So Diplomacy games should not give points nor reflect in winning statistics or be separated, but lottery should be included as standard?
The problem does not lie inherently in game system, but peoples naive belief in points, levels and winning statistics.
I would like to see Different Game modes highlighted and filtered on Dashboard Open-Game section to make it easier to understand/filterwhat one looks for. Making a difference in points calculation or any other form of petty achievements you should save the time and start playing the game for strategy or opt for some different senseless clicking game. I think something like that could suit you instead:
http://www.kongregate.com/games/barniel/heroin-heroBut if you have "insert your personality disorder here" and need constant feedback from PC by gaining fictive points, levels and this in even senseless form like Lottery or from unbalanced diplos to your benefit etc, then there are actually a lot of other "better games" to feed your flaws. Warlight would be perfectly fine without them - as I truly hope there are still people left who see it as Fully customizable Strategy Game and not just Level Up! But on marketing side - its rather that with points because as we have proved people play games mostly due to certain affects from external world disorders - and constant feedback from Games offer them satisfaction, which makes them addicted.
There is nothing wrong with Ranks, points and levels as long as they are given in strict and controlled environment and rules - like 1v1 Ladder that reflect the true state of Skill and standing in particular Templates and Tournaments one has participated. Its all for introducing and advancing competitive play. If you judge player by his stats in Open room games, you only incline towards prejudice.
I am not going into what is a Diplomacy game or how it should be played or what it is in Warlight. As stated above it can be balanced or totally un-balanced (actually same applies to standard games as well - but in lesser form). The bottomline is Points in this case in uncontrolled environment as well stats are meaningless! They have never been useful determining someones skill, experience. So why take them seriously at all?
The only concern are the prerequisites. As people use games-played to end, level cap and win ratios for entering? So do I - but I know they never are fool-proof. Its not perfect, but its all we got! I would prefer better system - but thus far all talk and ideas over it has not raised any attention nor games Developers liking here!
Edited 12/17/2015 09:40:38