Runner-Up means nothing. Runner-up deserves nothing.
If it is escalating game, runner-up is obviously meaningless.
In assassin this wouldn't work at all.
Could kind of work in terminator but would be a shame.
In a standard flat rate / no spoils game,runner-up option would destroy the game.
If there is a clear leader, the only chance for the other players is to team up against the leader, if the 2nd player know he will not lose point he will not help and game balance is destroyed.
Btw, if you finished 2nd in a flat rate/ no spoils game it means you sit on your ass letting the leader get away with the game, and you deserve to lose points imo, not the small guy that couldn't do anything anyway.
Plus, ofc, SD problems. You could find a partner that throw game away as long as he finished 2nd, he lose no points, you win all, and you can do it again exchanging 1st and 2nd. Not saying it doesn't happen already but why incite people to do it even more.
Lessens the risk for highly-ranked players to play lower-ranked players in large multi-player games.
Doesn't help at all for this issue.
A slight discouragement effect on highly-ranked players who are losing a game attempting to take-out the low-ranked players in their last breaths.
I don't see the discouragement, only work if there is only one high ranked player and he is 2nd.
Creates the opportunity for "friendly" games; in 2 player games where RUP is selected, no one will lose any points.
That's good but it's better to create non-point game for real.