Opening Negotiations: I've talked to everyone and offered alliance. France agreed to attack Germany and to keep the Channel open. Germany offered to take Holland and help me with Belgium. Russia agreed to hit Germany with me. I originally offered to split Norway and Sweden with him, but then he told me he will take all of Scandinavia. Italy said he's making peace with France and so will start to the East (don't know it that means Austria or Turkey). I told Turkey that Russia sounds like he will open to the north and suggested to both Turkey and Austria that they work together against Russia's south. Turkey was grateful for the info. Haven't heard from Austria. I am thinking Norwegian Sea, North Sea, and Yorkshire right now. France and Germany should both be ok with that, but Russia will not like it. Russia told me to go North Sea and Channel and force my way into Belgium, but that will certainly upset France, who most likely wants Belgium for himself. I suggested to France that he move Paris to Burgundy to protect against Germany and I told Germany that France sounded aggressive so he should move to Burgundy from Munich. That bounce would be great for me. It would show both France and Germany that the other is agressive and get them fired up against someone other than me. It would leave both units in their home supply centers having made no progress. And it would leave only Holland and North Sea next to Belgium. Then I must convince Germany not to help me into Belgium (if he, in fact, intends to let me have it). It won't be needed (assuming no French fleet in the Channel). And if he doesn't support, it looks more to France like I just got lucky in taking it. Also, the bounce from Paris leaves France no way to take it, so he's more likely to agree to let me have it rather than the German. Thus exists the potential to end 1901 with both Germany and France still thinking I'm on their side. Russia wanted me to focus on the low countries, but I told him France didn't like that and that we wanted France's cooperation against Germany so could I have Norway to be sure of a build? He said, "ok". Finally heard from Austria, who said he and Turkey haven't heard from Russia so they're going after him. Good to know. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Results of 1901 Spring Movement: ENGLAND Edinburgh MOVE Norwegian Sea -> resolved Liverpool MOVE Yorkshire -> resolved London MOVE North Sea -> resolved I agreed with France to DMZ the channel so my fleet moves were pretty much dictated by that. The army to Yorkshire let me cover London if France had broken the DMZ. FRANCE Marseilles MOVE Burgundy -> resolved Paris MOVE Picardy -> resolved Brest MOVE Mid-Atlantic Ocean -> resolved I wanted him to move Brest and Marseilles to the Iberian centers, but he did what was best for himself, not me. With no pressure from Italy, he can take his time and he can get Belgium on his own for two builds anyway. I'd like to convoy my army to Belgium, but that won't happen unless I can talk him into attacking Munich and supporting me. He'll probably tell me that he can handle Germany on his own right now and I should concentrate on Russia. ITALY Venice MOVE Tyrolia -> resolved Rome MOVE Venice -> resolved Naples MOVE Ionian Sea -> resolved The Obriani opening is the most popular for Italy. All moves succeeded, which means that he can double up on Trieste in the fall. Austria now needs to double up to keep his home supply center, which hurts his development badly. With that in mind the fleet could go for the riskier, but stronger, Greece instead of the guaranteed Tunis. It's possible to use this position to attack Germany with France, but I doubt that will happen. GERMANY Munich MOVE Berlin -> resolved Berlin MOVE Kiel -> resolved Kiel MOVE Holland -> resolved This isn't even in the openings library. Neither is Berlin hold, Munich to Kiel. This seems like a lot of wasted action. I warned him that France would go to Burgundy, but he didn't counter it. He must be afraid of Russia. But then why not go Munich to Kiel and move Berlin east? He's lucky Russia didn't come with Warsaw. He can get two builds and still cover Munich. AUSTRIA Vienna MOVE Galicia -> Bounced Trieste MOVE Albania -> resolved Budapest MOVE Serbia -> resolved Balkan Gambit, Galician Variation. It risks Trieste, but if Italy hadn't opened against him he could have taken Greece for two builds. Bouncing Warsaw out of Galicia helps Austria and Turkey (who seem to be working together) against Russia. He can cover Trieste, but will have to ignore Russia for a while. That's ok, the Galicia bounce did a lot to hurt Russia already. TURKEY Constantinople MOVE Bulgaria -> resolved Ankara MOVE Black Sea -> resolved Smyrna MOVE Constantinople -> resolved This is a good strong opening. With the bounce in Galicia it was guaranteed to keep Russia out of Rumania. With the Black Sea move succeeding, Turkey will get Rumania for itself. RUSSIA Moscow MOVE St. Petersburg -> resolved St. Petersburg (South Coast) MOVE Gulf of Bothnia -> resolved Warsaw MOVE Galicia -> Bounced Sevastopol MOVE Rumania -> resolved He split his attention north and south. It's very anti-England anti-Austria. Germany doesn't usually go east right away so it's a safe approach to the north, and would be a strong position in the south if it weren't for the bounce. The Black Sea shouldn't be left open without faith in Turkey. I wonder if Turkey talked him into this, or if he just took that risk. Evaluation: France and Turkey have started strong. Austria and Italy are now engaged in a tough fight. Germany's moves didn't look all that strong, but he's still going to build two and have enough to fight off France. Russia's not threatening him so he can concentrate westward. Russia will get a build from Sweden, but has been hit hard in the south. I was hoping to be able to still play France and Germany off each other, but it looks like I need to make a real decision now. Siding with Germany would mean attacking Belgium, which is not guaranteed, which tips my hand and causes France to build a fleet in Brest. By attacking Belgium I also lose out on Norway and possibly don't build. So I guess I'm pro-France. I'll go after scandinavia and he'll have to handle Germany on his own for a few turns. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Results of 1901 Fall Movement: ENGLAND Norwegian Sea SUPPORT Yorkshire to Norway -> resolved Yorkshire MOVE Norway -> resolved North Sea CONVOY Yorkshire to Norway -> resolved The convoy could have been cut by fleet action from Germany, but I didn't think the risk was high and this gives me an army forward, which will be helpful. FRANCE Burgundy SUPPORT Tyrolia to Munich -> resolved Picardy MOVE Belgium -> resolved Mid-Atlantic Ocean MOVE Portugal -> resolved I'm a little surprised by the attack on Munich. I suggested it, but didn't think France would go for it. I expected him to take the guaranteed Belgium for two builds. He got Belgium anyway, bu only because Germany rolled over. ITALY Tyrolia MOVE Munich -> resolved Venice MOVE Trieste -> Bounced Ionian Sea MOVE Tunis -> resolved Munich was the guaranteed grab for him. I suggested moving to Greece. He'd have one fewer build, but so would Austria. He's a little stretched out now, but two builds will help that. GERMANY Berlin HOLD -> resolved Kiel HOLD -> resolved Holland HOLD -> resolved I'm not sure if these were actually ordered or if this is just what the server does when it gets no orders. In any case, he missed an opportunity to keep France out of Belgium and to take the wide open Denmark. Alternately, he could have kept Munich. I didn't hear from him this turn, so I have no idea how to interpret this. AUSTRIA Vienna MOVE Trieste -> Bounced Albania MOVE Greece -> resolved Serbia SUPPORT Albania to Greece -> resolved It was really risky to cover Trieste with only one unit, when Italy had two next to it. But it works for two builds. Italy and Austria should be quite a fight. TURKEY Bulgaria SUPPORT Black Sea to Rumania -> resolved Black Sea MOVE Rumania -> resolved Constantinople MOVE Bulgaria -> Cant break this support I told him to do Bulgaria to Rumania with Black Sea support. The only risk would have been if Austria ordered Serbia to Bulgaria, but then he still would have bounced from Constantinople. If he had, he would have two units on Sevastopol right now and not have to waste a turn getting into position. RUSSIA St. Petersburg MOVE Sweden -> resolved Gulf of Bothnia CONVOY St. Petersburg to Sweden -> resolved Warsaw MOVE Prussia -> resolved Rumania HOLD -> Retreat Convoy to Sweden. I've never seen that before. I was sure he would fight me for Norway (thus my supported move). I had told him I'd bump Germany out of Denmark. I didn't, but Germany didn't go there anyway so I hope he's ok with that. I'll try to distract him with "hey, we need to get our share of Germany quick". He did order Warsaw to Prussia, so he may actually be ready to fight Germany now. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Results of 1901 Build: ENGLAND BUILD fleet Edinburgh -> resolved FRANCE BUILD army Marseilles -> resolved BUILD army Paris -> resolved ITALY BUILD fleet Naples -> resolved BUILD fleet Rome -> resolved AUSTRIA BUILD army Trieste -> resolved BUILD army Budapest -> resolved TURKEY BUILD fleet Smyrna -> resolved BUILD army Ankara -> resolved RUSSIA BUILD fleet St. Petersburg (North Coast) -> resolved France agreed not to build fleets to keep Italy and me happy. I agreed not to build a fleet in London. Russia built the most anti-English thing he could, unfortunately. I'm really wishing Turkey had attacked Rumania from Bulgaria as I suggested. He would be in position to take Sevastopol in the spring and probably Moscow in the fall. That would relieve a lot of pressure from me. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Results of 1902 Spring Movement: ENGLAND Norwegian Sea MOVE Barents Sea -> resolved Norway HOLD -> resolved North Sea SUPPORT Norway to hold -> resolved Edinburgh MOVE Norwegian Sea -> resolved I was pretty sure Russia wouldn't move to the Barents so I felt this was safe. My only worry was if Germany moved to the North Sea. He hadn't given me any reason to think he would, but I also haven't heard from him in a long time so I didn't know what to expect. FRANCE Paris MOVE Burgundy -> resolved Marseilles MOVE Piedmont -> resolved Burgundy MOVE Ruhr -> resolved Belgium SUPPORT Burgundy to Ruhr -> resolved Portugal MOVE Spain (South Coast) -> resolved These are nicely pro-English moves. I'm not sure if the move to Piedmont is an attack or something planned with Italy. I'll have to find out. Otherwise, nice straightforward positional movement. ITALY Rome MOVE Naples -> resolved Naples MOVE Apulia -> resolved Munich MOVE Tyrolia -> resolved Tunis MOVE Ionian Sea -> resolved Venice SUPPORT Munich to Tyrolia -> resolved If France is coming after him, leaving Munich is a mistake. This is defensive and positional vs. Austria, and not bad against France either. GERMANY Berlin HOLD -> resolved Kiel HOLD -> resolved Holland HOLD -> resolved Still just holds from Germany. Looks like he's just given up. I'd love to get a piece of him if that's the case, but Russia's got me too tied up. AUSTRIA Trieste SUPPORT Budapest to hold -> resolved Budapest HOLD -> resolved Vienna MOVE Galicia -> resolved Serbia SUPPORT Trieste to hold -> resolved Greece HOLD -> resolved No attempt made against Italy and the move to Galicia signals an attack on Russia. I don't think he'll fight Turkey, and he's being only defensive against Italy. He's moved into an easily bouncable attack against Russia, but otherwise this turn is a whole lot of nothing. TURKEY Ankara MOVE Armenia -> resolved Smyrna MOVE Aegean Sea -> resolved Bulgaria HOLD -> resolved Rumania SUPPORT Bulgaria to hold -> resolved Constantinople MOVE Ankara -> resolved Very anti-russia, exept for the move to the Aegean, which may just be defensive. I understand he and Austria agreed to be allies, but that he hasn't heard much else from him, so he's being careful. He'll take Sevastopol in the fall, but leave the retreat to the Black Sea. Still, anything taken away from Russia is good for me. I'm pretty much counting on the loss of Sevastopol to stay alive in the north. RUSSIA Sevastopol HOLD -> resolved Prussia HOLD -> resolved Gulf of Bothnia MOVE Baltic Sea -> resolved Sweden MOVE Norway -> Bounced St. Petersburg (North Coast) SUPPORT Sweden to Norway -> Supported unit has failed He has set up for a supported attack on Denmark or more likely Berlin. His supported attack on Norway was expected. There wasn't much to do with Prussia or Sevastopol so might as well hold. Evaluation: I'm in a tight fight with Russia in Scandinavia, but Turkey will aid me by taking stuff from him in the south. Turkey has no real enemies, since Russia is doing nothing in the south and Austria seems unaggressive against him. France is looking pretty strong right now and may be gearing up to attack Italy, but if he does so he will end up in a dragged out fight unless he gets Austria to help him. A dragged out fight would be fine for me, though. I don't want him growing too quickly. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Results of 1902 Fall Movement: ENGLAND Barents Sea SUPPORT Norway to St. Petersburg -> resolved Norway MOVE St. Petersburg -> resolved North Sea MOVE Denmark -> resolved Norwegian Sea MOVE Norway -> Bounced If he had attacked from St. Petersburgh with support from Sweden, my attack would have bounced. I'm glad it didn't. I also figured I had a good chance at Denmark and I was right that he was concentrating on Berlin. FRANCE Burgundy MOVE Ruhr -> resolved Piedmont MOVE Tyrolia -> Bounced Ruhr MOVE Holland -> resolved Belgium SUPPORT Ruhr to Holland -> resolved Spain (South Coast) HOLD -> resolved Straightforward progress against Germany, which is easy with only hold orders to contend with. Tyrolia was by agreement with Italy. I'm not sure what their overall plan is. ITALY Naples MOVE Ionian Sea -> resolved Apulia MOVE Adriatic Sea -> resolved Tyrolia MOVE Vienna -> Attack broken by a bud - vie Ionian Sea MOVE Albania -> resolved Venice SUPPORT Piedmont to Tyrolia -> Cant dislodge a same color unit I probably would have concentrated on Trieste, predictable but more likely to succeed. There was very little chance Vienna would be left open. He's well situated for an attack on Trieste now, though. GERMANY Berlin HOLD -> Retreat Kiel HOLD -> resolved Holland HOLD -> Retreat He chose to disband both units during the retreat phase. AUSTRIA Trieste SUPPORT Budapest to Vienna -> resolved Budapest MOVE Vienna -> resolved Galicia MOVE Warsaw -> resolved Serbia SUPPORT Trieste to hold -> resolved Greece HOLD -> resolved A good defensive turn against Italy. He trusts Turkey. The Warsaw grab made sense. Russia was likely to focus on Berlin, and he did. Austria talked to me about cooperating in Russia in the future. TURKEY Armenia MOVE Sevastopol -> resolved Aegean Sea SUPPORT Bulgaria to hold -> resolved Bulgaria SUPPORT Rumania to hold -> resolved Rumania SUPPORT Armenia to Sevastopol -> resolved Ankara MOVE Constantinople -> resolved Good capture and not much else to do with the other pieces but support each other, though I don't think he entirely trusts Austria. RUSSIA Sevastopol HOLD -> Retreat Prussia MOVE Berlin -> resolved Baltic Sea SUPPORT Prussia to Berlin -> resolved Sweden MOVE Norway -> Bounced St. Petersburg (North Coast) MOVE Barents Sea -> Cant break this