What is your primary goal when you play and submit XOTM?

[solenoozerec]

I guess it is quite clear that although all of us play the same games, we pursue different objectives in this game.

 

[bradleyfeanor]

I picked other. When I first started GoTM it was all about comparing my games to others. Now I play for reasons 2-4 (the competition/comparison, eptathlon, medals). I used to play for #5 also (GPR), but that isn't important anymore. I guess the competition/comparison is still my biggest reason, but sometimes I also intentionally pick a victory condition that I think will have a good shot at an award due to low competition.

I often joke around about not liking to go "heads up" against Sir Pleb, Dynamic and the other really good players, but actually I like it when that happens. My ultimate goal is to play the same victory condition as all the Top Dogs, yet somehow pull out a Gold. That would be better than a dozen eptathlon awards!

 

[Xerol]

Well, right now I'm going for a reverse-Eptathlon (all shield awards + green ambulance). Actually I'm calling it the golden ambulance. Even got halfway through making a pic:

 

[MeteorPunch]

Well, right now I'm going for a reverse-Eptathlon (all shield awards + green ambulance). Actually I'm calling it the golden ambulance.

Hopefully someday I will win the Golden Ambulance Reverse Eptathlon as well. Other than that I want to be in the top 50 or so.

 

[Smirk]

I second for including that award. Although I'm not clear on something, the highest scoring loss award should be included but not the last place one. Last place is too easy to get by purposely losing and you wouldn't want people to basically forfeit a month's game just to get it.

 

[Xerol]

Yeah, it doesn't include the Red Ambulance. Unfortunately there's no easy way to tell how many of each shield everyone's got because it isn't listed. If anything, low-scoring victories for certain victory types is very difficult, namely Domination(need to not conquer anything until the Modern Ages) and 100k(unless you build REALLY tight from the start).

 

[solenoozerec]

@bradleyfeanor - you are a really good player yourself. At least your name is in my list of the names for my victorius units (very short list).
As for myslef, my short term goal is the fastest domination. If I get it (not sure it will happen), then my goal will change.

 

[DBear]

Right now, my main motivation in playing XotM is to improve my game. I've gone from a so-so regent player to a confident monarch player and am no longer afraid of emperor.

 

[Methos]

Until this last December I have never played above Warlord, and even Warlord I had only played for one month. I always played on Chieftain. Now due to XOTM I have played on Regent (and won) and have played several games on Monarch (though I have never won on Monarch). Had it not been for XOTM I’m not for sure if I would have ever even tried to advance.

In other words, thanks to everyone, especially the XOTM Staff.

EDIT: Basically I play the XOTM games to improve my own game.

 

[bradleyfeanor]

As for myself, my short term goal is the fastest domination.

In my humble opinion, it is only a matter of time. The level of you games has been improving at a remarkable pace, and you are now nearing the top echelon--as you showed in CoTM9. You beat me!

 

[Jason Fliegel]

I'm in the same boat as DBear -- I play to improve my game. Like DBear, I've gone from a so-so Regent player to a confident Monarch player, although unlike DBear, I'm still scared of Emperor.

 

[MiniMe]

Well, I play games for fun. But I voted Eptathlon, since that would be real fun! So far I have nearly always gone for Domination, and I have improved a lot since I started XOTM several months ago. So I am currently experimenting with other victory conditions, like conquest

 

[eldar]

Playing for fun, mostly - I don't think I'm ever going to compete with the top players. I have decided to go after my own personal 'eptathlon' of all win types, though I don't really have the time/patience to milk a game to 2050.

 

[bed_head7]

I have not participated since October, but I think that an Eptathlon was what I was pursuing, so I voted Eptathlon. The best I think I could do is 5 of 7, though I'd have to hope that no one competed with me for the milk. I have been waiting for the right game to jump back in (started COTM8 but didn't manage to finish).

When I played COTM1, I was just really excited about competing with others and seeing how I stacked up.

 

[a space oddity]

I am forever caught in the middle: to big for the shields, too small for the awards. So I play for 'stray' awards that I hope get neglected in the game that I play. Like Karasu sometimes remarked: it's a game in itself to guess which victory type will be least used.

Not that I have been playing lately, I have started a few games, but RL tends to win the competition for my attention the last couple of months.

 

[Niklas]

I voted 2, I only came across the XOTMs recently and I'm still in the learning phase. My last two games have been really successful though, one score-wise and the other regarding my finishing date, so I'm hoping that I can compete for the awards and the top spots in not too long.

 

[Megalou]

I "voted" eptathlon but it comes with tons of modesty. It is obvious that some people could beat me in any victory condition 19 times out of 20. I have many domination victories but haven't been very close to an award. Some people just seem to have more determination and instinct whereas I am often afflicted by a sort of randomness or vagueness in my plans. I've played many games but it's easy to see that many people are more experienced and more in control of the parameters.

I could just as well have chosen "My goal is a specific award," namely domination, but if I should get that one I would, in my vanity, consider it the biggest step towards eptathlon.

 

[AlanH]

Fun and comparison. It's all about learning for me. If I ever stop learning interesting ways to play this game I'll stop playing. But I know I'll never get good enough for an award/medal.

Is the Golden Ambulance really a serious proposal?

 

[Paul#42]

I miss the opportunity to checkmark two conditions. I checked #2 as it is fun, but I also like to see me climbing up in GPR

I actually submitted one game which results to #245 - lots of room for improvement

While I try to learn from the big dogs, I rather compare my games to some other players I like (or don't)...

 

[Drugged_Unholy]

I play for fun, I don't even know what the awards mean.

I was a warlord until a couple of months ago but can now win on monarch so all the games have ben helpful.