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From: jeff@hpcnoe.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.games
Subject: Re: Orphaned Response
Message-ID: <8400007@hpcnoe.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 26-Feb-86 13:10:00 EST
Article-I.D.: hpcnoe.8400007
Posted: Wed Feb 26 13:10:00 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 1-Mar-86 22:42:35 EST
References: <11938@ucbvax.UUCP>
Organization: 26 Feb 86 11:10:00 MST
Lines: 40

|>True, at first.  There are certain strategies which seem to give
|>Mr. X an advantage.

|   Can we have some discussion of these strategies?  I have played
|several one-on-one games as detectives against my brother playing
|Mr. X, and I nearly always seem to win.  Would anyone who really
|thinks the game is balanced like to play against my detectives via
|net mail?

One of the common beginner's mistakes is not using the 2X markers 
until they are nearly caught (i.e. they have to use the markers or
they will be caught).  A better plan is use the 2X markers to 
prevent the above from ever happening.  One strategy therefore is
to use the 2X markers the first time Mr. X surfaces (in conjunction
with the black tickets).  Also, play Mr. X a bit more riskier might
help.  One tendency is to always put Mr. X in a position where it
is impossible for the Detectives to catch him.  This tends to always
leave Mr. X in the "net," whereas if you played a bit more risky, he
might escape from the "net."

Another strategy is to milk the Detectives markers, so that they will
run out of the crucial markers, riding on bus routes near the river
does a good job of this.

The 2X markers and the black markers should be used up before you get
to the third column.  If you are in the third column, and the Detectives
do not have a fix on you, then you basically have won the game.

There is an ambiguity in the rules about the Detective movements.  We
played that the Detectives have to move in strict order.  That is if
green moves after red, then red cannot move to green's present location.
This handicaps the Detectives somewhat.  The other rule that you might
implement is to allow Mr. X to show up voluntarily, but take away a 
token from each detective.  Contrary to what the rules say, this gives
an advantage to Mr. X.

-- Jeff Wu
   ..{ihnp4|hplabs}!hpfcla!j_wu

P.S.  Sure, an E-mail game would be fun.