STRATEGO, a time tested one on one game of strategy
Written: Dec 02 '03 (Updated Jan 09 '05)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: A quick game to set up and play with continuous strategy being applied.
Cons: Only two can play. This can also be good.
The Bottom Line: Take it out and play it on a whim. Fun and challenge in less than half an hour.
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| popsrocks's Full Review: Stratego |
The game Stratego comes in and out of my life like a reunion with a close and dear cousin I haven't seen in years. We make arrangements to see each other, thoroughly enjoy our brief time in each other's company, and then depart only to start the process again a few years later.
This game might be likened to a simpler form of chess. There are pretty much the same amount of types of pieces that have different abilities and ranks. One huge difference is that the average game of Stratego only lasts twenty minutes or so.
The GOAL of the GAME
In this game you play to capture your opponents flag and to defend your own. The capture of a flag wins the game.
GAME PIECES
The game comes in a box that is approximately 10" x 20". It contains the game board and 80 game pieces, 40 per side.
Listed are the pieces and their point value, #1 is the most powerful and #9 is the weakest. Some of these pieces also have unique "powers"
THE FLAG - Yours, you must protect at all costs. The enemy Flag is your goal to capture.
One Marshal #1 - This piece can capture any other piece. It has two weaknesses. Like all pieces, except a Minor, it is eliminated when it walks into a Bomb. Though on the offense it can capture a Spy, the Spy on offense can capture the Marshal
One Spy - The
Spy is a very powerful piece in that it is the only one that can take out a Marshal. Its weakness is that any piece can capture it. This must be your truly stealth piece. After the position of your opponent's Marshal is known, the Spy goes into action trying to capture it.
One General #2 - Only a Marshal is more powerful. Like all the pieces except the Minor it can be destroyed if it steps into a Bomb
Two Colonels #3 - Only the Marshal and General are more powerful. This piece can take out all others except Bombs.
Three Majors #4 - I think you are getting into the value and power of the pieces.
Four Captains #5
Four Lieutenants #6
Four Sergeants #7
Five Minors #8 - This piece is only powerful enough to take out a Scout. All other pieces except a Spy can eliminate it. This Minor has the special power of being able to disable and remove any Bombs on the board.
Eight Scouts #9 - Here are the grunts of the board. This piece can be eliminated by any other piece except a Spy and it will be destroyed if it goes into Bomb The unique strength of this piece is that it may move over any number of unoccupied squares both vertical and horizontal. There are no diagonal movements in this game at all.
The Scout moves quickly on to or into enemy positions. It may move as many spaces as it likes both horizontally or vertically. It may not jump over pieces. They are sent to get feelers of what may be ahead. Once they make contact with any other piece they are eliminated from the game, however, you learn the name of the piece it encountered. Remember, a Spy is eliminated by all pieces including a Scout.
Six Bombs These pieces are strategically set up at the game start. Many people have their Flag. protected by them. Any piece that encounters a Bomb is destroyed.Bombs cannot move. They are removed only if encountered by a Minor.
SET UP
Much of the strategy of the game is in the set up of your own team. Unlike chess, where each piece always has a particular starting point, here you can place any piece anywhere on your side of the board.
Many games are won by learning your opponents skills and weaknesses then setting up offensively and defensively to your own advantage.
The teams are in two colours, red and blue. You set up your team on your side of the board with all pieces facing away from your opponent. Take care in not letting your set up be seen by the other side. Most people place all their pieces on the board and then put them into particular positions.
The flag is usually protected by bombs. At the same time bombs may be strategically placed for protection or as a mis-direction.
The top officers on each team must have access to routs getting into enemy lines and through your own defenses. too many bombs in one area can sometimes hamper movement.
GAME PLAY
Once all pieces are set game begins. Each player makes one move on each turn. All pieces may move forward, backward, and sideways, left or right. No diagonal moves are never allowed. No piece can jump over another of its own team or the opponents. No more than one piece can occupy a space. All encounters lead to the removal of one of the encountering pieces or both.
Two pieces are removed when tokens of equal value encounter each other.
The game continues with probing your opponents defenses looking to ultimately capture the flag. Many encounters will eliminate most pieces. When two pieces encounter each other on one space the one of higher value stays and the other is removed from the board never to return in that particular game. The game continues till a flag is captured.
Memory is important in this game. You may learn the value of an opponents piece through an encounter. It's important to try and keep track of all piece positions once known.
GAME and REVIEW END
I have given most of the rules and details of the game. Any other information will be easy to follow in the instruction guide given with the game.
My wife and I are married 32 years now. This game has always been nearby. All our children have played this game growing up. It is stated as good for 10- adult. That's pretty well stated.
Every once in a while Stratego makes its way to our dining room table or back room in front of the fire place. Two of our kids may play it and then others want to get their chance at the winner. Dad likes to play too. Play is fairly brief and intense. The game stays out two or three days and then it finds its way back to our game storage area.
A year or so later it's back on the dining room table.
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Stratego A time tested game of strategy.
Fact or Crap A new game that is fun for 15-adult
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Games for adults, but not a "Adult Game"
How to Host a Murder, The Tragical Mystery Tour These are our favorite game of all!
How To Host a Murder Mystery, The Watersdown Affair Another in the series.
Men are From Mars, Woman are From Venus Not that great
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 10
Type of Toy: Board Game
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