Why we play the game...
"There is no room for second place. There is only one place in my game and that is first place. I have finished second twice in my time at Green Bay and I never want to finish second again." - Vince Lombardi
RAW - The Good, Bad and Ugly
The Good:Players have over the years enjoyed the chase. The excitement of earning their first weekly/monthly medal, or their first 1st place medal, and the recognition that comes from achieving the accomplishment.
The Bad:Players all too often learn to game the RAW system. The infamous zero card turtle is the best example of a player not playing to win, but playing simply hoping to improve their place in the game. There are numerous instances of players finishing in the top 5 (and yes even medal) of the RAW chase having won 16.66% or less of their 6 human games during that period. 16% is considered the skill of the 'average' player. There should be a medal for best mockery of the system.
The Ugly:Some players have gone so far as to suicide the RAW leader in a chase ending game. At times the RAW chase is close enough that the scoring difference between 5th and 6th, or 4th and 5th can mean the difference between 1st and 2nd in the RAW chase. A cash on 3/kill for 3 or 4 cards (a move normally reserved for n00bs) is somehow justified in the name of RAW. Never mind playing with honor and respect for your fellow players.
Why A Change Is For The Better
Have you ever guested out because there "isn't enough RAW in the room"? Have you ever wondered why beating 5 players one day is worth +90, then the next week you beat the same 5 players and get +18? Have you ever turtled because you "didn't want to be 6th"? Have you ever wondered why any winner should receive +400 or more just because they waited until saturday or sunday to play their 1st game of the week? If you have answered "YES!" to any, then you have come to the right place. Our rankings aren't based on arbitrary assignments of RAW. Our rankings are based on which players can win 6 human games, and how often they do so relative to their peers.
Player Quotes
"The hope is that a system which only rewards winning will bring an end to playing for 2nd, 3rd, etc...it should also mean the end of 2 and 3 turtle games....the games will be played differently when the only reward comes from winning."-molideha
"In too many games, the clear leader of the game won't get hit because 'now i'll kill you first' thus, forcing the guys that are behind to cross their fingers and hope 'not me, not me'... I think that's pretty lame and moliraw would eliminate that scenario. It'll require skill from the leader to keep his lead, and it'll require skill from the other players not to give the game to someone else."-thetan
"I can't say it enough, no matter how many times we chant ohhhhhm or take long breaks or complain, nothing is going to change until the structure of the raw scoring system changes. MOTW bonus is the worst part, but this conversation really hammers home that people will behave how raw structures them to behave. It goes against their best interests and their enjoyment, and it severely negatively impacts the community."-hoodie