I love the idea of your '7' variant;. As I kid, I had a cheesy bluff of occasionally picking up a bomb like I was going to move it, then changing my mind and putting it back in its space.
2 things. 1. I'm surprised that more games haven't utilized this type of hidden movement. I like it much more than what you see with games such as Fury of Dracula or Scotland Yard etc. I like seeing that you are moving, just not knowing what you are moving. Similarly dated games such as Yahtzee and Risk have their fingerprints on all sorts of modern games. Not so much with Stratego. 2. I know this is a mass market game, but it is ripe for expansions. New maps with different layouts and slightly different rules like Ticket to Ride does. You could have different types of weapons. Maybe some different types of terrain that only certain numbers or groups of numbers can use. Nothing major since it's a family game.
Loved Stratego as a kid, still keep my copy around. The bluffing aspect (making a 2 move one space at a time) was one of my favorite elements. I would say the Spy element is the best element of the game, not just because you've got one piece with only one purpose (attacking the General), but because trying to figure out how far forward in the rows to put the Spy can really change the game. I've put the spy too far forward and lost it near the beginning, and I've put it too far back making it nearly useless. It's that challenge to keep your spy protected just long enough without losing your reserve of pieces. Second best is the tie factor, where if a General hits a General, both pieces are out of the game. At it's core, Stratego is about either capturing the opposing General with a spy, OR knocking out enough of your opponent's lower level pieces before they knock out yours so that when you inevitably whittle the board down, you can run through their troops with your remaining 3s and 4s while they are stuck with 5 through 9s. I found through many games as a kid that it's rare that it's just a mad rush to get to the flag. I think the diagonal jumping 7s thing was all you, but I love that because it nullifies the safest strategy in the game, which is putting your flag in 1 of the 2 corners surrounded by bombs. If diagonal jumping exists, you have to expend all 6 of your bombs to protect the corners, which could be considered a waste.
Good stuff Jamey. Lots of fond memories playing Stratego as a child as well (until the blue spy piece broke which ruined it). The bluffing element is the best part leading to lots of 'smoke and mirrors' if done well.
Neat insight that setting up is half the game. Are there other games like that? There must be, but I’m not thinking of any. I’d say that’s my favorite feature of Stratego. I love trying to come up with a set up that defies my opponent’s expectations.
Pyramid Poker is a recent one like that. You make a Pyramid of blocks, with a Poker card printed on one side, and then undo it, creating 3 hands. It's very Stratego-like in that the blocks are facing one player, but both can draw them: for one, it's a random draw.
I love the idea of your '7' variant;. As I kid, I had a cheesy bluff of occasionally picking up a bomb like I was going to move it, then changing my mind and putting it back in its space.
That's one of my favorite bluffs!
love stratego - played this a lot growing up, with my older brother (and usually lost)
2 things.
1. I'm surprised that more games haven't utilized this type of hidden movement. I like it much more than what you see with games such as Fury of Dracula or Scotland Yard etc. I like seeing that you are moving, just not knowing what you are moving. Similarly dated games such as Yahtzee and Risk have their fingerprints on all sorts of modern games. Not so much with Stratego.
2. I know this is a mass market game, but it is ripe for expansions. New maps with different layouts and slightly different rules like Ticket to Ride does. You could have different types of weapons. Maybe some different types of terrain that only certain numbers or groups of numbers can use. Nothing major since it's a family game.
Loved Stratego as a kid, still keep my copy around. The bluffing aspect (making a 2 move one space at a time) was one of my favorite elements. I would say the Spy element is the best element of the game, not just because you've got one piece with only one purpose (attacking the General), but because trying to figure out how far forward in the rows to put the Spy can really change the game. I've put the spy too far forward and lost it near the beginning, and I've put it too far back making it nearly useless. It's that challenge to keep your spy protected just long enough without losing your reserve of pieces.
Second best is the tie factor, where if a General hits a General, both pieces are out of the game. At it's core, Stratego is about either capturing the opposing General with a spy, OR knocking out enough of your opponent's lower level pieces before they knock out yours so that when you inevitably whittle the board down, you can run through their troops with your remaining 3s and 4s while they are stuck with 5 through 9s. I found through many games as a kid that it's rare that it's just a mad rush to get to the flag.
I think the diagonal jumping 7s thing was all you, but I love that because it nullifies the safest strategy in the game, which is putting your flag in 1 of the 2 corners surrounded by bombs. If diagonal jumping exists, you have to expend all 6 of your bombs to protect the corners, which could be considered a waste.
Good stuff Jamey. Lots of fond memories playing Stratego as a child as well (until the blue spy piece broke which ruined it). The bluffing element is the best part leading to lots of 'smoke and mirrors' if done well.
Neat insight that setting up is half the game. Are there other games like that? There must be, but I’m not thinking of any. I’d say that’s my favorite feature of Stratego. I love trying to come up with a set up that defies my opponent’s expectations.
Pyramid Poker is a recent one like that. You make a Pyramid of blocks, with a Poker card printed on one side, and then undo it, creating 3 hands. It's very Stratego-like in that the blocks are facing one player, but both can draw them: for one, it's a random draw.
I have a rough design for a Statego-esque game on the shelf. I hope to continue on it this summer.
Check out Lord of the Rings: The Confrontation
Is that a similar style of game? I'll check it out!
Stratego Waterloo!