support I'm not sure why he didn't support the attack on Norway. As the results say, he can't cut my support to hit him. Berlin was an obvious take with Germany lying down, although I was worried he'd try for Denmark just to keep me out if nothing else. The St. Petersburgh fleet had nowhere to go and he chose to disband in Sevastopol, which means he's giving up on his south and interior. Evaluation: Italy, France, and I are all friendly with each other. Turkey, Austria, and I are all pretty much friendly with each other. That makes Russia the big loser (and Germany, but he gave up a long time ago). The only other conflict right now is Italy vs. Austria. More fights have to break out, the question is where? --------------------------------------------------------------------- Results of 1902 Build: ENGLAND BUILD fleet Edinburgh -> resolved BUILD army London -> resolved FRANCE BUILD fleet Marseilles -> resolved BUILD army Paris -> resolved AUSTRIA BUILD army Budapest -> resolved TURKEY BUILD army Ankara -> resolved Evaluation: Fleet Marseilles looks kind of anti-italian. I expected two armies. France and I agreed to no fleets in Brest or London. Austria's becoming a tough nut to crack. --------------------------------------------------------------------- I'm not sure when this happened, but I just noticed that we have a new France and Italy. Why isn't that announced bigger? It was just within the last few turns, though. Spring movement is at least Italy's first turn, based on his messages to me. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Results of 1903 Spring Movement: ENGLAND Barents Sea MOVE St. Petersburg (North Coast) -> resolved Edinburgh MOVE North Sea -> resolved London MOVE Yorkshire -> resolved Norwegian Sea MOVE Norway -> resolved St. Petersburg MOVE Finland -> resolved Denmark SUPPORT Holland to Kiel -> resolved No reason to think these moves wouldn't work. I'm aiming for Sweden in the fall. I didn't expect to keep Denmark. Russia could easily have kicked me out. I was working on how to both get it back and take Sweden. This is even better. FRANCE Belgium MOVE Holland -> resolved Holland MOVE Kiel -> resolved Piedmont MOVE Tuscany -> resolved Marseilles MOVE Gulf of Lyons -> resolved Spain (South Coast) MOVE Western Mediterranean -> resolved Paris MOVE Burgundy -> resolved Ruhr SUPPORT Holland to Kiel -> resolved Easy capture of Kiel with no Russian interferance. And a strong push against Italy, which he is not happy about. At least it's a move away from me (always good). He's offered to support me in Denmark next turn. ITALY Adriatic Sea MOVE Trieste -> Bounced Ionian Sea MOVE Tyrrhenian Sea -> resolved Albania SUPPORT Adriatic Sea to Trieste -> Support cut by a ser - alb Venice SUPPORT Adriatic Sea to Trieste -> Supported unit has failed Tyrolia SUPPORT Adriatic Sea to Trieste -> Support cut by a vie - trl He threw everything he could at Trieste this turn, but Austria had enough to counter it. Tyrrhenian Sea was a good move. Albania retreated to Ionian Sea (a good spot, but his only choice I think). GERMANY Kiel HOLD -> Retreat He ordered the disband on his retreat. AUSTRIA Trieste SUPPORT Vienna to Tyrolia -> Support cut by f adr - tri Budapest SUPPORT Trieste to hold -> resolved Serbia MOVE Albania -> resolved Greece SUPPORT Serbia to Albania -> resolved Warsaw MOVE Moscow -> Bounced Vienna MOVE Tyrolia -> Bounced One support and lots of cutting does the job and also had the chance to take stuff (like Albania). It was a good choice. Kicking Italy out of Albania cuts the threat to Trieste, though France's attack pretty much took the pressure off him anyway. The bounce in Moscow is interesting. I thought these guys were pretty much in sync, and Turkey told me he would get Moscow. I don't mind conflict between these two, but I want someone to take Moscow away from Russia this turn. TURKEY Aegean Sea SUPPORT Constantinople to Bulgaria -> resolved Sevastopol MOVE Moscow -> Bounced Ankara MOVE Armenia -> resolved Bulgaria MOVE Rumania -> resolved Rumania MOVE Black Sea -> resolved Constantinople MOVE Bulgaria -> resolved He doesn't trust Austria much, though the only conflict they've had so far is this bounce in Moscow. Rumania to Ukraine will get him Moscow next year and he doesn't sacrifice much to do it. RUSSIA Berlin HOLD -> resolved Sweden HOLD -> resolved Baltic Sea HOLD -> resolved Looks like Russia's thrown in the towel. It's easier on me if he doesn't go down fighting, but I don't trust him to leave me alone just yet. I'll keep playing like he's attacking me. Evaluation: Germany's out now. Russia's out soon whether he fights it or not. He has no friends to help him out. Turkey's got nowhere to go but Austria and he knows it. I think he figures Austria know it, too, and that's why he doesn't trust him: he figures Austria can't possibly trust *him*. Austria could soon find himself between a defensive Italy and an agressive Turkey. Italy is doomed. He's being fought on both sides now and there's really nobody that can directly help him. His only hope is for Turkey to hit Austria and me to attack France. Which brings us to France. He's done nothing to threaten me and he's bigger than I am. But he's also getting a little too big to trust and where else am I heading next at this point? I can't stretch my self out toward Ausria or Turkey and just trust that France won't eventually hit my long exposed underbelly. I'm not looking forward to this fight, but I may have to hit Belgium this turn. France will still get a build, but if it works I'll get two. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Results of 1903 Fall Movement: ENGLAND St. Petersburg (North Coast) HOLD -> resolved North Sea CONVOY Yorkshire to Belgium -> resolved Yorkshire MOVE Belgium -> resolved Norway SUPPORT Finland to Sweden -> resolved Finland MOVE Sweden -> resolved Denmark SUPPORT Finland to Sweden -> Support cut by a ber - den Russia's back this turn so I'm glad I didn't count on him holding. Sweden consolidates my Scandinavian holdings nicely. I worry that I have stabbed France to early. The door was wide open and his back was to me and I worried that if I waited longer he'd build too much and I wouldn't have the chance. The army in Belgium is a back rank marauder that should keep him pretty tied up for a while. I got two builds and they'll both be fleets for attacking France. FRANCE Holland SUPPORT Kiel to hold -> resolved Kiel SUPPORT Denmark to hold -> resolved Tuscany MOVE Rome -> Attack broken by f tyn - rom Western Mediterranean SUPPORT Gulf of Lyons to Tyrrhenian Sea -> resolved Gulf of Lyons MOVE Tyrrhenian Sea -> resolved Burgundy MOVE Munich -> resolved Ruhr SUPPORT Burgundy to Munich -> resolved He actually ordered a support for me this turn, which only makes me meaner for attacking him. Munich was a clear choice and Gulf of Lyon to Tyrrhenian Sea is what I would have done, too. ITALY Adriatic Sea MOVE Apulia -> resolved Tyrrhenian Sea MOVE Rome -> resolved Ionian Sea MOVE Tunis -> resolved Venice SUPPORT Tyrrhenian Sea to Rome -> resolved Tyrolia MOVE Venice -> Cant break this support Ouch. Munich gone and no way to hold Tunis. He's going to be down to his three home supply centers (if not less) next year. At least I've come in to distract France and Turkey finally attacked Austria which should take some pressure off him. AUSTRIA Trieste HOLD -> resolved Budapest MOVE Vienna -> resolved Albania MOVE Serbia -> Attack broken by a bul - ser Greece HOLD -> resolved Warsaw MOVE Prussia -> resolved Vienna MOVE Bohemia -> resolved I coaxed the move to Prussia out of him by saying that I really needed someone to take Moscow away from Russia. So he left it alone this turn, but so did Turkey. Now I'm stuck with a Russian fleet in the Baltic. I coaxed him