Win at Risk by using systems thinking • Hacker News Board

Re: Win at Risk by using systems thinking

#11

Post by zelphirkalt » Sat, Jun 12, 2021, 2:05 PM UTC

All of the info about how to play risk in the article came naturally to a few friends of mine and me, over many hours of playing the game with each other and crazy bots, which we all manipulated in helping us out, once a player tried to grab a little too much. The bots mostly acted predictably and we abused that to no end. It is observation of long term tactics and how games were won and all that.

However, I needed something more to win games and so I took some time to write myself a risk calculator tool [1] I think I made more educated decisions about risking moves in the game by using the tool. Knowing your chances not only by gut, but also by mathematics can give you that little extra boost :D

[1]: https://notabug.org/ZelphirKaltstahl/guile-risk-calculator

Re: Win at Risk by using systems thinking

#12

Post by __s » Sat, Jun 12, 2021, 2:08 PM UTC

GoodJokes wrote: post #4

I dislike games where it’s just a system to win. Kinda defeats the purpose. No actual gamesmanship.

Systematic play is often the first step for beginners to gather experience from multiple similar situations. Nuance comes after that

Re: Win at Risk by using systems thinking

#13

Post by zelphirkalt » Sat, Jun 12, 2021, 2:11 PM UTC

GoodJokes wrote: post #4

I dislike games where it’s just a system to win. Kinda defeats the purpose. No actual gamesmanship.

I feel similar about this, although I have to say, that it disqualifies so many board games, that sometimes I wish, I would enjoy other games more. It is a bit sad. Sometimes friends want to play something and I allow them to convince me, just to not seem like the boring person, who "only wants to play their games".

Re: Win at Risk by using systems thinking

#14

Post by prpl » Sat, Jun 12, 2021, 2:17 PM UTC

Dumblydorr wrote: post #3

Every time I've played Risk, two things happened. First, a massive bloodbath over Australia. Second, a long slow slog to a dissatisfying end, where multiple players wind up pissed off, because the Australian ends up winning somehow. The AU continent is just so easy to hold. With only one country to go through, you can amass a huge army in Siam and no one touches your continent all game.

This is why it’s great to focus on Siam if you play with that one person who always focuses on AU.

Re: Win at Risk by using systems thinking

#15

Post by [deleted] » Sat, Jun 12, 2021, 2:22 PM UTC

kochikame wrote: post #5

Dumblydorr wrote: post #3

Every time I've played Risk, two things happened. First, a massive bloodbath over Australia. Second, a long slow slog to a dissatisfying end, where multiple players wind up pissed off, because the Australian ends up winning somehow. The AU continent is just so easy to hold. With only one country to go through, you can amass a huge army in Siam and no one touches your continent all game.

Sounds like you’re playing with sloppy players

[deleted]

Re: Win at Risk by using systems thinking

#16

Post by Dumblydorr » Sat, Jun 12, 2021, 2:23 PM UTC

codeulike wrote: post #7

Title: How To Win At Risk Every Time By Using Systems Thinking Disclaimer at bottom of page: The above strategy works “on paper,” but that doesn’t mean that it will work in your next game of Risk.

Yeah this title is clickbait. No strategy wins every time, especially if everyone's cognizant of your one style.

Re: Win at Risk by using systems thinking

#17

Post by Dumblydorr » Sat, Jun 12, 2021, 2:26 PM UTC

In our gaming group, we decided Risk just isn't that good of a game. It's old and clunky and extremely long, there are 100 other better board games now. Our main plays have been Dominion, DnD, Gloomhaven, Wingspan, and Crokinole, all of which we greatly prefer.

Re: Win at Risk by using systems thinking

#18

Post by marcosdumay » Sat, Jun 12, 2021, 2:26 PM UTC

qznc wrote: post #6

This basic strategy „get a card each turn and avoid losing armies“ gets you from beginner to intermediate. Once every player understood this it once again is a question of who controls the southern continents. The additional two or three armies each turn add up.

The winning strategy is doing whatever the other players are overlooking.

If everyone decides to follow the advice about the southern continents, the winning strategy is to get all over Asia.

Re: Win at Risk by using systems thinking

#19

Post by laurent123456 » Sat, Jun 12, 2021, 2:31 PM UTC

GoodJokes wrote: post #4

I dislike games where it’s just a system to win. Kinda defeats the purpose. No actual gamesmanship.

I avoid these games too but mostly because it feels like work.

Re: Win at Risk by using systems thinking

#20

Post by bakuninsbart » Sat, Jun 12, 2021, 2:32 PM UTC

Dumblydorr wrote: post #17

In our gaming group, we decided Risk just isn't that good of a game. It's old and clunky and extremely long, there are 100 other better board games now. Our main plays have been Dominion, DnD, Gloomhaven, Wingspan, and Crokinole, all of which we greatly prefer.

Not a good board game, but actually very decent on mobile. Me and my friends have played many rounds in the train or car.