To make sure it's clear, by "local meta" I mean a certain way that a group of players play, which might not be representative of a global or larger-scale meta. For a trading card game example, it would be like City 1 being dominated by deck A, and City 2 being dominated by deck B, even if the nationwide or global meta is dominated by deck C. Deck A would be the "local meta" of City 1, and Deck B would be the "local meta" of City 2. I hope that's clear?

From my games here, it seems that the "local" meta (at least, on larger maps where I usually play nowadays, but even as small as classic) is to form an early alliance and try to run with it for as long as possible, sacrificing members or flipping sides if you feel threatened, but not necessarily just to gain a center advantage. Eventually two to four alliances get stuck against each other and then draws happen. Solos are not frequent. Of course big stabs do happen, but they seem less frequent than the few sources I've read/heard would make you believe. I also may be biased in the sense that the games I've been successful in I remember a lot better than my failures, and I myself am an influencing member of each game I play.

But, I'm curious what you guys all think!