away with talk of helping him into Berlin (though I'm not sure how I was ever supposed to do that) and he ended up pushing two units that way. That's great news for Turkey but doesn't help Austria much. TURKEY Aegean Sea MOVE Greece -> Bounced Sevastopol MOVE Ukraine -> resolved Armenia MOVE Sevastopol -> resolved Rumania SUPPORT Bulgaria to Serbia -> resolved Black Sea MOVE Constantinople -> resolved Bulgaria MOVE Serbia -> resolved I knew this was coming sooner or later. Serbia gets snatched away and the fleets are moving toward the Mediterranean. The move to Ukraine guarantees Moscow next year, but I wanted someone to take it this turn. He's getting a build this year but it will take a year to get it anywhere useful. RUSSIA Berlin MOVE Denmark -> Attack broken by f den xxx Sweden SUPPORT Berlin to Denmark -> Support cut by a fin - swe Baltic Sea CONVOY Berlin to Denmark -> resolved Not a bad ploy for Denmark, but easily broken even without the support from Kiel. Evaluation: Italy's pretty doomed. Austria's got a rough fight ahead against Turkey, except that Turkey's units are not well positioned to push forward. Russia's still kicking enough to be a problem for me. I should be able to spare enough units (especially with two builds) to bring the fight to France. I'm always a little nervous when opening up a new front. I hope I haven't made a huge mistake. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Results of 1903 Build: ENGLAND BUILD fleet London -> resolved BUILD fleet Liverpool -> resolved FRANCE BUILD army Marseilles -> resolved ITALY Apulia DESTROY -> resolved AUSTRIA Bohemia DESTROY -> resolved TURKEY BUILD army Smyrna -> resolved Evaluation: I confessed my greediness to France a begged his forgiveness. Aparently he believed it because he built far away from me and it wasn't even a fleet. He's still focused on Italy. My two fleets are aimed straight at France. Italy has no way of keeping Tunis. I think I would have let that one go. Bohemia's probably the right choice for Austria, Prussia's pretty remote, but can be used to cover Warsaw. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Results of 1904 Spring Movement: ENGLAND St. Petersburg (North Coast) HOLD -> resolved Liverpool MOVE Irish Sea -> resolved London MOVE English Channel -> resolved Belgium MOVE Burgundy -> resolved North Sea MOVE Belgium -> resolved Norway MOVE Norwegian Sea -> resolved Sweden SUPPORT Denmark to hold -> resolved Denmark SUPPORT Baltic Sea to Kiel -> Supported order does not correspond I was in full on bald faced lie mode this turn. After my mea culpa, France said that if I convoyed out of Belgium he'd let me keep the center. I waited until after the build results were out and when I saw his friendly build I told him ok, I'd convoy out. He sounded pretty friendly and ok with that. Then I ordered moves against two of his home supply centers. I don't like the inactivity of my Scandinavian units, and I only see them doing less for a while. That's not the way to play. FRANCE Kiel MOVE Berlin -> resolved Tuscany MOVE Rome -> Attack broken by f rom xxx Ruhr SUPPORT Holland to hold -> resolved Holland HOLD -> resolved Western Mediterranean SUPPORT Tyrrhenian Sea to Tunis -> resolved Tyrrhenian Sea MOVE Tunis -> resolved Munich SUPPORT Kiel to Berlin -> resolved Marseilles MOVE Gascony -> resolved He trusted me, but not completely. If he had totally trusted me the army would have moved East from Marseilles. And taking Tunis from the Western Med would have given him a shot at Naples this fall. But now he can fight me over the Mid-Atlantic and either Paris or Brest. He's left the army in Tuscany practically useless without anyone there to help him. Berlin was easy and he left two units next to Belgium in case I was treacherous, which I was. ITALY Rome HOLD -> resolved Tyrolia MOVE Piedmont -> resolved Venice SUPPORT Rome to hold -> resolved Tunis MOVE Western Mediterranean -> Cant break this support Good move into Piedmont. All three of France's home centers are open and he has only one unit to defend them with. I don't see any way for Italy to get Tunis back, but he should hold on to the rest and may gain Marseilles. He tried to retreat to the Tyrrhenian Sea, which is where the attack came from, and it just destroyed the unit instead. That seems like a really bad inteface design. I don't like this site much. AUSTRIA Albania MOVE Serbia -> Bounced Trieste SUPPORT Albania to Serbia -> Supported unit has failed Prussia MOVE Warsaw -> resolved Vienna SUPPORT Trieste to hold -> resolved Greece MOVE Aegean Sea -> Bounced Good try for Serbia, but he needs to start trusting Italy. I think they talked, but I'm sure there was something more productive to do against Turkey with Vienna. TURKEY Sevastopol MOVE Moscow -> resolved Smyrna MOVE Constantinople -> resolved Serbia HOLD -> resolved Constantinople MOVE Bulgaria (South Coast) -> resolved Aegean Sea SUPPORT Constantinople to Bulgaria (South Coast) -> Support cut by f gre - aeg Ukraine MOVE Galicia -> resolved Rumania SUPPORT Serbia to hold -> resolved He held his new gain in Serbia and lined up fall attacks on Budapest and Greece. Or, with Moscow now in hand, he could attack Warsaw. He's got lots to gain and there's little Austria can do to stop him. RUSSIA Baltic Sea HOLD -> resolved Berlin HOLD -> Retreat Russia's back in passive mode. I wrote a couple times offering to support him from Baltic into Kiel. I'll offer again. I'd love to see France lose that center. He disbanded the unit in Berlin. Evaluation: France picked up Berlin and Tunis and will certainly take back Belgium this year. Italy and I can take two so which home center he defends from Gascony is vital. I need Brest to keep new fleets from challenging my naval superiority in the north. Now I'm hoping I didn't wait too long to attack France. Turkey isn't a threat to me right now, but he will be in the long term, because there's little Austria can do to stop him. Italy will probably be stronger by the time he gets to him, but not enough. --------------------------------------------------------------------- ENGLAND St. Petersburg (North Coast) HOLD -> resolved Belgium HOLD -> resolved Burgundy MOVE Paris -> Bounced Norwegian Sea MOVE North Altantic Ocean -> resolved English Channel MOVE Brest -> resolved Irish Sea MOVE Mid-Atlantic Ocean -> Bounced Denmark SUPPORT Baltic Sea to Kiel -> resolved Sweden SUPPORT Denmark to hold -> resolved I am shocked that I held Belgium, but I guess France was more concerned with Kiel. It's a trade off, I guess. I had a lot of inactive units (Sweden supporting Denmark wasn't even necessary) which I don't like, but what else was I going to do with them? No surprise I was bounced in the Mid Atlantic, but now I have support for it for next turn. I knew I would take either Brest or Paris, but I'm surprised it was Brest. France must not understand the need for northern fleets to fight me. FRANCE Gascony MOVE Paris -> Bounced Tunis HOLD -> resolved Ruhr SUPPORT Munich to Burgundy -> resolved Tuscany MOVE Piedmont -> resolved Munich MOVE Burgundy -> resolved Western Mediterranean MOVE Mid-Atlantic Ocean -> Bounced Holland MOVE Kiel -> Attack broken by f bal - kie Berlin MOVE Kiel -> Attack broken by f bal - kie The self bounce in Kiel was a good idea because he had no way of guessing that I would support Russia into there. His army in Gascony had to pick one home supply center to protect and it should have been Brest, but he chose Paris. If he had taken Belgium back, kept Kiel and Berlin, and held Tunis, and then lost Paris and Marseilles he still would have had one build. He needed Brest open and build a fleet there. With no northern French fleets, I have a lot more freedom of movement. As it stands, leaving me Belgium and losing