RISK!

[kz_blogorambling]

Kidlet's school has the game Risk available for aftercare, and after playing it there he begged us to buy it. I felt some reluctance because my memory of the game from childhood involved long, drawn-out games that never ended. My husband caved, and I have since used that excuse to avoid it every time my son asked. "Get your father to play; he's the one who agreed to buy it."

Well, for some reason I agreed to play a few weeks ago. Why did I wait so long? We are loving it. I almost bought a second game so kidlet and I could play without disturbing the 3-person game that awaits Mark's return from GDC. We decided, instead, to write down the locations of all the armies and reset the board. Now we're in the midst of a heated 2-person game. I have not had a dining room table for weeks, and we're changing around bedtime routines to accommodate more playing.

I find myself wondering this morning if I should just cede Africa and focus on other continents, or keep fortifying Egypt to keep the kid on his toes.

Comments

[sauronwrap.livejournal.com]

For what it's worth ... we bought Risk before Christmas, based on my recommendation (I used to play it in high school a lot). Everybody loved it, but we ran into the long-drawn-out games, too.

There are several computer versions available, and we wound up buying one of those, too. I think it was $20 from Big Fish Games. Anyway, we haven't played the board game since. The computer version is much easier, for several reasons -- you can play against computer generals (up to five), the game is MUCH shorter, and there aren't pieces flying all over the place when somebody accidentally rolls the dice on the board.

[sauronwrap.livejournal.com]

Oh, and Africa? Unless you've got a lot of armies to spare, stay away from Africa, Asia or Europe until later in the game. They have too many entry points or are just too big to justify the number of armies you've got to throw into them.

[crankyasanoldma.livejournal.com]

The kid has it about all sewn up, but I've got a stronghold there. I can't decide how long to keep being a thorn in his side.

[sauronwrap.livejournal.com]

Oh, I see.

In that case, I like to keep fortifying juuuust long enough to distract them. Then finally let it fall. In the meantime, you've manuevered another army into an attack position near the continent, so once they think they've FINALLY gotten you out of there, you attack from someplace else and crush their spirit.

I mean, if parents don't do this for their kids, where will they learn it? (This is in no way promoting gundy's comment below, though.)

[bristlesage.livejournal.com]

I played Risk for the first time a year or so ago. Surprisingly enjoyable. The rap on it is it's over-reliant on dice, and I think that's true, but I really did have fun playing it. I'm glad you and Kirk are digging it.

[slitterst.livejournal.com]

Don't give up Africa!

[scout1222.livejournal.com]

I've never played it. But I'm glad that you guys will play games with him. I am convinced that the reason I'm not a "game person" (social party games aside, which I'm coming around on nicely thanks to you folks) is that as an only child, I never had anyone to play with. My mom never played games or cards or whatever, and dad only had so much time. I had a bunch of games as a kid, and did a lot of solo game playing. Which kind of sucks.

Hey, is that a violin I'm hearing? =p

[crankyasanoldma.livejournal.com]

I always LOVED board games, and my mom always played really grudgingly. I had my sister, fortunately, but I never got as much plahing time as I liked. There are a lot of things I don't really like to play (like video games) and I decline most all the time. But board games, I'm nearly always up for. Part of it is simply that I enjoy them, but part of it is remembering how much I wished my own mom would play.

For that reason, whenever I'd say no to Risk, I'd generally suggest something else, like Sorry or Yahtzee or whatever.

[gundy.livejournal.com]

That's exactly the reason I'm not a "sex person".

[sauronwrap.livejournal.com]

Because your parents didn't have sex with you?

Or am I misreading that?

[gundy.livejournal.com]

What, is that weird?

[crankyasanoldma.livejournal.com]

Remember where he was brung up.

[aries28.livejournal.com]

I was coming in here to post almost the same thing. :o)

[sauronwrap.livejournal.com]

Are you referring to the Cultural Center of the Southeast?

[aries28.livejournal.com]

With the one traffic light?

Why yes...I am.

[sauronwrap.livejournal.com]

To paraphrase Doc Brown: "Traffic lights? Where we're going, we don't NEED traffic lights."

[scout1222.livejournal.com]

Good Christ, woman.

[blanx73.livejournal.com]

Because you never got railed by your brother?

[gundy.livejournal.com]

Come ON, people. I didn't mean the parents stuff, I meant the general not having anyone to play with stuff! I mean, have you even SEEN my parents? I'm way out of their league!

[blanx73.livejournal.com]

Now look who thinks she's too good to sleep with her folks!

[blanx73.livejournal.com]

My problem with board games when I was a kid is that my brother was both younger, and dumber than I, so I always won. Which I grew to like.

[scout1222.livejournal.com]

And it's what has made you into the fine attorney you are today....

[blanx73.livejournal.com]

That and selling my soul to the devil.

[aries28.livejournal.com]

I had this problem too with my younger sister. Of course, I always cheated so maybe I have a different problem.

[weirddave.livejournal.com]

Once you're done with Risk, introduce him to Diplomacy. Risk is to Diplomacy as this (http://www.nebraskahistory.org/images/sites/mnh/toystory/kidcar.jpg) is to this (http://www.diseno-art.com/images/IED-Mclaren-concept-3.jpg.jpg). You may have to do it online though, unless you have 7 people you can rope into playing live and in person.

[juniper200.livejournal.com]

Maybe Axis and Allies before Diplomacy. (It fits in as this (http://www.zcars.com.au/images/2008-bmw-m3-sedan1.JPG) in your analogy.)

[woohag.livejournal.com]

I love this post. It's so cute, and the definition of 'family time'. Good for you guys doing something awesome with your kid. I know that should be a given, but you know it isn't usually.