I blame you Asti Spu Monte Carlo. Yes Count, you were the first, an innovator in the new school technique. Very effective in winning points, and even championships, but like the nose bridges for eye ware developed by Navin R Johnson, the long term effects were not known.

We now have a bunch of cross eyed players that have been staring at their nose bridges far too long. In fact, some have stared so hard, that their pupils are no longer visible and are actually looking inward, without introspection.

Where have the Murti's, the Lagers, the Wishbones, he Bone Rollers gone? They have been replaced by the likes of Shadolin, Studious Gangster, and WarDog. Yes, the second generation of half breed that was first seen in Monte Wanna bees like leekstep and Pat Whalen.

Yes, the game has evolved, like a mutant virus and nobody can find a cure. The manipulation of the flagging system, ie... the limp wristed vflag is almost assured by these type players in round 1 to each other. No silent truces where trust is key, and being able to see the boards silent truces through lack of an attack is needed. no simpleton play , where submission verbally in round 1 or 2 is used to get a better than deserved position. No skill, talent or desire to actually win involved.

Is there an antidote to this disease that plagues kdice? Yes, I believe so. The tournys are awful, the flagging system rotten, the play style horrific. The answer, as I have been promoting for some time, team play.

No flags, simply a winning and a losing team. No vflagging to the strongest player, just hope your teammate is. There can be some very strong teams.

Think of Wishbone/Das/Sam/Kehoe or any three of four.

Shev/Murti/Myself/Nexon

Bonez/Rowdy/Thraxle/Monte

Lager/Cody/Adam/Nix

etc...

Would love to see how the new schoolers would fare in a month of battles where there only is a first and last place in those matchups. my guess, not very well at all