Jexik
11-14-2011, 01:38 PM
This was originally a 1-minute strategy section on the podcast (http://www.plaidhatgames.com/podcast.html), I believe episode 22. Check it out if you want to hear my voice say it and know what else is up at plaid hat.
Today's Lesson:
Crowding
Crowding is what I call any strategy characterized by affecting your opponent's options through swarming with commons.
Block your opponent's summoning spots by physically placing Units on as many wall-adjacent spots as you can. By restricting their summoning options, you can gradually swing the tide of battle in your favor.
The trickiest aspect of crowding is keeping it going. Often, players attempting to push into enemy territory will overextend themselves, lose all their attacking Units, and putting themselves at a large magic disadvantage.
Choose your targets wisely. Don't attack an enemy Unit if it's adjacent to its own wall. It's already helping your cause. Destroy Units that are off on their own. Don't dash after their Summoner. Just because you can do 2 damage to it this turn, that doesn't mean that you should. Think long term.
Choose your movements carefully. If a Unit is already adjacent to a wall, leave it there and move something else. I'll often arrange my Units in a checkerboard pattern while crowding- this allows the rear units to easily take the spots of any casualties. This works especially well with Sneeks and Sunderved. Sneeks' can run up and hit something at the start of the turn, and then switch back to something two spaces behind and do it again the following turn. Sunderved's Command naturally lends itself to a similar checkered formation. I'll often put either of these summoners on the front edge of my opponent's first wall.
As you gradually slow down their unit output to a trickle, that is when you can think about actually destroying a wall. This can be a huge momentum shift which will make it easy to then surround and kill their Summoner while all their magic advantage in the world won't help them. Be mindful of which factions can surprise you with a summon during the Event Phase.
The format doesn't let me go super in-depth, so if you'd like to ask any questions or discuss this topic further... well, here's the place!
I've been tossing around the terms since I wrote this Street Fighter inspired article (http://boardgamegeek.com/thread/489251/crowding-v-zoning-basic-summoner-wars-strategy) way back when.
Today's Lesson:
Crowding
Crowding is what I call any strategy characterized by affecting your opponent's options through swarming with commons.
Block your opponent's summoning spots by physically placing Units on as many wall-adjacent spots as you can. By restricting their summoning options, you can gradually swing the tide of battle in your favor.
The trickiest aspect of crowding is keeping it going. Often, players attempting to push into enemy territory will overextend themselves, lose all their attacking Units, and putting themselves at a large magic disadvantage.
Choose your targets wisely. Don't attack an enemy Unit if it's adjacent to its own wall. It's already helping your cause. Destroy Units that are off on their own. Don't dash after their Summoner. Just because you can do 2 damage to it this turn, that doesn't mean that you should. Think long term.
Choose your movements carefully. If a Unit is already adjacent to a wall, leave it there and move something else. I'll often arrange my Units in a checkerboard pattern while crowding- this allows the rear units to easily take the spots of any casualties. This works especially well with Sneeks and Sunderved. Sneeks' can run up and hit something at the start of the turn, and then switch back to something two spaces behind and do it again the following turn. Sunderved's Command naturally lends itself to a similar checkered formation. I'll often put either of these summoners on the front edge of my opponent's first wall.
As you gradually slow down their unit output to a trickle, that is when you can think about actually destroying a wall. This can be a huge momentum shift which will make it easy to then surround and kill their Summoner while all their magic advantage in the world won't help them. Be mindful of which factions can surprise you with a summon during the Event Phase.
The format doesn't let me go super in-depth, so if you'd like to ask any questions or discuss this topic further... well, here's the place!
I've been tossing around the terms since I wrote this Street Fighter inspired article (http://boardgamegeek.com/thread/489251/crowding-v-zoning-basic-summoner-wars-strategy) way back when.