The tournament and a question of ethics - newbie question

[tesco samoa]

that would be the point of this tourney....

Role the dice and go... or turtle...

One or the other... not both...

And alliances have a way of shifting depending on the current situation....

[gravey101]

I can see arguments from both sides. While I think I would *prefer* a situation where everyone took each game as a separate entiry, I think it;s almost impossible for that to be the case. Grudges will be borne. Friendships will be made. But in the end there can be only one, right :-) Think about the large alliance. Sooner or later that's gotta start breaking down. Who's gonna turn on who? Maybe your friends aren't so friendly after all. Plenty of room for intrigue and rumour spreading. Looking at the list in the S2 tournamnet I have played with probably more than 1/2 the players already. Some I have had strong alliances with in other games. Some I have fought against. I think clearly you will struggle if you try to go it alone in every game, but I think there are many routes to being the eventual champion. Looking forward to this.

[tbontob]

Originally posted by geoschmo:
I have no doubt it will be a battle of who can do the best job of making alliances and playing them off of one another. That's the whole point of the format. It's what I inteded to begin with. I am not sure if you are saying this is a bad thing or what?

Geoschmo

Actually I am not making any judgements as to whether it is a good/bad thing. I am just saying that the lone player is a sure loser and the members in a smaller alliance has a greater probability of losing.

Let's say you have an alliance with 10 members, an alliance with 7 members and 3 loners.

The two alliances will "tend" to look at the loners for a victory. Having fewer resources, research points and ultimately ships and technology, their weakness will invite attack.

Now we have two alliances. Having fewer resources, research points and ultimately ships and technology, the weaker alliance will "invite" an attack on one of its members(because it is weaker").

[tbontob]

Originally posted by geoschmo:

If you think that by being in a 10 player alliance you are guaranteeing yourself success, by all means go for it. There will be others that will feel more comfortable with a small alliance of skilled players. Or no pregame alliance at all, prefering to form alliances with those that are close to them in the game and threfore more able to help them effectively. There are different ways to look at the problem. The only way to know for sure is to play. And even then what works in one game will not neccesarily work in another.

Geoschmo

No, I am not saying a 10 member alliance guarantees success...just that it has a greater probability of success than a loner or a smaller alliance.

And those who want to win (this is about winning the game isn't it?), will tend to ally themselves with the larger alliance.

And yes, people have personal preferences...the question is whether their personal preferences will increase or decrease their chances of winning the prize.

[Gryphin]

tbontob,
OT: Philosophy
While I understand "about winning".
To me, it is about having fun.
/OT

[geoschmo]

Oh, but Gryphin, what is more fun than winning?

Yes, Tbon, your analysis is probably correct for the most part. Of course there are always the loners who will want to go it alone, and will gain pride form being able to, or at least attempting to. But likely they will not survive.

Something else to remember is it is possible you could "hide", stay isolated to a couple systems in an out of the way corner and hope no one notices you. If someone finds you, bluffing is often useful. "Why yes, I have an alliance, he's right over there. No I'm afraid I can't let you go that way, that system is restricted by order of the emporer." It might not work, but it would be fun to try. And it only has to work long enough for one of the alliances to pick off some other loner, or a weak member of another alliance. Or for that matter to get an alliance to turn on one of it's own. That's always fun.

Geoschmo

[tbontob]

Hmmmmm bluffing

Have no experience in that...just played the computer.

Shouldn't have said that...maybe the "alliance" will not want me!

[Gryphin]

Geo,
Funny you should ask. I was preparing my Philosophy thread as you were asking.

[Grandpa Kim]

I am inclined to allow email communication even prior to in game contact for these games.

I strenuously object.

Kim

[Grandpa Kim]

So I guess I will go ahead and say there is no problem with doing these sorts of things in this game.

Object again.

Kim