Movement results for Spring of 1901. (mets.001) Austria: Army Budapest -> Serbia. Austria: Army Vienna -> Galicia. (*bounce*) Austria: Fleet Trieste -> Venice. (*bounce*) On word from France I was pretty nervous about an Italian attack. Otherwise holding in Trieste would have been better. As it is I pissed Italy off a bit. Bouncing Russia out of Galicia was good, though. If Turkey will help me out I may get Rumania. England: Army Liverpool -> Edinburgh. England: Fleet Edinburgh -> Norwegian Sea. England: Fleet London -> North Sea. This is the Churchill opening. It's a strong opening with a lot of options but it risks giving away the Channel. France goes to the Atlantic, though, so he's safe and in a good position. France: Army Marseilles -> Burgundy. France: Army Paris -> Picardy. France: Fleet Brest -> Mid-Atlantic Ocean. Atlantic Opening, Belgian Gambit. On it's face this opening gives up on getting both Iberian centers for extra pressure on Belgium or Munich. But I think France and Germany are on pretty good terms so I don't see the necessity of this. Perhaps France and England are working together. Germany: Army Berlin -> Kiel. Germany: Army Munich -> Ruhr. Germany: Fleet Kiel -> Denmark. This is the most popular opening in the game, and with good reason. It takes one neutral and exerts influence on three others. From this position Germany can work with either England or France and has a bargaining chip to use with Russia Italy: Army Rome -> Venice. (*bounce*) Italy: Army Venice -> Piedmont. Italy: Fleet Naples -> Ionian Sea. This is the Alpine Chicken, the primary benefit of which is flexibility. It is supposed to be an attack on France, but can easily be turned around to attack Austria. If he is upset enough about losing time due to my bounce, he may turn on me. Russia: Army Moscow -> Ukraine. Russia: Army Warsaw -> Galicia. (*bounce*) Russia: Fleet Sevastopol -> Black Sea. Russia: Fleet St Petersburg (south coast) -> Gulf of Bothnia. The southern push indicates he's not worried about the north, but that may change with England's strong northern opening. I keep him out of Galicia, which may cost him Rumania. It's still possible for me to align with Russia, but I doubt I will. Turkey: Army Constantinople -> Bulgaria. Turkey: Army Smyrna -> Ankara. Turkey: Fleet Ankara -> Constantinople. Turkey gives away the Black Sea here, but also covers all his centers. This opening is a good sign for me because he's making an effort to get his fleet out into the Mediterranean and commit to a naval orientation. Evaluation: England is off to a strong start. He can go for one of the low countries, concentrate on Scandinavia, or go after Russia. France and Germany appear to be close to conflict, but it may all be arranged. I messed up Italy's plans for an attack on France, but hope we can still work things out. I need peace with Italy to get my share of the Balkans. Turkey's gained one, but is kind of on the defensive. Russia is a toss-up. He got the Black Sea, but might not get Rumania. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Movement results for Fall of 1901. (mets.002) Austria: Army Serbia -> Rumania. (*bounce*) Austria: Army Vienna -> Galicia. (*bounce*) Austria: Fleet Trieste -> Albania. I knew I wouldn't have support from Turkey this turn but according to the information I had I could still bounce Russia out of Rumania. I also knew I would lose in Galicia, but I might as well try. Albania was meant to help out in Greece and to reassure Italy that I don't want to fight him. England: Army Edinburgh -> North Sea -> Belgium. (*bounce*) England: Fleet Norwegian Sea -> Norway. England: Fleet North Sea CONVOY Army Edinburgh -> Belgium. Norway and one of the low countries is a good choice. He should have been talking to his neighbors enough to know which one to go for. He either wasn't or a deal was made that someone turned on. I'm still not sure who, if anyone, he's working with. France: Army Burgundy -> Marseilles. (*bounce*) France: Army Picardy -> Belgium. (*bounce*) France: Fleet Mid-Atlantic Ocean -> Portugal. If he were really worried about Italy he would have moved to Spain's south coast instead of Portugal. But he does cover Marseilles. He can't have wanted to do that (it does cost him Belgium) so his fear of Italy must be real. Germany: Army Kiel -> Holland. Germany: Army Ruhr SUPPORT Army Kiel -> Holland. Germany: Fleet Denmark -> Skagerrak. Skagerrak gives him a good deal of bargaining room with England and Russia, but leaving Denmark untaken looks like a mistake. He can build in Kiel and try to take it but if Russia wants to fight him for it he'll have to have Skagerrak support it, which wastes the value of having him in that position in the first place. Italy: Army Rome -> Venice. Italy: Army Piedmont -> Marseilles. (*bounce*) Italy: Fleet Ionian Sea -> Tunis. If he were really pissed at me he'd have ordered Piedmont to Tyrolia. This is a relief. He may still be serious about an attack on France. Rome to Venice is a legitimate route to France and an understandable defense against