Aggressive or Defensive Stance Early in the Game?

[natelaw33]

Hello,

I am a noob. I was wondering if it is a better strategy to try to capture a region or two before attacking other's regions--the downside, of course, being that others are gaining regional bonus armies the whole time.

OR

Is it better to keep others from gaining regions from the get-go. Obviously focusing on gaining a region for yourself but keeping your neighbors from getting the regional bonuses.

It seems that when I am the aggressor at the beginning, I can keep pace with my neighboring opponents, but someone else is always going to be playing defensively and ammassing regions.

What's the best mix?

[Dr. Jim]

In the begining your goal is going to be to try and gain a continent. Don't be too forward about it, try and only take a country or two per turn. The goal is to get a card, not to take countries, at this point.

[GrazingCattle]

I agree w/ Dr. Jim. Look at your position and see if you can grab a con. bonus quick, if I can I like to wait for the others to work towards a con. bonus and then grab mine up. I never will try and grab the entire Con. in the first turn, but I also don't hinder people either. Look at where people are headed. Stop only those you have to, and work for a card. Never be the fool who goes for the big con. really early. Unless you can hold it for one turn! in that case it can be more tricky.

I always try and keep in mind that the game is just as much about diplomacy and propaganda as it is troop count. Never ally w/ a weaker player. Always ally w/ the stronger player and ride their coat tails to the top. If someone grabs a con. bonus quick and you don't have the position to hinder him, use friendly propaganda. Just mention how well played his last turn was. Usually someone will attack him who fears his gaining of too much power. Then you know that they are both weaker, and you are thus that more powerful.

Only seek to defend the place you need. A good general doesn't save every town and hamlet. Sometimes you must allow an enemy to gain strength in order for him to stumble.

This is a good time to talk about cards. Never use them first in a esc. game unless you can grab a 2 man bonus from 2 of the cards. Wait for people to cash them in and forget that you have them. In flat rate use them ASAP, if and only if you can strike a mortal blow to an enemy. Otherwise you wasted the suprise attack that the cards give you. Reds can be used at any time since the give a small enough bonus that you can use them for needed defense.

These are just a few of my Risk pearls of wisdom. Hoped they helped someone who read them!

[Molacole]

break up a bonus any chance you get and never take a bonus unless you can defend it. Seems to work pretty good for me.

[GrazingCattle]

Malacole just summed up what I said in like 2 sentences. How sad for me!
LOL

[wcaclimbing]

If your playing with no cards, use the grow huge, fast. strategy and you will have huge bonuses before everyone else.