New Status Points - Open for Discussion

[Ry Vor]

There were some specific changes coming for Classic that weren't really for debate, more notification, but my main objective with Status Point Awards, which affect game order of finish and Valhalla ranking, I am open to discussion for a week or so until we need to code it. So, say what you think of the suggestions. Just a little disclosure, don't try to make it too cute, I'd like players to kind of know in their head what gets points and how many, not a lot of formulas.

Also let me know what you think of the idea of Recommendation for Special Commendation.

Recommendations for Special Commendation:
Sent in as the turn after final results - nominations. Only active positions at the end of the game can nominate.
Write-up player has to be active at game end.
Player getting 3 of these in one category gets an icon of color for category, and free setup.
And the related citizenship title.
List the recommendations by persona?

Iron Willed: persevered beyond all expectation. Nominee must have been eliminated after T18 or be active at game end, and not have finished top 3.

Chancellor: persona selflessly dedicated time and attention to help a relatively new player as mentor. Persona doing the nomination cannot be above Commander Service.

Infamous: Persona that made the game more fun or engaging, probably including banter and encouragement, but in any manner that brought special and lasting memory of this game.

Senator, someone who has made 9 nominations (so active at the end of at least 3 games and making 3 nominations) and at least 3 have gotten support (player awarded with 3 nominations).

Also counts as status points at large, rather than affecting game finish order. Each player active at finish can nominate one (not self) in each category.

[DuPont]

The only thing I'm really not sure about there is the economic points. It seems to me that if you have a percentage of pop centers for regional control, you are getting double points. I suppose you could have the rare kingdom that simply has a few pop centers but builds them up with super gold production, but mostly I think you are going to be counting the same thing twice.
I do like the idea of special commendation, though. Seems like that could be fun.

[Lord Thanatos]

The only thing I'm really not sure about there is the economic points. It seems to me that if you have a percentage of pop centers for regional control, you are getting double points. I suppose you could have the rare kingdom that simply has a few pop centers but builds them up with super gold production, but mostly I think you are going to be counting the same thing twice.
I do like the idea of special commendation, though. Seems like that could be fun.

I completely agree with Dupont that the economic status points are usually going to be captured by the regional control status points.

I would also eliminate the additional status points for finishing second or third in status points achieved already. Who cares who finishes second? This will encourage large alliances. This will also encourage shifting of artifacts among alliance members on the turn someone is going to declare victory.

Standard Victory should be 20000. Not sure I have even seen this before.

[unclemike]

Should there be status points awarded for the amount of food/gold in the treasury as well? There's a reward for food/gold production but not for having a rich and well stocked treasury.

Personally, I would also like to award status points for every victorous battle that a position had in the game. Sure, the chart awards leader/wizard levels but that's not a guarantee that the player attained such through battle. Wizards level just from gold and there may be a change to Alamaze to level leaders in the same manner (like Fall of Rome).

If there was a way for the software to track the number and success of battles then that may be the best means of truly determining a skillful player. I mean, just read some of the Valhalla notes from previous winners, many of them stayed back from conflict in the beginning of the game and then moved in after several kingdoms weakened themselves from battling each other. Winning the game like that is a hollow victory if you asked me. I would rather be in the thick of things and lose the game than win like that.

So if the game awarded points for the number and degree of victorous combat (and any leaders/wizards/emissaries you slay thru battle/magic/assassinations) then at least those that deserve to win the game have a chance to do so.

[HeadHoncho]

Agree to some extent on economic being potentially overlapping with regions. Maybe reduce economic awards or change it to ending treasury.

Enemy/ally declaration numbers feel high to me.

Otherwise good.

[Jumbie]

I favor not having awards for treasury. To me, high treasury is a sign of not spending/doing and therefore not contributing to the action in the game.

What I'd favor instead is status points for 'productivity' rather than just production, i.e. your total production for the game to that point, MINUS your balance so you get awarded for earning money, but only if that money was used to move the game along.

I like the commendations idea.

[unclemike]

I favor not having awards for treasury. To me, high treasury is a sign of not spending/doing and therefore not contributing to the action in the game.

What I'd favor instead is status points for 'productivity' rather than just production, i.e. your total production for the game to that point, MINUS your balance so you get awarded for earning money, but only if that money was used to move the game along.

I like the commendations idea.

Having food and gold remaining in one's treasury does not mean that the player isn't doing anything in the game. Instead, it represents that the player is handling their position with skill and efficiency instead of just throwing gold around.

Back in the old days, when a game ended Phil McDowell used to add his personal notes on every kingdom including if anyone had a large stockpile of food or gold remaining since it showed just how successful that player was in playing the game using minimal resources.

It doesn't mean that the player didn't do anything

In fact, after digging around my archives, I found one of Phil's reports with a position with a large stockpile of gold at game's end.

[Hawk_]

Could there be some points for a very high pop center defense. Say 40,000+?

Also I think the warlord points are a bit high. Seems like I see a lot of Warlords at game end.

I think most players would trade a warlord for a P7 wizard. But maybe I am looking at that from the wrong way.

[Ry Vor]

I've incorporated many of the suggestions, including eliminating half of the Economic categories, adding 20k for a Standard Victory, changing levels slightly (such as with Agents). Also Citizenship is important (fairly significant for being active at game end) and control of artifacts less important than currently.

I'm asking Cipher to incorporate this with the September Changes. See attached PDF.

We now begin with the Recommended Commendations starting with G108 - just finished today, as well.

[HeadHoncho]

Do we make nominations publicly, or privately to you? Thanks!

EDIT: Looks like publicly in the game-end thread, which is cool with me.