How do you maintain your rank?

[72o]

The point swings are crazy. Sometimes you can't lose. When you start to get runs of bad luck, they come in seemingly neverending waves.

I was riding a new personal best until a couple days ago. I have had some really bad dice and drops, and I'm pretty much guaranteed to have 2 pair while my opponent gets a 3 card cash at the critical point in a standard game. I've dropped 300 points in the last 2 days, and still falling, as there are several games I'm eliminated in that haven't yet ended.

I assume this happens to everyone else too. How do the more established players maintain their rank? Do they play mostly team games? Or not play very many games at all? Or do I just have bad luck?

[The Neon Peon]

I have no problem staying at colonel if I do the following:

Play freestyle speed with these settings:
- Assassin 4 player Feudal
- 2 player AoR (any), along with other maps, but mostly AoR
- 8 player Doodle escalating
Play casual sequential with these settings:
- 6-8 player escalating (against high ranks)

When I start playing crap like 122 doodle 1v1 sequential flat rate games, joining on teams with noobs, etc. I lose a lot of points (colonel to private 1st class in very little time ). Generally, if you stick to settings and maps that you can just play naturally (without much thought involved) you'll keep your rank.

Although, really... it's not worth it. If you feel like joining 10 doodle assassins, go ahead. If you feel like joining 20 quads games with cooks and cadets against good teams and seeing how many you an salvage when your team does not read the chat, why not? It's more fun than sticking to some maps/settings because you have a better looking icon by your name.

[lord voldemort]

team games with decent people. with 1v1 to my best settings thrown in there...I can hold mid major with little effort. I could just farm dubs and jump right up but who has the time for that anyway

[neanderpaul14]

I usually keep a couple of large, 6-8 player, escalating terminator going at all times, with players near my rank. I may get bumped out of some but sweeping the board in one of those is good for mucho points.

[72o]

I usually keep a couple of large, 6-8 player, escalating terminator going at all times, with players near my rank. I may get bumped out of some but sweeping the board in one of those is good for mucho points.

Terminator is a good idea. I play mostly standard games, which might be why i see so many swings. It's either win big or lose 20 points.

[neanderpaul14]

I usually keep a couple of large, 6-8 player, escalating terminator going at all times, with players near my rank. I may get bumped out of some but sweeping the board in one of those is good for mucho points.

Terminator is a good idea. I play mostly standard games, which might be why i see so many swings. It's either win big or lose 20 points.

Terminator is the way to go, even if you don't wind up the big winner you should be able scare up some points, at least maintaining points neutral for the game. Plus with terminator, escalating many times someone will go for a quick kill and miss, then your left with an easy victim and some quick cards.

[kingCobra21]

im guessing some games are more skilled base, and some maps are more luck based.
and then there r things that can work to ur advantage, like if u have a lot of time and can log in 20 times a day, u can play freestyle and take ur turns when its convenient, and aim for back-to-back turns that can work in ur favor (gawd i hate those ppl.)

[Commander62890]

After I de-noobed and got a handle on CC, I averaged about a Major playing sequential, standard, 7-8 player escalating. Big point swings, though. My highest was 2500 and I dropped to Lieutenant once, but I was almost always somewhere in the major range... somewhere between 1900 to 2400 usually...

When I switched to sequential team games (how did that happen? I should look into that), I steadily gained points and got to colonel pretty easily. I believe it's much easier to get points that way if you learn to play it well. Staying at Colonel was very easy. I couldn't drop to major, playing about 50 games at a time, staying between 2600 and 2900. I recently made Brig and have maintained it... for now. Also, there are significantly smaller point swings with team games. I personally recommend it.

With regards to neanderpaul's suggestion... If you don't want to go for team games, I say go for it. Since you're used to standard games, terminator isn't too much of a switch; I never played it in big bunches, so I don't really know how well it works... I believe it has a lower ceiling than standard, because at a high level (in public games), it could work against you in that players will target you for your points. But if you are looking for a new type of gameplay, large terminator or team games is the way to go. Assuming we're still dealing with sequential here. Freestyle is a whole different ballgame, and I still suck at it.

[Mr Changsha]

Assuming a player has some real ability on at least one style...

'Soaring Rank' - The player only plays styles and maps they are absolutely comfortable with little to no experimentation. Maybe only 1 in 10 games away from the comfort zone.

'Improving Rank' - The player mainly plays styles and maps they are absolutely comfortable with but with more experimentation; say 2-3 games in 10 away from the comfort zone.

'Maintaining Rank' - The player plays a large enough percentage of styles and maps they are absolutely comfortable with (this in the end is how one maintains) but with a reasonably large amount of experimentation as well. For example, between 70 and 120 completed games I made an effort to diversify from standard and hung around the 2,200-2,300 mark throughout that time. I was obviously losing more games than normal (and dropped under 40% wins) but still played enough of my bread and butter (at that time standard flat speed or casual no cards) to maintain.

'Falling Rank' - The player doesn't play a large enough percentage of styles and maps they are absolutely comfortable with.

'Collapsing Rank' - The player plays (effectively) no games they are comfortable with and thus drops at a great rate. Many of the lower ranks are actually always in this state. Of course there comes a point whereby the odd win will surge the score to such an extent that the player will maintain in a fashion. However, the player will never really get much past 1600.

I would also add a technical point. Standard escalating players can maintain a higher rank than standard flat/no cards...thus one does see the +3,000 standard escalating player playing regular speed games, while one never sees the (even) +2500 standard flat player in the speed environment. For the flat player this is an issue of stalling games involving officer quality players or, as I found, completed games but even a 40-50% win percentage (with 4-5 players) not being enough to reliably maintain rank. Hence you see flat/ no cards players moving increasingly to trips and quads to grow past the 2,500 - 2,600 mark.

