A Player’s Mask

by Redstorm
(Online Risk Game Player and Blog Contributor)

Being online allows for being anonymous which just begs for the imagination to soar.  You can portray yourself as anyone or anything you wish to be.  This phenomenon is especially useful when playing games online.  Something about competing without our normal societal standards at risk seems to bring out some real definable characters.  We all wear some or all of them, even when not online, as we aspire to impress or deceive or give false praise…. whatever it may be.  While playing Risk online these are just some of the masks I’ve either used or seen being used.

The Intimidator – known as an online tough guy or just plain jerk, this person makes everyone involved just a little bit mad somehow every time you play him.  The smallest perceived offense sets him off with a barrage of insults, foul language, even meaningless threats.   His behavior always ruins the game for everyone else even if not directly involved in his tirade.  Usually known for thinking himself the best player in the game, quite often he’s the only one that doesn’t know how untrue that is.  Watch out for this yahoo if you prefer the quieter games.  The good news is that within a community of players it doesn’t take too long to figure out who likes wearing this mask.

The Ghost – This character never chats during a game not even to say hello.  Not necessarily unfriendly but uses this as a tactic to keep his cards close to his vest so as not to give away anything.  He likes to build up large stacks in out of the way places while not being overly aggressive in hopes that everyone else will ignore or even better just forget he’s in the game.  While somewhat successful, he doesn’t add anything to the game for most players who after the game tend to forget that he was in it.

The Chatterbox – Never shuts up.  He keeps a running chat going for several reasons.  Perhaps to acquire insight into other players’ intentions or maybe to spread disinformation, the chats just pour out from him.   He’s just as likely to chat about anything other than the game as well since he just can’t shut up.  Sometimes annoying, he’s more likely enjoyable to play with.  This guy is usually well liked by most especially if he loses a lot.  All that chatting can distract him and frequently does.

The Cat Burglar – Sneaky and stealthy, this guy is the one that always comes up with a way to surprise you.  He thinks his moves out way past your own attention span and then executes his plan with deadly precision.  Adept at disinformation, distraction and persuasion (the tools of his trade) quite often this guy beats you before you even see it coming.   Usually friendly, even helpful, during a game, he often reminds you of the spider waiting on the other side of the web.

by Redstorm

A RISKY PRAYER

by Redstorm
(Major Command Game Player and Risk Blog Contributor)

As I lay down my busy head
Perched atop my comfy bed
I think about the current game
The one that surely will give me fame
Did I make the very best play
Or was there really a better way
Ah well, I must truly dare
To offer the RISKGODS this little prayer

by Redstorm

My Longest Game… a short story

by Redstorm
(Major Command Risk Game Player and Blog Contributor)

There are just some things in this online world of Risk players that should be avoided at all costs unless you identify strongly with turtles. Long lasting games played at a snail’s pace for a small reward is one of them. I found out this universal truth the hard way by joining a game on the wonderful 12 domains map.

Now, like every map in our little slice of digital heaven, this map contains some jewels of design that make it simple to play but not as simple to master. This diatribe isn’t about the map itself so I won’t bother to discuss some of the hidden “tricks and traps” that others are more able to elaborate on. I want to simply tell you about my longest game in my MAJCOM experience.
It’s all about the settings……

The combined effect of this particular game’s settings would have stopped most any veteran player from joining as they would already know what I was about to learn. Three players, Mercenary, escalite and NO pass settings on the 12 Domains map will make you cry. Never, never, never again, my friends.

I like the mercenary setting mainly because you can salvage something from the game even if other forces, whether players or dice, seem to be totally against you. The setting proves that moral victories can have worth. The setting in itself wasn’t really a factor in this particular outcome as the players really didn’t have a snowball’s chance of any other outcome due to the other two settings.

I liked the escalite setting when I first started out as it seemed a way for me to “stick around” longer in games that I probably wasn’t going to win anyway and did provide more opportunity for me to watch other players’ moves, tactics etc. Again, at that time it provided “value” to me in that regard. However, as time went by I now loathe the setting as it seems designed to indeed drag out games by limiting the potential of a breakaway troop addition thereby almost begging for a game stalemate. Once again though, I must admit that so far this game still wasn’t destined for stalemate at the start until the final piece of the settings shows its unholy nature.

Troop reinforcement is such a vital part of any good campaign in our world. Even with no pass settings, troop deployment and the nature of most maps allow enough movement to conclude a game in a reasonable time. Have I mentioned this particular map is 12 Domains where a good majority of new turn troops are placed on one’s castle which, of course, is heavily protected for obvious reasons? Some of you newer players may now be going “ah, yeah”. No pass in a singles 12 domains game will almost certainly ensure a stalemate, ladies and gentlemen.

Well, I joined and the die was cast; my fate sealed. Over the next 167 days, many times able to take only one turn and noticeably aging waiting for the next, I faithfully stuck with it. Oh, the agony. Many times I thought of just going AWOL, which I have never done and will never intentionally do. Of course, the game did eventually end through this very method when both of my opponents threw in the towel presumably to save their marriages or for some other sane reason. Finally on my 497th turn in this game from hell, I was rewarded with a win and drum roll….71 points! You do the math.

by Redstorm