Talk:Kingmaker scenario

Games design articles such as this one should have their references listed. Not because I doubt their content, but because I'm interested in reading the source articles/books. For example, who first used the term "Kingmaker" in games design? 201.235.51.21 08:10, 3 August 2006 (UTC)

Etymology

The word kingmaker has been used in a political context since the 16th century. In its original use, it means "one who has the power to decide who becomes king (or achieves high office) without being able to assume that office himself". Using it to mean "one who has the power to decide who wins without being able to win oneself" in the context of a multiplayer game is a very obvious extension. The 1974 game could only have been named after the existing word, and the "some who allege" that the term originates with this game are just plain wrong. EmmetCaulfield 15:19, 9 July 2007 (UTC)

Magic: the Gathering example

The article goes: "In the later rounds of a Magic: The Gathering tournament, the rules permit concessions for any reason other than bribery, and thus a player who is unable to make the top 8 will usually concede when paired with somebody who would be able to make it."

I don't get it. Why would he do that? If a player who cannot make it to the top 8 concedes to a friend who can, it makes sense. However why should he concede to someone to whom he is neutral or someone he wants to lose? Assuming he has a friend who can get to the top eight, doesn't he make his friend a favour by eliminating other players who can make it to the top eight? -Sensemaker

That's exactly what the (controversy about the) KS is about: The player is a kingmaker, and if he has a friend still in the game, he's likely to influence the tournament undesirably (by losing to that friend, or by trying to beat any other contender, thereby reducing their score relative to the friend). If he does not have a friend still in the game, he's probably just going to concede, to save time. And there might be peer pressure ("good sportsmanship") to concede, too, since that's the one action that clearly shows he's not trying to take advantage of his kingmaker power. 134.130.4.46 (talk) 05:18, 11 December 2008 (UTC)

I see. But doesn't that mean that the current choice of words is poor. -Sensemaker

I have edited the text so the logic is more understandable. -Sensemaker

I had a hard time understanding what that part was trying to say and edited it for clarity (i hope). -kleister32 —Preceding unsigned comment added by Kleister32 (talk • contribs) 01:59, 2 May 2009 (UTC)