NEWCOMERS BEWARE: Freestyle Speed Habit

[Artimis]

PLEASE NOTE: This post is for newcomers. To inform them about potential dangers that they might encounter during a game. Experienced players will likely not find anything of interest in this post, but constructive contributions to this thread are greatly appreciated.

Nope, this thread is not about drug addiction, it's about getting set in your ways when you go to play Speed Freestyle games after playing a bunch of Casual Freestyle games. In Speed Freestyle games it's never a good idea to end your turn quickly, resist the urge to quickly click the [End Assaults] button, then observe what the other players are doing. You might be able to secure more territory, weaken a key opponent when it counts, or reposition yourself to an emerging threat!

When you're about to click [End Assaults], make sure that you're 100% certain you want to finish attacking. Remember, this game rewards patience. If the above advice is not in depth enough, then click on the -SHOW: DETAILED EXPLANATION- link below. It will show the more verbose original post, which you can read if you've got time to kill.

show: Detailed Explanation

Have fun!

Artimis

[Downey]

Although, bear in mind that on smaller maps it's sometimes a better move to fortify your position immediately and end your turn just as quickly, to avoid larger groups mauling a smaller territory earlier on.

[Timminz]

It's nice to see you've been following some of your own advice. Look at that score climb!

[Bruceswar]

It's nice to see you've been following some of your own advice. Look at that score climb!

Yep I teamed up with him as a cook... and the game is still going on... So much for point offset ... LOL

[Artimis]

Yep I teamed up with him as a cook... and the game is still going on... So much for point offset ... LOL

Yeah, sorry about, I'll make sure I suck more next time.

[FabledIntegral]

Finally a post by him that isn't ridiculously long and gets to the point - although most people won't end up reading these, it's relatively valid.

[The Neon Peon]

Valid? Yes. Good post? No, for the fourth time.

Here are some tips:
1. No one needs a disclaimer... you already have it in the title.
2. People can read, you don't have to highlight every single "speed" and "causal." And if you are going to highlight, make them difference colors so that there is actually a point to it.
3. No one wants to hear about your amazing adventures about joining freestyle games and getting owned at them in the start.
4. You do not have to explain the different settings... if they do not understand what those are, there is no hope for that person. They are easy to figure out, and are directly explained in the instructions. And if someone is confused and is too proud to read the instructions, they are too conceited to follow what you tell them.

Otherwise:

I was used to Casual Freestyle games where the round outlasted the turn, in a Speed Freestyle game the round is only as long as the turn! This is a very bad habit in Speed games, it allows the other players who haven't ended their turn free range to maul your position and there's nothing you can do until your next turn.

1. The word "Habit" is not used in that context.
2. "Bad" ? What is bad about it... You go on later to say it is just a kind of strategy. People's chains of logical thoughts work differently, so you generally always want to never want to do that.

Actually... the map reloads every ten seconds. Bad internet accounts for your extra ones. (No, I did not get this out of nowhere, I have heard it several times in the forums, and see that it goes at ten seconds myself).

Finally, you say you do not use clickies... well, that is one of the largest splits on CC and those who have it play speed games entirely differently. Your advice is for people with clickies. A person without them against someone with them does not stand a chance with that strategy. Better start first and do your attacks, then be ready to counter. Don't wait until later because they add so much speed you forfeit your own chance of making a decent move for a small chance of stopping someone who is moving many times as fast as you.

[jnd94]

As a known pwner of casual freestyle, i would warn people of playing these games. They give me too many points.

[Artimis]

2. People can read, you don't have to highlight every single "speed" and "causal." And if you are going to highlight, make them difference colors so that there is actually a point to it.

As you frequently point out yourself in some of your other posts, people are lazy, I want to make sure that their attention doesn't waver during the post that's why I highlight key words.

3. No one wants to hear about your amazing adventures about joining freestyle games and getting owned at them in the start.

Thanks for your opinion, but, sorry that's all it is really.

4. You do not have to explain the different settings... if they do not understand what those are, there is no hope for that person. They are easy to figure out, and are directly explained in the instructions. And if someone is confused and is too proud to read the instructions, they are too conceited to follow what you tell them.

