> <snip>
> , in the first couple of Elimination Rounds ends up with me spending more than I'd like on temporary enhancements to keep from getting knocked out early by a kamikaze attack (see Elimination Round #1 in Game #45).
> </snip>
>
> That was a great match to see.
> I tend to have the same problem as you only worse as Im typically the lowest ranked guy so Im fighting the highest in the eliminations... must really sort that out.
>
> Its fun knocking out the #1/2/3 players early on but it just costs too much on those enchants if you have to.
>
> I might have a chance if I can keep the same'ish strat but not place so low when I get to eliminations.

Well, when you're ranked low and you come up against an opponent who's got a solid build together, you DO essentially have to, unless you've just given up on winning. Imagine if you'd gone up against me or Alexfrog in the first or second elimination round. If you're to have any chance at continuing at all, you're going to have to try to max out your stats as much as possible. I've seen enough contenders willing to sacrifice their future chances for a present win not to take them lightly, but in your case I'd have to be doubly cautious since you'd probably be able to build well enough that you could pose a threat, even if you didn't actually follow through on it.

Thus why I referenced the fight in #45. Turned out he decided not to go all-out, but if he had, that fight would've been much closer, and it would've been more obvious why I wasted 65 gold on it. That plus the extra medical expenses put a serious dent in my plans. Of course, given the way it turned out, I probably could've not spent that gold in that way and been just fine... but then if I'd been knocked out in the first Elimination round, well, that would've REALLY sucked, heh.