From: "Randal J. Andrews" IX NETCOM COM> Date: 14 oct 1996 Subject: Shogi ladder suggestion I think there are a lot of problems with the shogi e-mail ladder. >One observation I do have is that as the ladder grows, it will take >a much longer period of time for new players to get up anywhere near >to the top. At present, that period seems to be about 5 years(taking >into account losses, delays and other players getting up in front >along the way), but if the ladder should grow to 100 participants, for >example, that period could increase to 10 years!! This is only one. The problem is that each rung of the ladder is occupied by just one person. The solution that has worked in certain chess clubs I have attended, is to limit the number of rungs and have more than one person on each rung. For example, in shogi, I propose the ladder be divided into 9 rungs with no limit to the number of players on each rung. 9 seems like a shogi number, 9x9 board and ranking up to 9 dan at the pro level. Winning advances the player one rung and losing drops the player one rung. Losses at the bottom and wins at the top have no effect. Except, that for people on the top rung a record of their number of victories at the top rung should be recorded. However, reaching the top rung would be a personal accomplishment and always a shared honor. The players currently on the ladder would be accorded their ladder rung by divided the number of players by 9. The top 1/9 on the top rung etc. But before this is done, I feel it is only fair that inactive players be weeded out of the group. I am listed on the ladder playing 4 games. I am actually playing only one game. One game is concluded and apparently was not reported. The other two have been abandoned by my oppenents, in one case, for over 1 year. I think it is absolutely ridiculous that a player who does not answer mail for over 1 year should still be listed on the ladder. My opponent in my "active" game routinely takes 2 or 3 weeks for a move, when there is a 5 day rule. Of course, everyone gets busy, goes on vacation, etc. I'm not suggesting that a player who takes 6 days for a single move should be immediately forfeited, but routine violations should lead to forfeiture. This is especially true when games have been clearly abandoned. Failure to enforce the time limit is the reason that I have lost interest in the ladder and play e-mail only with friends.