Well, no sooner did the new elo ratings come out when I found myself the stated target of several of my neighbors. I discovered that the ringlader of this coalition had messaged the other powers saying something about wanting to take out Mr. #8 on the ghost-ratings.

I wonder, did people with a high number of points experience this kind of bias against them? Is bias against people high on the ghost-ratings comprable to high point bias or is it worse or not as bad?

Also, is this fair? Is it just a part of due diligence to look at your opponents game histories, points, and elo rating or is it a form of meta-gaming?

If it is a form of meta-gaming should we implement some kind of anonymous game option?

I judge people by the in-game diplomacy and actual performance. I don't look at their history or statistics. Part of the game (in my opinion) is shrewd assessment of your foes based on your interactions with them.

Ghost ratings?

I actaully did that once... i was playing with friendlysword, and me and another newbie to this site decided to gang up on him because of his amount of points.
And Hereward: it might be a little to far to judge just by points, but you should look at the games they won, how they played them through, what they did as their first moves in the past games where they were the same country as the game your playing with them. The statistics are there, why not use them?

does someone want to explain the Ghost rating to me?

Its a list that TheGhostMaker made.
http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pV-9eBntJrSrltv5bLRL5QQ
control find yourself

I wasn't saying checking their history and statistics was a bad thing amonkeyperson. I was just saying that personally I like to depend on my own reading of people, I view it as a skill to be honed. If someone wants to check those things and view it as part of the game, that's fair enough. Their way of playing.

I look at my own statistics to judge my progression and view my history...that's about it. I have also viewed some of the top players games and profiles to see if there was anything to be learned, but I've never played any of them.

how was the list compiled?

You know what I think every player should do? Communicate the best they can, even if you're moving against them.
Am I the only one who gets pissed everytime an enemy doesn't respond to you, or an ally doesn't even respond with a yes or no to your plans and you start hoping he read it and silently agrees...

I agree... the non response thing is kind of... well tacky. It can be diplomatically useful but if you're just being lazy, come on.

Jacob - you're concern about being picked on due to having a higher rating will effect any rating system. Flashman calls it 'tall poppy syndrome' and it's human nature, pure and simple. Consider it a challenge, it can also be turned around in your favour.

I'm sure that the people that joined the ringleader of the coalition against you, could have been turned if you had been aware of the situation or offered a more compelling argument.

My hope for the ELO rating is as per Sean's comments - I loathe points farming and think it's definitely been detrimental a lot of games I have played in.... to the extent that I generally try and avoid PPSC games altogether these days.
Personally, all I want is enough points to play in any game I choose..... I seem them as being an enabler rather than a ranking. But that's just my view.

I don't really have a strong view on how accurate the ELO system really is - the principal behind it is sound - but I have not really got involved in the technical aspects of how it is calculated. I'm sure it has plenty of inherent flaws too.

No, I completely agree with you, monkey.

Not up to the challenge? ; )

I'm surprised you haven't been ganged up on because of your points. This sort of thing happens a lot. Poor Marek got destroyed so early on in the tournament because people were so afraid of him. It actually works both ways though. Sometimes people are more willing to work with you if you have a high ranking, because they don't want to be on your bad side and/or they recognize you as a highly skilled and reliable player that would be a valuable ally. It's up to you to play the other side of the coin. The throne is never comfortable. =)

Yes, as the others have said, you'll have to get used to it now Jacob!

Hehe - it's definitely a LOT harder =)

Jacob, its totally unfair, and the ringleader should be ashamed. It's almost as bad as copy/paste/EDITING what someone writes and forwarding it to other players.

I'm a bad erson then xD I do what ever it takes to turn people against others, even if it is improper grammar or the overly used internet sarcasm

Actually Dipper, I think the copy/paste/edit tactic is perfectly legit, its been pulled on me multiple times, it makes diplomacy more interesting with lies circulating.

But I don't understand why good players get ganged up upon. Half my losses I'd like to attribute to incompetent allies. I'd throw my lot in with Jacob sooner than a rookie.

Yes, Don, he should be ashamed :P

Tall Poppy Syndrome indeed...

Yes, once you are given a higher rating you get jumped on, and yes, it is something to learn to deal with. It happens in many games.

The Number One spot is a particularly poisoned chalice.

It reminds me of those old western movies where a known gunfighter is/was always likely to be challenged just because he was a known gunfighter. The Outlaw Josey Wales being my favourite - a truly great quote coming when one such bounty hunter tells Eastwood that he had to come back and, "A man's got to make a living..."

To which Eastwood remarks, "Dying ain't much of a living..."

I digress.

That's a great quote =)

Am I now devil incarnate Jacob?

Ghost rating is developed for two reasons:

1. To give accurate ratings
2. To stop penalising those who play top standard games

Ghost is better than points

I think maybe you misunderstood my post Ghostie - my comments were aimed at DIPPERDON who made me grumpy in one of my games by making everyone gang up on me =)

Oh well...c'est la vie

its called skillz

i _think_ people might be ganging up on you because of:

A Mighty Fortress is Our God - Won
A Bulwark Never Failing - Won
Our Helper He Amid the Flood - Won
Of Mortal Ills Prevailing - Won
For Still Our Ancient Foe - Drawn
Doth Seek to Work Us Woe - Won
His Craft and Power are Great - Won
And Armed With Cruel Hate - Drawn
On Earth Is Not His Equal - Won

at the top of your profile :-)

lol naaahhh, couldn't be.

Looking at past stats seems fair to me, especially in 1901 when you have nothing else to go on. But an anonymous option would be very nice as well. If no one can see what an incompetent newbie I am, then I won't mind if I can't see what dangerous backstabbers they are. (^_^)

(PS: Firefox's automatic spell checker knows that ‘backstabber’ is a word but thinks that ‘backstabbers’ is not.)

@Jacob - look at it this way - everyone else who is high on the ELO list and/or has many points gets the same treatment.
So, yes, it is fair :)

...or high win percentage. but i've heard that option for anonymous games is going to be implemented soon

I must say I thought you disliked the system alamothe.

@Jacob, Did you create that game to keep your point total artificially low?

Marek once made a 10,000 bet WTA