Since apparently there is difficulty in getting hosts, I suggest the following.
There would be no formal challenges to the forum, etc. Instead if two people wish to do battle for ladder credit, they either make a game (Or if they cannot, join an existing game). Battle it out, and save the replay and upload to the forum. (It doesn't exactly, have to be be between two ladder people.)
Their rank would be based on the total number of kills achieved in the battle. Though people who play Marathon more often would obviously have more kills and replays, I suggest a best replay per day to be uploaded to be tabulated for kills, all other matches for that day do not count.
[I was going to say something, such as only kills inflicted on the two challengers count, but why shouldn't the nonladder people not have their power in deciding vidmasters.
![marathon [MLaugh]](./images/smilies/8.png)
]
So for example:
I play 5 people in a deathmatch, (Maps do not matter, but if someone have 100s of replays on the same map, there should be a deduction...) and killed 25, died 19 times, suicide. Subtract and add to total score
So my score would be
{Rank#} {Player Name} ~ {Total Kills} < {Latest Match: {Score} {Map} {Date}>
EX: #3
Zott ~ 9
< +6, Route 66 9/12/06>Purely an example, I didn't actually play anyone today. That would be my "best" replay for the day and the only one permitted to be submitted today. I don't know if latest match should be added to total score or if they should be added after the following match.
Seems fairly simple to me. This challenging business is kind of hard to cordinate, and so this would probably give the most accurate representation. PLus with replays, it is pretty obvious who is cheating for kills.
If one wants ot be really fancy, we could introduce a multiplier for more players.
![marathon [MSmile]](./images/smilies/1.png)
1.0 for 2 players 1.2 for 3, 1.4 for 4 1.6 for 5, and 1.8 for 6 and 2.0 for any more than. Though I think that would get out of hand... (Though dominating with more players shows your proless)
As for time, usually scores even out so even if you play for 100 hours, the kills to death ratio should pretty much even out to an average. Otherwise, stick to between 5 to 12 minute games.