First: I hate Chevy Chase with one exception, and you posted it. Kudos.
I more or less agree with what you had to say. Game psychology isn't something I consciously consider most of the time, but the reality is that the reality is that it's happening each and every game. For your points...
1. I agree. You should be confident but you can't get cocky. You can be crushing someone, but if they can still find a way to your caster it's lights out. I feel like this game's design is adept at punishing cockiness.
2. It's so tough. It's so hard not to see something like DEF 19 Kayazy and not let out a string of expletives. Keeping your composure when craziness is happening is challenging.
3. I think this is a matter of finesse. I don't think you ever want to enter a game looking to mess with someone's head, but things can happen over the course of a game that just eat away at people and can throw them off whether its the inclusion of a certain model, making tons of tough rolls, or moving your jacks at will thanks to Watcher...
I don't think you ever want to really provoke someone, but if you can influence them somewhat passively as the game unfolds then so be it. It's a great tool as frustrated opponents seem to either just throw themselves at you or run from you. Either way it can essentially equate to them tossing in the towel.
4. Totally agree. This is a big area of concern for me as I think the line between not dispelling some crackpot idea and outright lying blurs for some people. I've been misled by opponents before. I love it when a model/unit all of a sudden has an ability I didn't know they had even though I just questioned my opponent about its capabilities. Lame.
5. I had never considered friendliness to be a form of leverage, but I see what you mean.
Not a bad article. Maybe later I'll subject myself to more of your ramblings.
