I don't see anything bad about the system. I'm not necessarily
excited about it, but I imagine that in the long run it won't affect
me one way or the other.
I believe you will be shown wrong. Back in the old days of VPs, many many players mostly ignored them. It only took a couple people per game that didn't ignore them to screw the game for the rest. A key nation would be taken by a player that wanted max VPs, and he'd do nothing but nation build all game.
Then, you'd be forced to launch a late game character war agains this arse, in hopes of doscouraging more of this kind of play. Neutrals would declare late in the game, as a way of maximizing their VPs and joining a late game character war.
There were even many games where character wars were launched against good team players by a select few that wanted to maximize their chance of winning late in the game.
Not caring about VPs in no way isolated you from the negative effects of having a ranking system.
I have had NOTHING but
positive contacts with EVERYONE at Harley. Automagic is something I
was originally against, but wow, its really getting nifty to use! I
eagerly await MEOW.
Sure, I bet they are very eager to have you do their job and continue to pay them as much as when they had to do it for you. I refuse to try the system becuase of continued anger over how they presented it.
Also, I'm unconviced a Lead Airplane can't fly. Heck, they fly when
they are made out of steel... Now a lead balloon...
It might be able to fly, but not as good as one made from aluminium. They would have done better to be more honest in how they released automagic.
Basically, the argument just doesn't apply to the facts.
If Harley says all orders must be accompanied by a freshly netted
flounder, then so be it. THEY HAVE THE LICENSE. The loudest sound for
any business is the sound of an empty or full cash register.
And I believe that the best chance of a full cash register is to be honest with players, and not impose an unwanted system simply because a few that will want to score highly in that ranking system will spend a little extra money.
Here is a bigger picture. Competition drives sales. Its the entire
secret of Magic, Mage Knight, RPGA, GenCon, etc. I would suggest such
examples show that if you have a rating system, people increase their
interest in the game. "Oh, I didn't do good at this game, I guess I
better play more so I get better." "Wow! I have a chance to go up
against Sneaky Pete? He's really good!" Give out a pencil stub Clint
chewed on to each winner and you will get even more business.
It will be more like. Hey Joe and John, let's join the next 1650 game as Dunland, Harad and Corsairs, then go FP on GT1. We'll be sure to get a quick victory and boost our rankings.
> Any ranking system will have flaws.
Original Sin, buddy. EVERYONE has flaws. So, your point is.......
My point is simple. No system is better than a system that rewards poor play.
> "Cunning" players will be able to exploit the flaws to increase
their rankings.Cool. Cheaters. They still exist in all walks of life. Therefor
because of mankind's inherent evil, other shall be denied an
opportunity to compete. Sweet. How about this: You find players
exploiting the flaws in one of your games, take them out first! Self-
policing... (Of course that gets into the whole "who named you king"
argument but...).
People can join games without telling others in the game who they are. In fact, it is likely that highly ranked players will have to do this just to keep from "being taken out first" as you say.
Not having a ranking system does not prevent anyone from competing. It simply ensures that people are competing for the right reasons.
Possibly your only fact based point. In game 50 (GSI) Rangers
assassinated Galadriel to increase their ritual kills :P. Of course,
this gets back to something ANYONE who was picked on in school by
bullies already knows. Do what you were doing and the bullies will
get bored and go away. Then grow up, get a real job and hire the
bully so you make a ton of dough off of his labor. Oh wait... Ok. A
real response: Look for your fun in the other teammates. or in your
own nation or in your opponents.
Or, in the case of a ranking system, create a listing of the best "bad players" and publish it as a list of "best players" as a way of ensuring you get more bullies.
> It will be un-neato to have a sucky player shoved in your face as
one of the best players.This is true REGARDLESS of rating systems.
But not true with no ranking system as now exists.
Darrell Shimel
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