I haven't been around for a while and have not read everything. But somehting like the above seems to be the best possible solution to me. You could reduce the K factor even down to zero after 6-10 consecutive games against the same opponent.
- The currently implemented system is already in that direction.
- However, it is unfair for the player with consecutive wins.
Simply reducing the K factor instead of skewing the system against the consecutive winner and in favor of the consecutive loser solves the following problems:
- In Arena, you don't have a choice against whom to play. It is unfair to find yourself in a skewed game with nothing you could do about it. By reducing the K factor, you prevent cheaters AND simultaneously don't skew the Elo calculation against the better player. Consecutive games against the same opponent would simply have less impact, but not negative impact for any of the players.
- Even outside Arena, if 2 people want to play many consecutive games and they care about Elo, they are disincentivized to do it. (Happened to me several times that I played a series of revanches against the same player, just because it's fun.) Their overall Elo will tank for no reason and I don't like playing those games where the Elo calculation is already skewed in favor of one player from the start just because that player lost 3+ times in a row. It feels wrong also if I am on the profiting side of that mechanism. Solution: Just reduce K facor over consecutive games. The Elo calculation stays fair but just loses impact, hence doesn't allow easy abuse.
