DISCLAIMER: This guide does not, encourage the use of unsportsmanlike methods to gain high ranks on ladder. That being said, some people will continue to game the ladder anyway, so this guide will help point you in right direction.
About the Author: #1 on 1v1 ladder with astronomical rating, #1 on 2v2 ladder twice with two different partners.
Pre-reqs for guide to work:
1v1 Ladder
Top 1
-Top 25 without stalling
Top 10
-Top 60 without stalling
2v2
Top 1
-Top 6 without stalling
Top 10
-Top 25 without stalling
Join the ladder. Best if you have NO unexpired game. (unranked, rating =0)
PLAYING WISELY1) CHOOE FIVE GAMES. Choosing 2 games helps your rating, however this only helps if you are a very good player and you are confident. Choosing 5 games increase your chances of getting a high rank. If you choose 5 games and you want #1, you MUST get a 15-0 perfect score. This is not so hard as you’ll be aiming to beat 12-13 bad players + 2-3 good players.
2) Play the initial games fast. Offer real time. This way you’ll get a bad rating after your first few wins, allowing you to play more noobs. You are beating these noobs more for occupying the 15 game quota rather than for your rating. So really you are playing 5-6 actual games rather than 15.
3) When game seems lost, don’t panic. Stop real time and leave the game. We shall now start to stall
4) CORRECT WAY TO STALL IS IMPORTANT. If game seems over don't bother continuing to defend your bonuses. USE EVERYTHING AND RUN. Use your blockade card to block chokepoints behind you to slow him down and buy you a few more turns rather than use it to stop him taking your bonus. If you have enough armies go in a few directions. In 2v2, use your gift card so that your teammate can survive more turns. Its usually a wise and safe idea to commit after 2 days 12 hours every turn.
5) All 5 games are stalled losses? That's too bad. Look at all your games and surrender the one against the player with the highest rating. This will lower your rating least.
6) If you are very close to your desired rank, you can always stall with vacations. So you'll be waiting and hoping the players above you lose or some players youv beaten gain in ratings, helping yours.
CHOOSING YOUR OPPONENTS6) When you’ve just won a game then look at the ladder page. Ladder players and teams can be classified by 3 types
- Overrated (Good ratings, but they probably deserve worse, good idea to go for these)
-Underrated (Bad ratings, maybe due to boots or unlucky, and deserve much higher, avoid these teams)
- ‘Boot’ (Good ratings and skill, but has high chance of getting booted)
You’ll probably be matched against someone who has just finished a game in that hour and is around your rating. That should filter down to only a few choices. Look at them and analyse them each. Have you got a good or a bad record against any of them? Do you think they are overrated or underrated? If you don't like your chances against any of them, reduce your game count and keep an eye on the ladder page. Join back when you see a player you are confident of beating.
Examples taken from 2v2 ladderOverrated : Pulsey’s, Vendetta’s, Ze’s, Master Bjarke’s, Julkorn’s
Underraed : Timi’s, Ribena’s, lobstrocity’s, giovinni’s
Boot: lobstrocity’s, lawm’s, ribena’s
Got an overrated player? Play fast.
Got an underrated? Wait for force join and play slow.
Got a ‘boot’ team? Best to join fast, play slow. Chances of beating them are low, your best chance is probably by boot.
Dont offer a replacement game to anyone.
ADVISEGot any friends? Maybe you can ask them for help on picks or maybe ask them to surrender their games to you.
This covers the aspects: Stalling, choosing opponents wisely etc
Good luck!
An asshole-y guide?
All Is fair in love and war
-John Lyly
Another useful source by QI :
http://warlight.net/Forum/Thread?ThreadID=28007
Edited 6/5/2014 08:22:32
