Handicap game
 

witherton has created "Bob's Handicap Game" on PBW to try to address skill differences caused by experience differences. From the game description:
"complete Newbies get 5000 point empires.
if you have played less than 50 turns against humans you get a 4000 point empire.
if you have played 50 or more turns but never won you get a 3000 point empire.
if you have won a game against humans use a 2000 point empire. "


I thought there might be newbies who would be interested but aren't aware or aren't checking the PBW Open games. So check it out at seiv.pbw.cc.

There is also a thread on the enhancement requests for PBW to track experience so players will know the experience level of their opponents. I was curious what a broader audience thought about some of the issues raised:

Is experience all that indicative of skill level? One of the toughest opponents I've faced was playing his first PBW game. I've played several and am close to Last place in my latest game (I've also won one and am in good shape in another). Maybe game circumstances determine who are sharks and who are minnows in a particular game?

Is PBW the place for tracking these things or should they be left to other ladder/tournament sites? Recognizing that PBW is a great site run by volunteers (bless 'em) with a full slate of projects already in the works.

Re: Handicap game
 

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Is experience all that indicative of skill level? One of the toughest opponents I've faced was playing his first PBW game. I've played several and am close to Last place in my latest game (I've also won one and am in good shape in another). Maybe game circumstances determine who are sharks and who are minnows in a particular game?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Of course there are times when you will be pretty much screwed at game setup, but for the most part Se4 does a pretty good job of evening things out for everybody. Most players in a game start out pretty much equal, and for those times when you don't, if you play enough games you will catch just as many breaks for you as against you.

The biggest factor in success or failure in this game, as in any game pretty much, is not making mistakes, and being in position to take advantage of your opponent when he does.

In this regard experience is very important, but not a requirement of success. An experienced player such as myself still can make mistakes. I have, and it cost me greatly in two recent game I am in. But an experienced player should make fewer, and be more prepared to take advantage of the ones his opponent makes.

By the same token an inexperienced player has the potential to play a mistake free game, but it is unlikely. However if they make mistakes and are fortunate to make them in an area where an opponent is not prepared to take advantage of them, they can get by.

Geoschmo