Eric Flood
United States
Sunnyvale
California
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oeste wrote: From the description in the last few posts, it sounds as if all of your experience has led to the conclusion that with multiple good players, each will have a majority hold on one or occasionally two companies and a minority hold on another one or two companies, and the best strategy is to derail the companies in which you have a minority stake so that the companies in which you have a majority share will pay out slightly more once everyone is done destroying all other businesses. Everyone punch each other in the face and the last man standing wins. Don't worry about defending yourself, just make sure to punch harder. I may not be reading this correctly, but is that the gist of it?
Way off; the strongest position is often a 1-1-1-1 holding.
Also important is to realize that it is not the punching which is important, but the threat therein - see that big guy with the muscles over there? Why, exactly, is it a bad idea to insult his mother and then throw a drink in his face? Use the same common sense here, don't put yourself in the line of fire of someone ready to punch. If you line yourself up for his right hook, don't be surprised when it lands.
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J C Lawrence
United States
Campbell
California
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oeste wrote: From the description in the last few posts, it sounds as if all of your experience has led to the conclusion that with multiple good players, each will have a majority hold on one or occasionally two companies and a minority hold on another one or two companies, and the best strategy is to derail the companies in which you have a minority stake so that the companies in which you have a majority share will pay out slightly more once everyone is done destroying all other businesses.
No, the game isn't long enough for that. Actions are precious (and Capitalise opportunities the most precious of all). They can be used to advance your own position (along with another's), or to ensure that another doesn't unduly profit from his position, or to manipulate the balance of opportunity and incentive across the table. Doing all three is required. Getting the balance required among the three is the delicate bit and often comes down to repeated dollar-precise calculations and timings.
Quote: I may not be reading this correctly, but is that the gist of it?
No. A lot of good material has been written elsewhere about Wabash Cannonball, not least the Joseki articles. You have a few hours of good reading ahead of you.
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Brian Lee
United States
Northridge
California
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When playing with newbies, you have to see if they are stubborn or willing to listen. The best games I have had are when I help players out by throwing in key advice. The first thing I say is auction, auction, AUCTION. It is true that one may do a better move besides auction at times, but I try to reiterate that this is the strongest move in the game and you get a better feel for it by using it more.
I then say that when auctioning, in the early game, you do not want to immediately buy your own share. I say this because if you do so, you will not earn any more money and will be weak in future auctions. There are again exceptions, but as said before, I give general advice.
I also tell players that most of the time, they will want to hurt the strongest player. Failure to do so usually will throw the game to that player. So if a guy is pushing red hard and red has the most income, I will say that red is in the lead. I say that to hurt players, try to auction off a stock that they own and someone else should get it. That will dilute the income that he gets and also allows sabotage to be used.
When players push or develop trains, I try to point out that if they benefit a company that they have 33% stake in, instead, they might want to push a track they have 50% stake in to get more of the benefit. Also, I tell them that they might want to reconsider pushing a track they own a minority of shares in.
I also tell them that develop is probably the weakest move compared to build or auction. I say that you can improve an area where the trains you own meet and it can also change the starting order for next round so that the player will get a chance to use the auction.
I also definitely tell them that each initial share goes for half of their starting money, plus or minus 2 bucks. Red however might go for more than that.
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Chris Wood
United States
Wheaton
Illinois
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Really stupid question, but what is meant by a capitalize action?
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Daniel W.
United States
Portland
OR
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Chris, it is the option to put a stock up for sale on your turn.
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