Flawed ranking system

[wizzbane!]

I think Outwitters is a great game, so I'm not here to bitch. I haven't played the game for a long time, but enough to realize that the ranking system is seriously flawed, which is odd when you think of how balanced the game is.

Here are some goodies:


Win: Me (rank 36), Opponent (rank 12) - I gain 12 pts, opp. loses 7.

Loss: Me (rank 41), Opp. (rank 9) - I lose 12, opp. gains 18.

Win: Me (rank 38), Opp. (unranked) - I gain 21 pts, opp N/A
Win: Me (rank 32), Opp. (ranked 1 in higher league!) - I gain 26, opp. loses 17.

Loss: Me (rank 35), Opp. (rank 43) - I lose 16, opp. gains 24!


How can any of this make any sense? I gain 21 points for beating an unranked player, then I get 26 points for beating the leader of the higher league (I'm in Clever, he was in Gifted). Then, when I lose to someone just below me (I was 35, he was 43--same league), I lose 16--one less point than the guy who was ranked first and whom I beat!

You don't have to be a statistician and work out a formula to realize that this ranking system is wrong on all levels. And all you veterans who may want to rush and point out that a streak might give you more points and so on ... please save your breath. Even with the streak included, it still makes no sense.

I also figured that the amount of rounds, or the amount of points your castle is left with, might influence the rank, but nope. That can't be it. For instance, in my victory over the guy ranked 1st in the higher league, my castle was left fully intact (5 points).

And I won't even comment on what I think of this promotion business.

Again, this is a great game, and I'm planning on buying the premium version because, even with its flaws, it's worth it! But why create something good and have it spoiled by something that is relatively easier to fix?