Here is the set up.

A game is well established, there are four or more players still in the game and all are more or less evenly matched. The game has broken down into two or three separate battles, two players hitting each other, and ignoring everyone else.

Suddenly, one of the players gets a two or three spaces advantage in one of the battles. His opponent throws in the towel and flags out. The guy with the advantage, now in first or second place, no longer has worry about his flank. He turns and attacks the player on the other side.

This third player was in his own mini battle, and now suddenly finds himself being hit from two sides at once. One turn he has a good chance at first, the next he is lucky if he lasts for the next three rounds.

I have lost count of how many times this has happened. One moment I am holding my own with a good chance of winning the entire game, the next moment someone has flagged out, and I’m being attacked on multiple sides.

Flagging for place has become an automated way of forming alliances in every game. The game starts out with everyone for themselves, and half way through the game the player who has earned second with a good chance at first is suddenly finding being torn to shreds by the player in first, and the guy who flagged for third. Second place guy (even if he gives up and flags) is lucky to get forth.

I have been playing KDice consistently for the last 12 months, and have seen all of the different incarnations of flagging. Each had their problems, but those problems were caused by individuals who abused the system. Flagging for place negatively effects everyone and every game played.

Simply stated, flagging for place is sucking the fun out of this game.


Comments anyone?