New Game Option (Poll)

[paulk]

Standard game developing into (partly) Doubles game
How about adding a new option for Standard play, that in those situations where you make an alliance you could "double up" with someone else and suddenly develop a Standard game into a part doubles game.

Why?

Because sometimes you need to make an alliance to end a stalemate game, but "there is only one winner".

Sometimes you make an alliance in a game but have to eventually kill your ally (which can feel quite rotten)

Singles games could get interesting development where you start finding a partner mid game.

I just think this could add a very interesting (and in some cases vital) aspect to the game.
In my opinion there should be an option to double up with someone even if every one else play single. The ones playing single win all the points for themselves if they win, but if you double up with someone you have to share the points.

[SirSebstar]

i find the best part of alliances is that there can be only one!!! (tm)
oh well thats just me though

[Woodruff]

i find the best part of alliances is that there can be only one!!! (tm)
oh well thats just me though

I am in agreement with SirSebstar in that the great thing about how things are set up now is that you CAN have an informal alliance and yet...there's always that tenseness, that bit of lingering doubt. Makes for a far more strategic game.

[paulk]

Nothing says you cant still have your alliance without changing into doubles, but this would make it harder to create alliances in one player favor.

Maybe it also should involve a penalty of a few points? 3 or 5 points for example per player, to make it less desirable.

But imagine a 8 player Standard game where two smaller players decide to ally, that would put a new dynamic into the game putting pressure on the others to maybe ally as well. I think it would introduce a new interesting psychological aspect on the game. But of course, I personally love when a game also gets into the stage where the pen is as mighty as the sword.

Maybe its a bad idea, maybe its a great idea, maybe it could be misused and abused, but I would love to have it as an option when a game is created: "allow alliances to form doubles".