Leaderboards!

[drwr]

The new server version (1.0.4.2) introduces the long-requested RSW leaderboards. Finally you will have hard numbers to prove to the world what a great RSW player you are!

The leaderboards only include numbers from "tournament" games. Tournament games are also new with this server release. A tournament game is a special game with no customizable options; it's designed to be a standard game. You can create a tournament game by clicking the "Game signup" link at the top of the page, as usual; there is a new link available on that page to create a tournament game. Unlike creating a normal game, which gives you loads of customization options, when you create a tournament game you can only choose from a list of pre-defined games.

When the tournament game is over, the leaderboard will be updated with all the players' ratings. The rating number shown on the leaderboard is similar to the Elo rating from chess competitions. The standard rating is 1500. If you consistently win tournament games (or at least place in the top half of most games you play), then your rating will be higher than 1500; if you consistently lose (or place in the bottom half), your rating will be lower than 1500. If you win the game, your rating will get a bigger boost than if you only place in the middle. But you have to play at least five tournament games before your rating gets close to 1500; initially, your rating is 0, and it increases by about 300 points for each tournament game you play until you have played five. Thereafter, it will bounce up and down according to your wins and losses. So, it will take a while (at least five tournament games) before we have real numbers to show on the leaderboard.

In addition to the overall rating, the leaderboard will also include a separate rating table for each character type. This is its own rating number, and it is computed similar to the overall number, but here you are only competing with players of the same character type in a given game. For example, if you play a Raider in a tournament game, and you earn a higher score than all of the other Raiders in the same game (but not necessarily the highest score in the game), then your Raider rating will go up.

Normal, non-tournament games can still be created and customized, but they don't contribute to the leaderboard. However, you can now view the complete game history, which includes all completed public games, and shows the complete score breakdown of each one by player.

David

[Gorf]

maybe it could end annually? that way there won't be any dynasties?

just a thought, gorf

[drwr]

Currently, the system is designed to remove names from the leaderboard that have been inactive (haven't played any tournament games) for more than 90 days. That should be sufficient to keep the leaderboards fresh and prevent the accumulation of dynasties.

David