Kiel costs him a unit. ITALY Venice HOLD -> resolved Rome HOLD -> resolved Piedmont MOVE Marseilles -> resolved Pressure on Marseilles was crucial to fighting France. I don't see Italy gaining much more execpt Tunis in the short term, so he and I will have to coordinate or positioning well in the next year or so in order to keep the fight up against France. AUSTRIA Warsaw MOVE Galicia -> Bounced Vienna MOVE Budapest -> Bounced Trieste MOVE Serbia -> Bounced Albania MOVE Greece -> Attack broken by f bul.sc - gre Greece HOLD -> Retreat He submitted the wrong order for Albania. He clearly meant a support. You've got to be careful. It costs him a center and a unit. Overall, though, he does a good job of keeping Turkey out of his centers. TURKEY Moscow HOLD -> resolved Rumania MOVE Budapest -> Bounced Aegean Sea SUPPORT Bulgaria (South Coast) to Greece -> resolved Galicia SUPPORT Rumania to Budapest -> Support cut by a war - gal Serbia MOVE Albania -> Bounced Bulgaria (South Coast) MOVE Greece -> resolved Constantinople MOVE Bulgaria -> resolved Pushing Rumania into Budapest keeps a better forward line with a smaller gap, but Austria isn't really threatening from Warsaw and ordering the support from Rumania would have been uncuttable. Still, Austria's mistake gets Turkey a build. (I kind of wish that hadn't happened. Keeping my counterpart in the southeast down would be better for me in the long run.) RUSSIA Baltic Sea MOVE Kiel -> resolved Yay Russia! I offered my support for this a turn ago and he didn't do it. I didn't hear anything from him, but I offered it again this turn. Still didn't hear anything. This is huge in my fight against France. Evaluation: This all worked out much better than I had hoped. I was figuring France would get a build this year and that he would keep Brest open for a fleet. But he chose to cover Paris instead and leaving me Belgium and losing Kiel means he is removing a unit instead of building. It's going to be a slow fight against France, but I think Italy and I have the upper hand now. Russia's still in it and I'd rather not see him with a fleet, but he can't threaten anything of mine before I can cover it. In the east, Turkey is grinding Austria down slowly but surely. Italy will be easy for him after that. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Results of 1904 Build: ENGLAND BUILD fleet London -> resolved FRANCE Ruhr DESTROY -> resolved ITALY BUILD fleet Naples -> resolved TURKEY BUILD army Constantinople -> resolved BUILD fleet Smyrna -> resolved Evaluation: Mine and Italy's builds were pretty obvious. Nothing surprising from Turkey, either. France's removal always going to be the most interesting. If I were him I think I would have dropped the Western Med fleet and kept the armies to fight in the heartland. But he kept the fleet which means he either wants to tie up two units holding Tunis, or fight me for the Atlantic (he can make it difficult but can't beat me there any time soon). By dropping Ruhr is he conceding Belgium to me? He can still attack it with two, but Burgundy can also have a hand in securing Paris, or retaking Marseilles. And does he plan to fight for Kiel, or leave it in Russian hands? If I were him I'd probably take Marseilles from Piedmont, Burgundy to Paris to keep me out, and take Kiel from Berlin. I'm gambling that he won't order a supported attack on Belgium and ordering Picardy to Paris. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Results of 1905 Spring Movement: ENGLAND St. Petersburg (North Coast) HOLD -> resolved Picardy MOVE Paris -> Bounced North Altantic Ocean MOVE Mid-Atlantic Ocean -> resolved Brest SUPPORT North Altantic Ocean to Mid-Atlantic Ocean -> resolved Irish Sea SUPPORT North Altantic Ocean to Mid-Atlantic Ocean -> resolved Belgium MOVE Holland -> Bounced London MOVE English Channel -> resolved Denmark MOVE Skagerrack -> resolved Sweden MOVE Denmark -> resolved My move to Belgium was in case he took Keil from there, but it also works to cut his support and keep it in Russia's hands. In Scandinavia I'm maneuvering to get the army in Denmark so it can move inland when I get the chance. I also want units in St. Petersburg, Norway, and Denmark as that's a stalemate position as long as there are no northern fleets to worry about (yes Russia still has one, but hopefully that won't last). I didn't really expect to take Paris, but it was possible. This turn, though I don't want it to end up empty, just in case France gets a build. FRANCE Tunis MOVE Western Mediterranean -> Bounced Burgundy MOVE Paris -> Bounced Piedmont MOVE Marseilles -> resolved Gascony SUPPORT Piedmont to Marseilles -> resolved Western Mediterranean MOVE Spain (South Coast) -> Bounced Holland SUPPORT Berlin to Kiel -> Support cut by f bel - hol Berlin MOVE Kiel -> Bounced No move into Spain means that I can take Portugal this year. He attempted to abandon Tunis, but in the end won't lose it this turn. No surprise that he took back Marseilles, but he has to keep it occupied so no building there. ITALY Rome MOVE Tyrrhenian Sea -> resolved Marseilles MOVE Spain -> Bounced Naples MOVE Ionian Sea -> Bounced Venice HOLD -> resolved I didn't know he was going to move to Spain, but he couldn't hold Marseilles so it was a good choice. Keeping France out of there helps me. I did not expect any trouble getting into the Ionian Sea, but it costs him Tunis this year. The army in Marseilles was dislodged and had nowhere to retreat. AUSTRIA Vienna HOLD -> resolved Trieste HOLD -> resolved Warsaw HOLD -> Retreat Albania HOLD -> resolved He's throwing in the towel. He could have covered Budapest. With his retreat he could have gone to Ukraine. From there he could have taken Sevastopol unopposed but he chose to disband. That is bad for me, in terms of trying to keep up with Turkey. TURKEY Aegean Sea CONVOY Constantinople to Greece -> resolved Constantinople MOVE Greece -> Bounced Bulgaria SUPPORT Serbia to hold -> resolved Serbia HOLD -> resolved Greece MOVE Ionian Sea -> Bounced Rumania MOVE Budapest -> resolved Moscow MOVE Warsaw -> resolved Galicia SUPPORT Moscow to Warsaw -> resolved Smyrna MOVE Eastern Mediterranean -> resolved Aggressive maneuvering in the sea gets bounced, but the completely unaided walk into Budapest succeeds. RUSSIA Kiel HOLD -> resolved Didn't expect much else here, but I'm glad he's not running out to the North Sea to mess with me. Evaluation: With Austria putting up no fight Turkey's on an easy road now. He'll clean them up and then have more than he needs to take down Italy and there's little I can do to help him. With France putting up a good fight against me it looks like Turkey's game right now. