Those mistakes that cost you the game

[adamator]

I was recently in an escalating game where I was dominating the field, had taken out two of the remaining 5 players, and was in a position to take out the third at a time when he had 5 cards, I already had three, and the troops for cards was getting very high. I wasn't paying good enough attention, and attacked the wrong territory--a path i needed to take, but not until i eliminated a single territory that was only accessible from the territory i was on. It was then impossible for me to take out the player I was going for, so I had to end my turn, reinforce and hope for a set (and with only 3 cards in my hand, it was a gamble). I didn't get a set, survived one more turn, and then got taken out.

Anyone else make stupid mistakes like these? I feel like they're just inexperience--I haven't played all that many games yet. Any more experienced players have suggestions on how to avoid doing stupid things like that?

[Woodruff]

I was recently in an escalating game where I was dominating the field, had taken out two of the remaining 5 players, and was in a position to take out the third at a time when he had 5 cards, I already had three, and the troops for cards was getting very high. I wasn't paying good enough attention, and attacked the wrong territory--a path i needed to take, but not until i eliminated a single territory that was only accessible from the territory i was on. It was then impossible for me to take out the player I was going for, so I had to end my turn, reinforce and hope for a set (and with only 3 cards in my hand, it was a gamble). I didn't get a set, survived one more turn, and then got taken out.

Anyone else make stupid mistakes like these? I feel like they're just inexperience--I haven't played all that many games yet. Any more experienced players have suggestions on how to avoid doing stupid things like that?

I have, yes. It's really not an EXPERIENCE thing, per se...more like an ATTENTION TO DETAIL thing. I find that when I make game-ending mistakes, it's almost always because I simply wasn't taking enough care with my move.

[hahaha3hahaha]

-deleted-

[sherkaner]

Not really the kind you're describing, been on the other side a few times (I remember 1 time where I was left with 1 troop, and won a world 2.1 game..)

But recently I did make a related mistake, I thought I killed someone but he wasn't dead, so I check the map again and find that I'd completely forgotten about 1 territory, and didn't have the troops any more to kill him off.. Ouch..

[natty dread]

Going for elimination, and failing to notice that one territory with 1 troop, seeing it too late when there's no way to attack it... it happens.

that's the moment when I get the urge to bang my head against the wall, throw the computer out the window and start measuring the rope...

IMO the best way to avoid these things is to simply think before you act. Simulate the turn in your head in advance, where you should deploy, your attack routes, etc. of course freestyle and/or speed games may not give you this luxury.

[ender516]

Some may consider it a crutch, but I know BOB has helped me immensely. Being able to hover the mouse pointer over the name of an opponent and see all of his or her possessions highlighted is a great way to catch those isolated holdouts, and the statistics are very helpful too.

[YoursFalsey]

Taking out the wrong person in an assassin game, a mistake that is not only embarassing, but guarenteed to piss off other players in the game.

The first assassin game I ever "won" I turned out to have been targeting the wrong guy all game- because of a long screen name, the little bullseye symbol was pushed between my target's name and the name of the guy above him and I didn't realize where the symbol belonged. I've seen other people miskill as well. Presumably mistargeting an attack or miscounting how many territories someone else had. It never fails, though, someone will launch a "Don't you know what assassin means?" comment and assume the person meant to kill the non-target...

[Timminz]

I have played lots, and lots of large esc games, and as such, have made my fair share of those errors. Especially in speed games. I find I don't make those mistakes as much anymore.

Making mistakes is the key to learning not to make mistakes.

[pimphawks70]

I have played lots, and lots of large esc games, and as such, have made my fair share of those errors. Especially in speed games. I find I don't make those mistakes as much anymore.

Making mistakes is the key to learning not to make mistakes.

2009-10-21 19:09:32 - Timminz: oh my f*ck, I hit the wrong button

[Timminz]

I have played lots, and lots of large esc games, and as such, have made my fair share of those errors. Especially in speed games. I find I don't make those mistakes as much anymore.

Making mistakes is the key to learning not to make mistakes.

2009-10-21 19:09:32 - Timminz: oh my f*ck, I hit the wrong button

To be fair, it didn't matter at that point. I had already failed to make the kill.

[pimphawks70]

I have played lots, and lots of large esc games, and as such, have made my fair share of those errors. Especially in speed games. I find I don't make those mistakes as much anymore.

Making mistakes is the key to learning not to make mistakes.

2009-10-21 19:09:32 - Timminz: oh my f*ck, I hit the wrong button

To be fair, it didn't matter at that point. I had already failed to make the kill.

True but never the less it's still pretty funny

[Donald Fung]

Not really the kind you're describing, been on the other side a few times (I remember 1 time where I was left with 1 troop, and won a world 2.1 game..)

But recently I did make a related mistake, I thought I killed someone but he wasn't dead, so I check the map again and find that I'd completely forgotten about 1 territory, and didn't have the troops any more to kill him off.. Ouch..

