https://www.warlight.net/MultiPlayer?GameID=11709495

TL;dr from the chat: "Take away all my losses and I'll be the highest ranked player in the history of WarLight."

^ This chat is extremely relevant, thanks.

Such chats are not uncommon. In general they often reveal:
-extreme importance attached to high ladder rating/ranking
-anger, sensitivity, combativeness over a loss
-attempts to belittle the opponent (e.g. "you noob")
-extreme defensiveness when belittled

Edited 8/8/2016 18:07:21

Again the question: why do we see a strong drive in some to achieve high ranks and engage in competitive social behavior?

It seems that this behavior is innate, genetic.

Omniscient, I have only 2 things I can advice to you:

1) Again, I want to stress the importance of looking only at the moves, that mindset will allow you to search for your mistakes and improve. Going a little bit through your recent ladder games I can see quite a few things you could improve on even without detailed analysis.
2) Play only against good players in practise. No auto-games, no weak/mediocre players. When I was playing warlight, at some point I started to play literally only with best available players. That will automatically force you to be precise even in casual games and your autopilot mode will become much "cleaner", so games where you make outrageous blunders will disappear eventually. Just hanging out with the right crowd can work wonders.

sze: you've achieved status as one of the all-time Warlight greats.

What motivated you to spend near countless hours competing, improving, climbing the ladders?

(BTW, I appreciate the fact that you're giving back to the community via the forums.)

Edited 8/8/2016 05:09:00

testosterone.

not sure if troll or not. O_o

why do mountain climbers climb mountains?

It tickled my brain

In casual mountain climbing, there is no series of competitions where one person wins and the other loses. There is no resulting rank hierarchy where it is generally agreed the people at the top are highly likely to win against people at the bottom.

There are surely many motivators for ladder that vary from person to person. However, it seems that competitive social instincts--probably involving testosterone--are involved.

the testosterone remark is a bit rude towards the ladies playing the ladders.

to answer the question directly:

it's just competitive nature wanting to see how good you can get at something you enjoy doing.

i'm sure a few folks there just play it to get a few more challenging games. doubt they'll ever reach top 10.

or in the case of pulsey he just plays for the lulz of trolling folks trying to get a high rank.

Edited 8/8/2016 23:30:31

it's just competitive nature wanting to see how good you can get at something you enjoy doing.

Yes, and a hierarchy of other players is involved. It's social competition.

the testosterone remark is a bit rude towards the ladies playing the ladders.

Both men and women produce testosterone (but the effects vary between them). Both men and women engage in competitive social behavior.

Edited 8/9/2016 01:06:43

I don't play on the ladder. I personally find playing the same template over and over again boring.

When i did though, i played it for fun. I play Warlight for fun.

I quite honestly don't wish to get better, certainly not studying the game to try to.

I do play chess, i'm fairly decent at it but know i will never be a GrandMaster, yet i play it because i enjoy it.

What I'm saying is that not everyone has this thing inside them that says they must win at all costs.
It's a game, play and enjoy!!

Wanting to improve is not "wanting to win at all costs". The only player on Warlight I can think of with that attitude is Gnuffone.

why do mountain climbers climb mountains?

Why does ps post such bs?

http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/6474/personality_and_play_styles_a_.php?print=1

I think part of the problem is that this discussion becomes irrelevant, but people keep bringing it back. After the first page it was pretty much just garbage.

Wow Fissell, you're so dexterous!

Edited 8/20/2016 23:11:45

What is "MD" and "RT" please.

OP, i dont think you know Chinese. That clearly says "Small dong. Must cry."