Re: Well VOLE seems to refuse to give a scoring system....

Thanks folks for the kind words.

Truth be told, it has taken me (far) longer than I expected to devise a sco=
ring system.

The problem that I've been struggling with is that the scoring for a game c=
olours how the game itself gets played, and thus sets the tone for a series=
. Choosing which parts of the game to emphasise and which to pay less atten=
tion to alters the incentives of the players in the game, so it's something=
 which I feel requires a high degree of contemplation before coming to a ve=
rdict on. In quite a real way, the system that you pick is an expression of=
 your philosophy of Diplomacy.

Currently, I'm leaning fairly heavily towards a more agressive game with a =
slightly more fluid alliance structure (as opposed to games where alliances=
 are reasonably set from the early game onwards). I tend not to be happy wi=
th games which end in five-way draws, which I've seen in at least two of th=
e four games in the Voles series which have ended so far. as it suggests to=
 me that there's a degree of boldness missing where I would relish seeing t=
he occasional risk taken. At the same time, the mind set of winning at all =
costs can make for games full of inaction as there's no trust on the board =
either. The most enjoyable games I've played have been the ones where the a=
lliances have been fluid and have changed throughout the different stages o=
f the game in response to the changing conditions of the game. A good mix o=
f both loyalty to ones ally(s), but tempered with pragmatism when it comes =
to accepting that an alliance is no longer in your interest. Fluid rather t=
han chaotic.

The scoring will be an expression of those beliefs, once I'm happy that it =
expresses them properly and that it won't create incentives that run contra=
ry to an enjoyable game. I've made a lot of progress towards that goal over=
 the last few weeks, but I'm not quite there yet. Soon though, soon.

Comments and thoughts always welcomed and appreciated.

Ed



--- In [email protected], Mark Arvidson <mark_arvidson@...> wrote:
>
> Agreed Andrius. =A0Kudos to Ed for stepping up to run games at all.
>=20
> Besides, any rating scheme should be constructed with data for review in =
hand. =A0Even if that was not the initial intent, it helps to have 10 games=
 complete and look at how they played out. =A0I can assure you that there w=
ere not 70 different players, nor did every player finish every game due to=
 resignation or abandonment, etc. =A0
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> Let Ed take his time to develop the system he wants. =A0
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> -Mark
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> ________________________________
>  From: Andrius K.  <andrius_diplomacy@...>
> To: "[email protected] " <[email protected]>=20
> Sent: Monday, March 26, 2012 11:45 PM
> Subject: Re: [dpjudge] Well  VOLE seems to refuse to give a scoring syste=
m....
>=20=20
> Please forgive me for voicing disagreement there. In no way is the VOLE s=
eries a let-down or disappointment. On the contrary, it is a great service =
to the hobby and an opportunity to play with and against very competent opp=
onents. Irrespective of whether and when a rating system may be forthcoming=
, we all owe Ed respect and appreciation for stepping forward to host our g=
ames. Ed's expressed intention to develop and introduce a rating system is =
just another sign of his willingness to do something meaningful for our com=
munity. As such, it cannot be held against him even if circumstances preven=
t or delay the implementation of that intent. Rated or not, let's play for =
the pleasure of communicating and interacting with each other in the Vole g=
ames, which are indeed full of talented players.
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> Andrius
> Sent from my BlackBerry=AE smartphone
>=20
> -----Original Message-----
> From: kirman36 <kirman36@...>
> Date: Mon, 26 Mar 2012 22:58:37=20
> To: <[email protected]>
> Subject: [dpjudge] Well=A0 VOLE seems to refuse to give a scoring system.=
...
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> =A0=20
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> Vole was a replacement for Owls or sold as so. Yet after many request it'=
s tomorrow tomorrow tomorrow, find out the scoring system later.... heck we=
 are only in 10 games.
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> Now I understand this is free and that that is that. But don't state you =
will do something and months later nothing. WHAT A LET DOWN!!!!
>=20
> Eric Kirwan
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> ------------------------------------
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> Yahoo! Groups Links
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> =A0 =A0 http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>




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