Talk:War of attrition (game)

message: It might be interesting to add notes about real-world decision makers who are or have used the "I'm insane and unpredictable" strategy. Consider Iran's nuclear program: It wouldnt bother us much if they were totally rational, and thus wouldnt be much good to them as a bargaining tool, so they foster the appearance of insanity. Also true of North Korea in some analyses. There must be other historical examples.
Kim Jong Il was the first one to come to my mind before I even that sentence.  Picket's charge used that strategy- to capture a hill that was heavily defended in the American Civil War, Union soldiers charged it yelling theuir heads off and waving their guns over their heads through a hail of cannon fire, causing the Confederate artillery men to flee in panic, leaving their cannons behind.  Ghengis Kahn, Ivan the Terrible, and John "Blackbeard" Teach also cutivated their horrible reputations for this reason: to make enemies surrender and save themselves a fight(and thus resources and men), although that almost borders on Hawk and dove, might depend on how one portrays it to how good of an example they would be.--Scorpion451 07:26, 19 June 2007 (UTC)

message: I didn't find anywhere in the article how the game is played.
I find this absurd to have an article about a game without describing how its played.  — Preceding unsigned comment added by 77.58.142.55 (talk) 02:29, 14 January 2013 (UTC)
thread_title:  how is the game played?

message: It seems to me this game doesn't have a NE, what would contradict the Nash Equilibrium article:  "Nash equilibria must exist for all finite games with any number of players". Anyone can help? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Ezadarque (talk • contribs) 
:It does have one, it's a mixed ESS.  It's proof should be here, it's on my list of things to do eventually.  I can't remember off the top of my head which reference is the best to point you to.  Or do you have reservations about the solution qualifying as a Nash? Pete.Hurd 14:06, 4 July 2006 (UTC)
thread_title: does this game have a Nash equilibrium?

message: This article could do with some decent real life or simple fictional example. Kendirangu 06:46, 7 May 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  A decent example will do this article some good. 

message: I've moved the normal-form matrices here to the talk page.  The game isn't a 2x2 matrix game, the players' strategies are continuous numbers. Pete.Hurd 03:18, 4 July 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  Removing normal form matrices 

message: I've removed the formulation in terms of discrete time, the WoA isn't a dynamic game, it's a bidding game with only one move per player, to chose a continuously valued bid. Pete.Hurd 03:17, 4 July 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  discrete time 

message: Moved material from article, not really on point. Pete.Hurd 05:43, 4 July 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  more material removed from article 

message: I thought over Pete Hurd's comments, and reread the sections on attrition games in my game theory books.  Having done that, I think I can find a way to present the War of attrition in a more explanatory way without making it appear to be turn based.  As it stands, the article tells the reader little about the game itself other than than the equation for the solution.  The reader needs to understand why there is no Nash equilibrium, or why a standard matrix does not describe the game in full.--scorpion   451   rant 20:33, 18 July 2007 (UTC)
replies: text: Sounds good! It definitely needs more of what you describe. Cheers, Pete.Hurd 21:11, 18 July 2007 (UTC)
thread_title: Making some additions

message: The "Examining the game" section is contradictory.  and  describe different scenarios. --129.215.138.242 (talk) 14:30, 21 March 2018 (UTC)
thread_title:  Pay lowest bid or own bid?