight. There is this force majoure that they both can wake up early, but I never start matches expecting to get interrupted.

Thanks.

Posted by Throweck on 2014-11-30 20:14:06

I have four children. They are ace. Sometimes I have had to take a break because one has been sick, etc. But I guess the odds are higher having four. I have also had phone calls, salesemen, spilt drinks, Brasky's women trying to get in touch, etc. The worst I had was when police knocked on my door to take a statement for something that had happened on the street (burglary), had to finish the game at another time.

For me, I think a lot of coaches are in the same boat and would understand. It just calls for a little understanding and most coaches would be fine. I would.

Posted by harvestmouse on 2014-11-30 22:20:45

'Rarely wakes up before midnight'/ 'I never start matches expecting to get interrupted.' In this case you are not expecting your game time to be paused and probably wouldn't be regularly.

I don't see an issue here. Play as you like.