Re: "Trade or Blade"

From: Gregory Stafford <gstafford@earthlink.net>

Date: Thu, 22 May 1997 00:00:00 +0000

A. Davey wrote:
>
> "Trade or Blade"
>
> What are the best strategies for playing tribe vibes?
> Do you simply attack those around you for their resources. or trade with
> them for goods you don't have?
>
> andrewIt seems to me that alliances are nearly essential particularly in the
early stages of the game.  As Pat has noted it takes a looong time to
build up your skills.  Therefore if you go for the ability to do one
thing it must be at the sacrifice of something else.

As for someone who concentrates too much on warfare early on, they might
not even come across someone to fight.  If you don't work on survival
skills you'll only end up sending most of your warriors off hunting
anyway.  Weak in survival skills would make one ultimately weak in the
game.

An alliance for trade purposes doesn't necessarily mean being held at
gun point (more likely bone axe here) for the things you need.  Although
the arguement for an alliance for the sake of trade is less compelling
than for a military alliance.  One partner could concentrate on armor
the other on weapons, or one on farming grain the other on cotton.
Because you can't do it all you'll always have a weakness.

Finally, an alliance allows you to more certainly wipe out loner
opponents.  Since it is unlikely that anybody, especially in the early
rounds (I've only played my fourth turn), has a big numerical or
technological advantage over anyone else, it is also unlikely that one
player could singlehandedly score a big knockout blow.  However, teaming
up with allies yields better odds.

Of course, as I've said I've only played four turns.  So, all my
ramblings could just be junk.  What I really want to know is what will
happen to my herds if I move into a DH hex?

References

"Trade or Blade"
"A. Davey" <adavey@ocean.com.au>
Mon, 19 May 1997 00:00:00 +0000