just a point:
win a game with a small blockade, doesn't mean for sure you won bc the blockade.
So depends imo. You could have won without blcoakde too, or with one bigger :)

Hmm thanks for pointing that out Gnuffles only:

I'm curious, search through your games and see if you have one where you won by blockading a territory with only 1-3 troops on it (4, 7, or 10 blockade).

In this post, I specifically ask for games that are won as a result of a small blockade. :)

games that are won as a result of a small blockade

http://warlight.net/MultiPlayer?GameID=5182013

Turn 5.

Yes/No?

No

@Ra: While it is an interesting use of a blockade, I don't see it winning you that game. Your strategy was to block Queensland small and then use first orders to bust Antarctica. What's funny is that your plan doesn't quite work. Later on in the game you eliminate Rabbit from Australia, but because of the blockade and even income you don't really have a chance of going for Aus. I will admit this is a better use of a blockade than I've seen in most games, but it does not win you this game.

I'm asking out of curiosity, and it won't surprise me if no one can find a flawless example. Do post games where you think the blockade did turn the tide or give you an advantage even if it did not win you the game. :)

"The use of the blockade card is totally dependend of the game. You can not generalize its use."

*shrug* I think I can.

"games that are won as a result of a small blockade"

I cant see games in terms of one thing winning or losing them. Its why I struggle with the "you won on luck" moaning from Qi and Boston. A blockade wont win a game. Accepting that is the first step to playing the card well.

Sure you can, just doesnt give it any educational value.

And a blockade card can win you the game. I would love to post some examples, but since this thread is placed in the ladder forum, my alts can not post.

Edited 7/20/2014 01:14:22

Do you think there is anything of any educational value to be said on the topic of using blockades? Or is any heuristic reductionist?

And a blockade card can win you the game. I would love to post some examples, but since this thread is placed in the ladder forum, my alts can not post.

Why not just grab the link from the alt, and then post it through your main? Unfortunately I don't think you can keep your anonymity on them if you post unless we edit these posts and you just send me a couple links through mail. I'll act like they could be anyone's alt who read this post. :P

Edited 7/20/2014 01:40:12

http://warlight.net/MultiPlayer?GameID=5645080 good blockade
http://warlight.net/MultiPlayer?GameID=5674019 bad blockade
http://warlight.net/MultiPlayer?GameID=5657289 bad blockade
http://warlight.net/MultiPlayer?GameID=5668837 good blockade
http://warlight.net/MultiPlayer?GameID=5645079 bad blockade
http://warlight.net/MultiPlayer?GameID=5644312 bad blockade

Edited 8/18/2014 07:26:53

The way you presented the topic, it seemed as if you were implying educational value.
And yes I do believe there is educational value in the use of blockades, most certainly. Or do you believe that if you never used a blockade before you would make a better decision than after having used it in various ways on multiple occasions?

And even if I am a holistic person, I do believe that of course it is possible to achieve better or more accurate results with a heuristic reduction, if you have the necessary data and processing power requiered for the task you are applying it on.

@DP, in our first game, are you talking about the turn 6 blockade?

http://warlight.net/MultiPlayer?GameID=5645080 good blockade

@voodoo

You made a whole thread about luck determining the outcome of top strat 1v1 games in which you argued vehemently with lots of different people who all thought you were wrong. So you were the second off the top of my head. An example of the attitude that something besides a huge number of choices by the player are the primary determinant of the outcome of the game.

Edited 7/20/2014 01:50:56

Piggy, I disagree in your interpretations of a good or bad blockade. They seem rather arbitrary to me.

@lolowut Yes, I believe that train has left station now.

Edited 7/20/2014 01:54:29

The less data and processing power you have the more general your assertions have to be. So mine are pretty fucking broad. They will be refined over time, as exceptions to the rule get turned into new rules. I dont think theyre currently too general to be useful. If you do theh perhaps start bringing up the exceptions and I can start addressing them.

@ Pooh

yes I am. It is risky because hes using armies for the blockade that might get killed by a first move from gnuffone, that needs to be recognised as a good thing, especially because JV is losing. It is of appropriate size to hurt gnuffone but not so big that JV cant expand nicely in caucasus. JV hasnt waited until hes blockading in scott and thereby eliminating himself from the south and doing what gnuff would expect. It is not used to achieve a strategic aim, its purely tactical. These things all are good.

Okay

I will start with what you did:

I have started trying to use it in a different way.

1. Use it as soon as I can
2. make it small, 1-3 armies is ideal
3. dont use it somewhere that i cant afford let the enemy take
4. gamble that the territory i play it on will get taken this turn
5. Stop the other guy from going through it by keeping the pressure on somewhere else. it takes an attack of 19 to break a blockade card played on 3 armies in one turn. And the attacker will lose 7 of them.

1. Ignore this point. Its ridiculous. Use it when the other prerequisites are met. When you forsee a better opportunity of the usage of a blockade card somewhen in the future, it might be better to delay its use.
2. Ignore this point. Its not even ridiculous anymore, its plain stupid. Make it as small as neccessary, but dont use an "ideal" number, since an ideal number is arbitrary.
3. Ignore this point. Even if you can afford letting the enemy take the territory, respectively bonus be taken, it might be a good decision to still blockade if a good opportunity presents itself.
4. What is that supposed to mean? Clarify please. The way i read it, its the opposite of what you might have meant. Gamble that the territory you play it on will not get taken this turn makes more sense. If that is the case, its an incorrect advice. Sometimes you might have to gamble would be better. If not, ignore this point. Its stupid.
5. Ignore the latter part of this point. It just gives an example on the effects of taking down a blockade on an army stack. Be sure to exactly know how a blockade card works, before you read this valuable guide of advanced knowledge on when to use a blockade card.
Considering the former part of the advice, its not precise. There are circumstances in which a taken down blockade can be intentional by you. Ergo, ignore this point.

The educational value of all this is almost none, quite the contrary, if you follow this guide as it is, it will be harmful for your game.

Edited 7/20/2014 02:16:17

"Yes, I believe that train has left station now." Dont worry about it, noone reads these threads anyway =D

I think you underestimate your influence on the community there.

I still remember the advice Odin gave me in a game when we were discussing the Blockade card. it went something like this "If you have to use a blockade to stop your opponent....you probably already lost."