Flags system is very complicated and I often doubt it's usefulness.

1) if you flag for say 2nd, you will still have to figth to keep it, flagging only means that you will not get higher position than the postion you flagged for.

2) you do not freze your position, you just set a max level that you can reach. domination does not stop when you are flagged. and you migth still end up in a lower position than the one you flagged for.

3) they have all set the same maximum bar. 2 players migth be both flagged for 4th, after that they figth to see who gets 4th, and who gets 5th.

4) it is a threat. it means submit or die. the sumbitted party has promised that it will not get a higher pos than X, while the player demanding the flag probably is one position higher. they should not attack eachother. what often happends is that the strongest player forces another player to flag, then all the others fall in line, to keep them from getting attacked by the strongest player.

5) It is in your best interrest to secure yourself the highest position you can get. so instead of using resources on killing a player witch will give you only a small benefit (and who migth help you later, since he flagged to you), you migth instead attack your main oppostion for your goal. If you are first and all other players are flagged, the only way you can loose first is that the other players decide to kill you. The best way to avoid this is to play nice, so that they have no reason to attack you on spite.

hope this helps

Keep in mind one thing, while a flag signifies your intention to not try for anything higher than that place, it does not mean you cannot acheive higher than that flag.

For instance, let's say you are flagged 2nd but have about the same amount of land as the guy who is in 1st. The guy in 1st decides that he doesn't like you for some reason, and wants to give you 3rd. He begins to attack you and you fight back succesfully. Now, you have more land than the guy you originally flagged to and the person in 3rd is faithfully sitting there watching the fight.

Even though you are flagged 2nd, you still have the ability to get 1st in this situation. You need to take the original leader down to 3rd place and then convince the guy that has been sitting there to flag 3rd when he can. Then simply kill the original leader. This will leave two players flagged for 2nd and the one with more land is given 1st place.

Just because you flagged to someone doesn't mean you need to allow them to walk all over you. Just because someone flagged to you doesn't mean you have to completely respect it and leave them alone. Always play to maximize your position and gather the most points possible.

Flags really only serve two purposes: ending games faster, and negotiating with enemies


Oh, and one more thing concerning #5.........YOU CAN NEVER BE TOO MUCH OF AN ASSHOLE, IT'S A WAR GAME FOR FUCK SAKE

A flag with a number means that you will go grey at the moment there are that number of players remaining at the table. Anybody can flag any number. If multiple people have the name number at that moment, the player with less territory (or dice if equal) will grey out. This is a fuction so that other players know you won't get a higher place than you flagged (except for some sneaky situations). This knowledge is incentive for players going for a higher position to not attack you as it would be a waste of dice when they can spend their efforts on threats.

Flag only applies to position. Dominance is completely separate and unaffected.

Proposal to flag in chat (verbal flag, v-flag) is very similar to a truce, and identical to a truce in some personality cases, but not really. With a v-flag, the two players stop attacking each other (if accepted) with the promise (honor system) that the player v-flagging will place below the player v-flagged to. From there on, the v-flagged player will have to fend for him/herself to get a higher position as long as it is below the flagged-to player. A truce is the same except there may be no promised placing (determined at end of game), and both players coordinate and defend each other to grant both players highest positions possible.

The game is designed to be played without game-to-game play. In that design, attacking players flagged below you for more land is smart and acceptable (assuming the war doesn't weaken you too much). Unfortunately, people who ignore personal identity and previous games' actions do not do so well with gaining points. Thus the game involves reputation and karma. Players tend to respect players flagged below them because:
A. They are not a threat (assumingly) since they will grey out before you.
B. It earns respect points and will increase their chances of having a lower flag respected in future games. It is a minor form of Pre-Game Alliance with most players which is mathematically beneficial on the long term. (versus players who don't earn those respect points, and earn disrespect points instead).

The social system and gaming technique would be extremely different and more logical (less social) if there was no identity and reputation of players. A lot of players are flustered by this, but eventually are forced to come to terms with it and bend to the will of KDice and end up enjoying the social aspect anyway.

Suppose every player's name was "llllllllll" and shared the same avatar. For the most part there would be no reputation and identity, thus no game-to-game play, thus completely different gaming strategy.

thraxle don't tell me you still believe the old most land wins equal flag bullshit do you?

"some sneaky situations" = thraxle post

KDice is a game of negotiated surrender because the endgame is weak. You have stumbled on the most complicated part of the game. Beyond the basics, there are few hard and fast rules and people have a tendency to get very angry while creating contrived situations like roll-offs for 5th.

Turns out I had completely misunderstood the flagging system. Thanks you all for the thorough explanation.

You have to keep in mind that especially the v-flags from the chat can have very different meanings.

To me I will not attack a person that I flagged to. And I expect him not to attack me if he accepts the flag. However, I will not defend that player or assist him in any way. This is the difference to a truce. If that player is killed - it is not my problem.

Usually you v-flag or flag to a person clearly stronger than you and finishing at a lower position is done automatically. However, sometimes that person is very unlucky and drops. I don't flag 7th in that situation.

In any case, make very clear in the chat what you mean by a v-flag, being cool, trying to be kind - or whatever words are used.

Oh, attacking persons really flagged under you to gain you dom is also called farming and may lead to revolts (read Animal Farm) if done excessively...