Conquer Club

Seriously. I just finished a turn where it came down to the classic one-vs-one, and the defender rolled a one, and I rolled a one. Good times. And now the next asshole in the game gets to pick off one fucking army and pick up five cards (cash value is 35) and end the game.

comic boy's got a point. Yeah, wins are nice, but those close losses are SO FUCKING ANNOYING. And they happen so fucking often. Of course, I've been the beneficiary of someone else's crappy dice, but there's so little joy in such a win. More like relief. And I guaran-fucking-tee that I've crapped out an army short considerably more often than I've benefited from someone else doing so.

"It's only a game." Yeah, people say that, and most of the people that say that lose a shitload. I'm a pretty competitive person by nature, and if I'm going to play a game, then by god I'm playing to win. Losing hurts. If losing doesn't hurt you, then I envy you. And also pity you a bit.

I can't just turtle up and play not to lose. The mediocre analogy that applies is 'the prevent defense prevents you from winning.' And it's not like I'm just gonna up and quit. I enjoy playing this game, and I'm good enough at it that I win with decent frequency.

But man o man. I can't take too many more close losses like this. It's toxic for the soul. And potentially hazardous for my laptop.

i went through that yesterday- Incand. It happens quite often to me so if you can get any comfort in my misery I'll be happy to oblige.

My most recent kill was 26,11 vs 10,6,2,2.1 . I went through N Africa's 10 with with Brazil's 11 with relative ease - 5 armies remaining. Now I have 26.5 vs 6,2,2.1. Piece of cake I thought ! Nah wasn't that easy. I lose 19 taking the 6 ! Final battle after picking up the 2,2 , I had 4,3 vs 1 in Maddy. I brick all 5 rolls and instead of picking up 60-70 points, a lower rank took close to 40 from me It was pretty gross............ fortunately nothing was broken except my morale.

-to twist the dagger in a bit deeper. The guy I hung with 1 army and 1 country picks up a card for a total of 4. Player who won had 3 cards as well and was pretty much assured a double cash. I had quite a few armies even after the hanging and with 3 cards myself- still had a shot with just 1 cash.......eh- he doubled and had about 12 attack armies after killing me

That's part of the risk you take when you target an opponent.

Incandenza wrote:Seriously. I just finished a turn where it came down to the classic one-vs-one, and the defender rolled a one, and I rolled a one.

...

But man o man. I can't take too many more close losses like this. It's toxic for the soul. And potentially hazardous for my laptop.

Here's a little salve for your wounded soul:

If you aren't experiencing close elimination failures, you aren't winning your share of games.

You know this, of course.

You've also experienced quite a few board sweeps that have had to overcome a 1v1 two. (I think my personal record is three times in one sweep).

That's the thrill that will keep you swinging the bat.

But you know this also.

In general : Nice rant!

btw: go easy on the laptop

Incandenza wrote:Seriously. I just finished a turn where it came down to the classic one-vs-one, and the defender rolled a one, and I rolled a one. Good times. And now the next asshole in the game gets to pick off one fucking army and pick up five cards (cash value is 35) and end the game.

But man o man. I can't take too many more close losses like this. It's toxic for the soul. And potentially hazardous for my laptop.

and then they tell you that escalating is a game of skill.....is it bollocks

First I was Philosophical
Then I started getting really angry
Then I quit

For the pure adrenalin rush nothing comes close to escalating but the cat was getting hurt far too much

comic boy wrote:First I was Philosophical
Then I started getting really angry
Then I quit

For the pure adrenalin rush nothing comes close to escalating but the cat was getting hurt far too much

i heard mike vick used to be really into risk but couldn't take all the violence to animals.....

oh boy oh boy... i can relate to the frustration...
I've lost 22 straight games (6p std esc) that's right... TWENTY TWO straight!

And while more than half of those were deserved victories by my opponents, there were a number of games where the victory was stolen by foul luck. It's my nature to remain calm when faced with adversity but ...(sigh)... 22 straight losses has been a real test of fortitude.

Sure luck does play a role, but i believe skill remains the key component to winning a high % of 6p escalating games... so take solace in the #'s, that your win % is well above average, and that soon the planets will be aligned in your favor...

In games that have an element of chance in them you have got to learn to deal with runs of bad luck. They will happen for as long as you play the game. It's an easy thing to say but it is a very hard thing to do!

Ways that help me to deal with bad luck

1 Remind yourself that short term results mean nothing
2 Reward yourself for your correct play even though you lost (give yourself a sweetie )
3 When you do get a run of good luck store it in your memory then remind yourself of it whenever things go against you
4 Remember these four words
5 Just log off and take a break and go do something else

How well you can deal with bad luck is part of the challenge of playing these types of games.

