Fixing Stratego

[bayonetbrant]

Building on the conversation about whether or not Stratego is a wargame, here are 2 simple fixes I'd throw out for how to fix the game:


1.  Need a point system to buy/build your force.  Limit of maybe 15-20 pieces, and limits on how many of each piece you can have, especially the bombs.  6 bombs makes a total wall of a defense too easy.  Limit to maybe 2 bombs and 3 of anything else.

2.  Reinforcing / exploiting attacks - if you beat someone by a huge difference, then you get to follow up with a second attack with the same or an adjacent piece.  This rewards players who set up and coordinate their attacks rather than just try to play an attrition-plinking game.

There's a really good game hiding underneath the overly-balanced discount-store simplicity of Stratego, but it's going to take some grognard tinkering to truly bring it out.

[TheCommandTent]

Interesting thoughts Brant.  I never looked deeply into the mechanics of the game.


Building/Buying your force could make for some interesting games although I was always partial to the bombs and loved using them in my strategies.

Your second idea seems interesting but I am not sure how you could fairly implement it.

[Staggerwing]

There are a number of variations at this site: ultrastratego.com

There is also a playable online Stratego site here: http://www.browserchess.net/stratego/


You just know I had to play a game before posting, don't you? I finally won with a Miner.

[GJK]

I'm being serious here, but what if the map was switched to hexes?  I'm trying to recall my Stratego rules...how is diaganol movment/combat handled (if it is allowed at all)?

[Staggerwing]

Diagonal movement is one of the variants, though not specifically with hexes. With squares you would get eight axes of movement as opposed to six for hexes.

[bayonetbrant]

I was always partial to the bombs and loved using them in my strategies.

They're fine, but with the choke points on the map, there's too many of them and the game is unbalanced.

Your second idea seems interesting but I am not sure how you could fairly implement it.

Not that hard - if you beat the other guy by at least X differential, then you can make a 2d attack, either with that piece or an adjacent one.

I also think it would be interesting to allow scouts (9s) to challenge to expose a piece w/o attacking.  Of course, it also exposes your scout, but the sacrifice might be worth it.

[TheCommandTent]

I was always partial to the bombs and loved using them in my strategies.

They're fine, but with the choke points on the map, there's too many of them and the game is unbalanced.

Your second idea seems interesting but I am not sure how you could fairly implement it.

Not that hard - if you beat the other guy by at least X differential, then you can make a 2d attack, either with that piece or an adjacent one.

I also think it would be interesting to allow scouts (9s) to challenge to expose a piece w/o attacking.  Of course, it also exposes your scout, but the sacrifice might be worth it.

That idea I like.

Also would you leave, change or get ride of the choke points?

[bayonetbrant]

I think variable terrain maps would be great.  Move the water, add some hills (+1 defense) or some woods (limits mobility somehow).  But the way the water is set up, it's too easy for anyone with a rudimentary knowledge of obstacles to lock their defense down too well.

[Staggerwing]

Allow the miner and the spy to cross water and make the challenges for ID you mentioned.