well i figure ill leave some input directed at the original post...
you say when cards get to 70, the next person to cash usually will win and thats unfair because then order, not skill, determines the winner....
well if that is the case in your games-then youre playing them wrong....
2003903
there is one example of how to fix your problem without adding a new setting... escalating is not simply cashing and killing... its about setting up, blocking, and helping PREVENT kills...
if someone is cashing for 70, then someone before them cashed for 65.. instead of thinking you have to try a 90 vs 120 attack to win the game because if you dont the next guy who cashed will have just enough extra armies to get that kill... maybe try using your armies to BLOCK the kill, or put the 65 armies to work on defense.. take away an opponents position, just make sure that the guy getting 70 DOESNT get the kill... if he has an extra 60 armies in his way.. hell most likely realize the kill isnt posible and wont take it.. so what does he do? he then cashes and puts his 70 men to prevent the guy getting 75 from getting a kill... then the guy with 75 cant get one and stops 80, etc etc...
just saying that escalating cards arent unfair in anyway.. if you use strategy you can win a lot of games... anyway the new setting sounds silly imo