🌿ELO System Updates

[anykidrated]

So, here is how I'm playing now.

When I win a game I roll mouse over the Elo change and check number of consecutive wins against each player. If it is five - add a personal note regarding this player. Then expel them before the start of the next game, with apologies in the chat. I appreciate all opponents and like playing against most of them, but that's the new way of playing on BGA, apparently

If you like them just play friendly games with them.

I disagree. Friendly games should be used only when you need them in an informal /teaching setting / distinctly imbalanced pool of player abilities. It's why it used to be called teaching mode. Why strip people of timers and the ability to kick non responsive players? The new ELO system is not good and that is where the problem lies, not in the selected game mode.

Better to do this than to lose ELO or to not play them I guess.

Also has anyone solved what consecutive means

[GeoPaladin]

If you like them just play friendly games with them.

I disagree. Friendly games should be used only when you need them in an informal /teaching setting / distinctly imbalanced pool of player abilities. It's why it used to be called teaching mode. Why strip people of timers and the ability to kick non responsive players? The new ELO system is not good and that is where the problem lies, not in the selected game mode.

Better to do this than to lose ELO or to not play them I guess.

Also has anyone solved what consecutive means

"Consecutive" just means the number of wins you've had against that player in a row. As near as I can tell, this will never reset unless you lose to that player.

Recently I gained zero elo from beating a player for the 6th time in a row. I checked and discovered that the 5th time was four days before and I had finished 20 games against other players since then.

It's a really obnoxious system if you're near the top ranks where winning an overwhelming majority of games is required just to stay even.

[BootyMFG]

Just wanted to add my voice to say that I find the power leveling fix, ELO decay, and changes to the red thumb system problematic, as clearly described by others. Please fix.

[h_illes]

BGA, wake up! You now have 250 replies in 10 days. Don't wait any longer, act now to prevent further damage.

[Ranior]

Also has anyone solved what consecutive means

"Consecutive" just means the number of wins you've had against that player in a row. As near as I can tell, this will never reset unless you lose to that player.

Recently I gained zero elo from beating a player for the 6th time in a row. I checked and discovered that the 5th time was four days before and I had finished 20 games against other players since then.

To be slightly more specific, from my conversations with others, it does seem there is some time horizon, I'm just not sure where it is. I *think* it may be looking at every game in the last 30 days or month, etc. Perhaps it goes back a bit farther, but I've seen some analysis from others that it doesn't go back for years.

However, consecutive wins simply means beating that player without losing to them in any games during the time frame it's looking at. For this context, "winning" can even be 3rd place over someone's 4th place in multiplayer games--it just looks at every pairwise comparison (which is what multiplayer elo is doing on this site)

Finally, you technically don't go to 0% elo gain until beating someone 7 times in a row. BGA's display of the elo penalty will show consecutive wins (6) and -100% penalty, but the first win isn't counted there. The first consecutive win is the second win in a row you've had against a player and comes with a -3% penalty. I think the progression then is your third win in a row (second consecutive) is -11%, fourth (third consecutive) is -25%, fifth (fourth consecutive) is -44%, sixth (fifth consecutive) is -69%, and seventh (sixth consecutive) and beyond is -100%.

[hammastahna]

If consecutive wins against same player are less indicative of skill than wins against players you are not win streak, why is not same true for consecutive losses? That seems hypocritical.

[nik592]

If consecutive wins against same player are less indicative of skill than wins against players you are not win streak, why is not same true for consecutive losses? That seems hypocritical.

They're not, the change is put in place to stop people who create dummy accounts or constantly win against friends to improve their ELO. Which, as many have pointed out, just requires a third dummy/friend to break the streak. And those who want to cheat will continue, and those who are just playing normally and happen to meet the same opponents (such as in Arena, where you can't control your next opponent) will be penalised.

[Panthergirl]

If consecutive wins against same player are less indicative of skill than wins against players you are not win streak, why is not same true for consecutive losses? That seems hypocritical.

They're not, the change is put in place to stop people who create dummy accounts or constantly win against friends to improve their ELO. Which, as many have pointed out, just requires a third dummy/friend to break the streak. And those who want to cheat will continue, and those who are just playing normally and happen to meet the same opponents (such as in Arena, where you can't control your next opponent) will be penalised.

And same for those of us with a small group of friends/family that we enjoy playing with. Again, punishing the whole community for the bad behavior of some.

[ChiefPointThief]

It looks like bga is going to ride this out even though it received heavy immediate backlash. Lucky me I met my quarterly quota for most of my games but I guess the few I didn't will be reduced to 300. 300 will be the new 100 Bga didn't do nearly enough to inform players of these changes. There are post about purchasing a yearly subscription on the front page but nothing to inform users that there were major changes being made at the same time. Anytime I've ever referenced the forums to other users they had no clue it is here so I know the majority of users here have not been made aware of these changes. People at least deserved a warning that 10% of their elo is about to vanish in two weeks.

Power leveling - I've had to red thumb a few players already because of my win streak. Players who are friendly and challenging can become unsuitable opponents in this system which is sad. To the few posters that think playing friend mode is the answer what makes you think that the loser in this situation wants to play friend mode? I'm already seeing the power leveling take elo out of games with already low elo.

[LesserJester]

If you like them just play friendly games with them.

I disagree. Friendly games should be used only when you need them in an informal /teaching setting / distinctly imbalanced pool of player abilities. It's why it used to be called teaching mode. Why strip people of timers and the ability to kick non responsive players? The new ELO system is not good and that is where the problem lies, not in the selected game mode.

Better to do this than to lose ELO or to not play them I guess.

Also has anyone solved what consecutive means

You succinctly highlight the problem. An online game website that claims to want to build a community makes a change that makes it more preferable to not make friends and avoid repeat playing someone!?!

Corporate strategy 101. Know your core purpose and ensure all business decisions serve that core purpose. If it doesn't it's harming the business.