me. Russia: Army Ukraine SUPPORT Army Warsaw -> Galicia. Russia: Army Warsaw -> Galicia. Russia: Fleet Black Sea -> Rumania. (*bounce*) Russia: Fleet Gulf of Bothnia -> Sweden. Getting another build would have been good for her, but Galicia is a very important province to hold. No bounce in Sweden gives her a build anyway. Turkey: Army Bulgaria -> Greece. Turkey: Army Ankara -> Constantinople. Turkey: Fleet Constantinople -> Bulgaria (south coast). Turkey told me he would move the fleet to Aegean and self-bounce in Constantinople. I frankly don't see how these moves are any better even if I were working with Russia. As it is instead of providing me with support into Rumania as promised Russia will walk in and we'll be lucky if it's even possible to attack it in the fall. This was either simple greed or a careful plan with Russia. Evaluation: I am totally in the hands of others. Russia and Turkey may be working together. If the Black Sea is camouflage everything else makes sense. It is also possible that Turkey is still trying to maintain a wait and see mode. Much as I hate to admit it Italy's best chances are probably to hit me while I'm weak. I can't fight two fronts at once and I really don't have much choice at this point but to trust Italy. There appears to be some tension between France and Germany. England sent out a message showing he's worried about Russia building in the north. Overall, I think Russia and Turkey are the best off right now, which worries me quite a bit. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Adjustment orders for Winter of 1901. (mets.003) Austria: Builds an army in Budapest. Italy: Builds a fleet in Naples. Germany: Builds a fleet in Kiel. France: Builds a fleet in Marseilles. Russia: Builds a fleet in St Petersburg (north coast). England: Builds a fleet in London. Turkey: Builds a fleet in Ankara. Turkey: Builds a fleet in Smyrna. Wow, I should have built a fleet. I mean, *everybody's* doing it. If I can't trust Italy I'm dead, so I'm just going to act as though I can trust him, even though he has every reason to attack me. His build is good. It's just as good as Rome if he's going after France, but can go east just as easily. So he hasn't tipped his hand at all with this. Germany and France are not anticipating a land war between themselves. France is worried about Italy. If Russia had built in the south she could have really stuck it to us. But it looks like she's going to commit to a fight with England. England's build is no surprise. Turkey was faithful to our agreement and built only fleets. But I'm still not sure if I should trust him. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Movement results for Spring of 1902. (mets.004) Austria: Army Serbia SUPPORT Russian Fleet Black Sea -> Rumania. (*void*) Austria: Army Vienna -> Galicia. Austria: Fleet Albania -> Trieste. (*bounce*) Austria: Army Budapest SUPPORT Army Vienna -> Galicia. I gave up on Rumania for now so I could get into the positionally important Galicia, which would be great if it weren't for my worries about Italy. His move to Tyrolia was arranged. Both England and France asked me to let him do that so he could attack Germany. I suggested the bounce in Trieste so that it would look to everyone else like we were fighting and so that I would have sure knowledge about another one of his units. The thing is he's in good position to attack me and Turkey tells me he hears that Russia and Italy are working together against me. So either Italy is going to attack me or Turkey is lying to me. Ah, paranoia, where would Diplomacy be without it? England: Army Edinburgh -> Yorkshire. England: Fleet Norway -> North Sea. (*bounce, dislodged*) England: Fleet North Sea -> Helgoland Bight. (*bounce*) England: Fleet London -> English Channel. Leaving Norway for a strong German push seems a little crazy, but I believe we're seeing a stab by Russia here. I think he had been talking England into a war with Germany, eyeing Norway the whole time. Yorkshire isn't particularly better than Edinburgh for his army, but not particularly worse considering he didn't expect to have a fleet in the Norwegian Sea (which he retreated to). From talking to him I believe the Channel is for an attack on Belgium, not Brest, a good choice. France: Army Burgundy -> Marseilles. France: Army Picardy -> Belgium. (*bounce*) France: Fleet Portugal -> Mid-Atlantic Ocean. France: Fleet Marseilles -> Gulf of Lyon. Even if you don't trust Italy, it seems like a mistake to abandon Burgundy in the face of a Germany with such a forward position. We have a new German player, so maybe he hoped the new guy would be less aggressive toward him than the old one. The new guy got his orders in so quickly, though, that I doubt he had time to negotiate anything. Mid-Atlantic lets him react to the north if England betrays him, but can get into the Med if needed against Italy. Germany: Army Holland -> Belgium. (*bounce*) Germany: Army Ruhr -> Burgundy. Germany: Fleet Skagerrak -> North Sea. (*bounce*) Germany: Fleet Kiel -> Helgoland