Any other GMs feeling targeted?

[random path]

Whenever I get to above about 30 on the leaderboard it seems like I’m targeted, mainly from players playing on two accounts in the same game.
Either both attacking me, sometimes with several hours of stalling for no particular reason.

[worldly ridge]

I've brought this up a few times in chat before. I liken it to "Skill based match making" or "Skill Based Damage" implementations in other games. I know it's not actually the case deep down but, it sure feels like it sometimes.

[random path]

Definitely happens. I’ve just been targeted by a user on multiple devices. I screen recorded my spectating after I was defeated. Three of the four abandoned their capitals, while the fourth took a second capital. The first three then left within a second or so of each other, followed by the fourth. I’m now back down to ~70 on the leaderboard.
There’s a special place in hell for these cheaters, it really puts me off the game.

[gritty remnant]

That's much less likely to be targeting GM specifically and more just "multi-account cheating or illegal collusion"

[random path]

It happens far far more when you’re closer to the top of the leaderboard.
Such a shame support don’t take this seriously as it drives away the players who really love the game. I’m put off games now for this very reason.

[ocean rain]

There's nothing that would make it more likely for you to face more cheaters based on your leaderboard position.

It is a serious issue, but first of all not one as big as you make it out to be (most cheating complaints due to "collaboration in here turn out to be based on a misunderstanding of the game) and I believe support are doing their best to deal with this issue, although that might not always be enough.

Let me put it this way: Ranked Play in the Risk app is highly flawed. Anyone who cares about an actual competitive environment for Risk will quickly find themselves joining this community and participating in high level community hosted games and tournaments, far superior and more enjoyable to anything that you would ever find in "ranked".
If that's what you're about, then I'm sure you'd fit right in!

[ocean rain]

About your initial post, what you might be feeling when getting targeted more once you're getting better, is that your opponents pick up on certain clues that you might be a good player (such as taking action quickly, or simply based on gameplay) and focus on you first accordingly. I do it the same way. Who's to blame me for wanting to eliminate the better player first in order to come out victorious?
There's only so much you can do to hide your true skill level, but for most top players the attempt to go unnoticed for as long as possible is an important part of their strategy.
I'm sure there's also a psychological aspect of feeling more targeted once you're getting better.

[random path]

Leaderboard is published, so it’s easy to target a high ranking player if you want to.
I’ve spectated on games where I felt targeted and it was clear once I’d gone there was no more competing.
In such games I’ve been targeted at the off, and all has become clear why once I spectated.
Although there will be a small proportion where I get it wrong, the ones I’ve spectated I was right. It’s so obvious.

[supple dragon]

No noobs look at leaderboard and track who is their and if they are in the game. Their are three realistic possibilities.

Very likely

1. You were targeted for playing good (I myself do this)
   Solution - Don't show real skills

Rare and only possible for very few games
2. Cheaters (this is rare and in my account with less then 100 games to gm (no in app purchases of maps or anything) I faced 0 cheaters. Adding to this my account has more then 100 rn)
Solution - None

Very likely
3. Bias
Solution - Be less biased and more objective, and stream/record your games and share them.

[supple dragon]

I don't think you understand what the difference beetween an "alliance" and "cheating" is. I have played games and seen games where it felt like cheating but really it was just an alliance and good players.

Again if your looking for competition ranked isn't it. Tournaments are.

Play a tournament and lose. Like me 😭. It reallys shows the difference beetween gm and good player. Believe me their is a difference.

Gm = no skill title. Requires time and playing on cheesy settings. (Or the not to be named settings)

[random path]

and yet you refused to treat they were cheating when I sent a report (because they did not repeat), or view the screen recording I emailed.
Blocking is the only thing me as a player can do. Complaints team need to do more but are refusing to acknowledge a problem.
There’s a high ranking player (1st or 2nd place) I blocked because he stalled for 4 hours. Nothing was done when I reported it.
You need to start acknowledging a problem exists and do more about it!

[random path]

Novice isn’t necessarily a ‘noob’. I’ve seen many times where it’s clear there is one person behind it all, on different devices. It’s really easy to tell from gameplay when a novice is playing to gm standards.
GMs are not all made equal, but the top few are highly skilled.
I am objective, that’s how I can get so high on the rankings. Being observational is not biased.
I’ve screen recorded but there’s nowhere here to upload it, unless you have a YouTube channel, and SMG refuse to watch them when emailed across.
If you haven’t noticed, or it hasn’t happened to you, then that’s good for you. As this is the case don’t assume I’m wrong.
Sigh- yes I know the difference between collaboration and alliance.

[supple dragon]

Then stop playing ranked and play tournamnts. I still am very doubtful you know the difference beetween cheating and not cheating. 2 people attacking you at the same time isn't cheating. Upload it on youtube then and everyone can see it. Don't try to say you don't have youtube or can't upload it on youtube, you have discord.

[random path]

You seem to think you know more about me than I do!
Yes I Know The Difference Between Cheating And Not Cheating. You Seem To Be Enjoying Ignorance. AAAA

[supple dragon]

Then upload it on youtube. It is hard to believe you when you have no proof.

[ocean rain]

A recording does nothing when you're trying to prove collaboration.

The best way for you as the player to deal with cheating is to report them and try to go on with your life.

It's much healthier to not let bad sportsmanship or your own pessimistic attitude affect you, when all you want to do is have fun and perhaps become better at the game of Risk yourself.

For an even healthier environment I'd recommend to anyone to leave ranked behind them for the most part and start joining community hosted games instead. The quality difference between those is like day and night.

[supple dragon]

Completely agree, play tournmants then. Ranked doesn't mean anything.