Soldier (Adventures)

Here's a comprehensive strategy guide for Soldier:

Soldier Strategy Guide

Introduction Soldier is part of the Traveller line in Adventures, starting at $3 and potentially upgrading through Fugitive to Disciple to Teacher. As an Attack-Traveller, it combines economic benefits with mild hand disruption while offering flexibility through its upgrade path.

Basic Characteristics - Provides at least $2 - Scales with other Attacks in play - Forces discards from opponents with larger hands - Can upgrade to Fugitive - Cannot be gained directly (must be exchanged from Page)

Key Strengths 1. Economic Output - Guaranteed $2 baseline - Potential for significant scaling with other Attacks - Helps reach important price points early game - Maintains relevance throughout the game due to scaling

1. Attack Element
2. Disrupts opponent's hand size
3. Can interfere with engine building
4. Particularly effective against draw-to-X cards

5. Creates pressure to play cards quickly

6. Upgrade Potential

7. Can become Fugitive when no longer needed
8. Part of a powerful upgrade chain

9. Offers strategic flexibility

10. Scaling Potential

11. Becomes stronger with multiple Attacks
12. Can generate significant money in the right deck

Core Strategy Elements

1. Early Game Usage Soldier is typically acquired by upgrading from Page, making it a mid-early game card. In this phase:
2. Use primarily for economy
3. Begin collecting other Attacks if available
4. Consider whether to rush upgrades or maintain Soldiers

5. Look for opportunities to disrupt opponent's deck building

6. Attack Synergies The monetary bonus from other Attacks makes careful consideration of Attack combinations crucial:

7. Militia/Warrior synergy (both discard attacks)
8. Ghost Ship creates hand size pressure
9. Cultist can stack well due to multiple plays
10. Sea Hag/Witch provide ongoing pressure

11. Cards like Bureaucrat combine disruption effects

12. Economic Scaling To maximize Soldier's money output:

13. Prioritize Attack cards that you'd want anyway
14. Consider duration Attacks that stay in play
15. Look for ways to play multiple Soldiers together

16. Balance Attack density with deck functionality

17. Timing Considerations Several factors influence when to play Soldier:

18. Play early in turn to maximize discard impact
19. Consider opponent's likely hand size
20. May want to wait for other Attacks if scaling money

21. Think about upgrade timing to Fugitive

22. Upgrade Strategy Deciding when to upgrade to Fugitive requires evaluating:

23. Current deck economy
24. Need for draw vs. money
25. Presence of other Attacks
26. Game pace and victory card situation

Specific Combinations

Strong Synergies:

1. Duration Attacks
2. Swamp Hag stays in play for next turn
3. Sea Hag remains for bonus

4. Bridge Troll provides ongoing Attack presence

5. Multi-Card Attacks

6. Cultist can chain for multiple Attack bonuses
7. Pillage gives two Attacks in play

8. Commander can replay Attacks

9. Draw Engines

10. Laboratory/Smithy help find multiple Attacks
11. Caravan/Haven hold Attacks for next turn

12. Village variants enable playing multiple Attacks

13. Throne Room Effects

14. Can double both money and Attack effects
15. Increases Attacks in play for other Soldiers
16. King's Court particularly powerful

Weak Against:

1. Hand Size Management
2. Warehouse helps keep hand size low
3. Haven sets aside cards
4. Horse Traders provides immunity

5. Farming Village/Hunting Party maintain small hands

6. Reaction Cards

7. Moat blocks discard effect
8. Horse Traders counter-disrupts

9. Diplomat turns attack into benefit

10. Small Hand Strategies

11. Market Square decks
12. Chapel thinning
13. Hunting Grounds quick cycling

Strategic Considerations

1. Opening Decisions When Page is available:
2. Consider kingdom Attack density
3. Evaluate alternative $3 options
4. Assess opponent's likely strategy

5. Plan upgrade pathway timing

6. Mid-Game Positioning Key decisions include:

7. Balance between Attack acquisition and deck function
8. Timing of multiple Soldier plays
9. When to begin upgrading to Fugitive

10. Managing opponent's counter-strategy

11. Late Game Transitions Important factors:

12. Victory card density impact on Attack plays
13. Utility of continued disruption
14. Value of upgrading to draw power
15. Racing considerations

Sample Strategies

1. Attack-Heavy Economy
2. Acquire multiple Pages early
3. Prioritize Attack cards in building
4. Use Throne Room effects

5. Delay upgrades to maximize money

6. Quick Upgrade Path

7. Minimal Attack investment
8. Fast upgrade to Fugitive
9. Focus on reaching Teacher quickly

10. Use disruption as bonus rather than focus

11. Hybrid Approach

12. Moderate Attack density
13. Selective upgrades based on need
14. Balance money and draw power

15. Maintain flexibility in strategy

16. Engine Support

17. Use Soldiers for early economy
18. Incorporate useful Attacks naturally
19. Upgrade as engine comes online
20. Leverage Teacher for engine acceleration

Counter-Play Strategies

1. As Opponent
2. Keep hand size manageable
3. Rush provinces before engine builds
4. Acquire reaction cards

5. Consider matching Page strategy

6. Defensive Building

7. Emphasize card draw
8. Build reliable rather than explosive engines
9. Maintain hand size control
10. Consider alternative victory paths

Kingdom Considerations

1. Favorable Kingdoms
2. Multiple useful Attacks available
3. Throne Room variants present
4. Duration cards for Attack stability

5. Strong engine pieces to support strategy

6. Unfavorable Kingdoms

7. Few or weak Attacks
8. Strong hand size management tools
9. Faster alternate strategies

10. Limited engine support

11. Key Support Cards

12. Villages for multiple plays
13. Throne Room effects
14. Duration cards

15. Draw cards

16. Competition Considerations

17. Attack card availability
18. Page split
19. Engine piece competition
20. Victory card race factors

Timing and Tempo

1. Early Game
2. Acquire and upgrade Pages
3. Begin collecting useful Attacks
4. Establish economic base

5. Position for mid-game strategy

6. Mid Game

7. Maximize Attack combinations
8. Consider upgrade timing
9. Build toward end game position

10. Maintain pressure on opponent

11. Late Game

12. Evaluate upgrade utility
13. Position for victory card acquisition
14. Maintain relevant disruption
15. Consider racing positions

Advanced Tips

1. Optimization
2. Track opponent's hand size
3. Count Attack density carefully
4. Plan multi-turn sequences

5. Consider upgrade timing precisely

6. Technical Play

7. Order operations for maximum effect
8. Track opponent's deck composition
9. Monitor reaction card availability

10. Calculate probability of combinations

11. Strategic Flexibility

12. Maintain upgrade options
13. Adapt to opponent's strategy
14. Balance immediate vs. long-term gains
15. Position for multiple paths to victory

Conclusion

Soldier is a versatile card that rewards careful strategic planning and tactical execution. Its effectiveness depends heavily on kingdom composition and player ability to maximize both its economic and disruptive aspects. Success with Soldier requires: - Clear strategic vision - Understanding of Attack synergies - Careful timing of upgrades - Adaptation to opponent's strategy

The card's position in the Traveller chain adds another layer of complexity, making it important to balance immediate utility against long-term potential. Whether used as a primary strategy piece or transitional component, Soldier can be a powerful tool in the right circumstances.

Remember that Soldier's effectiveness often depends more on the supporting kingdom cards than the card itself. Always evaluate the full context of available cards and opponent's likely responses when developing your Soldier strategy.