Disable ranking for duplicate / alternate accounts.

[joshpit2003]

We hear that, but still… how?
Let's say [...]

Even in your extreme edge case, BGA could still implement a feature such as:
"From the same IP address: *list of screennames"

Then the other players can decide if it's 5 twins, or all the same player.


That simple feature could discourage the bad behavior.

You can also do data-scraping based on game history and determine pretty quickly whether or not it's the same person. It becomes more and more obvious as the game count increases.

Point being: There are simple methods to discourage this behavior, and there are more complex methods to police it. Up-vote the problem: https://boardgamearena.com/bug?id=58438, and let BGA come up with a solution.

[voriki]

We hear that, but still… how?
Let's say [...]

Even in your extreme edge case, BGA could still implement a feature such as:
"From the same IP address: *list of screennames"

Then the other players can decide if it's 5 twins, or all the same player.

How do other players have to decide? Why?
If they play in the same game from the same IP, yes, I am hesitent to play against players on the same IP.

But in the case those 2 players never ever play at the same table, and come on the ranking, which is the point that is being discussed here, then how is it up to other players to decide?

[joshpit2003]

A very simple solution to the problem of duplicate accounts flooding the ranking system could be to have ELO fade with time.

In other words: If a player is squatting (no longer playing ranked games), then their ELO should start to slowly fade.
Perhaps they lose 1 ELO for every day of non-ranked play after some grace-period (perhaps a week).

This would have the added benefit of:
Discouraging users from creating multiple accounts.
Stop someone from "retiring" an account and squatting in a top spot.
Allow other players a chance at a top-spot trophy/badge.
Encouraging continued play. (since ELO is fluid, not static)

I've updated the original support ticket with a comment to shine a light on this simple solution:

https://boardgamearena.com/bug?id=58438

Thus far, the support ticket is gaining good traction. (61 votes as of this comment)
I encourage you to vote for it if you agree that this is a problem that should be solved.

Thanks.
-Josh!

[Silene]

A very simple solution to the problem of duplicate accounts flooding the ranking system could be to have ELO fade with time.

In other words: If a player is squatting (no longer playing ranked games), then their ELO should start to slowly fade.
Perhaps they lose 1 ELO for every day of non-ranked play after some grace-period (perhaps a week).

ELO first of all is a measure of skill. That means it aims for best accuracy of measuring skill and not for recent activity. If you let ELO fade without the player getting weaker in the game, it's totally against the idea of ELO. Also when they start playing again a year later, with 365 ELO dropped, they can still work their way up again, but it will be a bad experience for all their opponents meeting them on the way up, that are getting totally crushed by a 150-ELO-player that plays like an expert. It's enough for this effect on new accounts. Not a good idea to add it for paused accounts again.

If you want to shine among recently active players, you can go for arena. Fading All-time-ELO-rank is the wrong approach there. It's enough that people get removed from the ranks after 2 month of inactivity (which is the case right now). IMO it's correct for them to keep their ELO and their way back in the ranks right where they left.

This is of course not adressing original topic about dublicate/alternate accounts but simply about temporarily inactive ones.

[joshpit2003]

This is of course not adressing original topic about dublicate/alternate accounts but simply about temporarily inactive ones.

ELO is fluid, constantly changing. Even the best players have swings. You can mitigate those swings by being very selective about your games and/or squatting in a top position while you play with alternate accounts, or playing your own alternate accounts (which is against the rules). I agree that Arena is a decent solution to squatting, but unfortunately it also encourages duplicate account creation.

Having ELO fade with inactivity would discourage squatting and thus also discourage creating duplicate accounts.

[Silene]

Having ELO fade with inactivity would discourage squatting and thus also discourage creating duplicate accounts.

The cost isn't worth it.

Most people are not interested in the top spots. But ELO is a useful measure for everyone to see how you compete against others of lower/higher ELO and to filter opponents in order to get a fair match against someone of similar skill.

Using your method might fix issues for the top spots but it destroys the whole ranking system for everyone else.

[joshpit2003]

Using your method might fix issues for the top spots but it destroys the whole ranking system for everyone else.

I'd argue that creating duplicate accounts and starting from scratch is doing much more damage to the ranking system than slowly dropping ELO from otherwise unplayed accounts would.