Flat rate card strategy?

[alex_white101]

i play it as soon as possible to take advantage in the game, sometimes a 10 set can swing a whole game for you if u use the armies well........

[detlef]

I almost always hold it for at least a turn. Provided I'm not so weakened that I could face elimination, I like to be the last one to play a set. Typically, the first guy to do so gets hit back by at least one of the next ones to cash in. If you can fly under the radar, you can cash your set in, seize whatever advantage you wanted to seize, and not be as likely to be attacked by someone with a set to cash in.

Learning to hold off on cashing in early sets was perhaps the most important things I learned about being a better player.

wow i always cash them in so i can get the big boost in troops and comeback to do a territory sweep and get more troops nex turn for having more territories but now that detlef mentioned being hit by the person to cash in their set after me, i will try to hold on to them untl someone else cashs before me unless im near elimintation.

Well, it's not cut and dry. Basically, I think people make the mistake of cashing in if they don't have a specific use for the set. This goes for later in the game as well. All I know, is that I used to cash them in as soon as I got them and now I only do if it really makes sense. This alone has certainly won me some games.

[helmut]

I like to wait (depending on whether it's escalating or FR) until my set will actually mean something. In escalating I like to wait until I can take out another player and cash in his cards and set off the "chain reaction" effect. In FR I generally wait until I can either take and hold a new continent and/or break someone else's bonus without weakening myself.

[TipTop]

I will play it right away if it will help me in my next move. For example I will cash to take and hold another important territory or to strengthen my borders if I fear they can be broken or to weaken a player who is getting too strong. I will also play them right away if I hold the territories for the 2 bonus armies and I fear I might lose them if I don't.

I will hold them if none of the above occur to hide my strength as players tend to gang up on the player with the most armies. Having 10 floating armies also gives me more options in the next round.

Cashing in only when you reach 5 cards can also give you the option if your lucky to cash 2 rounds running which can often turn a game to your advantage.

[ParadiceCity9]

I said the first option...but if someone had say 1 country with 2 armies on it bordering one of mine with 13 armies on i and the guy had 5 cards...then i'd wait to turn in until after i took him out so i have more variation on turnins

[Forza AZ]

I usually turn in right away, with 1 exception. Sometimes you also can eliminate a player without playing the set, and then cash 2 sets at once. While if you cashed the set first, then eliminating a player leaves you with less then 5 cards, so you only can cash the next set in your next turn.

[Rocketry]

in flat rate games i will play if i have a set worth 10 but won't play untill i have to if i have anything else

in escalating, i usually hang onto my cards untill i have 5 and am forced to play them.

[wcaclimbing]

I usually turn them in right away, but if i see a chance where i could kill someone in a round or two, i wait for my opponents to kill the guys countries so its an easy kill, then i turn in.

[detlef]

I usually turn in right away, with 1 exception. Sometimes you also can eliminate a player without playing the set, and then cash 2 sets at once. While if you cashed the set first, then eliminating a player leaves you with less then 5 cards, so you only can cash the next set in your next turn.

That can bite you in the ass two different ways. First off, unless your odds of take out are insanely high without the set, you can get a patch of bad dice and not pull off what should have been a very good chance of takeout. Secondly, you're not assured of making two sets when you take them. After all, it's not the end of the world to have to wait a turn to cash in your next set if you take the safe way.

Of course, if the set you have to cash is only red, it may be worth waiting because you won't miss the 4 pts so badly and there's a chance that the guy has 2 green, 2 blue and you'll be able to make to mixed sets rather than only a red one.

[MR. Nate]

They're "bonus" armies, so I don't use them right away if I'm strong, unless I'm trying to take someone out.

[chessplaya]

When you have a rainbow set, do you always play it right away or do you hold on to it for various reasons and play it later (assumes flat rate game)?

I have never had a rainbow set

[MR. Nate]

I have never had a rainbow set

I'd feel bad if you played anything other than No Cards

[Sargeant_Pepper]

I chose OTHER
1. usually I wait, not to feign weakness, but I hope my opponents cash theirs in first so I can get a larger army when it is my turn.
2. If I can eliminate an opponent *AND* they have 4 cards or more, I will cash cards to eliminate them immediately.
3. In the later stages of the game, I cash sooner. In the early stages, I have no rush to get 6 or 8 men. 30 is more like it! And 35, and 40!

[pancakemix]

It depends. If it's flat rate, I'll usually play if I get a rainbow set. Also, if I can eliminate another player to get his cards, I will usually play a weaker set. (Red, Green, or Blue)

Escalating is a different story. I tend to play cards first, because then I can get the first shot to trade later. Get more armies then and get a few now.

[Bob Janova]

I would usually cash them straight away – 10 armies early in the game can often win you a continent or enough territories to increase your default deployment number. Occasionally I would wait if I think two other players are going to weaken each other significantly.

In escalating, unless I was about to be eliminated, I would wait ... the longer you can go without playing a set the more armies you get when you do play it.