Freestyle Etiquette

[Arch41]

Hi folks, I'm pretty new to CC, but I've been around long enough to see the potential for "manipulating" the Freestyle game. I've been in games where people have complained about this and I've also seen games where people boast about it.

Personally, I don't mind this "manipulation" being used as a form of strategy, but I'm reluctant to employ the extremes of it myself, because I don't really want to piss anybody off.

EG: It seems to me that everybody would play their turns ASAP in order to earn a bonus before it gets busted.
However, is waiting to take your turn at the last second in order to take eliminate an opponent and "steal" their cards acceptable? I'm talking in an extreme circumstance when you have just defeated (say) 40 armies and somebody dives in with 3 and takes the final territory.

Does anybody care to share their thoughts?
Is there any generally accepted etiquette that players have adopted?
Is CC smart enough to avoid some of these issues (eg with the stealing of cards, I could see that happening a lot - and sometimes legitimately when 2 players just happen to try the same thing at the same time. Can CC determine who has defeated the most armies or something.)

[bigbullyweedave]

How can it be cheating? You play freestyle games then that's part of the deal!

[MeDeFe]

I think a "freestyle - one player at a time" is in the making.

[b-b5]

There is no etiquette in freestyle. It is full of people that like to angle-shoot.

If you wish to continue playing freestyle I would suggest you read the many threads about it and understand all of the tricks because you will be at a disadvantage if you do not use them.

[endowdly]

how can it be cheating? like bigbully said.

it's just like real time war. no one has a turn. you don't stop the fight and wait for you enemy to take a turn.

it's just a different playing style you have to adjust for, i suppose. i don't like it because i'm not available often enough to keep up, so i need to play sequential pretty much.

[Captain_Kris]

And that is why a real time freestyle would be a real knucklebiter if you had time to bite your knuckles...

About the only thing I would change would be if 3 or more people are actively taking a turn that there was a ten minute (or maybe 5) for at least making a move. Waiting an hour in a real time game while two others try to stare each other down is not that fun.

But, those are the breaks.

[Kugelblitz22]

I don't look at it like cheating. Personally I think it is a broken game mechanic that makes freestyle in it's current form unenjoyable.

As the great Ice-T once said,

"Don't hate the player, hate the game."

[DiM]

freestyle offers some very intresting manipulations that allow players to take advantage of some situations. it's perfect in a team game if all your team mates are online at the same time.
the freestyle game is best for people that are online a lot because they can quickly react to what's going on on the map.
there's no cheating, just manipulation. if you don't like it don't play it. it's as simple as that, stick to sequential if you don't have a lot of time because it might happen in many cases that the others take 2 turns before you and this gives them an advantege.
something like this.
player A takes turn, then B then C, then Bquickly takes the next turn and the C, and when you come back you find yourself in a difficult situation.

[Kugelblitz22]

if you don't like it don't play it. it's as simple as that, stick to sequential

What's wrong with lobbying for a rule change or another type of freestyle being implemented? Is our only option not playing?

[hawkeye]

It's a manipulatory strategy. Please try search before you rewrite an old topic.

[Evil Semp]

The only problem I see with freestyle is someone waiting until the end of the 24 hours to take their turn. Its part of the way the game is set up.

[joeyjordison]

don't care at all. hate freestyle and never play it.

[Ronaldinho]

don't care at all. hate freestyle and never play it.

i concur

[freyme]

Don't usually play freestyle because of the same things said here and not enough time to watch and see when people are taking turns, but 'stealing cards' can happen in sequential games as well.

If you come up one country short in taking someone out, someone else can finish it on their turn if they have the men to do it before your turn comes around. Is that wrong? I don't think so. If you can't finish someone off on your turn, sorry, someone else will to their gain and your loss. Deal with it. It will happen.

[freyme]

In freestyle you might have to play fast in order to avoid the card steal. Bonuses can be lost by a smart player watching you attack someone and they flank you and break your bonus while you are busy worrying about getting someone's cards. Happens. Just the game variation.

[juventino]

i like freestyle. But i think you should play your turn.

I dont like: You play your turn... grap a continent and max number of countries and then the time runs up. And then.... you start the first next turn and get a bonus you shouldnt been able to keep.

[Coleman]

i like freestyle. But i think you should play your turn.

I dont like: You play your turn... grap a continent and max number of countries and then the time runs up. And then.... you start the first next turn and get a bonus you shouldnt been able to keep.

^ Coleman's Favorite Move. That and going last intentionally to take all sorts of stuff and then watching the game until someone moves to collect the bonus before they can brake me.

[wick]

it wasn't the way i played, till i got schooled by some great freestyle players. you have to be ready for that and block that last kill so you can finish it off. and there are alot more trick stratgy's that are used,
its all out war anything goes...

[AAFitz]

i dont like the strategy of waiting till the end either....exploited correctly, theres almost no way to lose...

but i do love freestyle....but now i more or less play with players that agree to play it out without waiting till the end...not to say realtime...pure realtime freestyle is almost as bad

the games are the most fun you can have on here...but in a 24 hour game...waiting till the end of the turn every time is just annoying....with 5 minute turns, it would be different, everyone would do it, and it would be an all out melee and a fun one....