Cards Poll

[Pedronicus]

vote

[AK_iceman]

no cards all the way!!

[Master Bush]

Flat rate. That's how I played growing up, and it's the right way to play.

[f1sh3r]

ive always played escalating. THATS the right way to play

i never played flat rate until my buddy bought a new RISK board from walmart a couple months ago. meh.

[wcaclimbing]

flat rate... deffinately. I hate no cards cause the games go on so long and im not premium. i dont like escalating cause the games get to crazy and you go from safe to dead in one turn

[Pedronicus]

you go from safe to dead in one turn

You obviously, don't understand how to make safe your borders and work out where the attacks will come from. All I play (well 95% of games) is escalating cards. The games are forced into a crescendo of action, and I love that part of the game.

no cards is new to me (Playing my first game at the moment)

But flat rate is a lottery - at least with escalting you know what the next set is worth - and so does everyone else - so you can plan for that

[AK_iceman]

But flat rate is a lottery - at least with escalting you know what the next set is worth - and so does everyone else - so you can plan for that

Its the same with no cards, you always no what the next player will be getting so you can prepare.

[Pedronicus]

i agree AK - thats why i didn't rubbish your favoured option

[qeee1]

There's lottery in escalating too in the sense that you might get a set of cards to cash in with 3 cards, or you might not get it until you hit 5 cards. Towards the end of the game cashing first can be all important.

[Pedronicus]

the time at which you recieve a set of cards in flat or esc. is always going to be a lottery, but the cards you get in flat can really pull the rug from under your feet - waiting for that 5th card - only to still be clutching 4 reds and a green with no big show.
Whilst other around you have sewn up those all important continents

[qeee1]

In my opinion escalating places too much emphasis on cards, if you don't get the 3 cards at the right time in flat rate it's usually not all important, while in escalating it often is.

Meanwhile no cards places too much emphasis on continents, once you get a continent sewn up (which depends a lot upon starting positioning) there's very little that can be done to take it off you aside from somebody acquiring a larger continent or if everyone else attacks you.

Flat rate provides that bit of instability without dominating the game.

[Marvaddin]

For standard, I prefer escalating because this way 2 guys alliance against me means nothing usually. I dont need permission to win, then. For team games, I like flat rate, too. No cards make the game boring. Its a good option for well coordinated teams, like the birds, because this way the enemy has no chances. Standard no cards games are very very boring. No one wants attack and becomes weak.

[Pedronicus]

I prefer escalating because this way 2 guys alliance against me means nothing usually

This is why I've never been able to spot a cheater

[Telvannia]

i used to avoid no cards

now i like only try to play that it is great

[sully800]

Escalating all the way.

I agree with qeee that escalating places too much emphasis on cards and a no card game places too much emphasis on continents. But I also agree with pedro in that flat rate games are a lottery because the different types of sets can really change the game. (Perhaps there should be a flat rate game where every set is the same amount, like 6 regardless of which colors you have).

So in the end I choose escalating for two reasons. #1, I think it is a much more exciting game. After the first round of sets are cashed in things get extremely intense and quickly. And #2, I don't care that escalating games place little emphasis on continents because I am generally fed up with continents. It seems like every time I try to hold one people want to break it up...and yet they will leave another player alone even if he/she is stronger and/or getting a bigger bonus. Of course that's not always the case, but when it happens I get very frustrated, so I haven't played any flat rate games here yet.

[Marvaddin]

(Perhaps there should be a flat rate game where every set is the same amount, like 6 regardless of which colors you have).

I suggested this. Sets escalating by player. Your first set is 4, second is 6, etc. But I had no much support.

[dragonfly]

those are both really good ideas.
i used to only play flatrate, but i think no cards is the best. no cards the strategy depends more on taking and keeping continents and moving slowly to conquer more continents, whereas escalating is just waiting til everyone has cards, then eliminating the weakest player to go on a rampage. its scarier. at least wtih nocards there arent as many surprises.

[zarvinny]

The Escalating style is quite different. In fact each style is quite different.

Escalating: You sit, conquering the weakest territory every turn, amassing cards and a huge army on one territory. While other fools spend their cards on getting a continent, you patiently wait til the time is right, and go from being the weakest with 2 territories with 2 and 20 guys to the winner.

Flat Rate: While trying to conquer a continent, you try to make sure you at least get a card per turn, desperately wishing to see a multitude of colors rather than many red. You cash them in, expand your borders, knowing that only a desperate attempt with a mixed set of cards can send you to your doom.

No Cards: You hope desperately to land 2 territories in either SA or Australia when the game begins (or whatever map you're on) and you begin, slowly and steadly, conserving armies, and pushing slowly on, knowing that your opponents are helpless, nothing will save them.... nothing!!!!

at least that is how i see it

[AK_iceman]

I like your description of the no cards games.

[Kenny_Smooth]

Yeah i would definatley go with escalating. Thats the way to go.