Some of the higher rated players have observed that some players "avoid" other players who have higher ratings in league play. I understand that everyone wants a shot at the prize-- but avoiding the challenging games does three things:

1) You can't learn from the best if you don't play them...ESPECIALLY in limited play. And if you're not learning you're not getting better. Sure, you can play them in ECs, but then you're up against all kinds of crazy decks that you might have a tough time with. In limited play, the playing field is much more leveled, and you really do have a great chance of winning.

2) It discourages good competition, as higher rated players shy away from leagues, because it's extra tough to get games unless you're a 24/7 lurker. It's just no fun, and it lulz you into a false sense of security (pun intended).

3) You stifle your rating. If you beat a highly rated player, you get a nice rating boost. If you lose, you only lose a little. It's much more difficult to maintain a high rating than it is to rise from a low one.

And one other related comment-- when you are 'forced' to play games against tough players (like in EC), don't forfeit too early! I've seen far too many players resign to someone too early because of their opponents "reputation". Don't resign until you know it's over. And even if it is over, you can continue playing anyway. The time you spend losing to skilled players is usually the time you learn most.

Case Study: I've lost over 100 limited rating points in the last few weeks... mostly from playing my craptastic draw in Domain Keep II. I'm practically GIVING rating points away!

Come on down! Ca ca ca KRAZY Sunyaku is GIVING away rating points away in Domain II!!!

***This special offer is only available for SEVEN moar days (or until I've played 9 more games)!!!

Avoiding higher ranked players so that I can get more points in the Domain means aiting even longer for games... and maybe not getting them. I ended up with 7 unplayed games last domain. I would have been in top 5 had I played those games (even if I lost most of them)

It's also important to note that just because a player has a lower ranking than you doesn't mean that you will beat them. There are a surprising number of lower ranked players with phenomenal skills in this game. I've lost to a few of them in domain games.

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Altren wrote:

I agree with Keyser, and that's what I'm planning to implement actually.

|| The Rise of the DCC | Plasmatium Netherious | Tastes Like Chicken | The Astridian Conspiracy ||

Guild -> | Platypus Rising|

Also, good players are not immune to bad draws in domain...

I too think it is sad that many high rated players stop playing in the leagues beacause they know they won't get to play enough games. This will of course eventually lead them to leave the game entirely, wich is sad. I have an idea that can prevent this from happening:) If a player have been waiting for a game continiously, for (for example) two hours, they automaticaly get a win. This way you are guarranteed that you get to play your five domain games if you can invest at least ten hours a week + the time it takes to play a game if someone accepts your challenge. If more people would start playing the Domain leagues because of this, it would soon become next to impossible to wait for a game for two hours without anyone accepting the challenge, so in the long run it would be very hard to abuse this. And remember that the waiting time must be whitout pause, so if one logg off the minute one see a good player loggs inn, one have to start all over again.

Avoiding losses is good competition. If you want to play for fun play brass. In domain there are hunters and there prey. I dont like playing domain because it sucks bing preyed on all month long.

The risk of sucking all month supersedes any possible gain. Now appearently from what Im hearing its not much better being the hunter.

Anyways, it is a competition and if your in it for life experience feel free to lay on your back like a submissive dog well other players take advantage of it. I myself, would do whatever possible to win.

In fact, fewer higher ranked players enter brass. Why? Answer that.

"In fact, fewer higher ranked players enter brass. Why? Answer that."

Seems like you had a point, but I dont know what it is, but I'll try to answer anyway. I myself love Brass, but since it is so hard to find games I had to chose between Brass and Domain. Since I dont have many cards yet, and need alooth more, I play Domain. If I ever feel I have enough cards I will change to Brass.

Did not understand if you agreed or not tho what I wrote, but my only point is that we need more players in the leagues, and the suggestion I had could maybe do something about that.

I'm not sure about the waiting for 2 hours for an automatic win, but I came up with another idea. Simply get rid of the name-list in the League's waiting room. This would be fair for everyone as the pairings would become much more random. To take it even further, there could be an option to become invisible in the lobby when you are waiting for a league match, or becoming invisible to only the people signed up in the league. Naturally this would make finding league matches a bit more troublesome for everyone, except for the top players maybe. I think a modified version of CaveTroll's suggestion would solve this nicely: Award 1 point for every hour spent in the queue (total time for whole league's duration) or alternatively after half an hour of waiting. This shouldn't apply to waiting for tiebreakers though. This way time people spend in the queue would be increased and thus it would help everyone find matches.

about being invisible in the leagues: I totally disagree. It is good to see who is on line and who you have to ask for a game.
I am not one of the best players around but I am always in the top5 of the brass. Because I choose my opponents wisely. I won't play when Galorix or Nayen are on line: let them play against each other . But I'll play everyone else, and the most players will play with me. Playing much stronger players is not fun and could lead to leaving the game.

The idea to give points for waiting in the queue could be effective but only with a small modification>
give 1 point (a game loss) for a player waiting for 30 minutes in the queue. Let's call this "phantom" points.
BUT
1. a player can have max. the number of games left in phantom points
2. when a palyer plays a game, deduct 1 from his phantom points (remember: he can't have more phantom points than games left!)
3. Make a separate column for phantom points in the league lobby. Why? It is good to see that someone has won a game or got a loss +2 phantoms. In the Brass the current position (won/loss ratio) is better way to determine someone's actual strength than his rating or "reputation" from other formats.
4. When the league ends, the player adds his phantom points to his regular points.

So you not playing with stronger players, but other players play with you i.e. stronger player for them. So it's not fun to play with stronger for you, it's not fun to play with you for other players?
Sounds a bit crazy, don't you think so?

My 2 centavos:

If I have battled someone a few times in constructed and a time or two in Domain II and been FLATTENED everytime, I might not feel too excited about battling that person again. I know this sounds ca ca ca KRAZY, but sometimes I want to have a chance of winning. Honestly, I don't know how much I learn when the opponent bum rushes me with every Red Imp from Hades! (Maybe the lesson is to draft more synergistic cards)? The game is great fun, the vast majority of gamers are cool, and some of us don't want to be THRASHED 100% of the time.

How do you guys know that some of the "higher rated players" are ALSO not choosing the majority of their opponents carefully so as to almost guarantee a win? (Just wanted to throw that out there). You don't have to beat the best to win the Domain after all, so theoretically possible that the "winner" did some dodging too. I am NOT stating that is currently happening, just that it is conceivable.

Ciao,

DarkJello

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