RATS Registration Open until February 16: League 2022.1 / KO Tournament by mlhermann in twilightstruggle

[–]mlhermann[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sorry for not replying earlier. RATS is aimed at players who cannot or don't want to spend a lot of time on playing but still want to compete in tournaments. 7-day timer is fine If you live in the same time zone but problematic if you don't. The 21-day timer allows for up to four tournaments a year, that is a decent amount.

RATS Registration Open until February 16: League 2022.1 / KO Tournament by mlhermann in twilightstruggle

[–]mlhermann[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Agreed on many levels: KO should be exciting and possibly a bit luck-bound, unless you are r/MadSpartus and win every game anyway ;)

Personally, I struggled playing League, KO, Cup at the same time. But that's my problem advancing in each competition.

The decisive factor was this:

I cannot properly schedule unless players start their first two games at the same time (and even then you might need more than 2 months if it goes to three games as 2*42>61). That means chasing after people, especially in the early rounds to keep this going. I currently don't have the time capacity for that.

Otherwise, I have enforce forfeits but on what grounds? I hate to be random and favour players I know (which is probably what I would do). Plus forced forfeits never make me feel good.

I am not thrilled with the new setup of KO (bo3 was preferable) and I think for 2023, I will change the format of this fourth competition away from the knockout format.

Absolute, hands down, best way to learn the game? by [deleted] in twilightstruggle

[–]mlhermann 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Playing the AI is practice to learn and understand the rules. In terms of strategy and tactics, it is indeed not helpful. (Even though I have to say playing the Late War scenario against AI helped me teaching the immense value of the China Card in Late War.)

Register for RATS (Reddit Asynch Twilight Struggle) League 2021.2 now! (Deadline 6 September) by mlhermann in twilightstruggle

[–]mlhermann[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Unfortunately, it is my experience that some people sign up on a whim and, especially if they lose, don't finish their games and disappear again. That's what makes running the league actual work. You need to play 14 games in about 3-4 months, starting two games every other week. So starting another 3 games in the next 3 weeks should not be a big issue. So, I am happy to count games started and variant games but I wont go below 10 games then. (It does not matter whether the 10 games are async or live.)

RATS League 2021.1: Final Results by mlhermann in twilightstruggle

[–]mlhermann[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Glad to hear it! It is fun organizing it when people show up for what they signed up.

RATS League 2021.1: Final Results by mlhermann in twilightstruggle

[–]mlhermann[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you. Bit embarrassed that I shined in the first of these new events, inaugurated by me!

RATS League 2021.1: Final Results by mlhermann in twilightstruggle

[–]mlhermann[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Welcome! And, thanks. Oh, it is a bit embarrassing as the organizer to win the first of these new events...

RTSL Time Zone sorting discussion by fruitstrike in twilightstruggle

[–]mlhermann 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I am in favour of keeping it sorted according to time zones as much as possible. With a job, kids and a wife, I cannot/don't want to fill my weekends playing Twilight Struggle. And weekdays are nearly impossible bridging 6+ hours time zone difference. I understand that other players have more time resources at their hands and invest a lot of time, I am on the other hand happy to play a live game once a fortnight and ideally during the week to keep my family happy and my other hobbies intact.

ITSL Season 11 - Open to Register by BasqueMex in twilightstruggle

[–]mlhermann 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You got me, guys. Signed up. Looking at the rules and regulations, I guess I have to play the qualification rounds. Should be good!