Point Strategy Discussion

[Restrepo]

Ive been playing on this site for a while now but only now have I come acrossed this, I was playing a 4 singles game and me and another player were the strongest in the game but he was higher rank than me so one of the players who was losing decided to help the player with higher rank than me win so he could loose a couple of points less.

I have talked to the MajCom Crimminal Investigation and they say thats it's not cheating so I have accepted it but I will not put it to rest untill I hear what the community has to say.

Under paraghraph 2 of the rules of MajCom it is stated:Do not be ‘that guy‘.

If you don’t know what ‘that guy‘ is, he is the person who ruins the fun and experience for others by being rude, abusive, overly annoying, or other forms of douchebaggery. Competitive banter in the game chat is fun, but ‘that guy‘ will take it too far, thowing in racial or derogatory comments. Moving up the scoreboard is everyones goal, but ‘that guy‘ will systematically try to work the angles and grey area of fair play. Lively forums are fun, but ‘that guy‘ often acts like an internet tough-guy and adds zero value to the discussion. Nobody likes ‘that guy‘.

And if the rules of MajCom doesn't apply then what rules in the universe does?!!!?!!!?!?!!?!?!??!!?!?!??!!?!??!

I REST MY CASE

You have just been served!

And educate your own "crime investigation" staff about your own policys. All I wan't is the best from the best nothing more nothing less.

 

[mapguy]

Is it fair to be targeted time after time by low rankers, because they are just smart enough to realize, that more points are awarded for killing high ranks ?

These types of considerations are secondary ones, and as long as the handicap structure remains, so will targeting of low ranks by high ranks, and visa-versa.

 

[ORBOTRON]

I'm assuming by "going down like a man" you mean attacking the other guy instead. Let's be honest, the only reason you're bringing this up is because you were on the losing end of this strategy. I understand the frustration of losing, but give it a day or two, or put yourself in the same situation, and you may see things differently.

A good way to look at this is the inverse situation. Say you're in a Merc game, you're in a position to take out one of 2 players, are you going to go for the higher ranked one for more points? It's a no brainer right?

 

[Cardinalsrule]

True, Orbo, but strategy in a merc game is different than in a standard game.

I think Restrepo has a valid point, that would annoy me, too. Personally, in that situation, if I'm one of the weaker players I usually attack the strongest, regardless of rank. I don't usually consider rank at all, other than in merc games.

 

[Tree-of-Souls]

Is it wrong help the highest rank in the game win so you can loose less points instead of going down like a man?

If there's no way of me winning - this is the exact strategy I employ.

 

[ORBOTRON]

True, Orbo, but strategy in a merc game is different than in a standard game.

I think Restrepo has a valid point, that would annoy me, too. Personally, in that situation, if I'm one of the weaker players I usually attack the strongest, regardless of rank. I don't usually consider rank at all, other than in merc games.

I can empathize with the emotion, but I'm not seeing the logic. You're saying it's ok to attack someone based on rank in a Merc game, but not otherwise?

 

[Badorties]

Certainly a questionable tactic as far as morality is concerned.

 

[Restrepo]

Is it fair to be targeted time after time by low rankers, because they are just smart enough to realize, that more points are awarded for killing high ranks ?

If they were smart enough to realize that they should also know that that strategy only works in a merc game and if it was a standard game it would not have mattered if they had killed you they still would have been force to kill all the others before even getting your score.

 

[mapguy]

@ Rest,
As you learn more and more about this game, you will eventually discover all of the little ins and outs. Now that you have uncovered this little tidbit, I suggest to you, that you incorporate it into your game. But remember, this info should always remain a secondary consideration, and as Charlie Sheen says "Winning" is the main goal. Yeah, it IS all about winning points. It is akin to poker in many respects. You have got to learn how to play the percentages. In the long run, it IS this skill that will be responsible for raising your rank.

 

[Shepherd]

In the thousands of games I've played I've never handed a game to a higher ranked player to save a few points. And if I ran across a player who blatantly did I'd put him/her on my shit list and try to avoid future games with said player. While it's technically not a violation of the rules, it's not something that sits well with me.

Restrepo, my suggestion would be to politely let that player know how you feel, remember his name when joining future games, and get on with your life. You'll forget all about those points in about 36 hours.

 

[bitglory]

Certainly a questionable tactic as far as morality is concerned.

I agree. The best tactic is to either make small moves in an attempt to stay alive or go after whoever is winning the game. Going after someone based on points seems a little dirty.

 

[Cardinalsrule]

I can empathize with the emotion, but I'm not seeing the logic. You're saying it's ok to attack someone based on rank in a Merc game, but not otherwise?

I think that it's, as you said, a no-brainer in a merc game to attack the higher ranks, all else being equal. In a standard game, it's not a winning strategy to consider rank when planning your moves. I personally play to win up until the point where someone kills me.

 

[mapguy]

Some of these comments are quite humerus. The shock and disgust is not unlike that of the person that finds out what happens to the bull at the Bullfights. Hey, this is a game that is about the points. This particular aspect that some find so tasteless is a result of the handicapping system that is employed here. I personally would rather see a system that treats everyone the same, and does not create this kind of targeting because of Rank. Where everyone puts up the same amount of points in the wager, no matter of rank. In this type of system you would need to employ ways to combat Noob Farming, but it could be done.