Again as you are apt to say, people are lazy, so I reiterate anyway to be on the safe side.

People's chains of logical thoughts work differently

I agree.

Actually... the map reloads every ten seconds. Bad internet accounts for your extra ones. (No, I did not get this out of nowhere, I have heard it several times in the forums, and see that it goes at ten seconds myself).

WHOA! Calm down, I believe you.

Finally, you say you do not use clickies...

Once more as you have quite accurately stated before, people are lazy. Oh and guess what? I'm lazy! Can't be bothered to install FireFox on my decrepid old beat up machine and can't be bothered to download and install the scripts either. But hey, I'm happy for the players that can be bothered to do so.

[FabledIntegral]

Lazy people don't read long posts - simple.

[manwiththeplan]

Valid? Yes. Good post? No, for the fourth time.

Here are some tips:
1. No one needs a disclaimer... you already have it in the title.
2. People can read, you don't have to highlight every single "speed" and "causal." And if you are going to highlight, make them difference colors so that there is actually a point to it.
3. No one wants to hear about your amazing adventures about joining freestyle games and getting owned at them in the start.
4. You do not have to explain the different settings... if they do not understand what those are, there is no hope for that person. They are easy to figure out, and are directly explained in the instructions. And if someone is confused and is too proud to read the instructions, they are too conceited to follow what you tell them.

Otherwise:

I was used to Casual Freestyle games where the round outlasted the turn, in a Speed Freestyle game the round is only as long as the turn! This is a very bad habit in Speed games, it allows the other players who haven't ended their turn free range to maul your position and there's nothing you can do until your next turn.

1. The word "Habit" is not used in that context.
2. "Bad" ? What is bad about it... You go on later to say it is just a kind of strategy. People's chains of logical thoughts work differently, so you generally always want to never want to do that.

Actually... the map reloads every ten seconds. Bad internet accounts for your extra ones. (No, I did not get this out of nowhere, I have heard it several times in the forums, and see that it goes at ten seconds myself).

Finally, you say you do not use clickies... well, that is one of the largest splits on CC and those who have it play speed games entirely differently. Your advice is for people with clickies. A person without them against someone with them does not stand a chance with that strategy. Better start first and do your attacks, then be ready to counter. Don't wait until later because they add so much speed you forfeit your own chance of making a decent move for a small chance of stopping someone who is moving many times as fast as you.

'The Neon Peon' CC's biggest critic...

However, Artimis' attempts ARE improving so maybe you should keep chipping away at his self-confidence and essential being.

Artimis - well done on your score increase. I've noticed your steady climb over the last few days and I don't doubt the respect your efforts are held in will steadily increase as does your rank!

By the way, make sure to keep the really good stuff to yourself. Can't have the great unwashed learning the real tricks now can we?

[Mr Changsha]

Valid? Yes. Good post? No, for the fourth time.

Here are some tips:
1. No one needs a disclaimer... you already have it in the title.
2. People can read, you don't have to highlight every single "speed" and "causal." And if you are going to highlight, make them difference colors so that there is actually a point to it.
3. No one wants to hear about your amazing adventures about joining freestyle games and getting owned at them in the start.
4. You do not have to explain the different settings... if they do not understand what those are, there is no hope for that person. They are easy to figure out, and are directly explained in the instructions. And if someone is confused and is too proud to read the instructions, they are too conceited to follow what you tell them.

Otherwise:

I was used to Casual Freestyle games where the round outlasted the turn, in a Speed Freestyle game the round is only as long as the turn! This is a very bad habit in Speed games, it allows the other players who haven't ended their turn free range to maul your position and there's nothing you can do until your next turn.

1. The word "Habit" is not used in that context.
2. "Bad" ? What is bad about it... You go on later to say it is just a kind of strategy. People's chains of logical thoughts work differently, so you generally always want to never want to do that.

Actually... the map reloads every ten seconds. Bad internet accounts for your extra ones. (No, I did not get this out of nowhere, I have heard it several times in the forums, and see that it goes at ten seconds myself).