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Results of 1905 Fall Movement: ENGLAND St. Petersburg (North Coast) HOLD -> resolved Picardy SUPPORT Belgium to hold -> resolved Belgium SUPPORT Kiel to Holland -> Supported order does not correspond Irish Sea MOVE Mid-Atlantic Ocean -> resolved Mid-Atlantic Ocean MOVE Portugal -> resolved English Channel SUPPORT Irish Sea to Mid-Atlantic Ocean -> resolved Brest SUPPORT Irish Sea to Mid-Atlantic Ocean -> resolved Skagerrack MOVE North Sea -> resolved Denmark SUPPORT Kiel to hold -> resolved Portugal was unstoppable, but it was important to keep someone in the Mid- Atlantic. I left Paris alone this turn in the hope that France would re-occupy it. I didn't figure he'd get a build, but just in case I wanted it occupied. His self-bounce there was a good move. I didn't expect him to attack Belgium but if I'm not going for Paris, might as well protect it from Picardy. I realized I should have gone to North Sea earlier (possibly instead of English Channel). I could have been working on Holland sooner. I supported Kiel to both hold and attack Holland. I figured he'd hold at this point, but just in case he moved I helped out. FRANCE Tunis HOLD -> resolved Berlin MOVE Kiel -> Bounced Burgundy MOVE Paris -> Bounced Holland SUPPORT Berlin to Kiel -> Supported unit has failed Marseilles MOVE Spain -> Bounced Western Mediterranean MOVE Spain (South Coast) -> Bounced Gascony MOVE Paris -> Bounced Trying to take Kiel was a good choice, but I prevented it. The self bounce in Paris was wise. Self-bouncing in Spain keeps the Med plugged while preventing me from getting Spain, a good choice since he couldn't protect Portugal at all. ITALY Venice HOLD -> resolved Tyrrhenian Sea MOVE Gulf of Lyons -> resolved Naples MOVE Tyrrhenian Sea -> resolved I think I would have just trusted Austria and moved all units against France, but now he's got trouble from Turkey. AUSTRIA Albania HOLD -> Retreat Vienna HOLD -> resolved Trieste HOLD -> resolved He's given up. Turkey has basically faced no resistance at all this game. TURKEY Bulgaria MOVE Serbia -> resolved Constantinople MOVE Bulgaria -> resolved Warsaw HOLD -> resolved Aegean Sea SUPPORT Eastern Mediterranean to Ionian Sea -> resolved Galicia SUPPORT Budapest to hold -> resolved Budapest HOLD -> resolved Greece SUPPORT Serbia to Albania -> resolved Serbia MOVE Albania -> resolved Eastern Mediterranean MOVE Ionian Sea -> resolved He's hard to stop now. There's not much Austria can do, but he could do *something*. RUSSIA Kiel HOLD -> resolved Evaluation: I've got a hard fight against France, but at least I have an ally. Austria is on his own and that means Turkey has it easy. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Results of 1905 Build: ENGLAND BUILD army London -> resolved TURKEY BUILD army Constantinople -> resolved BUILD army Smyrna -> resolved Evaluation: I need more armies desperately now. But only one build to Turkey's two. I'm not keeping up like that. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Results of 1906 Spring Movement: ENGLAND St. Petersburg (North Coast) HOLD -> resolved London MOVE Holland -> resolved English Channel MOVE Mid-Atlantic Ocean -> resolved Mid-Atlantic Ocean MOVE Spain (South Coast) -> resolved Brest MOVE Gascony -> Bounced Picardy MOVE Paris -> Bounced Belgium SUPPORT London to Holland -> resolved Portugal SUPPORT Mid-Atlantic Ocean to Spain (South Coast) -> resolved Denmark SUPPORT Kiel to hold -> resolved North Sea CONVOY London to Holland -> resolved This really was a good result for me. I didn't expect to gain both Holland and Spain. Both had a reasonable chance for success but both were also independently stoppable. I need that army on the continent, but I need a lot more, too. FRANCE Gascony MOVE Paris -> Bounced Western Mediterranean SUPPORT Marseilles to Spain -> Supported unit has failed Holland SUPPORT Berlin to Kiel -> Support cut by a lon - hol Marseilles MOVE Spain -> Attack broken by f mid - spa.sc Burgundy MOVE Munich -> resolved Tunis SUPPORT Western Mediterranean to hold -> Support cut by f tyn - tun Berlin MOVE Kiel -> Attack broken by f kie xxx I'm not sure if he's worried about Italy or Austria (or Turkey), but Munich seems like a bad move. Keeping him in Burgundy helps keep me out of Paris, Ruhr would hit the low countries and help with Kiel. But I don't see what Munich which wasn't even threatened gains. But everything else makes sense: fighting me over spain, and trying to take Keil. ITALY Venice MOVE Trieste -> Attack broken by a ser - tri Tyrrhenian Sea MOVE Tunis -> Bounced Gulf of Lyons SUPPORT Mid-Atlantic Ocean to Spain (South Coast) -> resolved It was good to have his support into Spain. I probably would have covered Naples instead of taking an unlikely shot at Tunis. I also would have supported Trieste instead of attacking it. I wrote to him about this. AUSTRIA Trieste SUPPORT Vienna to hold -> Support cut by a ser - tri Vienna SUPPORT Trieste to hold -> Support cut by a bud - vie Too little too late. It was obvious he was attacking both so you could count on both supports getting cut. TURKEY Bulgaria MOVE Serbia -> resolved Serbia MOVE Trieste -> resolved Ionian Sea MOVE Naples -> resolved Constantinople MOVE Greece -> resolved Warsaw MOVE Prussia -> resolved Greece MOVE Ionian Sea -> resolved Aegean Sea CONVOY Constantinople to Greece -> resolved Galicia SUPPORT Budapest to Vienna -> resolved Albania SUPPORT Serbia to Trieste -> resolved Budapest MOVE Vienna -> resolved Smyrna MOVE Constantinople -> resolved He's really aggressive now. Austria and Italy for three builds. Plus a move to Prussia which means he understands the importance of getting to Germany in order to get 18. RUSSIA Kiel HOLD -> resolved Evaluation: It's all Turkey's game. I doubt I can beat him to 18. I should be working out a run to the 17 center northwestern stalemate line with France, but I doubt he'd trust me so I'm hesitant to propose it. I'm also not sure he'd be faithful to it after I stabbed him. There's a certain amount of pride involved, too. I don't want to give up like that. But does it really mean anything to be the biggest of the losers? In any case, I'm not going to back off of this year's gains so there's not point bringing it up until after builds. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Results of 1906 Fall Movement: ENGLAND St. Petersburg (North Coast) HOLD -> resolved Holland SUPPORT Kiel to hold -> resolved Mid-Atlantic Ocean SUPPORT Spain (South Coast) to hold -> resolved Spain (South Coast) SUPPORT Gulf of Lyons to Marseilles -> Supported order does not correspond Brest HOLD -> resolved Picardy MOVE Paris -> resolved Belgium SUPPORT Holland to hold -> resolved Portugal SUPPORT Spain (South Coast) to hold -> resolved Denmark SUPPORT Kiel to hold -> resolved North Sea HOLD -> resolved I supported what I took, supported Kiel in case France went for it, and supported Italy into Marseilles, which he said he would try, but didn't. It's a perfectly reasonable turn, but I really should be moving faster if I'm going to keep up with Turkey. FRANCE Gascony MOVE Spain -> Bounced Western Mediterranean SUPPORT Gascony to Spain -> Supported unit has failed Ruhr SUPPORT Munich to hold -> resolved Marseilles SUPPORT Gascony to Spain -> Supported unit has failed Munich HOLD -> resolved Tunis SUPPORT Western Mediterranean to hold -> resolved Berlin SUPPORT Munich to hold -> resolved It's a lot of defensive holding with only one shot (at Spain). I think I would have tried for Kiel if I were him, but then Austria would have messed him up so maybe he was right. ITALY Venice HOLD -> resolved Tyrrhenian Sea HOLD -> resolved Gulf of Lyons HOLD -> resolved Could have taken Marseilles and I would have covered Rome if I were him. AUSTRIA Tyrolia MOVE Munich -> Attack broken by a mun xxx Bohemia SUPPORT Tyrolia to Munich -> Supported unit has failed I like that he's still fighting. Another loss for France would have been nice for me, but he was carefully defensive. TURKEY Serbia MOVE Budapest -> resolved Trieste SUPPORT Vienna to hold -> resolved Naples SUPPORT Ionian Sea to hold -> resolved Greece MOVE Serbia -> resolved Prussia SUPPORT Galicia to Silesia -> resolved Ionian Sea SUPPORT Naples to hold -> resolved Aegean Sea HOLD -> resolved Galicia MOVE Silesia -> resolved Albania SUPPORT Trieste to hold -> resolved Vienna SUPPORT Trieste to hold -> resolved Constantinople MOVE Bulgaria -> resolved Not a lot here, but he's moving on Germany, which means he understands its importance to getting 18. He'll be across the stalemate line before I can form it. RUSSIA Kiel HOLD -> resolved Evaluation: Especially now that he's crossing the stalemate line this game is Turkey's. Even if I talked France into helping me stop him I don't think we could do it. