Speaking of dice war games…. I played Lord of the Rings Risk with my 13 y/o daughter the other night (very sweet Risk game - first themed Risk game I’ve ever played)
Of course in my house, I’m known for winning almost all games every time. But she had a sound strategy - stubbornly kept putting armies in Osgiliath, right next to Minas Morgul (entrance to Mordor) and she outnumbered my army by a fair amount. I was beginning to get a little concerned that she could clean out all of Mordor on her first move, and that was my main power center… Especially if she got above average luck.
What followed was one of the biggest lucky/unlucky streaks I’ve ever seen. She kept losing 2 armies after 2 armies. After awhile, she had fewer eagles than I had cave trolls (each worth 5 armies apiece). Finally, she had to stop. In other battles, she was barely able to earn her risk card (after being disappointed by the dice, she was a little disoriented and forgot she hadn’t earned a Risk card).
She still had hope (more than I would have had) and found another strategy.
I take my turn, and my luck continues. I mowed through most of Gondor without losing much. I offered to quit playing and get a fresh start another time. She wasn’t quite ready for that yet.
Most kids would have been really upset at this point. Very frustrated would be an understatement. With a little luck, she might have even beat the old man in a war strategy game. I let her know I was very proud of her for keeping her composure. It was as if she realized it was just a game and that the dice had beaten her. They ruined our game (neither of us was happy, of course - and set up takes a long time in that game), but she seemed to understand that there was nothing she could do about it, that it was a game of chance and fun along with the strategy, and that maybe some other day she could take the old gamer man down.
Not bringing this up for the purpose of bragging on my girl, but to try to keep things light and fun by talking about a different game.
Everyone likes to play with a good sport. I will try to be a good sport, graceful in winning or losing, this game. Maybe I learned something from my girl. Maybe.
WHAT IS YOUR DAUGHTERS NAME? I have three, Holly, Hope & Brooke. 19, 17 & 15.
Have you tried to teach her chess? My daughters wouldn’t have anything to do with it.
I only wrote of my frustration w/the USA LIB battle because you (I) get very few opportunities to get really lucky and put a real hurt to your opponent. I had a beautiful, if very lucky, opportunity to put a serious hurt on the USA AF. And I didn’t get lucky. Quite a risky battle for you IMO. That’s all. Yes I would have preferred if my units held UKR. That was a shame. I plan to have great dice the reminder of this game. I have spoken to the dice gods and they aren’t really pleased with you. I think you are in trouble!
J 4 purchase IC, 3 fgt, 3 inf & arm spend 59 (save 0)
combat
#1 AUS (3inf, art, aa) v
BB, CA, art via trn z35> z39
inf, arm (sol) via trn z46 > z39
BB z51 > z39
2inf HAW via trn z53 > z47
#2 IND (arm) v 2inf (bur & fic) via trn z36
3 fgt (2yun, 1z35)
#3 stc (mt) v bry stack - cwol
#4 nin (mt) v 2inf (sui) cwol
dice……
#1 AUS attack
2 MIGHTY Battleships
Rolls: 2@4; Total Hits: 12@4: (6, 4)
1 Super cruiserRolls: 1@3; Total Hits: 01@3: (5)
arm, art & 3 infRolls: 1@3 2@2 2@1; Total Hits: 11@3: (6)2@2: (2, 3)2@1: (6, 4)
not so mighty huh……
Your DRolls: 4@2; Total Hits: 24@2: (2, 1, 6, 3)
2nd wave attackRolls: 1@3 2@2; Total Hits: 01@3: (6)2@2: (4, 6)v
inf, artRolls: 2@2; Total Hits: 02@2: (4, 4)
this isn’t how I planned this…… :-P
3rd wave attackRolls: 1@3 2@2; Total Hits: 11@3: (4)2@2: (4, 2)v inf, artRolls: 2@2; Total Hits: 02@2: (4, 6)
consistently high dice
4th wave attackRolls: 1@3 2@2; Total Hits: 21@3: (2)2@2: (1, 6)v artRolls: 1@2; Total Hits: 01@2: (5)
after all that
AUS twlo 2inf
#2 IND attackRolls: 3@3 2@1; Total Hits: 33@3: (6, 5, 2)2@1: (1, 1)v armRolls: 1@3; Total Hits: 11@3: (2)
ind twlo inf
ncm:
z38 2 fgt > z15 UK CV
z35 fgt > ind
ind 3 fgt > z35
z38 fleet > z35
z51 fgt > z35
z51 fgt > bur
z51 cv > z62
man 2 inf > sui
yun inf > sik
bmb > sui
fic aa > bur
z62 trn > z36
jpn inf & arm > fic
z62 trn > z63
jpn 2 inf > far
placement 2 fgt z62 - inf, arm & fgt JPN - 2inf fic - IC SUM
JPN collects 15NO + 46 = 61
use this map…forgot to place units into japan…
OK, I guess in the same spirit I will say that I am terribly disappointed that I failed to hold Australia with at least 2 units.
