\nInternational”, issue #5 (May 1989) and is reproduced here with the permission of
\nthe author)<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n
Strategy Seminar<\/span><\/h3>\nDie Macher<\/h2>\nby Brian Walker<\/h5>\n
As anyone who has played with me will tell you (all too loudly), I’m not the
\nworld’s greatest games player. Nevertheless, there are a few games I’ve managed
\nto delude myself into thinking that I play well. One of these is Die Macher<\/a>, a
\ngame based on the German elections, and arguably one of the most sophisticated, in terms
\nof game mechanics, on the market. For the increasing number of owners of this game I
\nwould like to share some of the pearls of wisdom I acquired on the hustings. Obviously
\nit’s impossible to suggest a definitive strategy in a game of such changing fortunes,
\nso I’ll suffice by concentrating on opening moves and the first election.<\/p>\nPreliminaries<\/h4>\n
![\"Never](\"https:\/\/www.westpark-gamers.de\/Ressourcen\/macherartcl_1.gif\")
The first thing you have to do is
\nto jettison two members of your shadow cabinet. This is one of the easier decisions to
\nmake in the game. Generally I discard the Fraktionsf\u00fchrer and the Partieboss on the basis
\nthat the junior ministers perform many of the same actions at cheaper cost. The Kanzler I
\nalways like to keep for that +3 popularity. Expensive, sure, but worth the dough in a
\ncrisis. Never get rid of your junior ministers. They offer tremendous value for
\nmoney.<\/p>\n
The next step is to cast your freebies, starting with the votes. This is normally a
\npretty tough choice, especially if you are going first. Ideally, you want to find a
\nregion where you have at least two matching choices. But things are usually not that
\nsimple so stay cool, and be patient. Above all try to avoid getting in a fight with an
\nopponent at this stage, wasting your valuable resources to possibly finish second in an
\nelection is not a sound strategy. If you do go first and there is no obvious choice as to
\nwhere to place your first five votes, split them up between the four regions and wait to
\nsee what your opponents do. By the time you get round to placing your media disc and
\ncampaign days, you should have a clearer picture of the region where you want to mount a
\nserious campaign. Once this has been determined, plough all your resources into that
\nregion and get ready to kick ass. But remember; fifty votes is the maximum you can
\nobtain, so don’t waste cash trying to get more.<\/p>\n
Brighton, Brighton<\/h4>\n
Generally I like to keep my resources as long as possible until I see which way the
\ngame is swinging, but this is not always possible with the conferences. If two of your
\nopponents are already agreed on a particular program then get in quick and hold a special
\nconference (cost: 500), grabbing the last remaining program card for that issue while
\ndoing so, thus avoiding becoming an early victim of a three party squeeze (there are only
\nthree policies of each type). Likewise, if there are two policies your opponents are
\nagreed upon, then hold a major conference (cost: 700). The only other justification for
\nmaking this move would be that it would enable me to change my program in such a way as
\nto win the first election, thereby getting an instant return on my investment.<\/p>\n
If you have the cash to play them don’t hang on to your conference markers for too
\nlong, especially the cheap ones. Always try to use them to obtain party bases rather than
\nchange programs. Remember, this way they earn you money after every election.<\/p>\n
Smear Those Reds<\/h4>\n
![\"Time](\"https:\/\/www.westpark-gamers.de\/Ressourcen\/macherartcl_2.gif\")
Time to send in the crooks. At this stage you
\ncan’t really afford too much. In an area where I think I have a chance of winning and
\ngetting control of the media, I’ll probably send in the Au\u00dfenminister to boost my
\npopularity. Without media control this is a risky move as some sneak could bang you down
\nby getting hold of an unfavourable opinion poll.<\/p>\n
If one of your opponents looks like he is running away with the first election then
\nsend in the Generalsekret\u00e4r to launch a smear campaign. He probably won’t have enough
\ndough left to buy an opinion poll. Watch the smug grin on his face disappear. A dirty
