There was discussion in a Table Camping thread, and I'm working on a feature that addresses that. I'd like to get feedback.

The idea is:

When a player sits out, a button appears on his nameplate. This button is visible to all players who are logged into the client. Any of those players may click the button on that player’s nameplate to begin his sit out timer. It’s like saying “We don’t want you taking up that chair anymore. Client, please start his timer.”

Once the button is pressed, the player’s sit out time bank starts. (Thinking about starting this with 10 minutes.) If no one presses that player’s sit out time bank button, that player can sit in that seat indefinitely.

If the sit out time bank expires, the player is removed from the table and may not return for x minutes (thinking 30 minutes). At which point he has a fresh 10 minute sit out time bank at that table.

If a player lost some time bank and sits in and begins playing again, he will replenish x seconds for each hand played at that table.


Possible interface:

In terms of the interface, here's a first idea. If you have a better idea, we're open to suggestions, etc.

When a player is sitting out, a button like this picture appears on his nameplate.

First idea is here: https://imgur.com/a/OtjZQ

Once someone presses that button, the player sitting out receives a prompt on that table informing him the timer has started and how much time he has left.

The players at the table see the timer depleting and the sit out button is grayed out.

I'm not crazy about the "Let's Play Cards" button name. Was thinking a tooltip when a player hovers over it to say something like "Start a timer on this player to either play or leave the table." However, the way it looks now, it could be interpretted as a heads up challenge or something like that.

Thoughts and/or suggestions?

Maybe name it Claim Unused Seat? Or something along these lines anyway. And then in the hover-over text it could explain the timer part.

10 minutes is too long.

Some players just sit out and don't close out tables when they quit playing. Having that seat occupied for 10 min minimum isn't optimal in my opinion.

Ya If I'm playing lots of tables I just exit the poker client with the task manager cuz there is no close all table option as far as I know.

5 minutes max

Well, this could be pressed by someone currently at the table, so I don't think "Claim" is the right word. Maybe something like "Kick Off Table".


Regarding the time, a complaint we've always gotten is that the sit out time is too short. A player wanting to go to the bathroom, etc, gets kicked out too quickly...

5 minutes is way too short. I would do something based on if there are people on the waiting list behind. If no one is on the list, then give it 10-15 minutes.

I usually can only play after everyone in the house is done for the night, so I might have to take breaks to take the dog out, go to the bathroom, etc etc.

I think 5 minutes is long enough. There's already a ton of people sitting out all over so they need to be kicked off to make room for new players. I gets ******ed when 3/6 of the players quit and just sit out and you wanna make it last longer? I just see tables breaking if thats the case.


I would probably help if you guys made it 2 button clicks to leave the lobby and client instead of needing to click buttons for each individual table. With all those button clicks I just exit the poker client from task manager and I'm sure many other do the same or just don't close the client.

Update: https://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/2.../#post53460392