Twilight Struggle, Anyone?

All discussions regarding Board, Card, and RPG Gaming, including industry discussion, that don't belong in one of the other gaming forums.

Moderators: The Preacher, $iljanus, Zaxxon

User avatar
El Guapo
Posts: 41243
Joined: Sat Jul 09, 2005 4:01 pm
Location: Boston

Re: Twilight Struggle, Anyone?

Post by El Guapo »

NATO kind of sucks as an event, though. After turn 1 phase 1 defcon almost never gets back to 5, so countries are immune to coups or realignments anyway. The only practical thing it does for the U.S. is protect Italy from Brush War, but even on that by the end of turn 2 the U.S. probably has Italy surrounded by at least two friendly countries, so odds are that's going to fail anyway (and the USSR would probably be inclined to use the event on a more favorable target.

I do usually try to avoid playing Marshall Plan early as the USSR though given that it gives the US 7 IPs, though.
Black Lives Matter.
User avatar
NickAragua
Posts: 6100
Joined: Mon Feb 23, 2009 5:20 pm
Location: Boston, MA

Re: Twilight Struggle, Anyone?

Post by NickAragua »

Yeah, the 7 IPs is pretty nasty when Europe is contested.
Black Lives Matter
User avatar
El Guapo
Posts: 41243
Joined: Sat Jul 09, 2005 4:01 pm
Location: Boston

Re: Twilight Struggle, Anyone?

Post by El Guapo »

One thing I enjoyed about my game with Isgrimnur was how Korea wound up being unified for most of the game, but on different sides. I controlled South Korea early, but he got lucky with a 6 on a coup attempt which wiped me out of South Korea, which he then took with the China Card. He wound up controlling it for most of the game, but then on the last turn I dropped Voice of America and removed two influence apiece from North and South Korea, then took them both over.

Also the first game where I've seen the Soviets take control of Japan.
Black Lives Matter.
User avatar
Isgrimnur
Posts: 82085
Joined: Sun Oct 15, 2006 12:29 am
Location: Chookity pok
Contact:

Re: Twilight Struggle, Anyone?

Post by Isgrimnur »

And you see how well that worked out for them. :)
It's almost as if people are the problem.
User avatar
Zarathud
Posts: 16433
Joined: Fri Oct 15, 2004 10:29 pm
Location: Chicago, Illinois

Re: Twilight Struggle, Anyone?

Post by Zarathud »

Japan is too easy to lose control to an event. So is Israel -- for both sides. And Castro will eventually pop up in Cuba.
"If the facts don't fit the theory, change the facts." - Albert Einstein
"I don't stand by anything." - Trump
“Bad men need nothing more to compass their ends, than that good men should look on and do nothing.” - John Stuart Mill, Inaugural Address Delivered to the University of St Andrews, 2/1/1867
“It is the impractical things in this tumultuous hell-scape of a world that matter most. A book, a name, chicken soup. They help us remember that, even in our darkest hour, life is still to be savored.” - Poe, Altered Carbon
User avatar
El Guapo
Posts: 41243
Joined: Sat Jul 09, 2005 4:01 pm
Location: Boston

Re: Twilight Struggle, Anyone?

Post by El Guapo »

I pretty much never see Israel get controlled by either side. It's just too expensive in influence for too few points, plus with the perpetual risk (on the U.S. side) of getting wiped out by war (at least until Camp David).

Also - holy crap is the AI dumb sometimes. I was playing earlier this evening and (as the USSR) had control of France, East Germany, and Poland. On the last action of a turn the U.S. player played Socialist Governments. They used the 3 ops to coup me out of Nicaragua, but then per the event I removed his control of West Germany and Italy. That let me start out next turn and take control of Italy. Then he did something else in the Americas. Then on the next action card I put 3 influence into West Germany. Then he did something else in the Americas. Then I put 4 influence in West Germany and took control of that, which gave me control of Europe.

Uhhhh...I'll just go ahead and win the game now. Ok, thanks.
Black Lives Matter.
User avatar
Holman
Posts: 28906
Joined: Sun Oct 24, 2004 8:00 pm
Location: Between the Schuylkill and the Wissahickon

Re: Twilight Struggle, Anyone?

