WINNER: 2020 Railroad Express ... Zemljanin

[flexmaster33]

And we are onto our Final Four for the championship batch of games. The first of those batches (Rail Africa) just went out tonight. Good luck to each of you.

[flexmaster33]

4 U 2 NV is the early leader in the finals, and the second map (Rail Aussie) has been sent.

Also, the link is posted if you want to see the final scores from our Qualifying rounds.

[Zemljanin]

Something wrong happened...

I've got only one invitation for Rail Europe (a 4 players game). When tried to join, I failed, as if I was late (I haven't looked the time before pressing JOIN)...

Perhaps invitations for 1v1 games weren't sent in the same time, but earlier and I was simply late...

[flexmaster33]

A good finals battle brewing here with william tennant pushing his way to the top at the latest update.

I sent out the RailUSA maps, which make everything active for the finish of this tourney.

good luck all

[Zemljanin]

I sent out the RailUSA maps, which make everything active for the finish of this tourney.

It seems I somehow missed 'em. Great number of missed moves, misclicks and probably strategic and tactical mistakes is a mighty proof of my tense RL situation. However, it's not bad enough to abandon the tourney. Even if I knew I was going to finish fourth (instead of the first, what I really wanted), I'd still play to the end...

So please, could you resend my games?

[flexmaster33]

Will do. No worries.
Job life is doing some of the same to my schedule right now

I sent out the RailUSA maps, which make everything active for the finish of this tourney.

It seems I somehow missed 'em. Great number of missed moves, misclicks and probably strategic and tactical mistakes is a mighty proof of my tense RL situation. However, it's not bad enough to abandon the tourney. Even if I knew I was going to finish fourth (instead of the first, what I really wanted), I'd still play to the end...

So please, could you resend my games?

[Zemljanin]

Joined, thanks

[flexmaster33]

update with South America now in the books.

[flexmaster33]

4 U 2 NV moves to the top of the scoreboard with only two points separating the top three players.

Exciting battle. Keep it up.

[flexmaster33]

And Zemljanin sneaks to the top of the leader board.

[Zemljanin]

Hm, another peculiarity. According to my calculation, I won the tournament, but I've got an invitation to some kind of play off match. Not declining it yet, but I'd like to know why this match should be played and what's in it. Let's clarify the facts first...

According to my calculation, actorday collected 33 points, william tennant 47, 4 U 2 NV 50 and Zemljanin 52. Let's compare Zemljanin and 4 U 2 NV:

Zemljanin
1-1: (Af) 6 + (As) 2 + (Au) 6 + (Eu) 1 + (SA) 7 + (US) 6 = 28
4p: (Af) 0 + (As) 2 + (Au) 8 + (Eu) 3 + (SA) 8 + (US) 3 = 24
SUM: (1-1) + (4p) = 52

4 U 2 NV1-1
1-1: (Af) 9 + (As) 6 + (Au) 6 + (Eu) 3 + (SA) 6 + (US) 0 = 30
4p: (Af) 3 + (As) 7 + (Au) 0 + (Eu) 1 + (SA) 1 + (US) 8 = 20
SUM: (1-1) + (4p) = 50

I was counting in my head, because the numbers are small. So I wouldn't bet my life on this calculation, but there is always Excel, if needed...

[flexmaster33]

I'll revisit the numbers tonight and see if I tripped up somewhere along the way.

[4 U 2 NV]

Hm, another peculiarity. According to my calculation, I won the tournament, but I've got an invitation to some kind of play off match. Not declining it yet, but I'd like to know why this match should be played and what's in it. Let's clarify the facts first...

According to my calculation, actorday collected 33 points, william tennant 47, 4 U 2 NV 50 and Zemljanin 52. Let's compare Zemljanin and 4 U 2 NV:

Zemljanin
1-1: (Af) 6 + (As) 2 + (Au) 6 + (Eu) 1 + (SA) 7 + (US) 6 = 28
4p: (Af) 0 + (As) 2 + (Au) 8 + (Eu) 3 + (SA) 8 + (US) 3 = 24
SUM: (1-1) + (4p) = 52

4 U 2 NV1-1
1-1: (Af) 9 + (As) 6 + (Au) 6 + (Eu) 3 + (SA) 6 + (US) 0 = 30
4p: (Af) 3 + (As) 7 + (Au) 0 + (Eu) 1 + (SA) 1 + (US) 8 = 20
SUM: (1-1) + (4p) = 50

I was counting in my head, because the numbers are small. So I wouldn't bet my life on this calculation, but there is always Excel, if needed...

i think you're counting +3 USA when i took you out second giving you only +1

[flexmaster33]

Yes, I went through and counted the points again and came up with the 50-50 deadlock, so going ahead with the best-of-three 1 vs. 1s to decide this tourney. Good luck to each of you.

