Risk v Stratego

When you think of games like Risk and Stratego, one word comes to mind:

Strategeries.

Both games test the wits, cunning, and testicular fortitude of the players. Both games pit players against each other in a dance of feint and attack. Both games involve the conquest and domination of land and armies. But when you get right down to it, which is sweeter?

Risk has always been my favorite board game of all time, and as such, I've always considered it the greatest strategy game of all time. But as I mentioned in my last post, I've recently become hooked on Stratego. I used to think it was a pale imitation of Risk, but the more I play it, the more complex and brilliant I think it is. So the time has come to take an honest and unflinching look at both games and decide which game really is sweeter.

Let's examine how each game stacks up in a few major categories.

Strategy - Although it's the underlying element of each game, there's a surprisingly large degree of difference in the amount of strategy necessary to win both games. The strategy in Risk is fairly straightforward. The person able to control an entire continent the earliest and build up the most armies tends to win. Waiting patiently for other players to show weakness is usually a safe, successful strategy, and can be used in almost every game. Stratego, on the other hand, requires a carefully crafted strategy before and during the game. The initial placement of pieces is probably the most strategic aspect of the game, and can determine the outcome before the game even begins. This is in contrast to Risk, where the inital placement on the board is completely random. Which leads us to...

Luck - There is little to no luck involved in winning at Stratego. Apart from guessing where the opponent has placed his bombs, a good Stratego player relies on a careful probing of the enemy to determine the placement of all the pieces. The players control the game in almost every regard. In Risk, luck plays a large part in the outcome of each game. From the initial disbursement of the territories on the map to every roll of the dice during attacks, luck is a crucial factor in every player's path to worldwide conquest. Of course, luck is a factor in real-life warfare, but maybe not to this degree.

Diplomacy - This is where Risk really shines. The constantly shifting alliances among all the players is a big reason the game is so much fun. Obviously, there is no real diplomacy necessary in Stratego, apart from keeping a poker face during play. But in Risk, the flow of power in each game can shift wildly due to plotting and backstabbing among players.

The Fog of War - In real life, it is often hard to keep track of the enemy's movements and plans. In Stratego, this is simulated by each player not knowing their opponent's strategy or placement until they use their scouts or other soldiers to probe the opposing formations. Risk doesn't simulate this blindness at all, as every player can clearly see their the other players' strengths and weaknesses.

Final Verdict - I have to admit that Statego is superior to Risk in several ways. It is more realistic, and takes more adjustments and planning from each player. However, Risk forces players to deal with multiple enemies/allies and creates a lot of group activity. It makes for a very emotional atmosphere at times, and with luck being such a large factor in every game, there is never a certain outcome. So...which is sweeter?

Who am I kidding? Even though Stratego is like a better version of chess, and takes more skill than Risk in many ways, it's hard to top the emotional thrill of world conquest. Stratego doesn't offer the same ability to conquer and hold territory, or allow you to watch your empire grow while your friends' crumbles around them. And is anything sweeter than convincing someone to wipe out your enemy, only to find you waiting to crush them after they are weakened from doing your dirty work? Nope.

Risk is the sweetest.

anyone up for a game?

Competition.

Some of us thrive on it, and some of us shrink away from it. Some of us want nothing more than to play a friendly game of Monopoly, Backgammon, Basketball, etc. just for fun, while others want to dominate their friends and family with their superior skills and tireless drive to win.

I don't know about you, but I'm into domination. (And not that way, so get your mind out of the gutter.)

I like to play just about anything, and I like to win. Unfortunately, this trait doesn't seem to go over well with friends. In fact, my family stopped playing games of any sort with me ever since an unfortunate Risk incident and my friends are slowly following suit. But I'll keep trying. Sooner or later, they'll be worn down by my constant need to compete, and the game will be on!

Anyway, this somewhat pointless post about my competitive streak was brought on by my latest random obsession - Stratego. For those of you that don't remember this game from when they were kids, it's an old-school board game involving a battlefield, some soldiers, and a flag. Simple, yet brilliant. Target has re-released this game, along with some other sweet retro games, in slick looking Library Editions. They're pretty sweet, and they look damn good on my bookshelf.

You can check them out here.

Coming Soon - Risk vs. Stratego: Which is Sweeter?

ouch

It's official. OSU is done for the year. It was a pretty disappointing end to the season, especially when we look back to our win over Cal, which put us at 4-2, with a very realistic shot at 7-4 or even 8-3. Our stumbles down the stretch were painful to watch, but they did give us some hope for next year. It's nice to see that we've found a solid running game. Obviously, the passing game will take a hit without Mike Hass next year, but maybe without him to grab everything, Matt Moore (if he's still the starter) will finally spread the ball around a bit more. Our defense clearly needs the most work, but I'm confident that our young secondary will be much better next year. They got some much-needed experience, and hopefully the coaching staff will realize that we might have to adjust our schemes a little bit to compensate for the athletes that we have. The Civil War was a tough way to go out, but hopefully the team will be motivated for the off-season.

Now that our season is over, let's just hope that the Ducks can squeeze their way into the Fiesta Bowl and do the state proud.

bless you Mike Hass

How about this quote from the Oregonian today?

According to one NFL scouting service that charts every pass thrown to the NCAA's top receivers, Hass has three drops in three years.

Now if only he could line up under center and throw the ball to himself. And maybe throw on a headset and take over for Mike Riley while he's at it.

unworthy?

Due to my complete and utter lack of anything resembling a post lately, a friend recently informed me that I'm unworthy of a blog. In fact, she also said that I'm hopeless when it comes to technology.

I couldn't agree more.

Nonetheless, I'm nearly done with all my law school applications, and I should soon be back in force. Plus, the Beavers' season has been pretty hard to handle lately, and although I always intended to keep up the writing through thick and thin, I've found it's easier to suffer in silence. Still, that's no excuse. After I get back from Napa Valley on Monday, the blogging will begin again.

Let that be a warning to you all.