Bight. (*bounce*) Our old Germany abandoned the game so this is from the new guy. He got his orders in really quickly and they are very aggressive. He lashed out in a big way against England and France. And I understand that he also is friendly with Russia. From Burgundy he can go for Paris (which forces France to act defensively) or double up on Belgium, a better bet in my opinion. Italy: Army Venice -> Trieste. (*bounce*) Italy: Army Piedmont -> Tyrolia. Italy: Fleet Tunis -> Tyrrhenian Sea. Italy: Fleet Naples -> Apulia. I agreed to the move to Tyrolia (there wasn't much I could do about it anyway) but it does leave him in a good position to attack me. Tyrrhenian Sea is important, especially considering the French move to Gulf of Lyon. The bounce was arranged, as noted above. But the move I don't understand in Apulia. What is that supposed to accomplish? It looks like a move toward the Adriatic, but he could have done that just as well through the Ionian, a much more important sea, strategically. Russia: Army Ukraine -> Rumania. Russia: Army Galicia SUPPORT Army Ukraine -> Rumania. (*cut, dislodged*) Russia: Fleet Black Sea SUPPORT Army Ukraine -> Rumania. Russia: Fleet Sweden -> Norway. Russia: Fleet St Petersburg (north coast) SUPPORT Fleet Sweden -> Norway. As I said, I think Russia had sweet talked England out of Norway to set up this attack. In the south this is a very focused attack on Rumania, so I'm glad I didn't try for it. I knocked him out of Galicia, which could be significant. I was aware of the potential retreat to Bohemia, but I didn't think he'd want a unit that isolated from the rest of his troops. I was right and he takes the safe retreat to Warsaw, protecting his home supply center. Turkey: Army Greece SUPPORT Army Constantinople -> Bulgaria. Turkey: Army Constantinople -> Bulgaria. Turkey: Fleet Bulgaria (south coast) -> Aegean Sea. Turkey: Fleet Ankara HOLD. Turkey: Fleet Smyrna -> Eastern Mediterranean. This sets up two fleets on the Ionian for the fall and puts an army in position to support me into Rumania, a good sign for my alliance with Turkey. Unless he betrays me Turkey won't gain anything this year, but getting into the Ionian and getting Russia out of Rumania will still do him a lot of good. Evaluation: Scenario 1: Italy and Russia are working together. Italy is in great position to attack me. Russia doesn't need to do much more than harass me until I'm weak and then gobble up his share of the spoils. I desperately need Turkey to help me against both if I am to survive. Turkey could tip the balance in my favor or take some for himself and end up the next victim. Scenario 2: Turkey is lying to me about Italy and Russia and Italy plans to attack Germany. Turkey can cause me a lot of trouble, but only if he can settle his differences with Russia. Russia is in great shape because he doesn't have to worry about united resistance in the south. Scenario 3: France and Italy have worked out their differences. In this case these two can probably hold off Germany even if England falls, but the long term prognosis isn't as good. Scenario 4: England, France, and Italy are all in fact working together against Germany and Russia. Good news for me, good news for France. Bad news for Germany. If Russia jumps in on the carnage he could do well, too. All of these are possible. Without knowing which is actually true all I can do is give the same evaluation to everybody: "They're under a lot of pressure." Nobody has distinguished themselves as the leader yet. Although Russia faces the fewest immediate threats and Turkey's not as bad off either. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Movement results for Fall of 1902. (mets.006) Austria: Army Serbia -> Rumania. (*bounce*) Austria: Army Galicia -> Vienna. (*bounce*) Austria: Fleet Albania -> Trieste. (*bounce*) Austria: Army Budapest -> Vienna. (*bounce*) Wow, every single order bounced. Well, half of that was planned (Vienna). That was so I would have a vacant home supply center for my (non-existent) build and keep Galicia. I lucked out that Italy concentrated on Vienna and not Trieste or I would be removing units this year. What I thought was a well planned attack on Rumania fails due to a very smart move by Russia. England: Army Yorkshire -> London. England: Fleet Norwegian Sea SUPPORT Fleet North Sea. England: Fleet North Sea SUPPORT Fleet English Channel -> Belgium. (*cut*) England: Fleet English Channel -> Belgium. (*bounce*) England and France agreed to work together on Belgium, but he added his own support as well. If it hadn't been cut, it would have turned the Channel move from a bounce into a capture. But when I suggested working with France I always figured the most they should aim for is to deny Belgium to Germany. I suggested that he should double up on Norway and maybe take it back. But to be honest I would have attacked Norway from Norwegian Sea which would still have left him with the same problem of the support being cut. France: Army Marseilles -> Spain. France: Army Picardy SUPPORT English Fleet English