Post by Holman »

NickAragua's boot will be stomping on the face of liberty, forever!

As USSR, he won our game tonight through a combination of skill, talent, and the ineptitude of his opponent.

It all came down to a final turn where, already behind on control in both Europe and the Middle East, I drew a hand with nothing but red events--and the scoring cards for Europe and Middle East. He probably could have figured a way out of it; I couldn't. And of course I was the one who let him get ahead in those regions in the first place.

Congrats, NA! I enjoyed the game.
Last edited by Holman on Fri Jul 22, 2016 12:00 am, edited 1 time in total.
Much prefer my Nazis Nuremberged.
User avatar
tgb
Posts: 30690
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 10:33 pm
Location: Tucson, AZ

Re: Twilight Struggle, Anyone?

Post by tgb »

So it looks like it comes down to:

myself
Zarathud
El Guapo
NickAraugua.

I can't think of any reason not to pair off in that order. I read that Playdeck has been having some server issues, but they are supposed to be cleared up by tomorrow.

Guapo and NIck can set up their game and I'll contact Zarathud.
I spent 90% of the money I made on women, booze, and drugs. The other 10% I just pissed away.
User avatar
El Guapo
Posts: 41243
Joined: Sat Jul 09, 2005 4:01 pm
Location: Boston

Re: Twilight Struggle, Anyone?

Post by El Guapo »

Already done! I had set up a match with Nick as a friendly, but now through the magic of transmorphification, it is a tournament match. Voila!

I am the USSR and Nick is the U.S.
Black Lives Matter.
User avatar
tgb
Posts: 30690
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 10:33 pm
Location: Tucson, AZ

Re: Twilight Struggle, Anyone?

Post by tgb »

I had no problem logging in so I take that to mean the servers are back up.
I spent 90% of the money I made on women, booze, and drugs. The other 10% I just pissed away.
User avatar
Holman
Posts: 28906
Joined: Sun Oct 24, 2004 8:00 pm
Location: Between the Schuylkill and the Wissahickon

Re: Twilight Struggle, Anyone?

Post by Holman »

tgb wrote:So it looks like it comes down to:

myself
Zarathud
El Guapo
NickAraugua.
ANY of my fellow losers interested in a game?

myself
Hepcat
AWS260
Isgrimmer
Much prefer my Nazis Nuremberged.
User avatar
AWS260
Posts: 12663
Joined: Wed Feb 08, 2006 12:51 pm
Location: Brooklyn

Re: Twilight Struggle, Anyone?

Post by AWS260 »

I am, although not right away -- I'm just back from business travel and focused on family time for the next few days. Maybe the following weekend?
User avatar
Archinerd
Posts: 6836
Joined: Fri Aug 25, 2006 11:18 am
Location: Shikaakwa

Re: Twilight Struggle, Anyone?

Post by Archinerd »

Holman wrote:
tgb wrote:So it looks like it comes down to:

myself
Zarathud
El Guapo
NickAraugua.
ANY of my fellow losers interested in a game?

myself
Hepcat
AWS260
Isgrimmer
I'm not a loser but I'd play.
User avatar
hepcat
Posts: 51302
Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2004 3:02 pm
Location: Chicago, IL Home of the triple homicide!

Re: Twilight Struggle, Anyone?

Post by hepcat »

If we get another in addition to archi, we could pair up.
Covfefe!
User avatar
tgb
Posts: 30690
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 10:33 pm
Location: Tucson, AZ

Re: Twilight Struggle, Anyone?

Post by tgb »

Just an alert for those playing - turn notifications don't appear to be working at the moment.
I spent 90% of the money I made on women, booze, and drugs. The other 10% I just pissed away.
User avatar
El Guapo
Posts: 41243
Joined: Sat Jul 09, 2005 4:01 pm
Location: Boston

Re: Twilight Struggle, Anyone?

