Anonymous Collusion

[Stromguard]

If we can prove collusion beyond reasonable doubt in an Anonymous game, what would happen to the guilty parties?

I understand there was a prior game where collusion was suspected and the team in 1st place left the game.

In addition, what is the policy of teams allying in anonymous magic games?

[HeadHoncho]

Proven collusion in an Anonymous game would result in universal scorn in the forums, as well as whatever additional measures Rick decided to implement, if any.

As for the other two points, they're related, in that sometimes "working together" in an anonymous game is more a function of appearance than actuality. Two Kingdoms that share a region declaring each other Ally in the early going can look like collusion, but it's really a plea not to fight each other and engage in mutually-assured-destruction at the very start of the game. And depending on the rules, similar things can happen in Team games (we're experimenting with ways to combat that in a current Team and Warlords game).

Finally, as one of the players in the team game you're referring to, it was more the frustration and unrelenting grind of our three Kingdoms leading and trying to fight off eight other Kingdoms that made the game increasingly onerous and tiresome for us. The fact that some of them were Allying and trading was icing on the cake (which was not against the rules of that particular Team game), but please don't confuse that with an accusation of overt collusion.

[Jumpingfist]

I would say please report to support what you feel is prof, but do not blast someone on the forum until it is without a doubt. I have been on the wrong side of these lies myself enough times to know they really suck and especially when not true. Also if you blast while the game is going on giving away your position you are in fact violating the anonymous rules yourself.

Note though Ry Vor has said many times this is the main reason he did not like the idea of anonymous in the first place. So be sure before you send that request to support.

[Stromguard]

It will make for an interesting Valhalla report.

[Drogo]

How were they trading in that Warlords game? You mean reciprocal 215's?

[VballMichael]

How were they trading in that Warlords game?  You mean reciprocal 215's?

215 orders, ally declarations, use of council to help other teams' reaction levels, etc...
In hindsight, no collusion, nothing against the rules, just as HH said it became not fun with 8 kingdoms working together, even if not in perfect collusion.

And I would echo JF's point. Be sure. My team really felt like the other teams were working together a little too much for an anon team game. They seemed to be showing up at different pop centers, etc. and it all looked coordinated from where we sat initially. But we could only see our turn sheets, and were not aware if they were fighting elsewhere, or if one of them avoided pop centers another kingdom was hitting, etc...

In short, two kingdoms in an anon game can kind of work together accidentally or on purpose without there being collusion. I have seen two kingdoms invade me before where they looked coordinated but really it was one kingdom attacking me anywhere they saw the other kingdom was not hitting .

[Lord Diamond]

I can live with the ally declarations to declare intentions, but gifts of food and gold annoy me. I can understand it, but I still don't like it.

[Ry Vor]

I essentially agree with everything that Head Honcho wrote, and was also said by his teammate VBM. 

That being in particular, in an Anonymous game, the only recourse against the front runners, and how to end a war with the third place team, is to make a high council issue or vote.  I thought it rather clever in that game, and was disappointed that first place at the time team dropped, which is unlike each of the personas generally. 

I can tell you, as I guess the foremost authority, that there was no breech of the rules in that game.  There was no direct correspondence other than through the High Council.  And, I have no evidence that there has ever been a breech in any game.

As said, I have at least 20 times posted I do not favor Anonymous games, because both it was not the intent of the Alamaze design in general, and we have no way to enforce those laws.  But the players like them, so, there we are.  And we have no evidence anyone has violated them.  My exception to not liking anonymous is the semi-anonymous that is in the Magic (team) games, where not communicating with other teams to me seems necessary other than the somewhat covert HC bidding and voting. 

Please do not disparage a persona on the forum.  It usually ends with both players quitting.  If anyone has an issue with a persona, send your evidence to support and let me handle it.  Just as I defend strongly our reputation as a company and providing customer service, many of our players have done a lot to build their own reputations with their persona and it sucks to see yourself disparaged, even if inadvertently, on the forum which is widely read.

Overall, I believe we have one of the most friendly, helpful, useful player communities anywhere.  And I thank you for that.

[Sinestro]

I'm actually interested in what stromguard is talking about kingdoms and game number. As he said. It will make for a interesting Valhalla report.

[Hawk_]

I'm actually interested in what stromguard is talking about kingdoms and game number. As he said. It will make for a interesting Valhalla report.

Unless your anon game has added extra special rules  (game 182 for example) players in Anon games should realize that the only special feature in place is that players are not communicating outside of the game and don't know kingdom's player identities.

It is still legal to declare allies, send food or gold to other kingdoms, cast spells that benefit other kingdoms (603, 481, 786) and raise HC issues that favor others. 

There is not a rule in place that states that kingdoms can't start sending resources to a kingdom that is fighting your enemy.   It is also possible that same kingdom could turn against you later in the game if your team closed in on a victory.

Players can and will employ all tactics that are legally at their disposal to gain an advantage in the game or to try and prevent a team that is leading in the status points from winning.