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Score differential tiebreakers are bad
Posted: 27 April 2026, 13:12
by Lettuce03
Uncapped score differential is a poor tiebreaker. It leads to people extending games just to maximize score differential, instead of ending as soon as possible. And in case of abandoned games (due to time out), you end up with +1 score differential, even if you were ahead by 100 points.
Where the tie is between 2 players, head-to-head results as tiebreakers would be much better.
Re: Score differential tiebreakers are bad
Posted: 27 April 2026, 14:08
by xspuipuke
You should probably complain to the tournament creator ...
Re: Score differential tiebreakers are bad
Posted: 27 April 2026, 15:09
by FrankJones
Lettuce03 wrote: ↑27 April 2026, 13:12
Uncapped score differential is a poor tiebreaker. It leads to people exntending games just to maximize score differential, instead of ending as soon as possible. And in case of abandoned games (due to time out), you end up with +1 score differential, even if you were ahead by 100 points.
Where the tie is between 2 players, head-to-head results as tiebreakers would be much better.
Agreed.
And the solution is what xspuipuke said.
Re: Score differential tiebreakers are bad
Posted: 27 April 2026, 15:51
by Lettuce03
FrankJones wrote: ↑27 April 2026, 15:09
Lettuce03 wrote: ↑27 April 2026, 13:12
Uncapped score differential is a poor tiebreaker. It leads to people exntending games just to maximize score differential, instead of ending as soon as possible. And in case of abandoned games (due to time out), you end up with +1 score differential, even if you were ahead by 100 points.
Where the tie is between 2 players, head-to-head results as tiebreakers would be much better.
Agreed.
And the solution is what xspuipuke said.
Can you even change the tiebreaker format when registering a tournament?
Re: Score differential tiebreakers are bad
Posted: 27 April 2026, 18:28
by FrankJones
Lettuce03 wrote: ↑27 April 2026, 15:51
FrankJones wrote: ↑27 April 2026, 15:09
Lettuce03 wrote: ↑27 April 2026, 13:12
Uncapped score differential is a poor tiebreaker. It leads to people exntending games just to maximize score differential, instead of ending as soon as possible. And in case of abandoned games (due to time out), you end up with +1 score differential, even if you were ahead by 100 points.
Where the tie is between 2 players, head-to-head results as tiebreakers would be much better.
Agreed.
And the solution is what xspuipuke said.
Can you even change the tiebreaker format when registering a tournament?
A player registering? No. But the person running the tournament can choose from various settings, as is my understanding.
Re: Score differential tiebreakers are bad
Posted: 27 April 2026, 19:38
by xspuipuke
Lettuce03 wrote: ↑27 April 2026, 15:51
FrankJones wrote: ↑27 April 2026, 15:09
Lettuce03 wrote: ↑27 April 2026, 13:12
Uncapped score differential is a poor tiebreaker. It leads to people exntending games just to maximize score differential, instead of ending as soon as possible. And in case of abandoned games (due to time out), you end up with +1 score differential, even if you were ahead by 100 points.
Where the tie is between 2 players, head-to-head results as tiebreakers would be much better.
Agreed.
And the solution is what xspuipuke said.
Can you even change the tiebreaker format when registering a tournament?
If you don‘t like the tiebreaker rule, don‘t register for that tournament. The rules should be visible before you decide to register.
Re: Score differential tiebreakers are bad
Posted: 28 April 2026, 08:52
by Lettuce03
xspuipuke wrote: ↑27 April 2026, 19:38
Lettuce03 wrote: ↑27 April 2026, 15:51
FrankJones wrote: ↑27 April 2026, 15:09
Agreed.
And the solution is what xspuipuke said.
Can you even change the tiebreaker format when registering a tournament?
If you don‘t like the tiebreaker rule, don‘t register for that tournament. The rules should be visible before you decide to register.
I don't think tiebreaker rules are visible. At least I haven't noticed any.
Re: Score differential tiebreakers are bad
Posted: 28 April 2026, 09:02
by Lettuce03
FrankJones wrote: ↑27 April 2026, 18:28
Lettuce03 wrote: ↑27 April 2026, 15:51
FrankJones wrote: ↑27 April 2026, 15:09
Agreed.
And the solution is what xspuipuke said.
Can you even change the tiebreaker format when registering a tournament?
A player registering? No. But the person running the tournament can choose from various settings, as is my understanding.
I'm on a tournament creation page right now. Where do I change tiebreaker rules?
Re: Score differential tiebreakers are bad
Posted: 28 April 2026, 09:07
by xspuipuke
OK, weird, I thought I saw it once. My bad.
Looks like not even the tournament creator can set the tiebreaker rules so they must be pre-installed depending on the tournament style. I've been in tournaments with that BS score tiebreaker but also ones that break ties based on opponent's average ELO or tournament points.
Regardless, this is not an issue specific to Terraforming Mars.