Post by El Guapo »

Nick and I played our game this evening. I won as the USSR. I headlined Socialist Governments on hand 1, removing US influence from Italy and France, then immediately used NATO to coup the US out of Iran (went to 3 USSR influence). That basically let me then take Italy and Pakistan (and then subsequently onto the rest of South Asia. I also grabbed South Korea early, so all told got an early hold on Europe and Asia. While Nick was able to limit the damage in Europe by preventing domination through total number of countries controlled, two Asia scorings + a favorable mid-east scoring meant that I won on turn 1 of year 4.
Black Lives Matter.
User avatar
tgb
Posts: 30690
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 10:33 pm
Location: Tucson, AZ

Re: Twilight Struggle, Anyone?

Post by tgb »

El Guapo wrote:Nick and I played our game this evening. I won as the USSR. I headlined Socialist Governments on hand 1, removing US influence from Italy and France, then immediately used NATO to coup the US out of Iran (went to 3 USSR influence). That basically let me then take Italy and Pakistan (and then subsequently onto the rest of South Asia. I also grabbed South Korea early, so all told got an early hold on Europe and Asia. While Nick was able to limit the damage in Europe by preventing domination through total number of countries controlled, two Asia scorings + a favorable mid-east scoring meant that I won on turn 1 of year 4.
Congrats. Zarathud and I are still on our first hand of Turn 1, so it's going to be a while.
I spent 90% of the money I made on women, booze, and drugs. The other 10% I just pissed away.
User avatar
Zarathud
Posts: 16433
Joined: Fri Oct 15, 2004 10:29 pm
Location: Chicago, Illinois

Re: Twilight Struggle, Anyone?

Post by Zarathud »

Took the oldest off to week long overnight camp today. It took over a surprising amount of time the past few days to get her ready.
"If the facts don't fit the theory, change the facts." - Albert Einstein
"I don't stand by anything." - Trump
“Bad men need nothing more to compass their ends, than that good men should look on and do nothing.” - John Stuart Mill, Inaugural Address Delivered to the University of St Andrews, 2/1/1867
“It is the impractical things in this tumultuous hell-scape of a world that matter most. A book, a name, chicken soup. They help us remember that, even in our darkest hour, life is still to be savored.” - Poe, Altered Carbon
User avatar
tgb
Posts: 30690
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 10:33 pm
Location: Tucson, AZ

Re: Twilight Struggle, Anyone?

Post by tgb »

Zarathud wrote:Took the oldest off to week long overnight camp today. It took over a surprising amount of time the past few days to get her ready.
No problem. We're not in a race.
I spent 90% of the money I made on women, booze, and drugs. The other 10% I just pissed away.
User avatar
El Guapo
Posts: 41243
Joined: Sat Jul 09, 2005 4:01 pm
Location: Boston

Re: Twilight Struggle, Anyone?

Post by El Guapo »

tgb wrote:
Zarathud wrote:Took the oldest off to week long overnight camp today. It took over a surprising amount of time the past few days to get her ready.
No problem. We're not in a race.
Well, not now that I've won, anyway. :wink:
Black Lives Matter.
User avatar
Isgrimnur
Posts: 82085
Joined: Sun Oct 15, 2006 12:29 am
Location: Chookity pok
Contact:

Re: Twilight Struggle, Anyone?

Post by Isgrimnur »

US Game vs the PC. Turn 2, Defcon 2. Play Five Year Plan. ... Duck and Cover.

:hawk:
It's almost as if people are the problem.
User avatar
Isgrimnur
Posts: 82085
Joined: Sun Oct 15, 2006 12:29 am
Location: Chookity pok
Contact:

Re: Twilight Struggle, Anyone?

Post by Isgrimnur »

Image

I'm proof that it doesn't matter if it's scored for you or against you.
It's almost as if people are the problem.
User avatar
Isgrimnur
Posts: 82085
Joined: Sun Oct 15, 2006 12:29 am
Location: Chookity pok
Contact:

Re: Twilight Struggle, Anyone?

Post by Isgrimnur »

And losing the tutorial game under Carter does not qualify as "completing" it.
It's almost as if people are the problem.
User avatar
El Guapo
Posts: 41243
Joined: Sat Jul 09, 2005 4:01 pm
Location: Boston

Re: Twilight Struggle, Anyone?

Post by El Guapo »

tgb wrote:Just an alert for those playing - turn notifications don't appear to be working at the moment.
They still don't seem to be working, at least not for me. Is there any news on this?
Black Lives Matter.
User avatar
Zarathud
Posts: 16433
Joined: Fri Oct 15, 2004 10:29 pm
Location: Chicago, Illinois

Re: Twilight Struggle, Anyone?