Aren’t girls wonderful? My daughter is Kaelen, and she does play chess. However, the only thing she’s really enthusiastic about is fantasy (dungeons and dragons, lord of the rings, etc), medieval stuff, and horses. So she doesn’t play chess much.
I found out we had different perspectives on battle results when you attacked my fighter with an infantry in our first game and didn’t act surprised that you won (without getting hit back).
If I were you, I’d be more disappointed that I didn’t shoot down 1 of 2 bombers on SBR. And yes I’d be disappointed to not get a plane down in Libya, but that’s it. You only had one chance in 9 of hitting 2 fighters in Libya in the first round. I could always retreat. You talk like you could have downed all 4 air, when in fact that was not possible. I find it funny you think it’s risky that I leave a fighter to defend against a lone infantry, or to attack infantry and artillery with 2 fighters and 2 bombers.
Looking forward to UK4 tonight…
You chose beautiful names for your daughters - very nice
I found out we had different perspectives on battle results when you attacked my fighter with an infantry in our first game and didn’t act surprised that you won (without getting hit back).
I guess you didn’t hear me falling out of my chair when I hit the 1!!. I don’t recall that the fgt missed, really didn’t matter at the time, I was just glad I had the opportunity to attempt it and happily surpirsed when I hit.You (I) don’t get many opportunities like that.
If I were you, I’d be more disappointed that I didn’t shoot down 1 of 2 bombers on SBR.
No, that was frustrating too, 2@1 & 3@2, all misses. But especially the units in LIB. It’s a tactic I generally don’t have the NUTZ to go for unless I am desperate, Perhaps it’s a flaw in my game?
I find it funny you think it’s risky that I leave a fighter to defend against a lone infantry, or to attack infantry and artillery with 2 fighters and 2 bombers.
Yeah, generally I won’t do it unless I am desperate, but then as stated earlier, perhaps it’s a flaw in my decision making.
You chose beautiful names for your daughters - very nice
Thanks, the Mrs. deserves all the credit. I wanted to name them Fred, Paul & Harry.
OK, I guess in the same spirit I will say that I am terribly disappointed that I failed to hold Australia with at least 2 units.
Yeah, I understand.
By the way the dice gods told me you’re due for a serious dicing. You might want to capitulate now and save the heartache and angst.
:-)
I’m enjoying your posts.
The infantry and artillery in Libya were greatly increasing your odds on TrJ. If you take TrJ, you can go through the Suez. The infantry and artillery were very, very important strategic targets, and I had a 40% chance of losing nothing, and a 40% chance of losing a single fighter plane. You came up empty on that round, and I came up just as empty on G5.
I won’t capitulate, I’ll just stop attacking you? Maybe attacking NWE won’t be a good idea, huh…… (you can count on 1 infantry and 4 fighters most likely, so start praying to whatever dice gods)
