So, what's the secret?

[CockyBastard]

These players are good because they have the free time to learn & adjust to an ever changing world.

Fixed that for ya.

Correction: Brains

[Claeyt]

Obvious winners of this iteration of Salem (Darwoth, Colesie, and Chief PeePooKaka come to mind) seem to have completely dominated the game, rising to absurd levels of power. So, how did you rise from a lowly 5/5/5/5 to the dominating force in one of the servers? How did you rise to power so far above the rest? After the final wipe before release, what tips could I use to become a Randian Godman, rising above my peers?

By posting this, you are simply stroking their ego's, (Darwoth googles [site:forums.salemthegame.com Darwoth] each day to see what is being said about him) see:

lol my grandfather was standing on one of the out of range navy ships that were observing when that test happened, before that he was pking irl on iwo jima.

These players are good because they stick out changes, they are ready to learn & adjust to an ever changing world.
Wonder what the difference is between winners & losers?
You: lose your job at the hardware store, lay in bed for a week crying, your girlfriend dumps your ass, you spend a month in bed crying... [loser]
Darwoth: Loses his job in the hardware store, gets a job sheep farming, wool market bottoms out, he trains to be a lawyer... [winner]

Further reading: Freakonomics (Loser & Winner)

Of course half the high level players have admitted to playing this game 8 hrs a day for 6 months strait. Several of them have admitted to being unemployed, retired, never leaving their apartment, or just sitting in front of their computer way more than any normal healthy human being should (I'll admit to that ). So, I wouldn't go overboard with that 'winner' label Cockybastard. They are able to put in the time (months) where the casual player can't. In fact I'd say most of the high level players are the exact opposite of the Freakonomics success models (which I have read). They've crawled into a nice warm little world of their own making and manipulate it to their benefit for entertainment. They're certainly not being open to the Real world or new things by playing this game, at least in an economic successfully way, although I have met people from all over the world here. The game is a comfort zone used for entertainment, sometimes to extremes, but mostly for fun and to meet other gamers like themselves which is fine. I admit I'm right there with them. We've created a society of gamers with the most extreme of the personalities at the top, and that's pretty fun to watch sometimes.

By the way, I had no idea Darworth was a sheep farmer once, what the hell was that like?

[CockyBastard]

Well I'm sure Darwoth plays a bit more computer than most people, but I'm certain he has spare time while his character is farming to lift weights etc And if he is unemployed it is because he has other income sources(no not drugs) and no longer need to work.

[Darwoth]

By the way, I had no idea Darworth was a sheep farmer once, what the hell was that like.

[Claeyt]

By the way, I had no idea Darworth was a sheep farmer once, what the hell was that like?

hilarious picture

When the hell are we going to get livestock in the game anyways?

[iotuegli]

By the way, I had no idea Darworth was a sheep farmer once, what the hell was that like.

very funny picture

i know darworth is strong, is great and could sit near jorb or loftar (maybe a bit farther than other mods...)
he is the only 1 who has sheep in that bunny game