Do you know what I have to say about it?

Nothing like a good group therapy session to make me feel a bit better. More to the point, I've had some gnarly losing streaks, but I don't think I've ever lost 22 in a row. I wish you good dice in the coming days, Robinette. To see you so low on the scoreboard is a perversion of the natural order.

And Syz, bite me.

(for the record, syzygy was the beneficiary in the game that caused me to post this in the first place)

(and nice vick crack, neph)

Generally a loud steam of curse words can be heard issuing from the room for awhile when such a thing happens to me.

Although as Incan knows, some of those times are more my fault than the dice.

TipTop wrote:In games that have an element of chance in them you have got to learn to deal with runs of bad luck. They will happen for as long as you play the game. It's an easy thing to say but it is a very hard thing to do!

Ways that help me to deal with bad luck

1 Remind yourself that short term results mean nothing
2 Reward yourself for your correct play even though you lost (give yourself a sweetie )
3 When you do get a run of good luck store it in your memory then remind yourself of it whenever things go against you
4 Remember these four words
5 Just log off and take a break and go do something else

How well you can deal with bad luck is part of the challenge of playing these types of games.

Absolutely a nice calm rational approach.

I think that there are times when an absolutely irrational response is appropriate. I heard that the chief Vandal lost a game this way the day before they sacked Rome. Same was true for Hannibal. I think that is an entirely appropriate behavior after losing a game by one stinking army !!!!

I've played other online games of risk that have the same problem. The way I've dealt with it is to make sure I have WAY more than enough to make the kill. Packman shrugs

AAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

Ill get over it...

i feel you. this is why i play majority 'no cards' games

That's happened to me maybe 4 or 5 times in the last week. Yup, that much. It's like a disease. The damage is a little less being that I never ever play escalating....mostly flat rate with some no cards too. I feel your pain though, man.

On a side note, I've seen your posts in here a lot Incandenza, and I always laugh. Funny as hell, & very well written. Keep it up.

yorkiepeter wrote:

Incandenza wrote:Seriously. I just finished a turn where it came down to the classic one-vs-one, and the defender rolled a one, and I rolled a one. Good times. And now the next asshole in the game gets to pick off one fucking army and pick up five cards (cash value is 35) and end the game.

But man o man. I can't take too many more close losses like this. It's toxic for the soul. And potentially hazardous for my laptop.

and then they tell you that escalating is a game of skill.....is it bollocks

Yeh and so speaks the expert - out of 500+ games he has played 4 have been5/6 player escalating....Mmm

OK I play escalating, and miss rather frequently.

And realy enjoy it when a cook or new person looks and then says holy S--- I think I can do this takes out the guy I missed wins the game and IS ADDICTED.

It is a drug we partake in, this CC game of ours. And we neeed to share. Of course, I have picked up my fair share of other's points, that have just missed.

So rather than just Quiting Play for the fun grab a cook teach him to really cook. MOVE HIM INTO the ranks and then before you congratulate yourself grab another.

I think I had one day playing doubles where it happened four times.

I felt like Charlie Brown trying to kick the football.

Oddly enough, I've had pretty good fortune in doubles. But if you're doing it right, and you have good partner(s), then it should only rarely come down to a 'barely enough armies to take the guy out' situation.

But they do happen, and damn does it suck.

Oh, and thanks for the kind words, Phil. I aim to please.

Incandenza wrote:Oddly enough, I've had pretty good fortune in doubles. But if you're doing it right, and you have good partner(s), then it should only rarely come down to a 'barely enough armies to take the guy out' situation.

I'm pretty sure we won each of those where it happened...but it didn't make it suck any less.

dividedbyzero wrote:

Incandenza wrote:Oddly enough, I've had pretty good fortune in doubles. But if you're doing it right, and you have good partner(s), then it should only rarely come down to a 'barely enough armies to take the guy out' situation.

I'm pretty sure we won each of those where it happened...but it didn't make it suck any less.

What really sucks is coming up one cardset short of total victory in an 8-month-long doubles tourney.

Chess and I played a doubles flat rate match today where it came down to 6 vs 1 for an elimination. Of course, he throws five bricks and missed. Cost us the game.........

I'm so GoDamned tired of coming up one army short!

I had that happen in I think my third game, it was terminator ( and I want the points lol ) so in one turn I manage to take out around 20 of his units and just COULD NOT BEAT THIS ONE, and the next player just blicks him!!! ( I won anyways, but it's still annoying as hell )

It first reminded me of Halo 2, on a points game, you have one point left to win you get someone down to low health, then another guy with one point left to win comes out of nowhere and just lays one bullet in him, one of those jump up and down flinging curses through the house kind of moments.