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Results of 1906 Build: ENGLAND BUILD army London -> resolved BUILD army Liverpool -> resolved BUILD fleet Edinburgh -> resolved FRANCE Tunis DESTROY -> resolved Munich DESTROY -> resolved Berlin DESTROY -> resolved ITALY Gulf of Lyons DESTROY -> resolved AUSTRIA Bohemia DESTROY -> resolved Tyrolia DESTROY -> resolved TURKEY BUILD fleet Smyrna -> resolved BUILD army Ankara -> resolved BUILD army Constantinople -> resolved Evaluation: Ok, now we really couldn't stop Turkey from getting Berlin, so it's just a race and Turkey has the head start (and nobody significantly trying to stop him). I still have to fight France and also race Turkey. Not going to happen. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Results of 1907 Spring Movement: ENGLAND St. Petersburg (North Coast) HOLD -> resolved Paris MOVE Burgundy -> Bounced Brest MOVE Gascony -> Bounced Spain (South Coast) SUPPORT Brest to Gascony -> Cant support square gas Mid-Atlantic Ocean SUPPORT Spain (South Coast) to hold -> resolved Holland SUPPORT Denmark to Kiel -> resolved Edinburgh MOVE Norwegian Sea -> resolved Liverpool MOVE Wales -> resolved London MOVE Belgium -> resolved Belgium MOVE English Channel -> resolved Portugal SUPPORT Spain (South Coast) to hold -> resolved Denmark MOVE Kiel -> resolved North Sea CONVOY London to Belgium -> resolved North Sea will now move toward the Baltic, but that's a long way off before it will be any help in Germany. Kiel is good for me (I was a little worried France would try some of the unwanted support shenanigans I have been doing). It was possible Ruhr would disrupt my convoy to Belgium but I had to take that chance to get Kiel, and Germany is the most important thing right now. It would have been nice to get Burgundy, but my only other option for Paris was to attack Gascony, and that would have forced the unit out to Burgundy where he would only threaten Paris. Big oops on Spain's support to Gascony, but not a big deal. FRANCE Marseilles SUPPORT Western Mediterranean to Spain (South Coast) -> Supported unit has failed Western Mediterranean MOVE Spain (South Coast) -> Attack broken by f spa.sc xxx Ruhr MOVE Burgundy -> Bounced Gascony SUPPORT Western Mediterranean to Spain (South Coast) -> Support cut by f bre - gas Teaming up on Spain was his best move from here. Fortunately I could prevent it. Ruhr to Burgundy consolidates his power, buy fortunately I prevented that, too. ITALY Tyrrhenian Sea MOVE Rome -> Bounced Venice HOLD -> resolved Venice should have supported Tyrrhenian to Rome, but he'll probably lose both this turn anyway. TURKEY Albania MOVE Apulia -> resolved Ankara MOVE Constantinople -> resolved Constantinople MOVE Bulgaria -> resolved Silesia SUPPORT Prussia to Berlin -> resolved Aegean Sea MOVE Greece -> resolved Bulgaria MOVE Serbia -> resolved Serbia MOVE Albania -> resolved Vienna MOVE Tyrolia -> resolved Naples MOVE Rome -> Bounced Budapest MOVE Galicia -> resolved Prussia MOVE Berlin -> resolved Ionian Sea CONVOY Albania to Apulia -> resolved Trieste SUPPORT Vienna to Tyrolia -> resolved Smyrna MOVE Aegean Sea -> resolved He's in Berlin with position on Munich, and two units apiece on Venice and Rome. Plus a shot at an open Tunis. That's the four he needs to win. My only choice now is to ask France for help. RUSSIA Kiel MOVE Baltic Sea -> resolved Not sure if someone talked him into this, or if he just wanted to be sure to get out of the game by avoiding unwanted support. I'll have to find out. Evaluation: Game for Turkey unless I can get France to help me toward a draw. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Results of 1907 Fall Movement: ENGLAND St. Petersburg (North Coast) HOLD -> resolved Paris SUPPORT Belgium to Burgundy -> resolved Brest MOVE Gascony -> resolved Spain (South Coast) SUPPORT Mid-Atlantic Ocean to Western Mediterranean -> resolved Mid-Atlantic Ocean MOVE Western Mediterranean -> resolved Holland MOVE Ruhr -> resolved Norwegian Sea MOVE Norway -> resolved Wales MOVE Belgium -> resolved Belgium MOVE Burgundy -> resolved English Channel CONVOY Wales to Belgium -> resolved Portugal MOVE Mid-Atlantic Ocean -> resolved Kiel SUPPORT Ruhr to Munich -> resolved North Sea MOVE Denmark -> resolved I'm working with France now (see below). The fleet Denmark is destined for the Baltic to try for Berlin. I've lined up as much support behind our line as I could. I need to push as many fleets into the Med as I can to fight Turkey. FRANCE Marseilles MOVE Piedmont -> resolved Western Mediterranean MOVE Tunis -> Bounced Ruhr MOVE Munich -> resolved Gascony MOVE Marseilles -> resolved Munich and Tunis I asked for and we needed to save the game. The thrust into Italy is ok, but he'll have to remove one and it can only be Piedmont. ITALY Tyrrhenian Sea MOVE Tunis -> Bounced Venice HOLD -> Retreat He either didn't get my message or didn't want to help us out. TURKEY Apulia SUPPORT Trieste to Venice -> resolved Constantinople MOVE Bulgaria -> resolved Bulgaria MOVE Serbia -> resolved Silesia MOVE Munich -> Attack broken by a ruh - mun Greece MOVE Ionian Sea -> Bounced Serbia MOVE Budapest -> resolved Albania MOVE Trieste -> resolved Tyrolia SUPPORT Trieste to Venice -> resolved Naples MOVE Rome -> resolved Galicia MOVE Bohemia -> resolved Berlin SUPPORT Silesia to Munich -> Support cut by f bal - ber Ionian Sea MOVE Tunis -> Bounced Trieste MOVE Venice -> resolved Aegean Sea MOVE Greece -> Bounced Lucky bastard. He did the attack wrong but still got Rome. He needed two units on Venice and two on Rome. He did three on Venice and one on Rome. If Italy had ordered Tyrrhenian Sea to Rome he would have bounced and Italy would still be in it. RUSSIA Baltic Sea MOVE Berlin -> Bounced Thank you for helping us out. This gave us Munich. Evaluation: Turkey had Berlin and was poised to take Munich, Venice, and Rome, and have a shot at Tunis, too. He needs four to win. So the only thing left for me was a draw. So I wrote to France and asked for his help trying for a three way draw. He agreed. With his help I knew we could keep Turkey out of Munich and Tunis and at least buy us some time. I also wrote to Russia since he moved out of Kiel. I thought he wanted out, but then realized we had a replacement Russia. So I asked him if he would be willing to help us against Turkey. His move against Berlin cut its support and gave us Munich. I also wrote to Italy saying I'm sorry we couldn't do anything to help him, but if he wanted to help us he could support France into Tunis. I don't know if he didn't get the message or if he just didn't want to help us. We've got a decent chance at the draw, but I've got to make sure we cross all our t's and dot all our i's. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Results of 1907 Build: ENGLAND BUILD army London -> resolved FRANCE Marseilles DESTROY -> resolved ITALY Tyrrhenian Sea DESTROY -> resolved Tuscany DESTROY -> resolved TURKEY BUILD fleet Smyrna -> resolved BUILD army Constantinople -> resolved BUILD army Ankara -> resolved RUSSIA Baltic Sea DESTROY -> resolved Evaluation: Italy and Russia are out now. I built an army to convoy to the continent. The Mid-Atlantic bottleneck will give me the time to convoy him. