When am I an expert player?

[larryfulkerson]

Most of us are aware that we've achieved a new level of gameplay when we do something we never expected and therefor surprise ourselves. I was thinking just now about how we choose this game at first because it looks and feels like a good try. And then after a while the game chooses us in that we can't resist trying this or trying that in some game you're playing. You have achieved the level of mastery over the game mechanics or the user interface or both that you're able to be creative in your game play. You begin to experiment with this technique or that one sometimes by trial and error and sometimes by using a careful thought-out plan, to sort of, succeed in this one but not that one, and you learn, slowly at first and then more quickly, what works and what doesn't and the game becomes more than fun. It becomes more like your own personal scientific experiment in logic and reason and evidence. And it's really fun to find out things you can help others with that you've learned. Everybody benefits then. Everybody helps each other become better players. We have better opponents to play with. It's more fun yet. Etc.

Questions and comments? Feel free. Your forum too.


EDIT: As an example: I'm helping Kevin sort of, and he's teaching me how to help others better. I've had the experience of bombing his bridges to drop the supply to his forward areas so that I might be more successful in my breakthrough attempts. And now that Kevin has launched his '41 Winter Offensive I see him bombing bridges, but not just bridges, the *right* bridges. He's amassed his reserves and parked them in just the right spot, his arty is parked correctly in the right spots to support the front, ........I'm amazed. It's like watching a symphony unfold it's magic. I wish every opponent could feel how happy I was to see this happen on my computer screen. From Kevin. My dude. He's a good player guys. Just in case you didn't catch the message.

[1_Lzard]

Bravo, Larry! Seriously!

Your post is a shining example of what this game means to me as well! I might not be the best 'tactician', but the sense of community the game brings is one that will certainly last as long as this game does!

[&o][&o][&o]

[Telumar]

ORIGINAL: 1_Lzard

Bravo, Larry! Seriously!

Your post is a shining example of what this game means to me as well! I might not be the best 'tactician', but the sense of community the game brings is one that will certainly last as long as this game does!

[&o][&o][&o]

Seconded.

And as for Larry's initial post, the first part. In TOAW, due to its flexibility, handling, tactics etc can be different from scenario to scenario. It makes a great difference if i move Corp sized units in EA or execute airmobile Ops with battalions and companies in Any of the Vietnam Combat Operations scenarios. So one might become an expert on advancing with Heeresgruppe Mitte's Divisions while he still might have a lot to learn about properly deploying and using 1st Air Cavalry in the late 60ies..
Even within the same era and theatre gameplay can be very different.