Risk vs Legendary, The Kid Throwdown

Last night I got to teach Risk to three new players between the ages of 11 and 14, new not only to Risk but to the dudes-on-a-map genre in general.  Due to Risk's exceptionally light rule set we were up and running in about ten minutes, pieces played out and first turn underway.  The boys loved it and I have to admit I had a hell of a good time as well.  I made it a point to explain some of the unwritten rules to the game and these boys stepped into that part of the play quickly as well.

The amusing part came when one of the kids' Dad (who is an Ameritrasher from way back) came over to see his son's position and found him overextended and in trouble.  "What happened?  What did you do?" and his kid answered, "Dad, I was going for the glory play!  It didn't work out!"  Dad patted the boy on the shoulder.  

Legendary followed and I'll admit that there was more to the play than I had anticipated.  We lost to the game due to a strange shuffle of the black deck cards (ran out of heroes for the HQ) and I only got four turns in.  I was largely a spectator, but again I think it was due to bad draws (I got incredibly even shuffles so I was buying mediocre and attacking mediocre) and my son who's turn came just before mine landed three of the four blows on the bad guy including one where the bad guy's bonus card read "take another turn!" which amused me as it seemed straight out of 1959.  I lost my last shot at a big kill on what would have been the next turn because my boy's second turn ended the game.  The game needs to run twice as long in my opinion, but I say that about most games. 

        My boy won both games.  The final verdict would come in the car on the way home.  Before I had even backed out of the parking spot he asked if we could buy a copy of Risk.  

        Ladies and Gentlemen, how is a new kid on the block like Legendary supposed to compete with the fifty long years of Risk's legacy?  It just wasn't a fair fight.

                     S.