Are the VPs the same for the different Leagues, ie, does Copper pay the same as Diamond?
According to the FoE wiki, the VP awarded are the same per league and only vary per the number of guilds on the map.
I am still playing with models trying to get more leagues in diamond. It has been very difficult to increase the number of guilds in diamond league. A few factors appear in play.
1. The 1000LP a cap (1000LP max) which brings into effect
2. Guilds that are already in diamond tend to occupy the positive LP positions and
3. The narrow band of guild LP to be in diamond (901-1000, or 100 LPs) versus the number of points that can be lost by finishing last (or second to last in two cases)
Ironically, I have found the more 'maps' I have put together the more guilds are able to advance and stay in the diamond league. With only 24 guilds in diamond it is very difficult to get an additional guild to stay in diamond. With 120 guilds it is easier. It appears that to grow diamond league relies on two factors:
1. The number of diamond guilds that currently exist (the more current diamond guilds, the more maps per season, the more platinum guilds can advance and stay)
2. The number of non-diamond guilds advancing, especially guilds advancing from platinum to diamond. All guilds start in copper. The more new guilds started and advance through the leagues then the more that can be in diamond.
Diamond league cannot grow unless platnium league grows first. 1-2 guilds new to diamond will not be able to stay in diamond, 8-10 guilds are required to advance from platinum to diamond to make another map to allow
some of them to stay in diamond. 8-10 guilds are required because two of them will be stuck losing and dropping back to platinum.
Guilds can only be added to diamond league when:
1. Enough new guilds are formed in a world
2. That advance through the leagues
3. And advance from platinum to diamond to form a new map
If a guild is stuck ping-ponging platinum-diamond, it appear it would be in your interest to find a couple of gold league guilds to help grow so they can advance to platinum so more current platinum guilds can be advanced to diamond alongside.
I'm not saying the LP system is good. I think it stinks. This is just a summary of the results of my simulations.