Offense vs. Defense for Beginners

[stringybeany]

So you've studied the dice odds and discovered the advantage goes to the attacker (as long as you are rolling three dice).

So this means you should be aggressively attacking at every opportunity, right? --NO!--

If you are playing 1 vs 1 then an aggressive style can work pretty well. Team games are in this category also because essentially you have only one opponent.

3-player games: I don't play them. Somebody else will have to comment.

4-player games: A moderately aggressive style can work, depending on the board layout. Just don't attack yourself into weakness

5&6 player games: You really need to be careful in timing and scope of your attacks.

In general: With more players on the board you want to be more defensive. When the game is down to 1vs1, you pretty much want to knock your opponent out

I can think of plenty of exceptions, so this is a very general guideline.

[HayesA]

I've played a lot of 3 player games as of late. I guess I ould say a few words on the subject.


3 player: Passive attack is the recommended play style. By passive I mean, attack only when you're ready. But when you do, make sure it's for a very good reason. I almost want to be so bold as to say: don't throw your troops away for nothing! When you do attack, attack with a goal in mind. For example of this would be turtling up to get a country.

You don't necessarily need a country right away either. Often times, you can sit back, and watch the other two go at it. While choosing which country to go for, pick a small one to start. The other players are probably picking the same one, so now that we have that cleared in your head, it's time to pick another one! (Did you see what I did there? Complete 180.) Look, 3 player games are usually on small maps. While it's good to get bonuses right away, on 3-player games, on small maps it's not always as good.

Take quick, small jabs at either player to try and keep them in somewhat check. But don't make it obvious, and definitely not toss your self to the whims. Conserve troops, and energy. Let the other two fight it out!

Unfortantly, we get sucked into conflicts on 3 player games right off the bat. If you se this early on, like round 3 or 4, it's best to back off! Let him take what he's after, and save your countries else ware. It's not un-manly of you to run from a fight. You live to fight a better one another day.

[MeDeFe]

Just make sure that whatever you do you never, under NO circumstances, let someone else grow so strong that he holds 50% of all the armies on the map.

If you're really lucky and the player needs a few rounds to fortify his armies to the borders in order to attack you MIGHT get away with it, but as soon as someone has half of all armies on the map it'll usually be over in a few rounds.

[Scott-Land]

Unless you can get another player to suicide on me Med- ring a bell ?

[RobinJ]

It really depends on the situation. I mostly play escalating. In the first few rounds it pays to be defensive but as the game wears on, going on the attack is a must. In flat rate and no cards, being too aggressive will just make everybody else come to kill you, unless you can become so powerful that you cannot be stopped. Really, it all depends on timing.

Personal style is also important. I think I veer to being aggressive, sometimes overly so, while others love just building stacks. To be honest, I think this is one thing you have to work out yourself so that it suits your style/strategy. Generally though: don't over-attack and don't over-defend

[MeDeFe]

Unless you can get another player to suicide on me Med- ring a bell ?

I did absolutely nothing to incite him, oh, and I was the first player to get suicided on in that game btw.

[stringybeany]

You guys will have to sort that out.

Up next: Offense and defense for beginners.

[Scott-Land]

Unless you can get another player to suicide on me Med- ring a bell ?

I did absolutely nothing to incite him, oh, and I was the first player to get suicided on in that game btw.

that game was a train wreck ! i got hit from everywhere and Spurs was the final blow. nice win though bud

[MeDeFe]

Unless you can get another player to suicide on me Med- ring a bell ?

I did absolutely nothing to incite him, oh, and I was the first player to get suicided on in that game btw.

that game was a train wreck ! i got hit from everywhere and Spurs was the final blow. nice win though bud

Well, you did take out his armies in Asia and break his NA bonus.

[stringybeany]

c'mon guys, start up your own thread if you want to review your game histories.

[spline]

Start defensively and then gradually become more aggressive. In the beginning, everyone is trying to get a foothold and every army counts. Towards the end, there is a lot of momentum and whoever has the initiative leads the game.

So at first try to stay the course and just keep to yourself. Establish your empire as a mighty one so that others take you seriously, but not too seriously.

Later, don't hesitate, and go for the kill. Eliminating weak players should be your number one aim.

As mentioned by stringybeany, there are many exceptions:
- if the game is full of aggressive players, forget about being defensive.
- if the game is full of isolated, defensive players who dont do anything, pick the weakest player attack them a bit at a time and try to take them out slowly one by one.
- if the game if full of deal makers, well, make deals with them. Only break deals if you know you are not going to play with them again!

Some of my thoughts. I am sure there must be other exceptions.

[116Soldier]

Just make sure that whatever you do you never, under NO circumstances, let someone else grow so strong that he holds 50% of all the armies on the map.

If you're really lucky and the player needs a few rounds to fortify his armies to the borders in order to attack you MIGHT get away with it, but as soon as someone has half of all armies on the map it'll usually be over in a few rounds.

I usually become that player that controls half the map. Then the other two make an alliance and turn in cards to wipe me out.

[The1exile]

I usually become that player that controls half the map. Then the other two make an alliance and turn in cards to wipe me out.

So don't do it so obviously. Or don't play 3 player games.

[Quicksigns]

In "The Art of War" by SUN TZU he makes one of the most simple and effective points to beating the enemy.

If it is to your advantage, make a forward move;
if not, stay where you are.

There is a difference between Playing aggressively and playing too fast.

[Knight2254]

In 3 player games I don't make large attacks until I can inflict signifant damage onto both players in the same round. Attacking only one player leaves you vulnerable to attack from the third party and you typically will not gain an advantage.

[Herakilla]

very nice necromancy soldier....

it was said earlier that the more people in the game the more careful and more defensive you should be, and i agree with that.

1v1 is basically an all out war on the other player with continents a very low priority

3 player, be aggressive but dont leave yourself open at all, bonuses suddenly jump in importance and they are high 3 players and up increasing as you go higher. if you can get an hold a bonus you are that much better off