A Game "In Progress"
Here we have basic Risk style game in progress, using the map of the US as the board. The states occupied by a player all show the same color.
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| Blue = 15 Armies Green = 12 Armies Yellow = 14 Armies Red = 9 Armies |
For this example we will have the following rules:
- Every state provides one army per turn, which may be placed in any state(s) the player controls,
- Every state may only attack states adjacent to them,
- A player may not 'Blitz' -- launch an attack from a recently captured territory (Example: I capture Colorado this turn, I may not then attack from Colorado this turn, but may do so next turn).
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| Michigan in Pink It's all one state |
NOTE: Michigan is oddly shaped and in the main image appears as if it is two separate locations. However, it is important to realize this location is all one state.
Yellow: On the Offensive
Yellow appears to be in the worst possible position militarily. Yellow has charged up the center and now occupies 14 regions. Normally in a game where a player creates a bulge like this it is not a good thing. Despite receiving 14 armies, Yellow can be attacked into 10 different locations. Trying to defend all of these locations is nigh impossible, especially considering they may face the might of all three opposing powers.
Yellow needs to consolidate it's power. The answer is to attack. The question is "Where?"
Positive Attacks
Since the concept is to reduce Yellow's surface area, Yellow should consider attacks into the locations indicated on the right. The two attacks against Red in the upper left should be made first as they will decrease Yellow's overall surface area from 10 to 9.
When on the offensive, any Reduction in Surface area is a good thing. Therefore, these attacks are a Positive Attack: an attack the player should definitely make! The order of the attacks is important. The northernmost attack should be made first as, by itself, it is a Neutral attack.
Negative Attacks
Attacking any of the states shown in the diagram below will result in Yellow increasing the surface area. This will result in Yellow spreading its troops even thinner in order to hold on to the state. Even if Yellow were to win ever battle there would be a net increase in surface area. Unless a player has overwhelming superiority in force, or there are no other options remaining, negative attacks should be avoided.
Neutral Attacks
The attack into Missouri will result in a neither an increase nor a decrease in surface area. As such, the player may decide to make the attack or choose to wait it out. Such territories are considered 'Neutral Attacks', as they provide no tangible benefit, but carry no additional risk.
Some games, such as Risk, give a player a bonus if capture a territory. In the case of Risk, if a player captures one territory during their turn they receive a card. When matched with other cards the player has collected, the player may trade them in for additional armies. For many such games, these additional armies become critical to winning the game. This can shift a Neutral Attack to a Positive Attack. However, if the player has already captured a territory somewhere else, the benefit (the card) has already been earned. This once again relegates the attack to being 'Neutral'.
Neutral Attacks should be undertaken only if the player has sufficient force. It can also be used as a bargaining chip for negotiations with other players.
Conditional Attacks
The two attacks on Red's southern states (Arizona and Utah) normally would yield negative results. Even if both states were won together they would result in a net increase in surface area. However, if the two attacks above it are successful (see Positive Attacks above), then winning both states would result in no overall net increase in surface area, but the player would control more states resulting in more armies.
This makes these attacks 'Conditional Attacks'. Making these attacks is dependent on the outcome of some other attack(s). They are also dependent upon having sufficient forces available for both attacks to be successful.
Next Article
The next article will discuss what Yellow should do if it is not its turn and is forced to act defensively.
Yellow appears to be in the worst possible position militarily. Yellow has charged up the center and now occupies 14 regions. Normally in a game where a player creates a bulge like this it is not a good thing. Despite receiving 14 armies, Yellow can be attacked into 10 different locations. Trying to defend all of these locations is nigh impossible, especially considering they may face the might of all three opposing powers.
Yellow needs to consolidate it's power. The answer is to attack. The question is "Where?"
 |
| Positive Attacks |
Since the concept is to reduce Yellow's surface area, Yellow should consider attacks into the locations indicated on the right. The two attacks against Red in the upper left should be made first as they will decrease Yellow's overall surface area from 10 to 9.
When on the offensive, any Reduction in Surface area is a good thing. Therefore, these attacks are a Positive Attack: an attack the player should definitely make! The order of the attacks is important. The northernmost attack should be made first as, by itself, it is a Neutral attack.
 |
| Negative Attacks Increase Surface Area |
Attacking any of the states shown in the diagram below will result in Yellow increasing the surface area. This will result in Yellow spreading its troops even thinner in order to hold on to the state. Even if Yellow were to win ever battle there would be a net increase in surface area. Unless a player has overwhelming superiority in force, or there are no other options remaining, negative attacks should be avoided.
 |
| Neutral Attack |
The attack into Missouri will result in a neither an increase nor a decrease in surface area. As such, the player may decide to make the attack or choose to wait it out. Such territories are considered 'Neutral Attacks', as they provide no tangible benefit, but carry no additional risk.
Some games, such as Risk, give a player a bonus if capture a territory. In the case of Risk, if a player captures one territory during their turn they receive a card. When matched with other cards the player has collected, the player may trade them in for additional armies. For many such games, these additional armies become critical to winning the game. This can shift a Neutral Attack to a Positive Attack. However, if the player has already captured a territory somewhere else, the benefit (the card) has already been earned. This once again relegates the attack to being 'Neutral'.
Neutral Attacks should be undertaken only if the player has sufficient force. It can also be used as a bargaining chip for negotiations with other players.
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| Conditional Attacks |
The two attacks on Red's southern states (Arizona and Utah) normally would yield negative results. Even if both states were won together they would result in a net increase in surface area. However, if the two attacks above it are successful (see Positive Attacks above), then winning both states would result in no overall net increase in surface area, but the player would control more states resulting in more armies.
This makes these attacks 'Conditional Attacks'. Making these attacks is dependent on the outcome of some other attack(s). They are also dependent upon having sufficient forces available for both attacks to be successful.
Next Article
The next article will discuss what Yellow should do if it is not its turn and is forced to act defensively.
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