Balancing scenarios.

[Matt W]

I focus on the historical conclusion and whether the side "outperformed" their historical counterparts. The idea that a mechanism (victory conditions) defines a winner and a loser has to do with the fact that we call these games more than anything else. While I certainly play to win I also try to keep in mind that this is a tactical situation and sometimes the play ends up being more about the victory conditions than about the reality.

When Daniel and I play we both discuss "gameyness" when one or both of us start playing to meet the victory conditions rather than defeating the opposing force. Something like Bogdanovo, which I have played, captures the desperation of the situation. The fact that the Soviets win most of the time doesn't mean that I wouldn't play the Germans, merely that I wouldn't be likely to "win" according to the victory conditions. If, however, my forces were able to gain a lodgement in the town sufficient to permit shelter I would feel pretty good about my performance despite the victory conditions.