EA- Power Ratings and Head to Head Competitions

[thejeff]

Except that head to head competitions (2 player games) really only show the nations ability in early rush situations.

Nations that aren't so strong at the start, but have very powerful endgames will be slaughtered by rush nations that don't have to worry about having a weak endgame.

[Ming]

thejeff,

Fair point. However, could your concern be overcome by a reasonably large map - 2x the number of provinces per player compared to a "normal" MP map?

[thejeff]

It's still not really helpful, though it changes the dynamic a bit.

Even with 30 provinces/player that's only a 60 province map. Capitals are likely less than 7 provinces apart. You're going to have a border within the first year and likely be fighting at once. Long thin maps with starting locations at either end would help, but even if only 5 provinces wide there are ~ 10 provinces between capitals - and you know which way to go.

I'm unsure of the effects of making it really huge. Say several hundred provinces for 2 players. That might give a boost to late game strategies, or might allow the rapid expanders to just devour so much territory they'd be unstoppable.

You might be able to set up maps/mods reflecting the various stages of the game? Early is easy, default. For later stages, start with provinces owned and some research done?

[Aezeal]

you could also make it 3 vs 3 with a mod to make all sides the same nation then play on a bit larger map with pre set strt locations then there would be more options too loose a war here, win one there and get further in the game before it's gone, play with faster research too

[JimMorrison]

thejeff said:
It's still not really helpful, though it changes the dynamic a bit.

Even with 30 provinces/player that's only a 60 province map. Capitals are likely less than 7 provinces apart. You're going to have a border within the first year and likely be fighting at once. Long thin maps with starting locations at either end would help, but even if only 5 provinces wide there are ~ 10 provinces between capitals - and you know which way to go.

I'm unsure of the effects of making it really huge. Say several hundred provinces for 2 players. That might give a boost to late game strategies, or might allow the rapid expanders to just devour so much territory they'd be unstoppable.

You might be able to set up maps/mods reflecting the various stages of the game? Early is easy, default. For later stages, start with provinces owned and some research done?

Could make a specific "Official Dueling Map". The league could be split into divisions based on Early or Late strength. If an Early faced an Early, they could play on any map and it would be considered fair. A late could play a Late on any map, and it would be considered fair. The league sponsored dueling map however would be designed in a way that made it extremely difficult to meet before mid game. So once both players have gobbled up half the map, the Early player is pushing to get his army in order to break through the blockade, while the Late player is rushing his research to prepare.

Or it could just be as simple as saying Late Game Nation vs Early Game Nation doesn't count for league play.