Board Game Arena

Hi could someone explain how arena scoring works this season?
I win some games and get 4 points/shields, others 3 and some even 2...
There is a similar variance in deductions for losses.
What is the methodology for the points system?

https://boardgamearena.com/faq?anchor=f ... renaworks2

"When you win a game in Arena mode, you gain Arena points. You gain 3 Arena points when beating an opponent from the same league, 2 points when beating an opponent from league N-1, 1 point for beating an opponent from league N-2, and so on (and the same for higher leagues).

When you lose a game, you lose Arena points. However, you cannot go below 0 points."

I really don’t understand why second place is worth something in Pax Pamir on bga. It causes lack of FairPlay by encouraging players to secure a second place by playing poorly. During a game, an experienced player even has given deliberately the victory to a player at the second domination control. It is not the essence of the game. It’s not an Euro game. Points are pointless. Winning should be the unique goal. Sometimes, you have to take risks to reach that objective, meaning you may finished last if it doesn’t work.

I also find a lot of confused play in my games, where it's not clear if anyone has thought about working hard to win instead of working hard to make someone else win. Amending the Arena scoring could help. As well, gurus voting for a different format. But the best solution, one I work tirelessly toward and without any signs of success, is pointing out how player B is helping player A win. The most common response is silence, followed by "you should hurt A [so me helping isn't decisive]." I lack the social skills to adequately convey game theory, and just get blind-sided every time the second place player does their best to help the first place player, and refuses to see an alternative.

I've started mentioning that to short-circuit this erroneous play I'll just ruthlessly attack the second place player, but that seems not to have any effect other than grief. Oh well, if you can't beat'em, join them playing for second and attacking third.

JFB88 wrote: ↑28 April 2025, 20:42 I really don’t understand why second place is worth something in Pax Pamir on bga. It causes lack of FairPlay by encouraging players to secure a second place by playing poorly. During a game, an experienced player even has given deliberately the victory to a player at the second domination control. It is not the essence of the game. It’s not an Euro game. Points are pointless. Winning should be the unique goal. Sometimes, you have to take risks to reach that objective, meaning you may finished last if it doesn’t work.

What I find odd is that low ELO players can get more points for 2nd place than the winner gets ! I just played a game where my ELO went up 7 from my win, but 2nd place got 37 points ! Hey it was great game and I dont resent it , but I found it kinda odd.