Suggestions

I think that the shuffling deduction shouldn't be taken off when the board requires you to reshuffle. I've reshuffled at the board/game's input (due to no matches) only to be able to match 1 pair then have to reshuffle again. Some games require multiple reshuffles at the game's behest which can really start to add up in points.

My suggestion is that the point deductions only be given if you reshuffle by your choice alone. If you get only 50 points per pair but have to deduct 100 points to reshuffle at the game's command it's just not fair. You're basically being punished for the board not being randomized in your favor.

I agree and support.

however keep in mind score does not affect payout whatsoever.

I'm sorta iffy about this

Like, usually, the point of Mahjong is to be strategic and match pieces so that you wont need to shuffle. Which is why most Mahjong games either don't let you shuffle at all or heavily penalize it. So in that sense, it would sorta defeat the purpose of the strategy portion of the game.

However, the problem is that several of the boards we're given here on FR start with only one match or aren't set up in a way that (apparently, I have only played butterfly and turtle) don't allow standard strategic play.

So it would depend on the board used.

If playing with strategy in mind you probably shouldn't HAVE to shuffle on boards like butterfly or turtle. So therefore shuffling should probably still decrease your score but then with the boards that force shuffling based on design I can see it making sense to either lower the decrease or get ride of it.

I would imagine that would take a bit more coding though then making blanket changes to the whole system.

Edit: All that is, of course, assuming the board creation system is set up in a way that creates winnable boards correctly - as in boards that, if done properly, don't need shuffling. While I've seen mixed reviews on if that's the case or not - with some people saying they can play certain boards and have never once had to shuffle and others saying they need to shuffle regardless of how they play - I do have to assume that some thought was put into the board creation process.

@KenjiSnow [quote name="thecatsred" date="2019-10-01 10:10:09" ] however keep in mind score does not affect payout whatsoever. [/quote] As AlphaSobek said, a lot of Mahjong variants are simply game-over when you run out of moves. I have to admit I've already gone back to G&G, but the couple days I played Mahjong, I was going much more slowly than I could have done because I was still running off my old 'don't get stuck [u]or else[/u]' instincts from playing other versions. On FR, the time-optimum strategy would be to just rapidly click all the matches you see and reshuffle if necessary, since it doesn't affect your payout. The only point of having high score tables irrespective of payouts is bragging rights, so it makes sense you should have to play with skill if you want an impressive number.

I didn't even realize there was a shuffling deduction :( I stopped playing mahjong on here because I had literally six games in a row where it just involved me reshuffling for 10 to 20 turns and was beyond frustrating. I've never had this problem in other online mahjong games on other sites either.

I’d support this if the deduction took away from the payout, but because it’s just the score I don’t support this at all.

I like challenging myself and trying to get better and better at each board. Part of that is using strategies to have as many useable tiles as I can do that the chances of needing a shuffle goes down and I use less shuffles. With a shuffle deduction, I feel like my score reflects how well I did in each game. If the deduction was removed I feel like my score would not really reflect how well I did. It would only be about my speed, not my strategy.

I mean, if this were implemented it wouldn’t really change how I play the game but I really prefer that it stay the way it is, especially since the deduction has nothing to do with the payout.

The shuffling wouldn't be a problem, if the game would feel rewarding in general.
I am on a track with Alpha above and I do like the idea of "undoing turns", but i'd even more like the whole game if it wouldn't take forever to reach the daily cap.
(I had hoped it might be a nice alternative to G&G :/)

So yap, kinda supporting this.

When they first released the game, it paid out 2500 each game, now it's only 2000.

I support this - either don't take away from a re-shuffle which you have no choice to do, or give a way to end the game.