Stress occurs when the system cannot reach equilibrium because certain players have initial levels fixed that don’t align with their initial match results. Anchors don’t need to match the calculated level exactly, but the further away they are, the more pressure in the network. For example, if an anchor is set significantly higher or lower than their calculated level, the system must compensate by making larger adjustments to
connected players.
Carefully considered anchor setting helps to reduce system stress and ensure the system remains stable while giving admins control over anchor players’ initial level.
See Understanding Anchors FAQ for more details.