How do you maintain your rank?

[AAFitz]

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

The dice dont change...only the games you play change

[AndyDufresne]

Playing 1vs1 on a few select maps, and then gradually branching out to more and more maps. But I'm not necessarily trying to maintain my rank, since I play in some random games as well!


--Andy

[King_Herpes]

Let's play a love game, play a love game, are you in the game? Hutt.

[Woodruff]

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.

I make this presumption for a couple of reasons:

1) The vast majority of folks I witness at that high of a rank play/chat like they're pissed off all the time.

2) In order to get to that high of a rank, you have to ultra-specialize. Being humans rather than computers, the fun of that simply doesn't normally last very long. It becomes more like work to maintain your rank at that level, never mind increasing it...thus not much fun.

[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.

I make this presumption for a couple of reasons:

1) The vast majority of folks I witness at that high of a rank play/chat like they're pissed off all the time.

2) In order to get to that high of a rank, you have to ultra-specialize. Being humans rather than computers, the fun of that simply doesn't normally last very long. It becomes more like work to maintain your rank at that level, never mind increasing it...thus not much fun.

1) true, myself included.... but it's usually about a bone head play made by a player that diminishes the 'fun' factor; or the opposing player themselves and not the game itself that elicits those behaviors. Obvious other factors ( in any game type ) which you cannot control ie dice, drop , 2 pair- etc.

2) partially true , depends on what you mean by ultra high. Most of the top players, without really trying, can be in the 3000-4000 range ( and there are quite a few of great players that aren't in that range). 4200+ you're gonna have to restrict game selection somewhat. In which case you're referencing such a very small sample size of the total players.

......but specializing doesn't remove the enjoyment factor-- it heightens it for quite a few of the top players for whatever specific goals they have at the time- score, rank, medals. When guys take a break it's not because of the game selection, it usually has to do with other factors-- running bad, can't string wins together, dice, other players. None of which really has to do with what games they choose to play.

I can assure you that when the dice, drop and card gods align during one of those 'non fun games' you're referring to, it's quite enjoyable for them. Winning is very fun.

[jammyjames]

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

The dice dont change...only the games you play change

pardon fitz??

[Georgerx7di]

The first post pretty much said it all, game and map selection. Ass doodle, lux, san marino, etc will kill your score. If you avoid these maps, then that helps. A good player can probably maintain major while playing public terminator games, cut those out and you should go up more. Teaming with generals, this one hurts, try not to team with people with too many points, and that will help too.

Also, when you are trying new maps, and new settings, you'll see a dip.

[AAFitz]

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

The dice dont change...only the games you play change

pardon fitz??

over time, statistically dice mean nothing to your score.. only the types of games you play will affect it...and possibly your dedication to playing them

Though inherent skill over time may not change... actual skill can change...but more as an indirect result of focus.

[HighlanderAttack]

I play it all-I win enough to stay major most of the time. No specialty used because I play in so many tourneys.

[Prankcall]

BY not playing,I find it very easy to stay exactly where I am when I do not play games.

[Timminz]

I maintain my rank, by playing the games I like to play. A solid mix of seq speed 1v1, large seq esc (mostly casual, but with as many speeds as I can thrown in), and team tourney/clan games. I don't like most other styles of game.

[gannable]

well, i play any type of game so my points go up and down.

i have a teammate of hundreds of games when we began playing as teammates had less points than me. i was around my current level. he had about 2200 pts or now. he's mostly only played our games together. he's now a brigadier, recently a general.

from my experience primarily play team games where you're pretty sure you'll win 60-65% of the time

[gannable]

note - i play any type of game except 1 x 1

i must be one of the worst players with a decent ranking to play 1x1 - im like 47% winning %.
i get aggravated too quickly and easily when things start off bad.

[AndyDufresne]

BY not playing,I find it very easy to stay exactly where I am when I do not play games.

I'd agree with this statement. Steady-State.


--Andy