Post by Zarathud »

Still not working, and I'll be out until next Tuesday for GenCon and water parks. Not a gulag.
"If the facts don't fit the theory, change the facts." - Albert Einstein
"I don't stand by anything." - Trump
“Bad men need nothing more to compass their ends, than that good men should look on and do nothing.” - John Stuart Mill, Inaugural Address Delivered to the University of St Andrews, 2/1/1867
“It is the impractical things in this tumultuous hell-scape of a world that matter most. A book, a name, chicken soup. They help us remember that, even in our darkest hour, life is still to be savored.” - Poe, Altered Carbon
User avatar
El Guapo
Posts: 41243
Joined: Sat Jul 09, 2005 4:01 pm
Location: Boston

Re: Twilight Struggle, Anyone?

Post by El Guapo »

So last night I beat the AI (as the US) after spotting the AI 10 influence points via the handicap. Of course the AI spent its extra 10 influence (which appears to be placeable anywhere like normal influence) oddly - it made sure to take control of Finland, for example.

Generally the Soviet AI (at least) seems to badly undervalue Europe. I screwed up and didn't keep a 3+ action card in my hand early on, and consequently got blockaded out of W. Germany. But the AI just let me rebuild my influence in W. Germany over a few additional cards, without contesting me there. Similarly, they played John Paul II Elected Pope, used the action points on a couple silly realignment roles, and let me take Poland.
Black Lives Matter.
User avatar
El Guapo
Posts: 41243
Joined: Sat Jul 09, 2005 4:01 pm
Location: Boston

Re: Twilight Struggle, Anyone?

Post by El Guapo »

Oh, and I received an e-mail turn notification last night for the first time in a long time - so I guess that's working again.
Black Lives Matter.
User avatar
El Guapo
Posts: 41243
Joined: Sat Jul 09, 2005 4:01 pm
Location: Boston

Re: Twilight Struggle, Anyone?

Post by El Guapo »

If anyone here is interested in a casual TS game, just let me know.
Black Lives Matter.
User avatar
Holman
Posts: 28906
Joined: Sun Oct 24, 2004 8:00 pm
Location: Between the Schuylkill and the Wissahickon

Re: Twilight Struggle, Anyone?

Post by Holman »

I'm about to be away for a week (Sun-Sun), but after that I'd love a game.
Much prefer my Nazis Nuremberged.
User avatar
Archinerd
Posts: 6836
Joined: Fri Aug 25, 2006 11:18 am
Location: Shikaakwa

Re: Twilight Struggle, Anyone?

Post by Archinerd »

El Guapo -
Sent you an invite. I set it up to Bid for sides, I've never done that before so I'm not exactly sure how it works.
Optional cards are in, Chinese Civil War is out.
45 days
User avatar
El Guapo
Posts: 41243
Joined: Sat Jul 09, 2005 4:01 pm
Location: Boston

Re: Twilight Struggle, Anyone?

Post by El Guapo »

Archinerd wrote:El Guapo -
Sent you an invite. I set it up to Bid for sides, I've never done that before so I'm not exactly sure how it works.
Optional cards are in, Chinese Civil War is out.
45 days
Accepted!

The way bidding works (I believe - haven't done it before) is each person has the chance to pick a side and bid influence points. The winner is the one who bid the highest number of influence. They get the side that they picked, BUT the opponent gets the number of influence points bid by the winner.

SO, if I bid USSR +2 influence, I would get the USSR, and my opponent would get to place 2 influence at the start in addition to the usual starting influence. Based on how the handicap seems to work, I'm guessing those 2 bonus influence could be placed anywhere that you could normally place influence.
Black Lives Matter.
User avatar
Archinerd
Posts: 6836
Joined: Fri Aug 25, 2006 11:18 am
Location: Shikaakwa

Re: Twilight Struggle, Anyone?

Post by Archinerd »

Ah... well, looks as it didn't matter much as neither of us cared which side we played. :)

Prepare to lose geo-political power and influence Capitalist Pig.
User avatar
El Guapo
Posts: 41243
Joined: Sat Jul 09, 2005 4:01 pm
Location: Boston

Re: Twilight Struggle, Anyone?

