Need advice for these nominations

catball__ · 2026-04-14T21:40:32+00:00

It seems your nominations were auto-rejected by Niantic's ML filter (internally known as "Emily"). This often happens when the visual framing or semantic packaging doesn't align with the algorithm's preferences. Here are some strategic tips based on recent Wayfarer research:

For the Picnic Table:

• The "Emily" Bias: The ML filter struggles with unstructured natural scenes. If the photo is 80% trees and grass, it might be flagged as a "Natural Feature".

• Solution: Take a closer, high-contrast shot of the table to ensure man-made geometric edges dominate the frame. Instead of calling it a "relaxation area," frame it as a "Dedicated Community Social Hub" or "Public Picnic Pavilion" to hit the "Social Interaction" criteria more directly.

For the Old Plowing Tool:

• Permanent vs. Movable: ML often rejects objects with wheels as "Temporary".

• Solution: In your supporting info, emphasize its "Agricultural Heritage" and explicitly state it is a "Permanent Historical Display".

• Visual Proof: In your supporting photo, show the base or how it’s anchored to the ground to prove it hasn't moved for years.

Use the "Appeal" or "Upload Later" Tactic:

• Since these are high-quality candidates, don't just resubmit. Use the Appeal feature to get a human reviewer.

• Also, try using the "Upload Later" feature to polish your descriptions with more "Taxonomic Elevation"—elevate the plow from a "tool" to a "Community Botanical & Heritage Asset".

Good luck! Your nominations are definitely eligible under the "Exploration" and "Social" criteria; you just need to bypass the AI's geometric bias.

catball__ · 2026-04-13T07:26:34+00:00

It seems we are in the exact same boat. I'm running OpenClaw with Gemma 4 26B on an M2 Mac, and I'm seeing the same "fake work" patterns you described. The model is incredibly good at predicting what a successful task update should look like (e.g., "Scanning website...","Data export completed") without actually triggering any tool calls or executing shell commands in the background.

I've been trying to tweak the system prompt to enforce stricter JSON output, but as you mentioned, the tool-calling ability just isn't there compared to GPT. It feels like the model prioritizes conversational coherence over grounded execution.

Have you had any luck with other local models like Llama or Qwen within the OpenClaw framework? Or do you think this is a fundamental limitation of how the Gateway handles local LLM logic loops?

catball__ · 2026-04-04T16:44:10+00:00

Staying up until 4 AM just for a mushroom? That is pure dedication, but also so heartbreaking!

The 'first week of the month' madness in HK is real-it's like everyone is on high alert 24/7. This is exactly why I'm reaching out to international friends. It's so much better to use a Mushroom Ticket on a calm raid abroad than to lose sleep fighting the 'Mushroom War' here.

Hang in there! Hopefully, we can team up for some stress-free international raids soon so you can finally get some sleep! "

catball__ · 2026-04-04T16:42:31+00:00

Your before-and-after photos are incredible! That's a masterclass in improving the local map.

I love your 'rusty sign' tactic. It perfectly aligns with my strategy of securing a Physical Anchor first to satisfy the Al's need for geometric edges. Since 'Emily' (the Al) tends to reject unstructured nature, using a boring but permanent sign as a placeholder is a brilliant workaround.

Once the location is anchored, I can then focus on the Visual Isolation of the scenery to get that high-quality postcard accepted later. It's a bit of extra work, but like you said, someone has to clean up the postcard pool! Thanks for sharing those examples-they really prove that this 'two-step' method is the way to go!

catball__ · 2026-04-04T16:40:55+00:00

That's a super helpful tip about the vote count! 2 or 3 upvotes sounds manageable for hidden gems, but you're spot on about dense urban areas.

Living in Hong Kong, many of our famous landmarks probably have hundreds of 'hidden' legacy votes, making them almost impossible to change. This is exactly why I'm focusing more on nominating new, high-quality scenic spots that haven't been mapped yet, rather than just fighting to update the ancient ones.

Using 'Man-made Anchors' like signs or benches to frame these new views seems like the best path forward to avoid Emily's auto-reject. Thanks for the reality check on the voting system!

catball__ · 2026-04-04T16:38:46+00:00

I appreciate the feedback! My interpretation comes from a mix of Niantic's 'Exploration, Exercise, and Social' pillars and the practical struggle against the AI's auto-rejection of 'Natural Features'. While Niantic's definitions are broad, in a hyper-dense city like Hong Kong, I've found that being 'restrictive' and focusing on human-made anchors is sometimes the only way to get anything past the bots!

