I don't know, Geo. I'm not sure how much he was working with other players and how much effect that will on them. For me (and another partner), he was the third of a triumvarate (sp?). As such, I suspect it will have a significant effect on us! Especially if the AI takes over and declares war on me as happened TWICE in the Mediocrity game with other partnerships. I made a game-long pact with Deccan and have done nothing to protect my border with him. This is yet another reason I hate group games (slowness, as you know, being my other pet peeve). There is also another reason his parntnership is important to me (but I won't say here).
So...if we play on and the AI declares war on me, I'm not going to stick around like a good little boy (as I did in Mediocrity) so as not to mess the game up for other people, I'm just going to assume my game is going to fall to pieces and withdraw as well (and take the rating hit) because I won't invest lots of time into a game where the chances of doing well are slim. My time is more valuable than that.
And, I'll make a sign to hang on the front of my monitor that says, "Slynky, no matter how much fun a game may sound, do NOT join a game with more than 4 players!"
