Why do people play for second?

[Solarman9]

Just curious why people play for second place when they are losing? I recently had a person target one of my productions instead of the first place guy and was told by first place that it was so the quitter would come in second. It didn't work.

In a game earlier this week the same thing happened and i was targeted by third place because first had 14 plant production and -2 would not matter . I also had 5 and 6 plants removed on separate attacks. At the end of the game the guy lost 102-100 and admitted he could have won if he actually tried earlier. Ironically both these games had the same winner days apart.

My question is, why play for second when there is literally nothing at stake? What exactly do you get for second....meaningless points, or less lost points on a website?

I want to play better players, but arena seems to be filled with time wasters and point greedy people. Points are meaningless. Are you a better player because you have more points? Or are you better at wasting my time skipping actions? I just don't get quitting and playing for second.

[ahyangyi]

The game doesn't say "everyone but the first is a loser" like Quantum does. So playing for rank is the "default" goal, whether or not you care about points.

Why does people playing to the rules make you unhappy?

[Jellby]

Why play for first when there is literally nothing at stake? What exactly do you get for first....meaningless points on a website?

[RoyalRook]

In arena securing 2nd is so important sometimes. Especially at the end of the season, sure you don't want to lose, but you definitely do NOT want to come in 3rd, that's 30+ arena points for the top ranked players. It's much worse actually, especially if you are playing against your rivals in ranking, it's 40~50+ arena points swing between you 2. Seasons are win or lost from your decision to securing 2nd you see? You always play to win, but within reasons. There are many many situations that you want to or have to take 2nd.

[Solarman9]

In arena securing 2nd is so important sometimes. Especially at the end of the season, sure you don't want to lose, but you definitely do NOT want to come in 3rd, that's 30+ arena points for the top ranked players. It's much worse actually, especially if you are playing against your rivals in ranking, it's 40~50+ arena points swing between you 2. Seasons are win or lost from your decision to securing 2nd you see? You always play to win, but within reasons. There are many many situations that you want to or have to take 2nd.

Within reason? What reason? Because website gives you points? What do you do with these points? Is there monetary value? What am I missing that is so important to you about website glory? You won last season....good for you. What you get, a badge and some points? Okay. I just don't get the point of not even trying for first. It literally happened where the guy probably would have won had he tried, but he didn't. He decided he couldn't win. He wanted points on website.

And the guy above asking why play, you play to win. When I play the game in real life I don't play for second. Nobody plays for second.

[RoyalRook]

You can't always win, you take what the game gives, just like in life. To be able to judge your current position correctly consistently is what a champion made of.

[brh2113]

IMO 3+ player is not a great competitive format. I enjoy playing it socially with friends of course but the drafting, the hate cards, the map blocking, the awards, etc. all leave a lot of room for kingmaking and other shenanigans that can be aggravating when playing "competitively". So I would recommend you just stick to 2p if stuff like getting sabo'd in a 5 player game bothers you; that's what I do!

[Jellby]

It literally happened where the guy probably would have won had he tried, but he didn't. He decided he couldn't win.

So you played a game where another player's decisions (justified or not) affected your chances to win? I'm afraid that will happen in every game except solitaires.

And yes, it's just points in a website. Why do you care?

[Cile]

And the guy above asking why play, you play to win.

The thing about Arena (and any other competition involving multiple games) is you can play to win the individual game, or you can play to win the season. Often it's the same thing, but sometimes trying to win the season is opposed to trying to win the individual game. Case in point: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbuD-6BbnQw&t=24s
(due to the rules of a futball tournament it became advantageous for a team to score on their own goal.)
Trying to win the current game and trying to win the season at the expense of the current game are both valid ways to play. You don't get to dictate what other player's prioritize in a game.

When I play the game in real life I don't play for second. Nobody plays for second.

Let's say in a hypothetical game you are in 3rd place and taking the final action of the game. 1st place is 100 points ahead of you, 2nd place is 3 points ahead of you, and you have a card that steals 2 points from a player of your choice. You're saying you would play it on the 1st place player for no relevant effect?

t literally happened where the guy probably would have won had he tried, but he didn't

So... they would have beaten you anyway? What are you complaining about then?

[Boricua1]

To each their own... you've just described why I never play three player games (at least not TFM).