Well, I played a low-stakes game to test the water with WTA and to all intents and purposes it now seems over. I wanted to see if it was the cure-all we were promised, 7 players all trying to win the game just as the creators intended. Well, I've discovered a big flaw, WTA doesn't work.

As many of you know I was very alarmed when the points system was introduced as that completely changed the objective of the game. Instead of people looking at the "most wins" it all became about points, and of course you don't have to win a game to get points. So a lot of people stopped trying. They became all about the points. As soon as that situation develops, it unbalances the game. A very good player can get sidelined because someone on the other side of the board is running away with the game. That shouldn't happen, what should happen is as soon as someone starts running away with a game, EVERYONE starts figuring out how to stop them. Because you can't win a game if someone else wins it first.

Anyhew, eventually I just stopped playing because every game got so boring and predictable and pretty much impossible to win without a huge chunk of luck. Even in a high stakes game, the top ranked player got a free pass to a win because one or two countries were more worried about losing points than losing the game.

So just for me, and similar minded people, Kestas introduced Winner Takes All (WTA) games. This was meant to eliminate the problem of ratings-farmers, of spoilers and blockers - in a game where only the winner gets any points, surely everyone must try to win? Surely everyone must try and stop whoever looks like winning? I was quite excited about it when I started my first game.


The game sure had a promising start, with surprises, stabs, and unexpected switches in allegience. But a couple of players didn't seem to be playing like players who wanted to win. And then France, my main rival (I am Turkey) started talking about draws.

I explained my concerns about this in another thread, and it turns out I was absolutely right to be concerned. However this game ends, it is now effectively a Points Per Supply Centre game. Either I accept a draw with France and Italy, or they destroy me and agree a draw between themselves. And in the event of a draw, the split will of course be determined per supply centre.

Italy has never looked like he has been trying to win, and the prospect of a draw is manna from heaven for him. His tactics have proven successful, who is to say he and other players will not play a spoiling game in future WTA games?

France is happy to concede a share of the pot, either to Italy and myself or just Italy. He doesn't have any interest in winning the game, even though he is in a very strong position. It's like he doesn't believe winning a game is even possible!

As for Turkey, it is impossible for me to win. It is just like a PPS game - (to all intents and purposes now, it IS a PPS game) - other players don't want to win, and that has made it impossible for me to win. I can accept defeat and sell out and take a bunch of points (it's like a 210 pot game, wow, my eyes are flashing imaginary dollar signs) or I can make the other two sweat for their stitch-up. Obviously I don't want to encourage spoilers so I have to fight on.

And what could I have done to avoid this situation? Nothing. My choices are and were always either a) fight to the death, or b) accept a draw. A lose-lose situation.

I don't want to play a game where winning is not possible. This used to be a good game, I used to win often. Or I used to be beaten fairly by people who were trying to win and needed to take me out. But I really don't like PPS games, and I don't like WTA games that turn into PPS games, I don't want to be involved in games with people who have no interest in winning. I don't want to compete with mediocrity, where the choice is join it or lose. I don't want to play really enjoyable games that end in an anticlimax because the other players stop competing.

I know many of you think I'm being childish, and sure you get whatever you get out of the game and it gives you some measure of fulfillment. I'm not getting that any more, I'm just constantly disappointed that I can't find 6 people willing to start and finish a game where it's a given from the start that only one person is going to be victorious - the most skilfull rather than the luckiest. I used to be able to get that here, and I can't any more.

Anyway, as things stand there isn't much point in my starting another game. I will probably hang around the forums for a while (if nothing else to field the abuse from this thread!), finish this interminable PPS game I unwillingly got involved in, then slowly drift away as my passion fades. I'd like to thank Kestas and figlesquidge for the good times, a shout to my old friends and adversaries, and a salute for all those that have fallen.