\ntrick, I agree, but then that’s politics. It’s probably unwise to make this play
\nthough against those tiresome vindictive types that one so often comes across.<\/p>\n
Always try to get the debate marker onto one of your policies. This will give your
\nvote total a substantial boost and at little cost if you send in one of your junior
\nministers.<\/p>\n
Remember The SDP<\/h4>\n
If you can force a coalition and win an election on somebody else’s coattails,
\ngreat. Let them pay the bills. This is another reason for holding a major conference in
\nphase 1 (change two programs to match theirs), but only do this if they already have a
\ncoalition card face up in the region. Also, make sure you have a media disc in the
\nregion, otherwise your victory will be a hollow one.<\/p>\n
Murdoch Mania<\/h4>\n
Media discs are undoubtedly one of your most important resources, so use them
\nsparingly. Again, try not to get locked in a media war early on when your reserves are
\nslender. Better to relinquish power to an opponent than waste cash trying to create a
\nstalemate. Your day will come. It’s always worth playing a disc into one of the lower
\nregions especially if you are trying to win the first election. At the start of the game
\nthe floating opinion pool is pretty small, so even if you have the power to change
\nthings, chances are the opinion you seek is not available. However, if you have media
\ncontrol in one of the lower regions you may be able to switch opinions. Even going as far
\nas to replace a positive agreement with one you violently disagree with, simply to make
\nthe former available for the election currently taking place (this tactic applies
\nthroughout the game).<\/p>\n
Campaign Trail<\/h4>\n
The campaign days represent the best value for money in the game. Always place as many
\nas you can afford though save some cash for the opinion polls. In the early elections
\ndon’t fanny around. Stick them in a region you’re serious about, but always put
\nat least one in the current election, more if you have the dough as the votes they
\nrepresent will give you an instant cash return.<\/p>\n
Swingorama<\/h4>\n
![\"Stick](\"https:\/\/www.westpark-gamers.de\/Ressourcen\/macherartcl_3.gif\")
Yes, it’s opinion poll time. Of course it’s
\nnice to have lots but you don’t have the cash so bid carefully. Do not bid in an area
\nwhere you have media control if your popularity is up, or if you can reach 50 votes any
\nother way, at least in the early stages. Save your money for a region where you can be
\nhurt. If you should obtain a poll that is unfavourable to your own prospects then try to
\nhammer the leader in that region. Stick the boot in, drop his popularity and raise that
\nof a no-hoper. Only employ this tactic if it does real damage. Otherwise you’ll be
\ncatching vindictive fall-out for nothing.<\/p>\n
The Hustings Hustle<\/h4>\n
To convert, or not to convert. That should be the question. As a rule of thumb I’d
\nsay yes when your popularity is up, and no when it is down. An exception to the former is
\nwhen you want to go last in a turn, perhaps say, in the shadow cabinet phase when you
\nwant to kick somebody’s media disc out without fear of instant revenge. If your
\npopularity is only at par, it’s worth converting if that will give you an overall
\nmajority, and equally to stop one of your opponents obtaining the same.<\/p>\n
If your popularity is down always convert at least one as fractions are rounded
\nup.<\/p>\n
Flick Flack<\/h4>\n
![\"Bribes](\"https:\/\/www.westpark-gamers.de\/Ressourcen\/macherartcl_4.gif\")
Bribes are tricky things, as any politician will tell
\nyou. When you see one of your opponents coining in the cash after an election victory
\nwhile you’re on your uppers, the temptation to visit Herr Flick for an illegal
\ndonation is indeed great but must be resisted unless the situation is really
\ndesperate.<\/p>\n
The potential loss of party bases could be disastrous in the long term. Visit the bank
\nif you must and hit the manager for a plain brown envelope. If you’re okay for cash
\njust sit back and collect the 500 risk free, or simply do nothing.<\/p>\n
General Tactics<\/h4>\n
When you contest an election pull out all the stops and aim to hit at least 50 votes.
