Nigee:

Play for more than 100 , that's the first way. Don't play PPSC. Play passworded games where you know everybody who's in. "Real" metagamers are not, in my opinion, nearly as prevalent as they are made out to be, and they definitely get caught if they try to compete with good players.

@Bolshoi, don't make cheating accusations on the forum. You should have reported him to the mods if you had a problem.

@Nigee, report anyone you have issues with to the mods, and play higher pot and/or password protected games like YJ said.

This is what I want you to do. If I don't see you do this, and you complain again, I'll be rather annoyed:

1) Make a thread. Call it: "Looking for qualities players for a game"

In the subject write: "Tired of cheaters in my game. Post here to express your interest in an anonymous WTA game (points to be decided). I'll make the game when we have enough interested players"

3) Wait.

4) Look at people's profiles. If they look suspicious *DONT GIVE THEM THE PASSWORD*

5) Have a fun game.

5 should be creating the game and giving passwords, 6 should be wait again and 7 should be have a fun game, but for the rest abge is extremely right!

oh no! no i've got a star on this stupid thread...
but seriously, passworded games are good for this, but then players with bad records/ratings (such as myself) don't get to play with you and we bad players would like a good game too, we have bad records/ratings because of those bad games :)
therefore tournaments are nice but there is more chance of the things screwing a game (DCs, multi's and metagamers mostly) also just making a passworded game and make a thread with game and password goes quicker and leaves out the people who don't look at the forum, and those tend to be cheaters (i mean, come on, otherwise they would know they'll get caught by those crimefighting mods around here... :))

To be honest I'm knew to this forum and don't know all the locals so am happy to play with other newbies in non-password games that may be of a lower quality but then I'm just learning my trade, also I get the feeling that the guys with the big points know what is going on so I find it easier to play anonymous games where I don't know if the player has a high ranking, then treat everyone equally based on their moves and not their reputation. It's just that sometimes anonymous people seem to be two mates in a room trying to get 17 SCs each, that just spoils the game and is a waste of time and is no fun, that was my point.
p.s. Bolshoi, when people act like a dick sometimes it's difficult not to just fight them even if it means losing the game. I can get more fun hearing some people whine afterwards than actually saving the game, I'm sure people know a few of these people on this site.

Well, do what abge says. You can advertise that it is for 'new players' too.

@NigeeBaby
"I can get more fun hearing some people whine afterwards than actually saving the game, I'm sure people know a few of these people on this site."

maybe those whom you are accusing of malfeasance are thinking exactly the same thing, particularly since you are coming off as the primary whiner on webdiplomacy.

Actually, playing with vets may help you learn the ropes even faster... just mention you are a newbie and would like help, so only helpful people will join.

Apparently I'm not a newbie anymore, I've gone from being a political puppet to a pro. I don't think that reflects my Diplomacy prowess but is a sad and sordid reminder of the nights standing on street corners trying to make ends meet and get me through college. I suppose there was a fair amount of 'back-stabbing' back then also ......