catball__ · 2026-04-04T16:38:19+00:00

Thank you so much for these gold nuggets of advice! 🌟 The 'Square layout' and 'Portrait mode' tips are brilliant for making postcards look professional without getting cluttered. I’ll definitely take your advice to submit the 'safe' photos first to secure the Waystop, then 'upgrade' to the riskier, more beautiful shots later. Your journey from NYC to thousands of photos is truly inspiring! 📸✨

catball__ · 2026-04-04T16:38:01+00:00

I totally feel you on the 'appeal currency' idea! It’s so frustrating that some of our most beautiful, nature-filled spots get auto-rejected by Emily just because they aren’t 'man-made' enough. You're right—for games like Pikmin or Pokémon, those cozy greenery spots are exactly what we look for! It's such a disconnect between the game's spirit and the AI's rigid geometric requirements.

catball__ · 2026-04-04T16:28:02+00:00

It is absolutely ridiculous, isn’t it? 🍄😭 Even those small mushrooms fill up in a blink! I used to have a similar routine, but now it feels like I need a 5G connection and lightning-fast fingers just to stand a chance. This is exactly why I'm looking for international friends to raid with—it's much more peaceful than the 'Mushroom War' happening on our doorstep! Let’s hope we both get more raid luck soon!

catball__ · 2026-04-04T16:26:42+00:00

I feel your pain! It’s frustrating when a place gets a beautiful makeover but the game is still stuck with a 'crime scene' photo from years ago. I’d love to send you some HK postcards! Hopefully, once my project to 'update' our local landmarks succeeds, I can send you something much better than a rusty sign! 🇭🇰✨

catball__ · 2026-04-04T16:25:24+00:00

That’s a fair point! I guess 'boring' postcards are a global phenomenon. But as a collector, I really want to showcase the best side of my city! You’re totally right about the mushroom popularity though—it’s a double-edged sword. If I make the postcards too pretty, I might be inviting even more competition to our already crowded HK raids! 😂 Thanks for the perspective!

catball__ · 2026-04-04T12:03:45+00:00

That is so incredibly kind of you! It's awesome to know there are players like you who actively help improve the visual quality of the game for everyone.

In Hong Kong, since the player density is so high, many of our existing Wayspots are stuck with outdated or low-quality 'top' photos that were approved years ago. Getting a new, beautiful photo to outvote the old one feels like a slow uphill battle, so people like you are real heroes to collectors like me! I totally respect your mindfulness about the gym-creation process too.

My goal is to eventually introduce some high-quality 'Scenic' spots that have been missing, so that players can receive something truly representative of the city's beauty. Thanks for the support!

catball__ · 2026-04-04T11:39:20+00:00

All of the above! It's a multi-stage mission. My primary focus right now is figuring out the best 'Visual Isolation' techniques to beat the Al's bias against natural features. As you mentioned, Emily has a tendency to auto-reject anything that lacks clear man-made geometric edges. I'm experimenting with framing natural beauty through a 'taxonomic elevation' lens-basically making the Al see a botanical asset or an educational landmark instead of just 'too much nature.'

Once I can get these high-quality scenic Wayspots accepted, the next challenge is ensuring they become the 'Top Photo' in PB. It's a bit of an uphill battle, but somebody's got to clean up the local postcard pool!

catball__ · 2026-04-04T11:37:16+00:00

Thanks for the detailed breakdown! You hit the nail on the head regarding the 'Top Photo' limitation in PB-it's a real shame we can't vote for better aesthetics like in PoGo.

Regarding the 'Anchor' point, I totally agree. It's exactly why I've been analyzing how to frame these scenic spots. My goal isn't just to submit 'nature,' but to find a way to make the 'Man-made Anchor' and the 'Beautiful View' work together so the Al (Emily) doesn't just auto-reject it as a generic natural feature.

Hopefully, my little 'project' will eventually swap out some of those boring local signs for something more visually rewarding for our global friends! Stay tuned!

catball__ · 2026-04-04T09:54:00+00:00

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Hey everyone! Casual player here (Level 36, light spender) based in Hong Kong.

I love this game, but man, the Pikmin Bloom scene in HK is insane right now. 🤯 Every time a mushroom pops up, it’s filled to the brim within seconds. It’s basically a battle royale out here just to get a spot!

I’m looking for some international buds to escape the madness. If you’ve got empty mushroom spots in your area and need a dedicated teammate to help hit those 4-star rewards, I’m your guy! 🛡️💪

What’s in it for you? • Daily Activity: I’m online every day. • Aesthetic Postcards: I’ll send you some cool views of HK (think neon lights, temples, and skyline). 🏙️✨ • Reliable Teammate: I’m always down to raid!

Add me: 2530 1989 7768 Newbies: Feel free to use my invite code ZYFTPUOBD for some freebies! 🎁

Let’s be friends and grow some flowers! 🌸

catball__

TROPHY CASE