[Zemljanin]

i think you're counting +3 USA when i took you out second giving you only +1

Yes, I am . This is a quote from the opening post:

A 4-player showdown.
Scoring: Win = 5 points, 2nd place = 3 points; 3rd place = 1 points; last place = 0 points.
(placing for 2nd through 5th is based on total troops deployed)
Score 1 bonus point for each player elimination in the multi-map.

This is written before the tournament began and still stands...

The very purpose of the rule is to prevent the strongest player to alter the natural placement by choosing "whom to take first". You've probably killed me (over 40 units) before actorday (14 units) because I am your direct rival, while he's well behind. But I am not accusing you of anything; it's irrelevant why have you taken me first. The point is - when you eliminate two or more players in the same round, your choice of the order shouldn't have (and according to the rule, doesn't have) an influence...
In that game, william tennant deployed 87 units; actorday 91+2; Zemljanin 106. So, regardless of your wishes, it's 0 points for William, 1 point for Actor and 3 points for me...

An example:
In the Rail Europe game, I had a privilege of the very last move. Actor had 204 units, you had 294, I had 367 (163 more than actor). Now imagine that the cited rule was suspended (and players informed).
I could pound you until you fall below 204. You would get 0 instead of 1 point. (I saw you deliberately took a point from me, remember? My retaliation would be both legal and legitimate...)

Just for a moment, back to Rail USA:
Could I lock the tournament win? Of course. Am I inteligent enough to see that? Yes I am.
It was obvious that you were going to eliminate both red and yellow, in the very next move. You couldn't even think about killing my 60 units without taking their cards first. So I could abandon the game for the sake of the tournament - just deploy 36 and take a cheap card.
As a player, I felt an obligation to put the tourney aside and try to win THE GAME (I had 72.6% chance to eliminate red). I failed and this try cost me 20 units; the rest is history...

So I could lock the tournament win in the Rail USA game. I didn't, because I knew (?) the rule.
And I could lock the tournament win in the Rail Europe game. I didn't, because I knew (?) the rule.

If I am going to be punished for these two decisions - so be it...

P.S. Am I trying to avoid the match and possible defeat? Not at all. I am just insinting on truth. I might play a play off match, but I want to see how this post will be answered, first. We can talk about the match later...

[flexmaster33]

Technically, you are correct Zemljanin.
My intention was that the troops would be used in the event of a game reaching the 20-round limit.
But yes, word-for-word, you're reading of the rules is correct, and I do agree that is a more fair way to determine placing.

i think you're counting +3 USA when i took you out second giving you only +1

Yes, I am . This is a quote from the opening post:

A 4-player showdown.
Scoring: Win = 5 points, 2nd place = 3 points; 3rd place = 1 points; last place = 0 points.
(placing for 2nd through 5th is based on total troops deployed)
Score 1 bonus point for each player elimination in the multi-map.

This is written before the tournament began and still stands...

The very purpose of the rule is to prevent the strongest player to alter the natural placement by choosing "whom to take first". You've probably killed me (over 40 units) before actorday (14 units) because I am your direct rival, while he's well behind. But I am not accusing you of anything; it's irrelevant why have you taken me first. The point is - when you eliminate two or more players in the same round, your choice of the order shouldn't have (and according to the rule, doesn't have) an influence...
In that game, william tennant deployed 87 units; actorday 91+2; Zemljanin 106. So, regardless of your wishes, it's 0 points for William, 1 point for Actor and 3 points for me...

An example:
In the Rail Europe game, I had a privilege of the very last move. Actor had 204 units, you had 294, I had 367 (163 more than actor). Now imagine that the cited rule was suspended (and players informed).
I could pound you until you fall below 204. You would get 0 instead of 1 point. (I saw you deliberately took a point from me, remember? My retaliation would be both legal and legitimate...)

Just for a moment, back to Rail USA:
Could I lock the tournament win? Of course. Am I inteligent enough to see that? Yes I am.
It was obvious that you were going to eliminate both red and yellow, in the very next move. You couldn't even think about killing my 60 units without taking their cards first. So I could abandon the game for the sake of the tournament - just deploy 36 and take a cheap card.
As a player, I felt an obligation to put the tourney aside and try to win THE GAME (I had 72.6% chance to eliminate red). I failed and this try cost me 20 units; the rest is history...

So I could lock the tournament win in the Rail USA game. I didn't, because I knew (?) the rule.
And I could lock the tournament win in the Rail Europe game. I didn't, because I knew (?) the rule.

If I am going to be punished for these two decisions - so be it...

P.S. Am I trying to avoid the match and possible defeat? Not at all. I am just insinting on truth. I might play a play off match, but I want to see how this post will be answered, first. We can talk about the match later...