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I have been in several games where there was one or more players who refused to roll attacks, basically allowing one player to stay in Tokyo for as long as they want. This is a very bad strategy... unless you wish for the player in Tokyo to win, in which case it will work very well!

I see players who clearly wish to "hole up," mind their own business, and try to roll stars and energy points. The problem is, KoT is not a game where this strategy will work well.

While a player is in Tokyo they get TWO major advantages: two free stars, once per round, and a multiplier to their attack rolls. Their attack rolls are basically multiplied by the number of players who are NOT in Tokyo. So if you roll two damage dice while in Tokyo and there are two players outside of Tokyo, you do two damage to each player for a total of four. All the target players must now deal with this damage. They can ignore it (very dangerous, they could quickly be eliminated) or concentrate on trying to get healing, which will slow down their efforts to roll points. Meanwhile, the player in Tokyo can just sit there and earn points for free while everyone else scrambles to stay alive.

Fortunately, the game has a built-in solution to this problem: attack the player in Tokyo! Make it risky for them to stay there! And when they leave, you get put in their place and gain a free star. Then the game naturally balances out.

I know that some players naturally do not have an aggressive play style. I understand that. But I would respectfully suggest that if you do not enjoy that play style, KoT is not the game best suited for you. But the good news is that this game makes a more aggressive style fun and rewarding. Join in! Attack the player in Tokyo!

Thanks.

I agree that you should be trying to attack the player in Tokyo most of the time - and if for some reason no-one ever does, the player who is uncontested in Tokyo will win easily.

But sometimes you're low enough on health that you can't risk going there.

I'd be surprised if you found a circle of players who refused to ever attack the player in Tokyo - but if such a group really exists, the way to win is of course to go against the groupthink and go to Tokyo yourself! So I'm not sure your public advice is really needed

Further, even if everyone else really doesn't want to roll claws, sometimes the dice will do it anyway - so it's unlikely that one player will stay there permanently even in this case.

The situation I've seen more is where someone rolls one claw and the player in Tokyo instantly yields. The next person does the same and it a Tokyo carousel!

A low success strategy but great to just sit on the side lines and rack up the stars whilst they play musical chairs

If you are going to hit, also make it worthwhile!

It depends on strategy and the current situation.

If players A - B - C - D, with myself as player A. I might not attack if D was in Tokyo, as I am sure B and C will roll attacks making him yield. Otherwise the attack of B will be directed at me. Unless the situation was different with the power cards on the table.

Now if B is in Tokyo, I would do a small attack, 1 or 2 claws, making B want to remain in Tokyo as he would not be too badly injured, as his attack would also hurt C & D, which is in my favor. I just would make sure I can keep my hearts up high enough, and again it would depends on the point total of the Tokyo-player.

There are hundreds of factors(well, at least a couple) I would take into account before rolling claws, as that ends up exposing me too.

In two players, the balance is that you only gain energy, favoring aggressiveness.

Yasten wrote: ↑14 October 2021, 16:13 In two players, the balance is that you only gain energy, favoring aggressiveness.

Depends on the game mode.
The base game still dictates you gain VP in Tokyo, but King of Tokyo Dark edition offered a variant in the instructions to gain energy in Tokyo instead, and this is implemented on BGA as an option(default enabled when setting the table).
The next release of the game(Monster Box, next month I believe) most likely also add it in the official instructions.

If OP's thesis was valid he could just sit in Toyko himself and harvest wins

gordoz wrote: ↑18 October 2021, 00:45 If OP's thesis was valid he could just sit in Toyko himself and harvest wins

That's the strategy for King of Tokyo. If nobody is rolling claws, go for Tokyo and roll claws. If everyone is rolling claws, go for points, hearts, and energy.

What happens to me is that, as soon as I take Tokyo, everyone starts rolling claws again.

Rolling for energy is worthwhile at the start of the game. There's usually a good card in the market, or a good card will come up when someone else buys or refreshes the market. Near the end of the game, you probably should be rerolling energy.

Energy is still good at the end. For example think about buying Jet Fighters and gaining 5 stars to win the game

The problem is KoT was not designed to have a EP record. That means ppl are awarded being in 2nd place. KoT is a game about "kinghunting" (as oppose to kingmaking) because is designed as one player wins and everyone else loses. But with the BGA's EP rank, ppl are ok with being in 2nd, breaking the game's balace. Geez, in some cases, it's worthy being in 3rd if the 4th player has higher ELO than you. That's why I hate ELO games. That's happen in so many games, acctually. In Rallyman GT is almost a rule the 2nd player blocking everyone else, giving 1ts player a free win.