2 great examples of funny things that happen

[spline]

One man's mistake is another man's fortune.

You can use this as a strategy, wait for someone to make a mistake in the end game scenario and exploit it. Just make sure you don't make mistakes yourself as there is no room for error at this point.

Another key is that most people have more experience for the beginning part of the game as opposed to the end game scenarios. If you are playing against players who you can tell are new, just observe their moves, expect mistakes based on inexperience and exploit to win.

[AndyDufresne]

I have played lots, and lots of large esc games, and as such, have made my fair share of those errors. Especially in speed games. I find I don't make those mistakes as much anymore.

Making mistakes is the key to learning not to make mistakes.

True words.


--Andy

[Sgt.Bobo]

The two most aggravating mistakes I make are to hit auto-assault on accident and advancing before I take out a territory I needed to (like in the first post). I have also deployed, thought long and hard about the path I need to take, then end my turn on accident. Like others said, it really has too do with attention to detail.

[Timminz]

Although I don't know if it has cost me the game yet, I started a turn in a large esc game with 5 cards, got distracted, and forgot to take my turn. Oddly enough, I did the same thing to someone I was sitting for, later in the same day. Luckily he actually returned in time to finish the turn.

[chipv]

Never play when you're too tired.

I clicked on the wrong button (Later) with a cash for a certain win in an esc game.

Several weeks down the toilet in the time it takes for a mouse click. You don't make that mistake twice.

[stringybeany]

"What?! Those territories aren't connected??....oh chit!"

"That's not the territory I picked from the drop down...I am SURE of it!"

At the end of an hour long phone call: "Oh crap I had a CC turn active when you called!"

"This is escalating? Oh crap I usually play this map no-cards. I forgot to take a card!"

[medgar20]

I don't usually make disastrous misclicks or stuff like that but I'm definitely guilty of making moves without truly thinking through the full consequences. I've had a few times where I've done something then immediately though "hmmm, I might have played that better"

[72o]

I just made one. I faultily assumed an 11v1 (to take out an opponent with 5 cards in the middle of an escalating cascade) would be sufficient. I was wrong.

[ender516]

I just made one. I faultily assumed an 11v1 (to take out an opponent with 5 cards in the middle of an escalating cascade) would be sufficient. I was wrong.

Owww. That's going to leave a mark.
For the statistical enthusiasts, the Risk Dice-Thrower and Probability Calculator says you should have been right all but 44 times in a million, [player]72o[/player]. That's not a certainty, but it's the way to bet.

[72o]

I just made one. I faultily assumed an 11v1 (to take out an opponent with 5 cards in the middle of an escalating cascade) would be sufficient. I was wrong.

Owww. That's going to leave a mark.
For the statistical enthusiasts, the Risk Dice-Thrower and Probability Calculator says you should have been right all but 44 times in a million, [player]72o[/player]. That's not a certainty, but it's the way to bet.

I do agree that statistically it's a long shot, but I think it happens more often than it should. I know "the dice are random", blah blah blah, and my dice analyzer says over the long run they're pretty consistent, but the streakiness is definitely present in our dice. I never actually look at the numbers, just whether or not it's a win or loss, but it seems like sometimes they just get stuck on a loss (or a win) for whatever reason. I don't know how many times I've been surprised when I attack a 17v29 just planning to weaken them, or as a desperation move, and I keep killing two over and over again and take the territory with 5 left. Same thing with this 11v1 loss. It just so happens that this one cost me the game.

Anyway, enough of a threadjack. This wasn't a dice complaint thread, sorry for making it one.

[ender516]

I can scarcely believe that even while I have been participating in this thread, I just did the old "push yourself to the limit to eliminate someone for his/her cards, only to realize you have missed one territory" trick. The worst thing is, I started my turn carefully down near that outpost intending to be sure I could at least stop my attacks and hold something (anything) if the big sweep was going to fail. Game 5775998, if you want to see the details.

[Zivel]

Odd how this thread was at the top just after I make the biggest set of mistakes I have made in CC to date. Now I am happy to say that I am not the best player and one v one is far from my specialty, but I made not one, not two but three misdeploys in the same game... bloody battle for Iraq... I even ended up dropping 4 troops into the region you cant get out of, and yes I knew I couldn't get out of it.

It is just that sinking feeling you get when you click 'deploy' and then in that split second you are thinking about your attack you see that it is not how it is supposed to be, you scroll up to see the map and realize that your troops are on the other side of the map to where they are suppose to be... by the third one I was just 'ahh screw this I am going for a drink... I suck at this game!'

[Karsinogeeni]

It seems to be that almost everyone has at least one of "those games" in their history. I have learned that:

1) When you auto attack an area, check the terrain that you are attacking.

2) When you go for a long run, double check the area you are going to attack.

3) When you are going to take out a player for spoils, triple check all territories the player is holding.

4) When playing a game with spoils, be sure that you actually end your turn.

5) It pays to learn from mistakes.

Good luck to all of you!