it´s too hard for players, who are away ´cause of a lag...

carolus MAGNUS, you are absolutely right. you can't disadvantage players because of the shitty server/lag problem. it is happening more often than ever.

aliaiactasunt - have you ever considered that it's not the players' fault? and what if they are doing it on purpose? it a strategy that they employ and you have no right to prevent them from doing so. pre game alliance is annoying too. what can you do about it?

When I sit out that means I just want to mercilessly taunt people while never actually attacking them for the rest of the game, then the lag makes me sit back in. I'm an exception in that though...

I have learned to watch the "Player X" is here/has left messages though. Mainly to tell new players that they need to click the sit in button top right.

Actually I have never had problems to sit in in time after a lag. And having 3 turns w/o dice gain, you most of the times can't do much except annoying anyways. So I don't think that can be a point - if it's a major lag that lasts longer, everyone is kicked out and the game is closed, which would be fairer anyways.

Of course it's a strategery and should be allowed as long as possible. But in difference to the PGAs everyone is making so much noise about, this tactic could be made impossible very easyly.

But as I said, I just want to gather opinions...

What do we have to gain from making a tactic impossible?

I could be wrong, but if it doesn't say the player has left then they're either about to refresh or are watching. So there's already a way to tell if they're actually gone or not. If they have left, be cautious for a round but don't be surprised if they come back at any time.

Its always the same, you ignore away players because you reckon they dont come back, and are no thread any more. Then they do and you feel betrayed. I understand that.

The advice is: Handle away players just as if they were there. It does not only safe you the mess if they come back, its also fairer for those still playing.

as soon as a player goes away, they sould be removed from the game.. their tiles should be darkened, and no longer able to be occupied and the player should recieve -200 ELO.

This is the only justified way to handle away players.

also, maybe a button to vote on when a player should be considered away?

and his IP should be banned :-)