Ranking problems

[Farffle]

So I have ran into this problem several times and thought I should bring it up, although I wasn't sure where. Although I have had an account for a couple of years, I only recently started playing games on a regular basis. I have ran into the problem, mainly in Carcassonne where the topped ranked players won't play me because I have played very few games (although I have won every time). They are scared of losing their "top" ranking by losing to a beginner (even though I have played the physical board game for years). If you are truly the top, shouldn't you be able to beat anyone? Doesn't this skew the rankings? I don't know if I have a great fix for this, but if it is true that you lose more points because you lose to someone that is ranked WAY lower than you, maybe that needs to change. Maybe points you gain or lose should be based off of the score you beat them by and not on their current ranking. It sucks not being able to find someone decent to play against because they are scared and worried too much about their ranking...

[RicardoRix]

No solution is perfect, it's probably close to the best option available.

Play more with players slightly above your rank and increase your rank, shouldn't take too long, about 4-5 games. And then you can play pretty much whoever you like.

Look at it the other way, why when you've fought so hard to get a high ranking you don't want to give it away so easily to players that can't be bothered to climb the ranks, and probably moreover - they are looking for a game to challenge them and don't want to waste time playing noobs.

Actually there is a way to get your cake and eat it too. Join a competition!

[Daggerheart]

In many games there are tournaments to join, and if you look at the ratings of many of the players there... you meet top 30 players also.

In Carcassonne there are many tournaments, which are free to join for non paying members too.

So basicly you can gain rank points and enter the top 10 by just playing a lot of free tournaments.

[Farffle]

Thanks for the tip. I get it guys. I just wish it was more about playing games then getting a good ranking. FYI, I just checked all of the Carcassonne tournaments and not one includes expansions. Not as much fun to me...

[Daggerheart]

Thanks for the tip. I get it guys. I just wish it was more about playing games then getting a good ranking. FYI, I just checked all of the Carcassonne tournaments and not one includes expansions. Not as much fun to me...

The world championship is played without expansions. I consider Carcassonne without expansions, and for just 2 players, for the purest and best. Well balanced and rewards skill. And lucikly, so does the majority of the competitive players here. Three world champions are in the top 20 of the rating. Number 1 from Poland is also the current live world champion.

To my experience, if you are a paying member, you can start games... and then its pretty easy to get players to join your games. If you gain rank, you can add restrictions of rating. When your rank is closer to the top, its much easier to get high ranked to join you. Also then you will see the open games made by high ranked (since they often are restricted). So basicly I dont understand you... this is how stuff works due to the rating system. And the system is not bad. My guess is due to your impatience... you never enter top 100 in Carcassonne...

Also I have seen tournaments with expansions, and you can also create tournaments yourself with the preffered settings you like.