Welcome players.
Don't mind the title you won't find any bad news here, I just wanted to get your attention!
Here's a heads up for those who want to be in the know. If you haven't already been flattened by the 'Escalating Juggernaut' in an Escalating game then I heartily encourage you to read on. Below is a brief outlining of the 'Escalating Juggernaut' strategy as laid out by The Neon Peon, a player of note worthy experience. The Neon Peon wrote:An escalating game is simple and can be learned from on little game on it:
1. Don't go for bonuses.
2. Only attack for a card.
3. Cash later if able.
4. Keep a country in all parts of the map.
5. Eliminate a person and cash their cards.
6. Repeat step 5.
This can be learned in one game easily, it is simple... you refine the rules: sometimes it is good to go for continent. Sometimes you want to cash earlier. Sometimes you want to save someone from being eliminated as a priority.
The rest of the games are just refining strategy. But those basics are easily enough to win an escalating game.
The above should be enough to get you quick started in your first game, so happy hunting and go bag yourselves a few games!
If you want a more detailed explanation than click the -SHOW: DETAILED EXPLANATION- link. It will show the longer original post, which is useful if you don't mind an some extra reading before playing your next game.[spoiler=Detailed Explanation]In an Escalating Spoils game the cash in value of each group of spoils increases with each subsequent cash in. As each group is traded in, the game gets unerringly closer to the tipping point where the value of the troops gained exceeds the total number of troops in possession of the weakest player in that game. This is dangerous only if the target player has enough spoils in hand to give their conqueror five or greater spoils during their turn, allowing said conqueror to then re-cash their newly acquired spoils for yet more troops. The process can then be repeated on the next weakest player until eventually all competition has been eliminated.
Ideally, you will want to be the 'Escalating Juggernaut' that steam rolls everyone else into oblivion!
Problem is it's easier said than done, the strategy is simple enough, the timing is somewhat trickier. Do I cash now and try to take someone out? Or do I wait for someone else to cash in so that my spoils will be worth more when I cash in? Of course, that player might then go on to eliminate your intended target and start blasting everyone else off the map. There's not a hard and fast rule for when it's a good time to cash in, the best you can do is just be prepared. Bad dice can easily knacker your plans, so I try to make sure I've got 40% more troops in my cash in as my target has on the ground.Games that illustrate this point.
Game 3664267
Game 3507271
Game 3572167
Game 3572166
A few questions you might ask:
Q: Isn't it cheap tactics?
A: Personally I'd say "No". Sure it hurts when you get smashed off the map with this strategy, but it wins games and it's done honestly to boot!
It's perfectly legit and you should use it.Q: How do I avoid getting steam rolled by these players?
A: Steam roll them first!
On a more serious note, try to have a reasonably strong presence on more than one territory. You'll also be better placed to take advantage of a weakened opponent and gobble them up quickly before someone else does.Q: Interesting strategy, so this will work in every Escalating game I play?
A: Not so fast tiger! Almost every escalating game type, Standard, Terminator, Doubles, Triples and Quadruples. But definitely not in Assassin games, in an Assassin game the only player you should be eliminating is YOUR TARGET!!! Eliminating someone other than your target will lose you the game. Bear that in mind when playing Assassin game, otherwise you won't win many.
Q: Hmmmm, I'm not so sure I like the sound of Escalating Spoils games, should I stop playing them?
A: WHOA! I'm not telling you to avoid Escalating Spoils games, I'm just saying be careful. Escalating Spoils games are generally quicker games anyway, so if you want a long drawn out battle then maybe give them miss. Otherwise jump on in and make sure you're packing a bigger pair of stompers than everyone else!
[/spoiler]See you in the game.
Artimis
](./images/smilies/eusa_wall.gif "Brick wall")
