Strategus wrote:Jack007 wrote:boldblade wrote:How is this still a can of worms? A win is a win, a draw is a draw and loss is a loss. Why is that difficult to accept?
Because Calhamer considered a draw a shared win.
And Calwhotsit is the boss, obviously. Games are played to win. If you can't win, you draw. If you can win, you bloody well should, because that's what playing games is all about., Right? If you don't play to win, what's the point? Cumbaya? Haleluja!
That's a bit of narrow thinking, a bit one-dimensional, a bit dogmatic. But I have you else in memory, from WDC. More differentiated, and not so enraged, if you know what I mean. A very sympathetic man. It must be the forum which polarizes, likely. The hasty thrown text bits.
Many, many games are played not to win, but e.g. for fun, for mutual benefit, for relationships, for pastime, for literature, for group experience, for making love, for role-playing, for learning, etc etc etc.
If you look for a game where you can only win or lose, you may have a look at Go. No draws possible by definition. And one of the most sophisticated games of the world. I really recommend it.
Diplomacy (not the game, but real diplomacy) results in most of the cases - if not always - in a compromise. In a solution of a conflict which all parties can or have to live with. It's about sharing.
And here, in the game of Diplomacy you HAVE the option to share a win. This exactly makes it so attractive to play. And that's what Greggybear did: he shared the win with Charleroi. For whatever reason he had, about which WE haven't to judge. Because we are only the dogs strolling around a winner, hoping for a bone or something else that is left and thrown at the pack. But Greggybear is still the winner of the game. No matter with how many he shares his win. And on a personal, inter-human plane, HIS win even grows when he shares it. Didn't we learn that when we were young? And enjoyed life based on that wisdom ever since?
If not, there's always Go. Go is a difficult game, full of ancient wisdom. When you are good at Go, you are a real winner, a big winner, a winner of an uncheatable game btw. Only, that you cannot share your win. Which may turn you lonesome a la longue. But if you're not disturbed by that, then Go is the game for you. Try it out.
Yours.. Jack
