by AMartin56
We play that you get a star for your initial HQ and an additional star if you have never won.In the example where I was within reach of winning in turn 2 it was due to an available mission (One star for conquering a continent...easy since I was in S. America by myself...one player called it my 'participation award' :)). On turn two I was within easy reach of THREE HQs but only barely enough armies to attack the two I needed.
In another case the 'has never won player' had two stars to start...was the benefit of multiple 'free army' events...and then used all the freebies to grab the mission where you get a star for taking 6 minor cities. Personally I would have used that windfall to attack someone but to each his own.
As Geoff pointed out people in our games tend to leave themsleves pretty thin with few if any borders that they can hold. But I can't really say they are playing incorrectly when the game design seems to favor aggression. But I'm quite willing to admit that group think could be at play here, but it doesn't change the fact that the last few games have been less than satisfying.