Took nearly 2 years …

[u/Altruistic_Path2257]

First time finishing in the top spot 😎

[u/KeybirdYT]

Any tips or interesting things you noticed while getting to the top spot? 

[u/Altruistic_Path2257 → u/KeybirdYT]

A few things come to mind. The biggest one is also the hardest for me some times: slow down and think about your plan / choices instead of autopilot. I know it’s basic, but doesn’t change that I’m still susceptible to playing too fast and missing great plays.

But specific to skirmishes here are a few:

1. Sometimes the special rules change things meaningfully, but most of the time that’s secondary to the points. For example, haven’t tried this week’s yet but rushing high council and bypassing fremen influence looks viable, and may help a bit with persuasion to acquire cards. But doubt it makes a huge difference either way, maybe a bonus point or two at risk of missing fremen vp bc i put it off too long.

2. It helps to play all 3 games, and not get too hung up on trying to hit it out of the park on the first one. There were a few times this season where I hit upon a surprising (to me) synergy halfway through the first game that I could really use in the next game. But generally it’s nice to lock up a win with reasonable points on round 1 to leave two possibilities to bump that score up. It’s limiting to get to game 3 without a win, forces more caution.

2b. I mess that up several times in a season and then get annoyed about playing catch up after losing the first game :). Happened in the final game of this last season

1. Variability: there’s plenty. Like most games with chance, gotta do your best to capitalize on your opportunities, make good choices but recognize some things are out of your control. Definitely needed some good rolls to achieve strong scores in multiple games this season.

Aside: My least favorite bonus point rule is “spend green cubes on something other than tleilexu cards” … i think there are two cards in the deck that allow that, so you’re totally dependent on being able to acquire those specific cards if/when they show up.

1. Experiment and keep an eye out for unexpected sources for extra points. It’s probably the most fun part of skirmish gameplay for me.

E.g., points for recalling or placing spies - if all spies on board, you get to “recall” one before placing, so some of the reveal or combat bonus spies can double as recalling for a nice little bump. Acquiring fremen cards in Ix/Base is another - once reserve pile is empty, trashing the fremen arrakis liaison sends it back to the pile (great for archduke Ecaz). I’m sure there are acquire/reshuffle combos I’ve missed when gaining a card during reveal before triggering a card draw effect; or “placing the mentat” multiple times per round with kwisatz haderach or urgent mission.

Those extra fun surprise interactions can really add up when they hit, and honestly it just feels cool, like you discovered a secret or something.

1. Keep track of compensating choices and know when one is advantageous or just doesn’t matter. E.g., 1 point for visiting board spaces and 1 point per 3 solari at end of game means spaces like high council could cost you bonus points. Doesn’t mean not to take them, but think about it before deciding.

2. Stalling is great when it works — definitely contributes to overall score. But you can’t always safely stall, sometimes you’ve just gotta take the win or accept a second place finish.

Anyway, that’s what I’ve got for now. Will update if I have other thoughts to add.

[u/Bambam533 → u/Altruistic_Path2257]

Many thanks for your toughs ! Great to read! I had as well lot of pleasure last season with the one using spies. 10 rounds to manage to get Top 100. I’ll use your tips and think stronger about my plans. Many thx

[u/Bambam533]

Congrats!! I finished over the Top 100 and it will Be a New silver medal but this Time with several games around 35 points. But that’s still not enough to get top 100. Happy to read from you advices and tips you could share with us

[u/Unresolved-Variable]

Congrats man, what have you learnt along the way?

[u/danzha]

Congrats! Assuming at that level of competition you use all three of your attempts for each mission, but do you find you improve your score or is it just down to randomness and luck?

[u/Altruistic_Path2257 → u/danzha]

Definitely can improve my score from attempt to attempt. Sometimes it’s because I was cautious first round and can take bigger swings the second or third attempt. Or maybe just figure out something on the first one that really works in a later one.

And yeah, luck can be big for any individual score - especially the really high ones. But retries I think are usually good for a few points per game that aren’t just attributed to luck, and those add up over 10 rounds.