I think I'll go with preference here. If TAs could list their preferences or any countries they don't want, we can match up and start pregame discussions.
PLAYER RESPONSIBILITIES: Players should be in contact with their TAs every phase. Your TA is a reputable gunboat player with a proven track record of success and will be a great resource for learning the game. However, they can't read minds, nor are they telepathic. Talk to them as often as possible! Ask questions, get opinions and advice, past game examples, whatever you need to learn the game.
Players should refrain from posting in the forum.
TA RESPONSIBILITIES: Likewise, TAs should be in contact with a student every turn. The assumption here is that you are a better player than the student. Give advice, talk about specific gunboat skills, how to communicate with your moves, reading the board, and predicting movement, among other ideas. Try to let the player dictate the course of play, but short of writing their moves for them, you and the player should be bouncing move ideas off each other. Feel free to offer suggestions or pros and cons of different moves. That being said, you also need to be available to the student as well. Whatever your preferred communication method, be sure to check it regularly!
TAs should not post about the game in the forum but are encouraged to ask questions of the professors.
PROFESSOR RESPONSIBILITIES: Professors should make a post per phase talking about some aspect of the game. Past professors have posted general writeups of the game, country specific opinions, opinions on specific moves, and have even gone so far as to "grade" a country's turn or rank countries based on current and future performance. Point out scenarios and offer your wisdom and experience on how to handle certain situations. Be creative and open to answering questions from both TAs and outside observers, but please be careful to avoid influencing the game whenever possible.
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Commonwealth Games
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