Who to attack?

[MrTotoro1]

Hi, so I have been wondering about this strategic question:

EDIT: The question applies to a flat rate game.

When you and another player are both the strongest (in terms of troops and troops due) on the map (similar troop/troops due counts, maybe they're a little bit stronger than you still), is it best to attack them, or is it wiser to attack smaller enemies to up your troops due?

But, when choosing to attack smaller enemies I might be upping my troops due but depending how many troops I had to kill in my expansion I'll reduce my troop count considerably long and fall behind the other strong player, and it will take dozens of rounds for the troops due gained to compensate the initial troop loss.

If you attack the other strong player instead, making them weaker, you'll make yourself the main target of the game.

So what's the best strategy in such a situation?

Cheers,
Totoro

 

[Cardinalsrule]

You definitely don't want to do anything that will take you 'dozens of rounds' to make up for. I'd try to slowly, incrementally, weaken the other strong player while building up my borders, make myself uninviting to attack. Unless, of course, you can eliminate another player, that's always worth doing.

 

[MrTotoro1]

You definitely don't want to do anything that will take you 'dozens of rounds' to make up for.

It happens quite often though that you take a command from someone who had it occupied by more than just a couple troops, but it still ends up to be a good decision in the long run. If the command is worth 4 troops per round after 10 rounds you already have 40 plus at least 1 each round addtionally for the extra regions held.
With flat, eliminating only gives you 6 bonus troops if they have enough cards though.

Thanks for you input!

 

[brianstheman]

The other benefit of taking out an opponent in Flat Rate is they don't hit you anymore with their deploy & sets.

Note: I've learned that my desire for action is ill suited for 4p plus Flat Rate singles games, and lose most after bowing out.