What does "gamey" mean? And what's an "exploit"?An
Exploit is a way to capitalize on a weakness in the game in such a way that the result is not historical at best, and wildly outrageous at worst.
For example, Strategic Redeployment has an exploit. Support units with 20/20 supply (Medical units, Naval Engineers, etc.) can be used to resupply out of supply units, even if the support unit has no other value to the stack that its resupplying.
To perform this exploit:
Transfer the fully supplied support unit to an out of supply stack by using Strategic Redeployment. (You'll need to have at least 25% military control of the region, to do so.) The next turn, its supply will be shared with the other units in its stack. The exploit is completed when you send the unit back to wherever it came from, the next turn. Resupplied, it can be used again.
Obviously, using exploits is considered poor form, among experienced players.
"Gamey" refers to using exploits and your knowledge of game mechanics in a way that's contrary to the spirit of the game. For example, actually using the exploit that I described would be considered Gamey.
You don't
have to use an exploit to be gamey. We
all are gamey, to some extent. After all, after you've played the game for awhile, you know what units are going to show up where and when, and you know what the events will be. Does this shape your decision making? If it does, then (technically at least) you're being gamey.
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The exploit that I mentioned is currently being examined by the AACW Beta Team to see how it can be addressed. Soooo... sorry to pop your balloon, but you won't be able to use it much longer.
Do you know of any exploits that you haven't seen mentioned, anywhere else? Post them here! The AACW Beta team will work to find a fix!
And who knows... the Queen might even give you a medal, for your "patriotism".