7 Wonders Duel
I had lost 4 in a row to my son. He had two scientific victories in that run. I had purposely not paid much attention to science but now I’m out 30th match I decided no more making sub-optimal choices. I wanted to stop his winning streak.
He started Age 1 going hard after science, choosing two discoveries. I reaped in resources and military. At the end of Age 2, my armies had marched 3 steps away from his city gate.
His scientific research efforts only resulted in 3 discoveries. He told me knew he couldn’t win science anymore because there are only 2 symbols in Age 3 available. (I didn’t know that). He was distraught. I was feeling confident, sitting on the footsteps of his city with all of Age 3 to play.
The first card I revealed in Age 3, was a 3 attack military. I won! Wait, it costs 8 gold and I only have 3 gold. I didn’t win. My son went beserk with joy, in my face glee with finger pointing, jumping up and down, screaming. I let out a cry of agony like my life long dreams have been shattered. He loved it.
My attack blocked at the city gates with lack of cash flow, a problem the entire game. And then his armies stormed out of the city to counterattack my sieging army that was low on supplies and morale. He used his Wonder that lets you pick from the discard pile. My +3 became instead a +3 for him, a 6 point swing. The rout was so damaging that I lost appetite for any more military battles.
In the end I got pummeled. 65 to 47 in victory points. I was struggling for money to whole game. Somehow he amassed 3 guild cards that gave him 15 points to my zero. I had tried my best to win. And he won BIG.
I’m proud of him.
He was flexible to change his strategy mid-game. I should have doubled down on military. Instead I panicked and abandoned it to quickly.
He made the right strategic decisions. He correctly did not rush to build the wonder that lets you gain a discarded card. He kept the wonder to try to get a discarded discovery which made me have to spend on continuing research. Draining my resources. Then he pivoted to use the wonder on miltary when the science was out of reach.
Most of all I love the competitive spirit. The in-your-face celebration when I couldn’t buy the 3 military was fun and over the top.
Just one thing son, there is good clever trash talking, which is acceptable and fun. Then there are personal attacks, talking about moms, calling people autistic. That’s unsportsmanlike conduct and not allowed.
Look forward to more duels my son.