Re: STRONGHOLD CRUSADER 2020

Posted by {{DHK}}HolyLord on Jan 29, 2020; 10:42pm
URL: http://the-best-of-crusader.24.s1.nabble.com/STRONGHOLD-CRUSADER-2020-tp7583287p7583348.html

If you played only from 2011, you haven't seen the old players play.

2019 Peabody was probably around ~75 skill level.  I'd say that means the person who beat him (Szalchielec?) in 2019 is at least 75+.  Definitely can't conclude 90+ just from beating a 75 player!

As for whether old players (2002 - 2010) or new players (2012 - 2020) are better, I think they might be similar, but I would guess players from the old days are a bit faster, as the game was played at 55-60 game speed long ago, and there were many 0pt/5pt fast games.  I would also guess that best players from old times knew how to play more maps, settings, rules, etc, than best players from new times, as it was much more common to play everything instead of one thing.  For example, there wasn't a "best player in no ffs" in the old days - the best player in the world knew how to play everything at the highest level.

I have seen a few youtube videos, and I know some of the names you guys are discussing (Ares, Maly, etc).  Ares was around ~85 at his best, unless he has gotten much better in recent years, which seems unlikely given he probably wasn't as active as he used to be.

We have to be careful not to allow rating inflation.  90+ should be reserved only for the best experts in history.

Based on some of the youtube videos I have seen, I think people like Maly (from some years ago), Mystical, etc, might be 90+.  But before we say as high as 94, we need to consider holistically, how well-rounded these players are.  If they aren't 90+ in all rules, they aren't an overall 90+ player.  I'm not saying these players aren't 90+, just saying we should consider everything, and not a single facet of the game.

That said, I have to give credit to some new players like:

 - Maly: from what I heard, he dominated the game for many years after I left in 2012, which is itself an amazing accomplishment.  I think he's an asshole like most X-Con, but a top expert asshole for sure
 - Lancelot: great eco & demonstration videos, good speed
 - Mystical: People have sent me his videos from youtube - He clearly has a passion for the game, combined with speed and perception of the game that you rarely find.  I think he might be a 90+ player and may be worth consideration for the Greatest of All Times list.
- shork: I don't know anything about him, as he came to SHC after I left, but I was sent some videos of his gameplay and love his speed of the game.  If he had more knowledge and in-game perception, he could be one of the greatest

I haven't heard of the other players on the list you are discussing (Misterio, Tiger), but if they are as good or better than these players above, they must be very good!  Maybe we should consider reshuffling or updating the Greatest of All Times list soon!