Finally, you say you do not use clickies... well, that is one of the largest splits on CC and those who have it play speed games entirely differently. Your advice is for people with clickies. A person without them against someone with them does not stand a chance with that strategy. Better start first and do your attacks, then be ready to counter. Don't wait until later because they add so much speed you forfeit your own chance of making a decent move for a small chance of stopping someone who is moving many times as fast as you.

'The Neon Peon' CC's biggest critic...

However, Artimis' attempts ARE improving so maybe you should keep chipping away at his self-confidence and essential being.

Artimis - well done on your score increase. I've noticed your steady climb over the last few days and I don't doubt the respect your efforts are held in will steadily increase as does your rank!

By the way, make sure to keep the really good stuff to yourself. Can't have the great unwashed learning the real tricks now can we?

Ahem...

Realised after posting that I was on manwiththeplan's account...

Before you intrepid sorts start calling in the multi police, I've been babysitting his account for a week as he is on holiday (with his lovely wife) in Canada.

Hot pokers, pincers, spikes, racks and electrodes (a fun holiday in Guantanamo no doubt!) can hopefully be dispensed with this time.

I hope...

[Artimis]

Now if I was to do to CC as the Masked Magician has done to magic, then there'd be no fun through discovery left.

So I won't divulge all, just some of the not so obvious stuff that usually slams into your face when you least expect it.

[The Neon Peon]

Mr Changsha, that post was constructive in my opinion. I did not make any comments about how bad hist strategy was and about why he should learn to stop attacking neutrals. A constructive post on the original one.

Artimis, this is a seriously bad part about your posts. You say people are lazy, well you are right. You will also find that people are selfish and like to hear about themselves than about other people. Without the personal comments you put in your post about how you went and played some freestyle speed games, your post would be half as long and would be of useful information rather than meaningless drivel.

I found that argument really hilarious about how people are lazy on my fourth point. You say people are so lazy that they can't remember the difference between flat rate and no spoils? Firstly, the settings are pretty self-explanatory without instructions. And secondly, people remember things because they have to. I remember where my house is, but I am still lazy. I still remember what the "classic art map" is as well. Why? It saves work. Imagine looking up your address every time you were out and then finding it on the map. Imagine going to the forums or playing a game and having to read the instructions every time someone mentions a settings. Take that part out, and your post is pretty much perfect by now.

And finally, get rid of that disclaimer:
1. First line says you are new to the site. I believe that is no longer true, and if it is, then it is still bad to start off with, "I am not good at this kind of stuff, but..."
2. The rest of it is stuff that already happens in the forums. If someone starts a thread and says something, then it is corrected and sometimes there is a discussion over it. No need to put that.

[Mr Changsha]

Mr Changsha, that post was constructive in my opinion. I did not make any comments about how bad hist strategy was and about why he should learn to stop attacking neutrals. A constructive post on the original one.

I think Artimis is showing some promise as a strategy guru figure. I like his writing style as well - it's punchy, active and I think pretty readable. I also believe that new players who happen to venture into the strategy forum (nerdy ones no doubt) would enjoy reading them and would learn a bit too. The comments after are as invaluable as the posts themselves; they help Artimis to correct his mistakes and, at the very least, demonstrate the differences of opinion in CC Land. Never too early to learn that there is more than one way to skin a CC cat!

To add my own critique...

Keep the anecdotes down to a minimum but don't eliminate them entirely - nothing wrong with showing the personality behind the writer.

Length is not an issue (says me, who is probably the most long-winded writer in these forums ) but relevence is.

Play (and win) some more of the kinds of games you are writing about. I don't play this style myself and so wouldn't try to comment on the content of the writing - others do, and they are slamming you. Better get that win rate up!

Overall, keep it up!

[owenshooter]

I think Artimis is showing some promise as a strategy guru figure.

Changsha, take it to flamewars... *snicker*...-0

[Mr Changsha]

I think Artimis is showing some promise as a strategy guru figure.

Changsha, take it to flamewars... *snicker*...-0

Oh, I'll be taking someone all the way to flamewars if they keep wilfully misinterpreting my posts!

I'll always encourage creativity wherever I am and whatever I'm doing.

[Artimis]

Post revamped.

Original post now in a spoiler link for a more compact 1st post in the thread, corrected the factual error. This post is pretty much bang on target now for it's purpose.