rondosocal's subject line wrote:Your last sentence is very interesting. More evidence?
Probably best to write in your post - few people read the subject line
The reasoning why taking a continent in escalating, particularly on a map like classic, has little value is simple...
1) A bonus of 2 armies is of little consequence when a set of cards is worth 30+ armies
2) Escalating games are usually short affairs - think of this, you take Australia in round 5, and lose 10 armies doing so. The game will probably last another 4 or 5 rounds anyway, meaning that at best you break even in armies - or you may give the game to another player by weakening yourself too much or weakening another player too much.
3) If you take other players out of a continent you miss the opportunity to block them from other players. Blocking is important because it prevents other players from getting their cards... which means you can get them later on
4) Especially if you are playing with lower ranked players, having a continent can make you a target. Since, as discussed, the benefits of holding a continent are small compared with card values, you are better off preserving your armies rather than have someone wipe out the 10 armies you have sitting on Indonesia.
I could go on but hopefully my point is clear by now
