no one would play if there was anonymous
there's no reason to be a decent player and not backstab.... it would be even WORSE pga than before man
people could just talk over aim and know who eachother are.. and people couldn't even identify them to stop them!
boooooooooooo

It is rational to backstab, good players WOULD backstab. This would add a whole new element to the game. The only reason not to backstab is so you won't get backstabbed next game (game to game favours).

Anonymity is the way forward!

this topic is evolving into a completely different topic altogether.

to the original premise:
rolloffs can be a great time saver if used in the right circumstances. if there are 2 players who fought equally hard, have equal territories, and have played a straight/honest yet have no way to fight each other, a rolloff is a good option.

regarding the example of rolling off for 2nd/6th... if the circumstances fit, then that may be the best option. here's a fictional example that i believe fits the situation. both 2nd place players flag, then say they'll honor every subsequent flag to be able to fight the other player flagged 2nd. 1st place honors both 2nd place flags, and eventually the rest of the table flags. now let's say that 1st place is in the direct middle of the map, while both 2nd place players are on opposite sides. in my opinion, by saying they would honor subsequent flags, both 2nd place players have inadvertantly agreed to a 2nd/last battle.

if 1st allows them to battle THROUGH, then 1st place may be left in a dangerous position where both 2nds could backstab and overthrow 1st to take 1st/2nd for themselves. (this happens all the time on lower tables)

by implementing a rolloff the game ends fast, 1st place is secured, all players honor their written and implied word and both players are left to the same luck that every kdice player is subject to.

regarding anonymity:

there are many who already utilize im chat. if everything were anonymous + no chat window then any im players could/would be able to cheat anonymously and without any warning from other intelligent players.

anonymous play would only even POTENTIALLY work if it were quadruple blind gameplay (or more).

1- anonymous names
2- random turn order (not based on the seating order)
3a- non-matching colors for opponents (i.e. you see the player sitting as brown, but his color on the map is viewed randomly by everyone but brown)
OR
3b- all opponents are the same color
4- only able to see your territories plus each connected territory.

this would change the game beyond anything any current kdice players would recognize, but the strong would adapt. by the same token, those who pga by profession would easily adapt as well.

when it comes down to it, you have to ask yourself one question: why go through all the work?

The chatbox is useful, and if you disagree then I don't want to play with you in the same table because you're either not skilled enough to use the chat box, or don't respect flags.

Should've added this before, but the most annoying thing in this game is saying in the chat that you're going for a certain place, then being killed or attacked by 1st and getting either no response or "oops I don't read the chat sorry."

I think fog of war in kdice would be awesome. That shit would get crazy, so much strategy to be thought about in stack placement and movement when you have no idea what is beyond the front lines and neither does you opposition. Not a new idea but a very cool one.

I think roll offs are dumb, I know they can save time, but I will never agree to them. Roll offs are not really new, when you have two players with a few stacks and a large player they have rolled off so to speak but it wasn't higher number it was who won or who lost, which you know kinda made sense but whatever it evolved into something dumb like most of the gameplay here.

/random drivel.

note about the time saving comment:
WTF?!?!?!?

1. Kdice is a great way to waste time, why would you want to shorten that?

2. Roll offs are gay. <--(good alt name)

3. I miss the epic battles that used to happen, now people are like oh we have to fight now? roll off!

4. Roll offs are an easy out for the person who is in first place. Part of the game is learning how to dominate (hence dom) and knowing how to make the best decisions for your personal gain. I have seen many people fuck up a win cause they didn't know how to make a decision. now its like roll off and i am safe.

5. anyone who says roll off to me i get really angry at because it a game of war. why should i not be able to fight for my position? and yes there are some cases where you honstly can't fight for it, but then it goes back to the winner just like always.

6. man up and fight, honestly, I'm a little white gal and I have more balls than most of you guys.

7. Roll offs are not fun to watch either. I miss fun to watch games that last 50-70 rounds and have epic battles in them