| Play It Straight: Why Non-Enforceable
Dealbreakers Lose Long-Term
The player that cheats his allies and lies about his intentions may end
up winning one game, but only one. It takes a lot of games to build a
reputation, but only one to lose it. It can often be tempting to stab an
ally in the back, but the next time you play with them, they not only won’t
trust you, but also will likely be looking for some payback.
Never put yourself into a position where you are bound by promises you
wish you hadn’t made. If you think there is a good chance that you are
going to want to attack a certain player, don’t ally with them. Don’t
make deals that you aren’t going to want to carry out.
This can be particularly challenging when the game is moving at a fast
pace. Remember that conditions can change very quickly, and your optimal
move changes accordingly. Therefore, keep commitments to a minimum and
definitely don’t have them extend too far into the distant future,
unless they are tied to key objectives that are guaranteed (example: two
players agree not to attack the other until the third dominant player is
reduced to the size of the larger of the two other players).
However, don’t hesitate to make use of commitments. The player that
stays vague about his intentions will often find his borders well
patrolled by other players that don’t trust him and have no idea what he
is up to. Making the right commitment at the right time will frequently
allow you to throw 100% of your strength at a desired objective, leaving
your backfield wide open, and yet perfectly safe on the strength of a
solid commitment you’ve made. If every player has two borders and is
forced to keep 50% of their variable projectable strength on each, then
there will be a theoretical constant stalemate. The two players that are
able to work out a deal to leave their mutual border unguarded, and can
then field 100% strength against 50% strength on their opposite borders
will find themselves in an excellent strategic position.
Also, don’t hesitate to punish grievous offenders. If you are in what
you believe to be a solid commitment or alliance and get stabbed in the
back, don’t hesitate to sacrifice any remaining chances of winning the
game simply in order to punish the backstabber. It may cost you that game,
but your odds of winning were probably low after getting stabbed in the
back, because usually when it happens, it isn’t just a minor stab, but a
paralyzing, disabling one that severely drops your chances of winning.
However, if after the incident occurs, you change your stated objective
from winning to simply punishing the offender and dragging them down with
you, you will build a reputation as someone not to double-cross. As the Punisher,
other rational players will think twice before breaking an alliance with
you in a future game. So instead of thinking of your retribution
activities just as revenge and getting even- think of it as an investment
in protecting your back in future games. |
