Metagaming is the highest tier of strategy on warlight. It means having your strategic choices in game informed by knowledge gained outside that game. It is the most obvious thing that sets top level players apart from everyone else.

i tried to make a comprehensive list of the main instances:

knowing someones playstyle where your previous matches with the same opponent have given you an insight into that player's playstyle and cause you to make certain decisions which would otherwise seem inferior.

strategy that involves thinking about what your opponent is thinking you are thinking. Metagame comes into play in any game where no single strategy is dominant and opposing sides are aware of multiple strategies that can succeed dependent upon opponents' actions. In order to perform at the highest level, it then becomes necessary to think about what your opponent thinks you will do (which may depend on what he thinks you think he thinks he will do, etc.) and to make decisions based on clues regarding what level they are thinking on.

taking advantage of knowledge of the general/current strategic trends, for example; The current trend is to deal with ftbs by countering them; picking the ftb 3rd, 4th and countering with your 5th. One way to 'play the metagame' would be to pick the better part of the ftb 1st and leave the worse warlord and counter to your enemy. Another would be to blind counter the ftb with your 3rd pick.

I want this term defined because i think i will need to it to explain games between top players in the future. I think a metagame tournament where every game is played with the same distribution as a custom scenario would be fun and illustrative. Would anyone be interested in one? You would have the honour of being in my first open tournament.

Nice post, thank you for making me a better player :)


If the tourney is big enough for me to be eligible I'd gladly play it.

CAn you explain what ftb stands for

I'd play such a tournament, would be interesting to see how many different ways people would pick the same board.

@bdh: first-turn-bonus.

Edited 8/17/2014 03:44:49

Yup. Always wanted to play a tournament like this. We can watch strategies develop. Count me in.

Are you thinking medium earth or another, symmetrical, map?

I'd like to play :)

Yes pls

That kind of tournament would work only if it's a small rr and all games are played simultaneously, otherwise we'd see some recurring strategies and many almost risk-free strategies suffer the obvious risk of opponent picking the same when you have little control over your picks and who gets the advantage.

EDIT: I am not that sure metagame itself is that important. I still think even on the top level most games are decided by objective mistakes from one side or the other. Although it must be said it is far more important in 1v1 games where you run a much greater risk of losing on picks outright.

Edited 8/17/2014 14:04:36

Metagaming is any strategy, action or method used in a game which transcends a prescribed ruleset, uses external factors to affect the game, or goes beyond the supposed limits or environment set by the game. Another definition refers to the game universe outside of the game itself.

In simple terms, it is the use of out-of-game information or resources to affect one's in-game decisions.

(wiki)

Swe. I would personally like to see strategies develop over time. Playing all games at the same time would ruin this opportunity.

The template should mean that an apparently risk free strategy should have at least one counter.

The opponent knows your strategy from the previous game and counters it. You know the opponent knows this and counter the counter. He knows you know etc. That's the meta game.

you know what would actually be more interesting to watch with this........... a ladder.

I'd like to play Piggy, assuming you will let me.

Nice definition of Metagameing.....

I have a meta game for you Piggy. First turn.
http://warlight.net/MultiPlayer?GameID=6848830
Hopefully this will kick start you into organising this round robin again.

balls - haha the first thing, that came to my mind after 4th turn is lol wtf guys :P

Also you're not a first one, who came with this idea, Piggy.
http://warlight.net/MultiPlayer?TournamentID=9375

But I'll be glad to play with your tournament, so feel free to invite me.

Edited 8/25/2014 09:41:56