[Chuuuuck]

I can maintain Brigadier and get pretty close to General I think if I put my mind to it. The simple answer is standard multiplayer games create a huge swing in points because there are too many factors in those games that you cannot control. The only players at the top of the scoreboard that you will find that play standard games are players that play freestyle standard because they can log in continiously throughout the day and take their turns when it is advantageous to them.

Your best bet is team sequential as many other players have pointed out. But, if you are looking to really increase your rank then I find the absolute best thing you can do is decrease your game number to a number that you feel comfortable with where you can check up on all of your games on a regular basis. I personally keep this number around 20 but I know some players that keep it at 10 or less. In a team game you should not only check your game when it is your turn, you should try to check every game at least a copule of times a day when it is not your turn. Try to guide your team as 1 unit and make sure to leave suggestions so every player on your team is on the same page and you are all working towards 1 team goal. If you can master this concept you will move to brigadier fairly easily and have a shot at general. Message me if your interested and have more questions. I am always willing to help make better players on the site.

[Snorri1234]

Cheating.

[Beckytheblondie]

I'm plus 8,000 on freestyle and -7000 on sequential. I think that explains it.

[Chuuuuck]

Becky, how about we play some more team sequential games against each other?

[Beckytheblondie]

Becky, how about we play some more team sequential games against each other?

lmao, as long as we play the same number of freestyle singles against each other.

[Chuuuuck]

Becky, how about we play some more team sequential games against each other?

lmao, as long as we play the same number of freestyle singles against each other.

LOL, my drop downs and I can't keep up with you...

[kingCobra21]

Assuming a player has some real ability on at least one style...


'Falling Rank' - The player doesn't play a large enough percentage of styles and maps they are absolutely comfortable with.


.

i guess that cud partially explain my inability to get to sergeant, I experiment too much!
I wonder if my rank will soar once I start playing maps I know... is my skill good enough? hmmm

[Woodruff]

The point swings are crazy. Sometimes you can't lose. When you start to get runs of bad luck, they come in seemingly neverending waves.

I was riding a new personal best until a couple days ago. I have had some really bad dice and drops, and I'm pretty much guaranteed to have 2 pair while my opponent gets a 3 card cash at the critical point in a standard game. I've dropped 300 points in the last 2 days, and still falling, as there are several games I'm eliminated in that haven't yet ended.

I assume this happens to everyone else too. How do the more established players maintain their rank? Do they play mostly team games? Or not play very many games at all? Or do I just have bad luck?

Basically, you have to stop having any fun playing the game. Yes, I am entirely serious.

[Scott-Land]

Basically, you have to stop having any fun playing the game. Yes, I am entirely serious.

Why do people assume that in order 'to have fun' playing a game, you automatically lose points and have to be a cook? It's rather backwards, because I would say a huge percentage of high ranks only play those types of games-- ones that are fun for them. They're high ranked because they're good at it-- not because they don't enjoy the games they play.

[2dimes]

For me it's clean livin' and choosing good partners when playing on teams.

[Crazyirishman]

I usually win one game then lose 2, that keeps me at about 1330.

[Bruceswar]

Basically, you have to stop having any fun playing the game. Yes, I am entirely serious.

Why do people assume that in order 'to have fun' playing a game, you automatically lose points and have to be a cook? It's rather backwards, because I would say a huge percentage of high ranks only play those types of games-- ones that are fun for them. They're high ranked because they're good at it-- not because they don't enjoy the games they play.

Bingo! Though trying to push your level to new heights can make even the best players crumble. How many top players have deranked? Countless, and I am not counting medal hunting.

[AAFitz]

Basically, you have to stop having any fun playing the game. Yes, I am entirely serious.

Why do people assume that in order 'to have fun' playing a game, you automatically lose points and have to be a cook? It's rather backwards, because I would say a huge percentage of high ranks only play those types of games-- ones that are fun for them. They're high ranked because they're good at it-- not because they don't enjoy the games they play.

Without a doubt they enjoy what they play...but at the same time... there are many games that ARE also fun, that a high rank simply cannot play and still maintain rank.

Im not saying no one with 3000 points can maintain their rank on open 8 player doodle assassins...but I sure know I am not one of them...and unless you double or triple your expected win rate on such a game....you cant play too many and maintain rank.

Same goes for many types of open games...that you simply either cant maintain rank...or...have to play a much higher percentage of games for points while doing so.

I myself actually do have more fun when my rank is low, because it does allow me more lattitude on types of games, and ranks of opponents. That doesnt mean I have to play those to have fun either...It just means that at times...I find those more fun...

and yes..now is one of those times.

[jammyjames]

you dont maintain your rank... the dice come along, f*ck you over.... and you lose over 1000 points....

[elfish_lad]

you dont maintain your rank... the dice come along, f*ck you over.... and you lose over 1000 points....

I hear ya brother. How about some trips with me and Bex (beckytheblondie)?

[the.killing.44]

Basically, you have to stop having any fun playing the game. Yes, I am entirely serious.

Why do people assume that in order 'to have fun' playing a game, you automatically lose points and have to be a cook? It's rather backwards, because I would say a huge percentage of high ranks only play those types of games-- ones that are fun for them. They're high ranked because they're good at it-- not because they don't enjoy the games they play.

Shit, I agree with scott. Some people have fun going for and maintaining their rank.