Stuff like this has been discussed so much but really there is no legit answer to it, it's a shame there is no forum search because some threads were pretty good.

You're entirely right though, it's too hard not to have a positive bias towards your friends, and is one of the biggest problems in this game.

The reason this positive bias is unfair is because for newer players it would be harder for them to get into the in crowd, and so they would have to put up with an unfair share of 7ths before they get to succeed.

I don't think there is any concrete solutions to that other than making this game completely anonymous, but in that case people should just play dice wars.

it's annoying int, but we've all gone through it. I am by know means one of the "elite" but I feel I've earned enough respect that I'm not just "another noob" anymore either. But I do remember not wanting to play on the big tables because of getting singled out to be destroyed when I first started. It's annoying, but something you gotta fight through.

There is no need for the anonymous games. At least for small tables. Instead of playing DiceWars, as Integral suggests, the bias towards your friends (and against your enemies) could be reduced by introducing a random assignment of tables. (This has been suggested many times.)

The game could alternate between letting you choose a table to play and assigning you a table at random. The maximum table level could be chosen by the player.

This change could reduce the bias problem to about half of it. It would also give the point-hungry players the opportunity to share (some points) with the little guys :b.

p.s. newbie begging some respeCK:
(by Adam's Argos):
"I am by know means one of the "elite" but I feel I've earned enough respect that I'm not just "another noob" anymore either."

meagain...seriously...a shot at AA? What have I ever done to you?

but really now, what I said was true, I'm not "one of the elite" but I feel I don't get singled out on the big tables like I used to. Of course, there are more players now then when I started, so that might have something to do with it too.

Until then, Meagain, I don't take criticism from people that can't back it up.

I like pwning friends, random assignment would suck.

We all have people we like more then others in this game, it happens. The key is just not going to far and being to helpful or hurtful.

Honestly I am slightly less inclined to attack players that I know will reciprocate my kindness, and that is the hardest thing for people to accept is that if you know how someone plays you don't have to say anything to get them to ally you or get someone else to ally with you to kill them. There are subtlties to this game.

ban all cheaters for life.....that's the only way

It sounds great to just say random table assignments. But there is usually only 1 2500 game and/or 1 10k game at a time. So basically you'll be assigned to the lone 2500 table.

generally, the metagaming isn't done much on the 500s and 100s, so random table assignments won't change much there.

i am by no means an "elite" player however simply by talking to everyone being generally a nice guy and not taking the game to seriously i do not get obliterated at the top tables like people say happens to them...if ur nice to ppl more often than not theyre nice back...and to be honest it helps for all some of my points may not be what the seem the rest were got by playing on the top tables (without pga's) and just using the chatbox, u wud b suprised the situations that chatbox can get u out of!

agree with Dan fully!

To AA,
Your statement was funny. You are taking the all this 'thing' about being a respected player way too seriously.

Honestly, do you really expect people to respect you more if you go around claiming to be a respected player? I am sorry, but it does not work that way.