Re: Defcon: Most horrifying game ever?

On Mon, 6 Jan 2025 08:17:05 +0000, JAB <noway@nochance.com> wrote:

On 03/01/2025 15:51, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:

And the game is an absolute blast to play with friends. At least in
short bursts. As mentioned, it's not really a game you can win and the
real joy comes when you start launching the nukes willy-nilly in a
spasm of amageddic fire. Usually (at least in my experience) there's
very little actual strategy; most people just go right to the nukes as
soon as they can. I guess because everybody just wants to see the
world burn?

>
There is some strategy, although quite basic, of where are you going to
sit on the offensive to defensive strategy, where to place your
resources and which targets to prioritise. They key I found to do well
though, knowing the right point to back stab your allies before they do
it to you.

Oh, I wasn't dismissing the game so much as the players. You CAN use
strategy to get a higher score, but in my experience all this goes for
nought when the nukes start flying and people start getting excited.
People stop playing to win, and start playing just to see the big
explosions.

Which is, I think, the BEST way to play the game. I've _tried_ playing
the game strategically and it isn't anywhere near as fun.

Even Wargames in 1984 knew that.

LIST PRIMARY TARGETS
Who should we nuke first?
    What about Las Vegas?
         What else? Seattle!

    Hey, what does all this [strategic gibberish on screen] mean?
         I don't know, but it's great!