Learning to play with small random scenarios

[JWW]

I got this game for Christmas. Okay, I got it early. AT and an external backup drive are my major Christmas presents this year. The external drive is under the tree. I got to play the game as soon as I downloaded it.

Anyway, I just wanted to suggest that one way to learn the rules and nuances of the game is to play small random scenarios against the AI. It is fun, it doesn't take too long, and you can take a good look at everything and figure out how to do things like naval invasions.

I've been playing one or two random scenarios every night this week, scaling the map down to 10x20, sometimes adding some water, and fiddling with other things. I've won more than the AI but the AI has beaten me a few times, too. It depends largely on my starting position. I've learned a lot about how supply works, air power, artillery, research, things like that. Last night I did my first naval invasion after figuring that out.

And typically the game takes an hour or so depending on what happens, and I haven't had a lot of time lately so that is good, though I'll have a nice Christmas break starting, well, today.

Great game, fun game, and I've really just touched the surface and haven't played any of the regular scenarios that come with the game yet.

[miral]

I agree and I find that I can go to 50x50 maps with 3-4 sides and the ai takes only a few seconds to do its turn, even late in the game. Games this side last long enough to be interesting and cannot be finished in one sitting (unless you play for a pretty long time). This is the best way to learn. I've played a number of games now but I still quail when I look at some of the monster scenarios. Perhaps in time. Maybe the way to go is to gradually increase the size of the map and number of sides.