I do not foresee any big change such as this any time in the future, so, I suggest that people just learn to play the current Handicapping system that has been chosen. Face it, you ARE going to loose a certain amount of the games that you play. This is a fact. The wise player will learn how to minimize the amount of points that he looses, if he learns, and incorporates some of these long term strategies that is all about, ...the game within the game.

 

[ORBOTRON]

I think that it's, as you said, a no-brainer in a merc game to attack the higher ranks, all else being equal. In a standard game, it's not a winning strategy to consider rank when planning your moves. I personally play to win up until the point where someone kills me.

What sort of proof do you have to say it's not a winning strategy? Also, we're not just talking merc vs standard, I would use this same strategy if I were about to lose either.
Ever hear the old phrase, "a penny saved is a penny earned"? Very applicable here. I'm not sure why everyone is in such a self righteous uproar about this. It's typically something only employed near the end of a game, and is much less prevalent than the targeting of higher ranks.
Come to think of it, maybe it's all about redistribution of wealth. Nobody likes to see the little guy get hit, but we rejoice when the big guy takes a fall.
That's it! You're all socialists! lol

 

[mapguy]

What sort of proof do you have to say it's not a winning strategy? Also, we're not just talking merc vs standard, I would use this same strategy if I were about to lose either.
Ever hear the old phrase, "a penny saved is a penny earned"? Very applicable here. I'm not sure why everyone is in such a self righteous uproar about this. It's typically something only employed near the end of a game, and is much less prevalent than the targeting of higher ranks.
Come to think of it, maybe it's all about redistribution of wealth. Nobody likes to see the little guy get hit, but we rejoice when the big guy takes a fall.
That's it! You're all socialists! lol

Yes Orbo, you are quite right. When it comes down to the last 3 standing, you would be wise to consider ranks. At this point in the game it does not matter if you are a high or low rank. It IS advantageous to target the lowest rank.

 

[Incandenza]

Astute MajCom players are always going to be aware of their opponents' ranks, regardless of the situation. After all, a major is far more likely to behave predictably sensible than a cadet, right? And to be honest, targeting the lower-ranked player in a losing situation to minimize point loss is a better (and more rational) play than senselessly striking out at players who one has perceived to have picked on them. Being in a total no-win situation is tough, there's a few ways of going about things, and while I certainly wouldn't shake the hand of someone who made a play solely to minimize their point loss, I can see where they're coming from. As I've always said, this game is about process, not result. And if you know the result is going to be bad no matter what, there's an argument to be made for making that result as painless as possible.

IMHO, it's a pretty dick move, but that's easy for me to say because the whole point thing doesn't have the same allure for me as it once did. For a competitive person looking to, as it were, maintain some plate discipline, it's not the worst play in the world.

 

[Woodruff]

Ive been playing on this site for a while now but only now have I come acrossed this, I was playing a 4 singles game and me and another player were the strongest in the game but he was higher rank than me so one of the players who was losing decided to help the player with higher rank than me win so he could loose a couple of points less.

I have talked to the MajCom Crimminal Investigation and they say thats it's not cheating so I have accepted it but I will not put it to rest untill I hear what the community has to say.

Is it wrong to help the highest rank in the game so you can loose less points instead of going down like a man?

Is it chickenshit to do that? Absolutely, without question. Should it be illegal? Not unless it was done habitually by the same player. There certainly can be a case made that users will leave a site if that sort of activity is allowed to consistently take place.

 

[Woodruff]

I can empathize with the emotion, but I'm not seeing the logic. You're saying it's ok to attack someone based on rank in a Merc game, but not otherwise?

Without question, if I understand the functionality of a "merc game" correctly. Am I correct in thinking that in a "merc game", each kill results in a transfer of points? If so, that's vastly different than a standard-play game. In a merc game, it would absolutely lead to rank-hunting so that one can gain points prior to being eliminated themselves (and losing points at that time)...whereas that strategy in a standard game would be foolish, because you would be essentially throwing the game away by doing so (thus losing points and gaining none).

 

[mapguy]

What are you going to do ?
...start telling people who they can, and can not attack ?
...conform to some kind of approved strategy ?

It is like I said, The "handicapping" structure is responsible for this targeting of low ranks by high and low rankers alike. If you really dislike the strategies that are an outcome of this structure, then figure out an alternative, and try to sell it. Otherwise, just live and learn.

 

[uscg]

I'm taking a wild guess that this is about what i said in our game, 015207. the game was pretty much over, moondog had more armies than anyone, i did not have a bonus and there was no way i was going to win. Moondog had total control of the game and there was a 95% chance that he was going to win. This is about points and winning. and even if Restrepo won the game, i would have lost maybe 5 more points. I didnt throw the game from the beginning, it was a losing battle IMO. If someone doesn't like it, please foe me and don't play me. Please send me a message, and i will keep track of it and not join your games.

I really think this is the first time i have ever done that, here and on CC.