Adios

[BoggleOtaku]

Extremely surprised, I'll probably never accomplish this again.

lasthurrah.png

[HoumaGirl]

We all miss you and love seeing your amazing words. I saw that you are in the best words this month so I hope you started playing again.

[jbud1980]

We will all miss Lalatan -- a worthy opponent, a spirited game-player, an electronically-linked friend, and a companion (perhaps of many years standing). And yet it strikes me that not one person has failed to accept his reason for retirement -- that it was getting just too hard to find boards to play. I remarked, not too long ago, on the extreme difficulty of finding boards that had not been previously played. Let me say it again: if a board is just too good (too many words on it, too many long words, TOO MUCH FUN) then that board will be played once or twice and retired. Sure, it will be recycled. Perhaps it will appear again in a year. The more dreary boards will hang around forever until their max-plays is reached. And thus we will reach a state where most boards remaining will be ones no one wants to play. Good boards that everyone wants to see will appear and quickly disappear again for another year.

So let me propose a solution, one that might allow us the pleasure of the company of our friend lalatan, and others who might also become tired of wading through dozens or hundreds of boards hoping to find a good one (by our own criteria). I propose that all retired boards be stamped with the number of plays they had had before being retired. A board that was played once by fasteddieb and retired after he posted 2000+ on it would be INSTANTLY returned to play. Other boards, played twice or whatever, would be returned more quickly if their number of plays was lower. Boards that lasted the full max-plays number would sit in board purgatory for a year or more, or would be permanently retired and replaced by new and more appealing boards.

To state my suggestion more succinctly: retired boards should be resurrected faster the fewer number of times they have been played before retirement. Boards retired after one (or perhaps just fewer than five) plays should be put back in play immediately -- that was a GOOD board and should be seen again and again. Boards retired after 40 plays should be removed from the pool permanently; no one found them very much fun to play.

I don't know if doing this would bring lalatan back and playing again. I hope it would. But it would really improve the game, and there's no question about it.

I wonder if this could be accomplished by recycling the boards more often. It has been over four years since the boards have been recycled. Is this standard?

[jbud1980]

lalatan, I don't think we have ever chatted on this forum, but I want you to know that when I first started playing (mainly 4X4), my goal was to to excel at finding 16-letter, unique words like you. I am by no means at your level, but you inspired me to try and seek out those obscure, unique words, and I want to thank you for that. Best of luck in your future endeavors.

-Jbud

[floppers]

I too am very pleased that you have not died. Life, intervenes...I wonder what other addiction you now have found?

[lalatan]

Lalatan, I hope this catches you before you have stopped reading the forums.

Yup, I saw it. Thanks folkslinger, bwt and Russ.

[RussDNails]

I have come to the conclusion that the way games are now distributed is too odious for me to continue playing Wordtwist regularly. Too boring clicking through so many games. I now go for days w/o playing and don't miss it.

I thought about just fading away but then a few may think I died. Like anyone I could die at any moment but I'm currently still alive. Just not reading the forum or playing >50 games/month. I wish you all well.

To add a countersentiment (I think this is one of your words!) to the other folks here: suck it up and press on man! LOL

In all seriousness, you're a scholar and a gentleman--I've only interacted with you a few times here but you've always been so friendly and gracious.

Will never forget the first time I saw "candlesnuffers" and my first thought was holy crap lalatan, wtf???? This word will go with me to my grave.

Your accomplishments and digital legacy here will probably never be matched.

Best to you always,

Russ

[bwt1213]

We will all miss Lalatan -- a worthy opponent, a spirited game-player, an electronically-linked friend, and a companion (perhaps of many years standing). And yet it strikes me that not one person has failed to accept his reason for retirement -- that it was getting just too hard to find boards to play. I remarked, not too long ago, on the extreme difficulty of finding boards that had not been previously played. Let me say it again: if a board is just too good (too many words on it, too many long words, TOO MUCH FUN) then that board will be played once or twice and retired. Sure, it will be recycled. Perhaps it will appear again in a year. The more dreary boards will hang around forever until their max-plays is reached. And thus we will reach a state where most boards remaining will be ones no one wants to play. Good boards that everyone wants to see will appear and quickly disappear again for another year.