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Results of 1908 Spring Movement: ENGLAND St. Petersburg (North Coast) HOLD -> resolved Gascony MOVE Mid-Atlantic Ocean -> resolved Burgundy SUPPORT Munich to hold -> resolved Paris MOVE Gascony -> resolved English Channel CONVOY London to Brest -> resolved Western Mediterranean MOVE Tunis -> resolved Belgium MOVE Holland -> resolved Mid-Atlantic Ocean MOVE North Africa -> resolved London MOVE Brest -> resolved Norway MOVE Sweden -> resolved Ruhr SUPPORT Munich to hold -> resolved Denmark MOVE Baltic Sea -> resolved Kiel SUPPORT Munich to hold -> resolved Spain (South Coast) HOLD -> resolved I'm moving to put pressure on Berlin, but it will take a long time to get there. I'm a little surprised to get Tunis. I expected Turkey to fight me more for that. There's no reason we can't be voting for a three way draw at this point but I'm hoping France doesn't realize that. If I can maneuver a little longer I might have a shot at a solo myself. FRANCE Piedmont SUPPORT Gulf of Lyons to Tuscany -> Support cut by a ven - pie Munich HOLD -> resolved Gulf of Lyons MOVE Tuscany -> resolved The Tuscany grab works even without support, mostly because Turkey doesn't really care about losing it. TURKEY Serbia MOVE Budapest -> resolved Bulgaria MOVE Rumania -> resolved Aegean Sea MOVE Greece -> resolved Smyrna MOVE Aegean Sea -> resolved Constantinople MOVE Bulgaria -> resolved Budapest MOVE Vienna -> resolved Trieste HOLD -> resolved Apulia MOVE Rome -> resolved Ionian Sea SUPPORT Rome to Tyrrhenian Sea -> resolved Tyrolia SUPPORT Bohemia to Munich -> Supported unit has failed Silesia SUPPORT Bohemia to Munich -> Supported unit has failed Greece MOVE Albania -> resolved Berlin SUPPORT Bohemia to Munich -> Supported unit has failed Venice MOVE Piedmont -> Bounced Bohemia MOVE Munich -> Bounced Rome MOVE Tyrrhenian Sea -> resolved Ankara MOVE Constantinople -> resolved He's pushing everything forward very normally. The positional move to Tyrrhenian Sea makes sense, especially in the spring, but I was expecting him to take a grab at Tunis. Maybe he realized that I would deny him anyway. Evaluation: Turkey is perched precariously close to the win, but France and I have him well in check right now. We should be voting for a draw, but if France will help me out for just a couple more turns, I may be able to stab him again for the win for myself. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Results of 1908 Fall Movement: ENGLAND St. Petersburg (North Coast) HOLD -> resolved Mid-Atlantic Ocean MOVE Western Mediterranean -> resolved Burgundy SUPPORT Munich to hold -> resolved Gascony HOLD -> resolved English Channel MOVE Mid-Atlantic Ocean -> resolved Tunis SUPPORT Mid-Atlantic Ocean to Western Mediterranean -> resolved Holland SUPPORT Kiel to hold -> resolved North Africa SUPPORT Tunis to hold -> resolved Brest HOLD -> resolved Sweden MOVE Baltic Sea -> resolved Ruhr SUPPORT Munich to hold -> resolved Baltic Sea MOVE Prussia -> resolved Kiel SUPPORT Munich to hold -> resolved Spain (South Coast) SUPPORT Mid-Atlantic Ocean to Western Mediterranean -> resolved As I expected, Turkey was most concerned with me attacking Berlin this turn and he let me in to Prussia. Now next turn he can't stop me from taking Berlin, which is why I didn't attack now, when he could. FRANCE Piedmont SUPPORT Tuscany to hold -> resolved Munich HOLD -> resolved Tuscany SUPPORT Tunis to Tyrrhenian Sea -> Supported order does not correspond TURKEY Budapest MOVE Trieste -> Bounced Rumania MOVE Galicia -> resolved Greece MOVE Ionian Sea -> resolved Aegean Sea CONVOY Constantinople to Greece -> resolved Bulgaria MOVE Serbia -> resolved Vienna MOVE Bohemia -> Bounced Trieste MOVE Venice -> Bounced Rome SUPPORT Venice to Tuscany -> Supported unit has failed Ionian Sea MOVE Tyrrhenian Sea -> resolved Tyrolia SUPPORT Bohemia to Munich -> Supported unit has failed Silesia SUPPORT Berlin to hold -> resolved Albania SUPPORT Greece to Ionian Sea -> resolved Berlin SUPPORT Bohemia to Munich -> Supported unit has failed Venice MOVE Tuscany -> Bounced Bohemia MOVE Munich -> Attack broken by a mun xxx Tyrrhenian Sea MOVE Gulf of Lyons -> resolved Constantinople MOVE Greece -> resolved Gulf of Lyons was a surprise. It never even occurred to me that he might try that. It's problematic, but not unstoppable. France thinks getting him out of there is our top priority. I don't think it needs to be, but will go along with his plan to keep him happy. Evaluation: If I can keep France happy for one more turn I think I've got the solo. At the very least, I think we do have Turkey stalemated. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Results of 1908 Build: ENGLAND BUILD fleet London -> resolved FRANCE Piedmont DESTROY -> resolved Evaluation: I'd kind of rather have an extra army, but I would have no way to get him to the continent, so here's another fleet to send to the Mediterranean in case I have a long fight on my hands there. France proposed keeping the fleet and using it to retake the Gulf of Lyons. I support from West Med and Spain and move into Marseilles to ensure Turkey doesn't get it. Then I move out of Marseilles in the fall. It's a good plan, but if I get Berlin and Marseilles at this point I'm probably just going to keep it. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Results of 1909 Spring Movement: ENGLAND St. Petersburg (North Coast) HOLD -> resolved Gascony MOVE Marseilles -> resolved Western Mediterranean SUPPORT Tuscany to Gulf of Lyons -> resolved Spain (South Coast) SUPPORT Tuscany to Gulf of Lyons -> resolved Tunis HOLD -> resolved Ruhr SUPPORT Munich to hold -> resolved Baltic Sea SUPPORT Kiel to Berlin -> resolved Holland MOVE Kiel -> resolved Burgundy SUPPORT Munich to hold -> resolved Brest MOVE Gascony -> resolved Mid-Atlantic Ocean SUPPORT Western Mediterranean to hold -> resolved London MOVE English Channel -> resolved Prussia SUPPORT Kiel to Berlin -> resolved North Africa SUPPORT Tunis to hold -> resolved Kiel MOVE Berlin -> resolved FRANCE Tuscany MOVE Gulf of Lyons -> resolved Munich SUPPORT Kiel to Berlin -> resolved TURKEY Aegean Sea MOVE Ionian Sea -> Bounced Galicia MOVE Warsaw -> resolved Budapest MOVE Galicia -> resolved Serbia MOVE Trieste -> Bounced Greece MOVE Albania -> resolved Ionian Sea MOVE Tunis -> Bounced Vienna MOVE Tyrolia -> Bounced Silesia SUPPORT Berlin to Munich -> Supported unit has failed Berlin MOVE Munich -> Cant break this support Tyrolia MOVE Piedmont -> resolved Venice SUPPORT Rome to Tuscany -> resolved Tyrrhenian Sea SUPPORT Ionian Sea to Tunis -> Supported unit has failed Bohemia SUPPORT Berlin to Munich -> Supported unit has failed Gulf of Lyons MOVE Western Mediterranean -> Cant break this support Rome MOVE Tuscany -> resolved Trieste MOVE Tyrolia -> Bounced Albania MOVE Adriatic Sea -> resolved Evaluation: Well, this couldn't have worked out better for me. I now have the win this next turn. To stop me Turkey had to acknowledge that he couldn't keep Berlin and use that army to take Munich. That would have worked this turn. He could then support it with three units and keep me out. Alternatively, he could have supported France to hold there with his three units, but France would have to cooperate by actually holding. I don't think it would have been hard to talk France into that, but I don't think those two have communicated at all recently. I was worried that he'd keep Munich (in either his hands or a supportive France's) and force me into a complicated Mediterranean naval battle for that 18th center. But he ended up giving me a hand. With all the armies he had in reserve I don't think he needed to take one away from Germany to work on southern France, but I guess he felt he couldn't break our line so why keep it there. And the answer is: because now I can take Munich away on my own and he can't stop me even if France helps him out. On the other end of the line, he could have bounced me out of Marseilles from the Gulf of Lyons, but it would have only delayed me. I'm pretty sure I would have taken it in the fall anyway. This turned out great for me. Now I see that France has proposed a draw between all three of us, but I don't need to accept that. He needed to push that earlier to force me into it diplomatically. But now I have the win strategically so I have no reason to accept it.