Tournament tactics vs. Scenario tactics

[elvenwizard9]

One thing I have noticed in my time here is that there is a wide gap between tactics and strategies used in tournaments as opposed to those used in large-scale, Risk- like warfare scenarios which takes place on the HeroScape board.

I played a large game of HeroScape yesterday across 4 maps with 6 players. The attackers controlled the first map, the Forgotten Forest Pass, and from there could travel to the Magma Caves or the Bleakwoode Road. From these they could arrive at the final destination, the Castle Idona. The defenders were to repel the attackers, and the attackers to eliminate all opposing figures within the castle.

It felt much more strategic. I discussed with my teammates:
(I am Jandar, and my two allies Ullar and Einar)
Jandar: Alright, most of my force is knights, so I will try to clog up the passes to the castle. Ullar, you send in the EoV and Syvarris and Theracus to meet the attackers on the Forgotten Forest Pass before they can get to the Magma Caves or Bleakwoode. You have the Venoc Warlord, so you can add to these units' movement values. Use the roads wisely. Expect the vipers to go down quickly; use them as a kamikaze unit to soften them up. Go for one of their high-life, low-defense big baddies. Let Syvarris and Theracus sit back, but pull them out as soon as they get fired on. They will be useful later.

Ullar: Alright. Have Kelda ready back here at the castle to heal up Syvarris when he gets home.

Jandar: Ok. Einar, send the Romans to the Bleakwoode Road, and the Izumis to the Magma Caves. They will be a good follow up unit to hold ground for a bit after our first wave which will allow us to delay them. I will move in last with my Knights and Raelin. We will have an impenetrable wall of armor blocking the way to the castle.

Einar: Ok. Don't forget to drop the Airborne Elites in when the combat gets hot. Try to get them in when Marcus is still alive.

Jandar: Got it. Alright, let's go!

That's what the opening strategy was. However, unfortunately, the Vipers were not quick enough to reach the Forgotten Forest Pass, and were met with a nasty surprise in Bleakwoode: Queen Braxas herself! The Vipers went down, and soon her Orcish minions arrived to take the pass. However, Knights and Romans soon met them on the road, and much blood was shed. Meanwhile, Taelord with a few more orcs were sneaking through the Magma Caves, only to be met with Samurai and Warriors of Ashra. They fought valiantly, but the foul orcs soon destroyed them. Jandar ordered full retreat, and the few defenders left at the castle set up a defensive melee formation on the road to the castle while the ranged units prepared themselves on the top...

See the depth of strategy here? In small, quick tournament games, the choices made are much simpler. Mostly it seems like just "Run for the glyphs, run for the height, and be reckless with your forces because you'll just get them back next game in a few minutes."

[kolakoski]

Well met!

Apples and oranges, but I, too, enjoy a scenario where the decisions are not so cut and dry - and those are the kind I try to create.

[ZAKOVANI]

Most larger scenarios like that seem to be more strategic and most games, if played with multiple skilled players seem to be more tactical. I think that if you are in a tournament/playing a quick game, the "sprint for victory" approach might be more common, but in some games, tactical decisions, such as which squad to send on which route, are also common.