Online 'Scape Season 10 - CONGRATS TO VEGIETARIAN18

[Foudzing]

Originally Posted by ScapeRaider

Personally, I understand the argument that the better players have earned the right to better seeds, but I like that we don't play that way. I feel like if new players know that they will be going up against the best of the best, they will either play it too safely or take stupid risks. While these can be effective playstyles, they are highly army dependant, so they will probably get crushed much worse than they should have, which can be discouraging. Its not that people have an issue with losing (well, generally its not that), its that people don't like losing because they didn't play well. If I play my best and I get killed, so be it: I played a good player. If I leave my flag totally open in the second round, and the opponent wisely takes advantage of that, its different. In my experience, everyone has more fun when they are playing someone of roughly the same skill level.

~~ScapeRaider, totally unbiased from the bottome of the ladder

It's because new players are not seeded as they should be.

The new players should have a better seed than the players with a win ratio under 50%.

[vegietarian18]

I agree with you that 0-0 should be better than a W/L ratio under 1, but the ranking system drastically favors people with more total games played. A new player would be seeded above the number 25 (?) player, MegaSilver.

[dok]

I don't think it makes any sense at all to seed a new player over someone like Megasilver, who has a slightly below-50% record but has proven himself to be a solid player.

I also think it's a large overstatement to say the system "drastically favors people with more total games played". Case in point would be that Megasilver is quite a bit behind people with drastically fewer games, like robber, who is 9-6.

The reality is that the ranking algorithm is appropriately suspicious of people who start off with a big winning streak. Lots of players have maintained a win ratio of 3:1 or better for a brief stretch. For most of them, this is a statistical blip, and they fall back into a lower win ratio. The players who have managed to maintain such an impressive ratio for a significant number of games have found their way into the top 5.

(In my particular case, my "secret" is that I've been crazily consistent. I haven't lost to a player outside the top 25 in about 5 seasons. I just keep posting my 4-0 and losing in the playoffs to a good player. )

[Eraguy816]

Um quick question. Why am I a sub?
I'm guessing cause I made it late and then you had an even amount of players.

[Kinseth]

Originally Posted by Eraguy816

Um quick question. Why am I a sub?
I'm guessing cause I made it late and then you had an even amount of players.

That is correct, we had one player sign up before you for the "last call" and that person got the even # spot.

[Heroscaper Guy]

Kevindola and I will be starting in 31 minutes. I've got my Frenzy Forces, he's got his Unholy Abominations (and a monkey chewing a cigar).

[kevindola]

Thralls sprouted everywhere as elves were slain by Nicholas.

HS Guy played well, but didn't get any frenzies in the first round despite Haduc and Mittens and Lodin. Any thralls he killed in the first round sprouted back in the 2nd round. It didn't help that the dice all around were decidedly one-sided.

When a preyblood captured the flag I had 5 thralls, all Marro Warriors, and Kursus left. The Venoc Warlord still remained on HS Guy's side. He stood disinterested as the thrall captured the flag. Thanks for the game HS Guy.


Heroscaper Guy
Attack rolls: 26 out of 42 (61.9%)
Defense rolls: 6 out of 25 (24%)
Total dice rolled: 67
Time used: 0h, 10m, 44s

kevindola
Attack rolls: 42 out of 73 (57.53%)
Defense rolls: 25 out of 69 (36.23%)
Total dice rolled: 142
Time used: 0h, 12m, 4s

[Heroscaper Guy]

Originally Posted by kevindola

Thralls sprouted everywhere as elves were slain by Nicholas.

HS Guy played well, but didn't get any frenzies in the first round despite Haduc and Mittens and Lodin. Any thralls he killed in the first round sprouted back in the 2nd round. It didn't help that the dice all around were decidedly one-sided.

When a preyblood captured the flag I had 5 thralls, all Marro Warriors, and Kursus left. The Venoc Warlord still remained on HS Guy's side. He stood disinterested as the thrall captured the flag. Thanks for the game HS Guy.


Heroscaper Guy
Attack rolls: 26 out of 42 (61.9%)
Defense rolls: 6 out of 25 (24%)
Total dice rolled: 67
Time used: 0h, 10m, 44s

kevindola
Attack rolls: 42 out of 73 (57.53%)
Defense rolls: 25 out of 69 (36.23%)
Total dice rolled: 142
Time used: 0h, 12m, 4s

I pretty much didn't get any frenzies (only one) when according to the laws of probability I should have gotten one about every three tries (35%). My defense dice weren't too hot either and you had great attack dice.

[dok]

The one time I tested a Haduc/Mittens/AA army, I had something like 10 frenzies in 2 rounds. Which was the entire game, of course.

[MegaSilver]

Originally Posted by dok

I don't think it makes any sense at all to seed a new player over someone like Megasilver, who has a slightly below-50% record but has proven himself to be a solid player.

I also think it's a large overstatement to say the system "drastically favors people with more total games played". Case in point would be that Megasilver is quite a bit behind people with drastically fewer games, like robber, who is 9-6.

Hey!

I don't know whether to take those as compliments or not...

[kevindola]

Originally Posted by vegietarian18

I agree with you that 0-0 should be better than a W/L ratio under 1, but the ranking system drastically favors people with more total games played. A new player would be seeded above the number 25 (?) player, MegaSilver.

Moving this conversation to the online rankings thread

[Filthy the Clown]

Originally Posted by Eraguy816

Um quick question. Why am I a sub?
I'm guessing cause I made it late and then you had an even amount of players.

Stick around, Eraguy. I am sure that you will get some playing time!