\nBeing a runner-up is nowhere, so be a winner. As someone once said of life in America:
\n‘Son, there are no second acts.’<\/p>\n
Always stay in tune with what is happening in Bonn. Agreements count as a big modifier
\nat the end. Check in advance who is likely to win the election and what opinions he is
\nlikely to place in Bonn. If he’s going to place two that look likely to stay there,
\nthen hold a major conference and grab them from the program deck, if available.<\/p>\n
Don’t underestimate the power of votes. In an election game this may sound
\nstrange, but some players get so carried away with modifiers they forget about the nitty
\ngritty.<\/p>\n
Try to get your media discs in early on the last election. Experience has shown that
\nthis can often be the decider.<\/p>\n
The above advice carries no guarantee of success, but follow it and you should be
\nthere at the finish. If not, then take consolation in the words of a losing American
\nsenator on the stump: ‘The people have spoken, the bastards.’<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
(This article was originally published in “Games International”, issue #5 (May 1989) and is reproduced here with the permission of the author) Strategy Seminar Die Macher by Brian Walker As anyone who has played with me will tell you (all too loudly), I’m not the world’s greatest games player. Nevertheless, there are a few … Die Macher<\/span> weiterlesen
by Brian Walker<\/h5>\n
\nworld’s greatest games player. Nevertheless, there are a few games I’ve managed
\nto delude myself into thinking that I play well. One of these is Die Macher<\/a>, a
\ngame based on the German elections, and arguably one of the most sophisticated, in terms
\nof game mechanics, on the market. For the increasing number of owners of this game I
\nwould like to share some of the pearls of wisdom I acquired on the hustings. Obviously
\nit’s impossible to suggest a definitive strategy in a game of such changing fortunes,
\nso I’ll suffice by concentrating on opening moves and the first election.<\/p>\n
Preliminaries<\/h4>\n
The first thing you have to do is
\nto jettison two members of your shadow cabinet. This is one of the easier decisions to
\nmake in the game. Generally I discard the Fraktionsf\u00fchrer and the Partieboss on the basis
\nthat the junior ministers perform many of the same actions at cheaper cost. The Kanzler I
\nalways like to keep for that +3 popularity. Expensive, sure, but worth the dough in a
\ncrisis. Never get rid of your junior ministers. They offer tremendous value for
\nmoney.<\/p>\n
The next step is to cast your freebies, starting with the votes. This is normally a
\npretty tough choice, especially if you are going first. Ideally, you want to find a
\nregion where you have at least two matching choices. But things are usually not that
\nsimple so stay cool, and be patient. Above all try to avoid getting in a fight with an
\nopponent at this stage, wasting your valuable resources to possibly finish second in an
\nelection is not a sound strategy. If you do go first and there is no obvious choice as to
\nwhere to place your first five votes, split them up between the four regions and wait to
\nsee what your opponents do. By the time you get round to placing your media disc and
\ncampaign days, you should have a clearer picture of the region where you want to mount a
\nserious campaign. Once this has been determined, plough all your resources into that
\nregion and get ready to kick ass. But remember; fifty votes is the maximum you can
\nobtain, so don’t waste cash trying to get more.<\/p>\n
Brighton, Brighton<\/h4>\n
Generally I like to keep my resources as long as possible until I see which way the
\ngame is swinging, but this is not always possible with the conferences. If two of your
\nopponents are already agreed on a particular program then get in quick and hold a special
\nconference (cost: 500), grabbing the last remaining program card for that issue while
\ndoing so, thus avoiding becoming an early victim of a three party squeeze (there are only
\nthree policies of each type). Likewise, if there are two policies your opponents are
\nagreed upon, then hold a major conference (cost: 700). The only other justification for
\nmaking this move would be that it would enable me to change my program in such a way as
\nto win the first election, thereby getting an instant return on my investment.<\/p>\n
If you have the cash to play them don’t hang on to your conference markers for too
\nlong, especially the cheap ones. Always try to use them to obtain party bases rather than
\nchange programs. Remember, this way they earn you money after every election.<\/p>\n
Smear Those Reds<\/h4>\n
Time to send in the crooks. At this stage you
\ncan’t really afford too much. In an area where I think I have a chance of winning and
\ngetting control of the media, I’ll probably send in the Au\u00dfenminister to boost my
\npopularity. Without media control this is a risky move as some sneak could bang you down
\nby getting hold of an unfavourable opinion poll.<\/p>\n
If one of your opponents looks like he is running away with the first election then
\nsend in the Generalsekret\u00e4r to launch a smear campaign. He probably won’t have enough
\ndough left to buy an opinion poll. Watch the smug grin on his face disappear. A dirty
\ntrick, I agree, but then that’s politics. It’s probably unwise to make this play
