[Squirrelloid]

Originally Posted by chrispedersen

A few observations.

1). A player does not have to be capable of winning the game to be capable of throwing it.

1.5 > 1.

So even if a player is third, he is more than capable of throwing a game.

There was a reason a definition of 'throwing a game' was given. That you can't throw a game you are not *capable* of winning necessarily follows from that definition.

Also, i think you misinterpret 'capable of winning'. A player in 3rd may well be capable of winning the game, in which case he would also be capable of throwing it. A player in 10th place in the late game is almost certainly not capable of winning the game (bar some bizarre and elaborate set of assumptions that would never be achieved in reality).

You do seem to understand this distinction, since you make an identical point at the end of your post.

2). The reason we play against real players is for the challenge of it. We hope for a contest of tactics, of wills, of strategems, win or lose.

That's the reason *you* play against real players. There are many reasons for playing, and expecting everyone to play for your reason isn't warranted. Someone should not be punished or ostracized for playing for a different reason than someone or ones else.

3. I would say that it is beneficial for the dominions community overall, that players do not 'throw' games - as this leads to the most satisfying games. I would define 'throwing a game' as joining a contest for the purpose of making it inequitable.

I don't think anyone has argued that actually 'throwing the game' is acceptable practice.