So let me propose a solution, one that might allow us the pleasure of the company of our friend lalatan, and others who might also become tired of wading through dozens or hundreds of boards hoping to find a good one (by our own criteria). I propose that all retired boards be stamped with the number of plays they had had before being retired. A board that was played once by fasteddieb and retired after he posted 2000+ on it would be INSTANTLY returned to play. Other boards, played twice or whatever, would be returned more quickly if their number of plays was lower. Boards that lasted the full max-plays number would sit in board purgatory for a year or more, or would be permanently retired and replaced by new and more appealing boards.

To state my suggestion more succinctly: retired boards should be resurrected faster the fewer number of times they have been played before retirement. Boards retired after one (or perhaps just fewer than five) plays should be put back in play immediately -- that was a GOOD board and should be seen again and again. Boards retired after 40 plays should be removed from the pool permanently; no one found them very much fun to play.

I don't know if doing this would bring lalatan back and playing again. I hope it would. But it would really improve the game, and there's no question about it.

[folkslinger]

Lalatan, I hope this catches you before you have stopped reading the forums. Sorry I haven't sent my sentiments earlier. I think I'm a little bit in shock to think of you not being involved in the game. It is somewhat ironic that it was last month that I finally had a chance to play a few more games than I had been able to for quite some time. In the process of playing "What word did lalatan find?" I found that you had set a record for a game with greatheartednesses. I thank you for your inspiration, example, encouragement and all around greatheartedness. You will be sorely missed.

[lalatan]

Thanks everyone for your comments and good wishes.

By the way, do you have a final tally for the number of records you've accumulated?

15,737 4x4 best/longest records, 61,472 5x5 best/longest records, 71 gold, 25 silver, 22 bronze APPW trophies
spread out among the 4 usernames (ibme54, lalatan, thinkbig, thinkbig_aka_lalatan) I played under. As naboka asked in his post, "When is enough enough?" That is enough for me.

Speaking of you, naboka, I intend to PM you this month...

[BoggleOtaku]

You've amassed near insurmountable number of long word records. I wish the lifetime achievement list would show things like that to give more visibility. The clicking through is odious, I understand your sentiments. I've suggested improvements in the past such as allowing going back to a live potential game if you happen to overshoot. I've been tempted to try find a way to automate "click" through the games looking for some target game to try, but decided ultimately it would be an unfair advantage and didn't pursue. I've enjoyed our conversations on the boards and the rare occasions I've managed to find a word you missed. Best wishes!

[2cute]

I have come to the conclusion that the way games are now distributed is too odious for me to continue playing Wordtwist regularly. Too boring clicking through so many games. I now go for days w/o playing and don't miss it.

I thought about just fading away but then a few may think I died. Like anyone I could die at any moment but I'm currently still alive. Just not reading the forum or playing >50 games/month. I wish you all well.

I understand and will miss you too. While I rarely participate in the forum anymore, I do read it on occasion. Like today. Glad I didn't miss your adieu. Yes, when someone stops participating, there is that chance they have passed on while really they're still breathing, probably the fresh area @ a local park, watching the squirrels and birds living their lives. So hope you find something that sparks your imagination like this site once did and while you're out, feel free to educate others about those super long words you memorized, I mean they shouldn't go to waste . Each time I come across one, I'll think of you!

[crazykate]

I'm sorry to hear that you're not enjoying the game as you used to. I'll definitely miss seeing you in the forums and on the leaderboards. We've had some interesting conversations, and "what did lalatan find" has been a favourite subgenre of wordtwist games.
I wish you well in all of your future endeavours!

[Spike1007]

By the way, do you have a final tally for the number of records you've accumulated?

[Spike1007]

It won't be the same here without you. I've learned a lot from you and you've been an inspiration as long as I've been playing. You'll still be here in spirit, or at least as record holder for best/longest word (until your last board is recycled).