by BaldAdonis on Sat Sep 29, 2007 6:36 pm
3 different card options, 3 ways to play.
Escalating is the simplest. Keep strong territories scattered around the map, 3 or 4 is good, and the centre lanes are best. Blocks are also easy to put up, just choose one enemy you want to protect with an inside or outside lane, and build up behind them. You don't fall into the trap where they see you as a threat and try to attack you, as you would on other non-directional maps. When it comes time to cash in, see who you can kill; basic escalating strategy applies.
No cards can be a really long game, because no bonuses means everyone seems to be on the same level. In the beginning rounds, just build, don't attack. Once people have moved around, there will be ones open. Set up two forces on opposite sides of the track. Build on those. Be patient. Let the others attack each other, and just keep building. Sooner or later, most of your opponents will have evacuated one side of the track and positioned their strongest forces next to one of yours. Now you can attack: with unlimited forts, the best way is to attack from one base directly towards the other, then use the other to sweep out every territory in front of it. Now you should have a path all the way around the track, and you can fortify anywhere. Modify your strategy in other fortification games. With all those territories, choose one of the strategies mentioned by others to defend them, and build again, this time collecting more than anyone else.
Flat rate is a combination of the beginning strategy in escalating, and the end of no cards. In these games it is most important not to appear vulnerable, because you never know what sort of sets your opponents will come up with. Good luck.