\nthough against those tiresome vindictive types that one so often comes across.<\/p>\n
Always try to get the debate marker onto one of your policies. This will give your
\nvote total a substantial boost and at little cost if you send in one of your junior
\nministers.<\/p>\n
Remember The SDP<\/h4>\n
If you can force a coalition and win an election on somebody else’s coattails,
\ngreat. Let them pay the bills. This is another reason for holding a major conference in
\nphase 1 (change two programs to match theirs), but only do this if they already have a
\ncoalition card face up in the region. Also, make sure you have a media disc in the
\nregion, otherwise your victory will be a hollow one.<\/p>\n
Murdoch Mania<\/h4>\n
Media discs are undoubtedly one of your most important resources, so use them
\nsparingly. Again, try not to get locked in a media war early on when your reserves are
\nslender. Better to relinquish power to an opponent than waste cash trying to create a
\nstalemate. Your day will come. It’s always worth playing a disc into one of the lower
\nregions especially if you are trying to win the first election. At the start of the game
\nthe floating opinion pool is pretty small, so even if you have the power to change
\nthings, chances are the opinion you seek is not available. However, if you have media
\ncontrol in one of the lower regions you may be able to switch opinions. Even going as far
\nas to replace a positive agreement with one you violently disagree with, simply to make
\nthe former available for the election currently taking place (this tactic applies
\nthroughout the game).<\/p>\n
Campaign Trail<\/h4>\n
The campaign days represent the best value for money in the game. Always place as many
\nas you can afford though save some cash for the opinion polls. In the early elections
\ndon’t fanny around. Stick them in a region you’re serious about, but always put
\nat least one in the current election, more if you have the dough as the votes they
\nrepresent will give you an instant cash return.<\/p>\n
Swingorama<\/h4>\n
Yes, it’s opinion poll time. Of course it’s
\nnice to have lots but you don’t have the cash so bid carefully. Do not bid in an area
\nwhere you have media control if your popularity is up, or if you can reach 50 votes any
\nother way, at least in the early stages. Save your money for a region where you can be
\nhurt. If you should obtain a poll that is unfavourable to your own prospects then try to
\nhammer the leader in that region. Stick the boot in, drop his popularity and raise that
\nof a no-hoper. Only employ this tactic if it does real damage. Otherwise you’ll be
\ncatching vindictive fall-out for nothing.<\/p>\n
The Hustings Hustle<\/h4>\n
To convert, or not to convert. That should be the question. As a rule of thumb I’d
\nsay yes when your popularity is up, and no when it is down. An exception to the former is
\nwhen you want to go last in a turn, perhaps say, in the shadow cabinet phase when you
\nwant to kick somebody’s media disc out without fear of instant revenge. If your
\npopularity is only at par, it’s worth converting if that will give you an overall
\nmajority, and equally to stop one of your opponents obtaining the same.<\/p>\n
If your popularity is down always convert at least one as fractions are rounded
\nup.<\/p>\n
Flick Flack<\/h4>\n
Bribes are tricky things, as any politician will tell
\nyou. When you see one of your opponents coining in the cash after an election victory
\nwhile you’re on your uppers, the temptation to visit Herr Flick for an illegal
\ndonation is indeed great but must be resisted unless the situation is really
\ndesperate.<\/p>\n
The potential loss of party bases could be disastrous in the long term. Visit the bank
\nif you must and hit the manager for a plain brown envelope. If you’re okay for cash
\njust sit back and collect the 500 risk free, or simply do nothing.<\/p>\n
General Tactics<\/h4>\n
When you contest an election pull out all the stops and aim to hit at least 50 votes.
\nBeing a runner-up is nowhere, so be a winner. As someone once said of life in America:
\n‘Son, there are no second acts.’<\/p>\n
Always stay in tune with what is happening in Bonn. Agreements count as a big modifier
\nat the end. Check in advance who is likely to win the election and what opinions he is
\nlikely to place in Bonn. If he’s going to place two that look likely to stay there,
\nthen hold a major conference and grab them from the program deck, if available.<\/p>\n
Don’t underestimate the power of votes. In an election game this may sound
\nstrange, but some players get so carried away with modifiers they forget about the nitty
\ngritty.<\/p>\n
Try to get your media discs in early on the last election. Experience has shown that
\nthis can often be the decider.<\/p>\n
The above advice carries no guarantee of success, but follow it and you should be
\nthere at the finish. If not, then take consolation in the words of a losing American
\nsenator on the stump: ‘The people have spoken, the bastards.’<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
(This article was originally published in “Games International”, issue #5 (May 1989) and is reproduced here with the permission of the author) Strategy Seminar Die Macher by Brian Walker As anyone who has played with me will tell you (all too loudly), I’m not the world’s greatest games player. Nevertheless, there are a few … Die Macher<\/span> weiterlesen