Post by El Guapo »

Archinerd wrote:Ah... well, looks as it didn't matter much as neither of us cared which side we played. :)

Prepare to lose geo-political power and influence Capitalist Pig.
FWIW I think the bidding system came about for tournaments because the consensus was that the game mildly favored the USSR.
Black Lives Matter.
User avatar
tgb
Posts: 30690
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 10:33 pm
Location: Tucson, AZ

Re: Twilight Struggle, Anyone?

Post by tgb »

Congrats to Zarathud for roundly kicking my ass. hepcat, if it's any consolation, that dice curse you placed on me was very effective. Not that it mattered, with Zarathud ouplaying me like he did.

Anyway, for all the marbles and the official OO TS Trophy (which I personally posed for), it's

El Guapo

vs.

Zarathud

To the victor goes the spoils
Spoiler:
Image
I spent 90% of the money I made on women, booze, and drugs. The other 10% I just pissed away.
User avatar
El Guapo
Posts: 41243
Joined: Sat Jul 09, 2005 4:01 pm
Location: Boston

Re: Twilight Struggle, Anyone?

Post by El Guapo »

Zarathud, your account is ZarathudOO, I think? Mine is ElGuaposki.

Might as well set the game up to pick sides by bidding, I suppose.
Black Lives Matter.
User avatar
Zarathud
Posts: 16433
Joined: Fri Oct 15, 2004 10:29 pm
Location: Chicago, Illinois

Twilight Struggle, Anyone?

Post by Zarathud »

Yes, let's bid for sides.

tgb had me worried until I realized the scoring had come up where I was vulnerable. An Islamic revolution helped roll back the Middle East as Asia fell back. Then I had Central + South America scoring cards and a way to sneak a few points over there and into Venezuela unopposed. The event to jump 2 spaces on the Space Race put me in great position that I was able to capitalize on after drawing OPEC for a Headline.
"If the facts don't fit the theory, change the facts." - Albert Einstein
"I don't stand by anything." - Trump
“Bad men need nothing more to compass their ends, than that good men should look on and do nothing.” - John Stuart Mill, Inaugural Address Delivered to the University of St Andrews, 2/1/1867
“It is the impractical things in this tumultuous hell-scape of a world that matter most. A book, a name, chicken soup. They help us remember that, even in our darkest hour, life is still to be savored.” - Poe, Altered Carbon
User avatar
El Guapo
Posts: 41243
Joined: Sat Jul 09, 2005 4:01 pm
Location: Boston

Re: Twilight Struggle, Anyone?

Post by El Guapo »

Zarathud, I just sent you a game invite. At least I think I did...it looks like your name is Zarathud, not ZarathudOO.
Black Lives Matter.
User avatar
El Guapo
Posts: 41243
Joined: Sat Jul 09, 2005 4:01 pm
Location: Boston

Re: Twilight Struggle, Anyone?

Post by El Guapo »

Has anyone else had the AI headline opposing events (e.g., US AI headlining USSR events, or vice versa)? It's happened in the last few games for me. It's at least potentially justifiable for a USSR player to do, insofar as a ballsy player can try to anticipate Defectors and so use it to negate a US event. But there's really no reason I can think of for a US player to do that (especially an event like, say, Socialist Governments).
Black Lives Matter.
User avatar
tgb
Posts: 30690
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 10:33 pm
Location: Tucson, AZ

Re: Twilight Struggle, Anyone?

Post by tgb »

I was about to play a card that I guess would have dropped Defcon from 2 to 1. (Interestingly, the card text didn't indicate that) when I noticed the words "DEFCON ALERT!!!" printed around the confirmation icon.

I noticed a patch earlier today. Somebody must have been listening.
I spent 90% of the money I made on women, booze, and drugs. The other 10% I just pissed away.
User avatar
Isgrimnur
Posts: 82085
Joined: Sun Oct 15, 2006 12:29 am
Location: Chookity pok
Contact:

Re: Twilight Struggle, Anyone?

Post by Isgrimnur »

That was there the last time I played, which was not today.
It's almost as if people are the problem.
Post Reply