Exploiting status points

[Acererak]

Ahh yes, it was LT- and so I owe JF an apology: sorry about that.

Here's the thing; I have to disagree with my esteemed colleague Cloud on whether this is sour grapes. The situation is that the ink on the victory wasn't even dry yet when we're all brought into discussion around the final standings for the game started with the term "exploiting". Now to me, that makes it sound negative and puts me on the defensive because as I mentioned- the whole reason for this thread is to point out that the team that WON THE GAME used a tactic that you can only do if you are in position to WIN THE GAME. The thing that makes me feel like it's sour grapes is that it's pointed out by the person that LOST THE GAME under the auspices of honor and chivalry. Now I feel like JF is a fair and formidable opponent but I just don't believe that this whole thread wasn't actually meant to make the winners feel like they cheated. If so, congratulations fellas- I don't feel like celebrating much at all now. I enjoyed the game quite a bit but now I have a bad taste in my mouth.

Mission accomplished.

[HeadHoncho]

Like it or not, loopholes in life are often closed only when some noteworthy example of it comes to light.

No one that I've seen is blaming anyone for use of a perfectly legal game tactic, much like no one is blaming companies who choose to take advantage of certain corporate tax loopholes.

The real issue is the loophole itself and whether it is perceived as fair and right. That's what I believe is happening here.

[kevindusi]

Like it or not, loopholes in life are often closed only when some noteworthy example of it comes to light.

No one that I've seen is blaming anyone for use of a perfectly legal game tactic, much like no one is blaming companies who choose to take advantage of certain corporate tax loopholes.

The real issue is the loophole itself and whether it is perceived as fair and right. That's what I believe is happening here.

Please leave the purity that is the world of corporate taxation out of this, good sir.

[Lord Thanatos]

Naw, Acererak, I'm pretty sure you're thinking of LT or maybe Airborne.  Jumpingfist never said anything about his placing that I saw.  Also, if you'll recall, I actually asked WI to declare you ally like 4 turns before the end to avoid you getting caught in his regionals.  Of course, that situation didn't come up again in the few remaining turns so you never got anything out of it, but technically you did clear enough points from the sillyness to bump him.  But no need to get defensive - and I don't think sour grapes is the right word for this discussion.  No one is actually crying foul about this game, just the game mechanic in question.  In game 157 that ended on Monday, Jumpingfist declared LT enemy on the final turn which caused him to bump AirborneRanger down from 4th to 5th, so they are not claiming purity on the issue.   Trust me, they know the way the game is played.  They'd just rather this wasn't a thing and I agree.

I am definitely not claiming purity on this or any issue.  I have not been "pure" since sometime prior to puberty. 

I enjoyed this contest immensely.  I just think the declarations status point issue should be addressed for the future.

The status points used to be awarded for kingdoms declaring you an ally.  This mechanic rewarded the 3v1 and 4v1 and so it was rightly fixed.  The pendulum has simply swung a bit too far the other way.  My vote is to still provide negative status points for every player declaring you an ally, but have no status point awarded for enemy declarations.

This was definitely an enjoyable, interesting contest.  I am hoping Cloud will begin a Valhalla thread so the game itself can be discussed.

Sometimes we end up focusing on the minutiae instead of the overarching fun we had.  I am thinking about the discussion centered around the UN winning on turn 40 in possession of zero popcenters.  This is certainly worth discussing.  But I think we all fail to discuss the fact that we each had a full 40 turns of enjoyment.  I have only heard wonderful comments about that contest, except for the fact of the UN victory.  But it was a great contest!

We are all competitive personalities or we wouldn't be playing games.  Sometimes I feel like these Forum discussions should rightly be held at a strip club with lots of alcohol flowing so we can laugh, taunt, tease, boast, threaten, plot, bargain, posture, pontificate, swear, fight, hug, cajole, contemplate, and generally prepare for the next contest we are all going to compete again against each other.  Alcohol, dim lights, loud music, scantily-clad college girls, and late nights/early mornings would highlight the fact that we are ultimately all talking about a topic we dearly love - Alamaze!

[Drogo]

+1 for playing Alamaze in a strip club from now on

[Cloud]

lol.  I live in the strip club capitol of the US and even I'm not gonna do that.

[Acererak]

I don't know about anyone else, but if I'm in a strip club I'm not planning on hugging LT.

[Ry Vor]

lol.  I live in the strip club capitol of the US and even I'm not gonna do that.

And what city is this you claim?  I grew up in Fort Lauderdale, live in Dallas, been to Vegas many times, even I hear Atlanta makes a claim.

[Lord Alz]

Everyone knows houston has the best clubs, and there is nothing fishy going on in the champagne room.

[Ry Vor]

I don't think we will spend money and time reprogramming this. 

The intent was obviously to discourage 3 v 1 by penalizing declaring allies and giving some credo to kingdoms that had declared it enemy.

To me, the solution is stop the behavior of trying to break into the coke machine in the frat house at midnight.  Act honorably, and possibly we will just report any last turn or two enemy declarations in Valhalla and possibly strip those out manually if it effects podium position.