Emmalee, Zack, and I have been playing a little RISK lately. Em is the (as yet) undisputed champion with 4 wins in the "Basic Training" version of the game. Luckily she hasn't won a "World Domination" round yet (probably only because we haven't played on yet) since I'm not sure how I feel about the "official" rule of having to call a "World Domination" winner "sir" until they are dethroned.
Here are some of the lessons we have learned playing Risk:
-Zack learned the hard way that Risk is not chess. Apparently in risk, games are NOT (necessarily) won and lost in the middle of the board (aka, Europe is HARD to hold).
-As a child of the cold war I had a hard time getting past some old preconceived notion that the eastern block is worth holding. 7 bonus armies each round sounds great, but I never was able to hold all those borders long enough to collect! There must be a reason the USSR works better in smaller blocks.?
-I also learned that maintaining supply lines from the north eastern tip of Asia to the southern tip of South America is a little too optimistic in a game where the kids LOVE the idea of pummeling the "grown up". I think this is why the airplane was invented!
-Em has made a habit of her (quite strong) strategy of quickly taking Australia (ONE outside boarder) and using those bonus armies to a) slowly take North America b) do her best to keep anyone else from keeping any continent long enough to claim bonus armies.
If any of "da' guys" or their families feel like ending Em's winning streak just say the word and we'll organize a little exhibition match.
(Don't tell Em but I'm seriously considering this as a gateway into D&D... if anyone has suggestions on how to get PAST the "rolling your character" stage.)
