Late start but invites out for table 7
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Clearly we will get a very late start on Decathlon 2023. I would like to propose a slight change in the thematic schedule for next year, which is games that are new to the Decathlon should probably be earlier in the schedule. I might actually suggest that the last 3 games should be the most popular games. That seems like a better way to end a long season.
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Well, I suppose now is as good a time as any to say I was going to put the call out to see if:
a) folks want to keep going with Decathlons (as opposed to another long-running format - maybe even just an on-going ladder with a constant stream of games?)
b) someone else wants to take on the mantle of organizing. (ahem @kennfusion ahem 
)
The 3 player ladder I run is supposed to be a “permanent” version of the Decathlon with a KotH twist. I am also open to running the formal Decathlon if people want to keep the tradition.
We only have 10 people in the KotH ladder, and I suspect it is because it seems more confusing that it really is. But it could be the permanent competitive home.
It could be modified so that multiple games are running at once in rounds. So get the top table running in current rules, and then take whoever is next person on the list and they are a “Prince” and the 4th person challenges, with the 3rd wheel selected per normal. It would be easy to modify it as a monthly round with games down the list.
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something like this is already running since Feb 2022: the “permanent” Gaia Project League.
a challenge ladder consisting of three 4P divisions: “multiple games running at once in rounds (seasons)”.
it’s a great competition.
13 players itm. with 16 players a 4th divison could be started.
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I rather like the Decathlon, but admittedly I’m not running it lol
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I think part of the appeal of the Decathlon is the variety of games and the fact that you play different opponents over time based on win/loss - but eventually you are generally playing at around your own “level.”
One possible negative is that at least a few people would like to have a veto on playing certain games.
I think the main “confusion” around KotH is the rotating list of players and matching of game lists (although I understand the reason behind both for a “one table at a time” ladder.)
I’m fairly confident the ladder model (where you can move up and down a bit) and only have to play one game at a time (but all players having a chance to play) are good bones to build on.
Not sure about how to pick the game(s) being played at any one time - maybe voting two or three times a year isn’t too much effort? So the next 3 or 4 games are set - and people can choose to sit one out and that just means they drop in the ladder?
Mulling… mulling…
Seems as good a time as any to express my strong appreciation to @Codington for another superb season. It must be a huge amount of work to organise all of this.
Personally, I like the variety that means I play lots of different games that I might not see otherwise. But I’d also be keen to get in on one of the 3 player ladders too.
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I like the Decathlon because of the variety of games and because I can see how well I am playing against others. In a ladder game if a person is a pro at a game then they will always be playing it , and we novices will get to play only sometimes.
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I’d also really like to see the Decathlon continue–think it’s a great event, and the fact that we ran a little late this past year isn’t a major deterrent IMO. We might just end up “skipping” a year down the road, if, say, the 2024 Decathlon actually covers most of 2025.
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And, of course, I’m already thinking “Hmm, maybe if the format changes a bit I can find time to run it…” 
The heavy lifting for the Decathlon is around picking 10 games and then maintaining table groups with a bunch of ranking rules because there’s a “final” ranking. Plus a bit of stress around trying to get through the list in one year.
So here’s a proposal:
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“Perpetual” standings - newcomers are “grandfathered” into the middle, but standings and table groups generally are the same as the Decathlon (meaning there will be movement up and down the ranks based on game results); no annual reset
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Several games are chosen at a time from a running list so we know what the next few games will be - those games don’t get voted on for the next group but stay on the list
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Everyone plays the same game at the same time but players can choose to sit one out and the tables just get adjusted accordingly
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Probably some provision for new games - automatic inclusion in the next group seems like it would work.
Like this post if you like the idea. Feedback welcome, as always!
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Side note on Concordia: I don’t think it’s going to change the final outcome, but I hit a bug in my final turn here… I was trying a couple of options and one of them got “saved” to the server somehow but before I submitted the turn. Undo and taking a different (better) turn works right up until I try to submit and then I get booted back to the lobby. Ended up having to submit the “test” turn.
Just a PSA for other tables in case anyone else is like me and wants to use undo to try some different final turn actions.
I couldn’t resist going in and seeing what you did - phew - close finish!
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Yeah 118 vs 113 would have felt a bit better than 114 vs 113. 
GG - should have been a slightly different final score (see above) but pretty much neck-and-neck for a number of turns towards the end, so this also seems fitting.
I had actually never played the Italy map, but it was supposed to be good for 3 players and I would say it lived up to that.
Really fun to finish the Decathlon with a “new” game - I can’t wait to see how the rest of the final standings look!
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Good game everyone!
I feel like I have enough games of this under my belt to say that I just don’t get the appeal…
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Gg, came down to the end game bonus looks like. I am still learning at this point, but yeah this game seems like it would work way better live rather than async. Still fun though.