Riskkoning

Life is Like a Game of RISK





The Game Begins
Technically, RISK is a game. A game being a contest for recreational purposes. In reality though, RISK is, in all repects, war. Hell hath seen no fury like a man retaliating after a brutal battle lost.

So when the battle lines are drawn and the first dice are thrown, from that momment on the contestents are not merely players of a game, but generals of an army. The sole mission being to piss off the other five generals and hopefully win.

Actually most players don't try to get under the skin of others. They have other stratagies to victory. Sometimes these stratagies are personality traits that you will see on a day to day basis. Other times they only arise during combat. Let's take some time to go over the different player types.





Players
After extensive research, RISK players have been classified into 4 groups.

Right Wing:

This staunch conservative would rather sit quietly and build up armies then venture out to far. Often he will make an initial run at a continent and once it is won, the waiting game begins. This can be frustrating when the game continues until 4am with no changes.

Left Wing:

Just as in real life, the fanatical liberal must be watched out for. Almost any opening for attack will be taken by the Left Wing. And don't fall for the sappy human interest stories he will spew out to make other players feel bad for him when he is losing. They are followed by harsh back-stabbing(at the governments expense of course)

Psychic:

One of the most dangerous players around. The psychic is always planning his moves 3 or 4 rounds in advance. He always seems to make a stunning move late in the game to catch every one of gaurd. Since this player has his head stuck in the future, deliver a fatal blow now, while you still have the upper hand.

Tornado:

Unpredictable at best, keep your distance from this disaster waiting to happen. Much like a real tornado, you don't know when, why, or how he will strike. Hopefully his rash decision making will not fall into your path.





Classic Moves
In this section we will discuss some of basic plays and actions in RISK. Sometimes these will be awesome tactical manuevers and other times the move is designed to throw off the opponent and make him think you have thrown back one to many Miller Lites.

Most expert RISK players need not read the following section. You probably already know these tactics and many more. (I had to say that since RISK players are a proud group.)

1. PROTECT THOSE BORDERS
If you are fortunate enough to have gained control of an entire continent, be prepared for some bloodshed on those front lines. The enemy gets jumpy with so much at stake. Here are some simple guidelines when figuring how much and what kind of defense you need at the border.

a. Size 'em up. Look at your direct enemies(armies touching yours) as well as secondary enemies. How many cards do they hold? From watching past moves, what is their focus or goal? Can you make an aliance with anyone temporarily? What size army is at their disposal?

b. Geography. True, the less borders you have, the better. But remember, if you have 1 border territory touching 3 enemy territories, then you have THREE borders to defend in that location. So if extending your borders means that you will double or triple the amount of positions the enemy can attack from, stay at a position of defense as long as possible. When the time comes to extend your borders, it doesn't hurt to leave behind a second line of defense. Working strictly as a mental advantage, since their is still the same physical amount of armies, it can be effective.

2. GAMEPLAN No game on the earth can be won without one. In basketball, the coach has a whole book filled with plays. And every man has a job and a focus. Zone defense or man to man? Full court press? So before you start attcking or moving armies, STOP and THINK. First you will need a general strategy. We will discuss GENERAL STRATAGIES later, but for now lets say you have just conquered South America. What is your next move? Well that depends on what stratagy you have chosen. Not the other way around. Do not attack Central America unless you know EXACTLY why you should and EXACTLY how it can help you.



Pyschology
There is no better place to unleash your Freudian knowledge then the RISK board. Mental manipulation can be a powerful ally when battling. Let's go over some tricks of the trade.


Balance:

Finding the fine line between silence and not shutting up is crucial. If you constantly talk about other players moves and how your "gonna tear him a new one", hate will surely be directed your way on the battlefield. But if one is silent to the point of scaring players, they will wonder "What is he up to?"

Be friendly to all players. Talk about things other then the game. When attacked by others, bite your tounge and let your army do the talking for you.


Goat in Sheepskin:

Playing the pity card when you have a trick up your sleve (like a set of cards) enable you to lay a trap. Other players will weaken there defenses because you are so pitiful what could you possibly do to them. Then strike hard and fast and be ready to fend off any backlash.

GAMEPLAN
No game on the earth can be won without one. In basketball, the coach has a whole book filled with plays. And every man has a job and a focus. Zone defense or man to man? Full court press?
So before you start attcking or moving armies, STOP and THINK. First you will need a general strategy. We will discuss GENERAL STRATAGIES later, but for now lets say you have just conquered South America. What is your next move? Well that depends on what stratagy you have chosen. Not the other way around. Do not attack Central America unless you know EXACTLY why you should and EXACTLY how it can help you.



Een dobbelsteen is een simpel object. Toch speelt dit voorwerp in de geschiedenis een belangrijke rol. Vanaf de vroegste oudheid schrijft men er al magische krachten aan toe. Het belang van deze verborgen zijde van de dobbelsteen neemt in het huidige tijdperk van pseudo-random getallen een hoge vlucht. Het geheim van de dobbelsteen vormt de sleutel tot het beheersen van onvermoede invloeden uit diverse dimensies, waaronder het toeval.

Steen der wijzen
Bekwaamheid in manipulatie van het toeval is eerder een vereiste dan een luxe. De dobbelsteen dient hierbij als gereedschap om de gelaagdheid van de werkelijkheid opnieuw te rangschikken. De fijne kneepjes van deze kunst vergen jarenlange studie, maar zelfs de toegewijde beginneling boekt al snel tastbare resultaten!