Channel -> Belgium. France: Fleet Mid-Atlantic Ocean -> Brest. France: Fleet Gulf of Lyon -> Marseilles. He trusted Italy enough to back off. I suppose this is the best thing for him. With Germans in Burgundy he doesn't want another front. He grabs Spain finally which gives him a build (or at least would have offset the loss of Paris). Risking Paris was good. I expected the German attack on Belgium and suggested teaming up with England to counter it. If he's not going to fight Italy the Atlantic fleet isn't needed in the south so it's smart to cover Brest just in case. Germany: Army Holland SUPPORT Army Burgundy -> Belgium. Germany: Army Burgundy -> Belgium. (*bounce*) Germany: Fleet Skagerrak -> North Sea. (*bounce*) Germany: Fleet Kiel -> Denmark. Going for Paris would be risky, plus with a fleet in the Channel England and France could be in conflict so going for Belgium makes sense. He grabs Denmark finally. Continued pounding on the North Sea can do him no harm. Italy: Army Venice -> Trieste. (*bounce*) Italy: Army Tyrolia -> Vienna. (*bounce*) Italy: Fleet Tyrrhenian Sea SUPPORT Fleet Apulia -> Ionian Sea. Italy: Fleet Apulia -> Ionian Sea. (*bounce*) He's hoping here that I'll be too worried about the double team on Trieste that I'll leave Vienna open. I could have covered both sufficiently but I wanted to hold my position in the east. Lucky for me he gets nothing. He had to see the bounce in the Ionian coming, but can't afford to give it to Turkey so his fleet action was forced. Russia: Army Rumania -> Serbia. (*bounce*) Russia: Army Warsaw -> Galicia. (*bounce*) Russia: Fleet Black Sea -> Bulgaria (east coast). (*bounce*) Russia: Fleet Norway SUPPORT German Fleet Skagerrak -> North Sea. Russia: Fleet St Petersburg (north coast) -> Barents Sea. I'm not sure why she ordered Rumania to Serbia. It can't cut support for an attack on itself and there was almost no chance I would vacate Serbia. The attack on Bulgaria is smart. It cuts the vital support I needed to take Rumania. But if she had used Rumania to support this attack there was a chance she could take it. In the north she's moving slowly but probably unstoppably toward England. Turkey: Army Greece SUPPORT Army Bulgaria. Turkey: Army Bulgaria SUPPORT Austrian Army Serbia -> Rumania. (*cut*) Turkey: Fleet Aegean Sea SUPPORT Fleet Eastern Mediterranean -> Ionian Sea. Turkey: Fleet Ankara -> Black Sea. (*bounce*) Turkey: Fleet Eastern Mediterranean -> Ionian Sea. (*bounce*) I had though that supporting me from Bulgaria and cutting Black Sea's support would get me into Rumania, but the support was cut. And the move to the Ionian didn't work either. I'll have to provide support to get him in there. Evaluation: England is in real trouble. Russia can take the Norwegian Sea next turn and start hitting England directly. France can hold the line against Germany and maybe even hit back. Through cooperation with Russia, Germany will probably get part of England and is looking pretty good. Russia is the one to beat right now. She's marching steadily across the north and Turkey and I haven't managed to get her off balance in the south. Turkey has the potential to gain from Italy. I will defend my home centers, making it hard for Italy to progress, and once Turkey breaks through into the central Med Italy's in trouble. Right now it's a race between England and me to see who gets eliminated first. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Adjustment orders for Winter of 1902. (mets.007) England: Removes the army in London. Germany: Builds an army in Munich. Russia: Builds an army in Moscow. Russia: Builds a fleet in Sevastopol. France: Builds an army in Paris. With her new builds Russia will dominate the southeast. The army wasn't doing England any good so it's the best choice for removal. Germany had heard of the plan for Italy to attack Munich so he covers it and also provides support for his French line. France's build in Paris effectively denies the French homeland to Germany. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Movement results for Spring of 1903. (mets.008) Austria: Army Serbia -> Trieste. Austria: Army Galicia -> Vienna. Austria: Fleet Albania SUPPORT Turkish Fleet Eastern Mediterranean -> Ionian Sea. Austria: Army Budapest SUPPORT Army Serbia -> Trieste. This is good for holding off Italy, but Italy backed off anyway. Turkey didn't even need my help to get into the Ionian. And I gave away Galicia. That's bound to cost me over the next year or so. England: Fleet Norwegian Sea HOLD. England: Fleet North Sea SUPPORT Fleet Norwegian Sea. (*cut, dislodged*) England: Fleet English Channel SUPPORT Fleet North Sea. Even if he is waiting for Germany to do something, why doesn't he even try to take Norway? This sitting duck routine is dumb. If he really wanted to stay put why didn't he support North Sea from the Norwegian Sea? That would have held it. He retreats to Edinburgh. France: Army Spain -> Gascony. France: Army Picardy SUPPORT Army Paris -> Burgundy. France: Fleet Brest SUPPORT Army Spain -> Gascony. France: Fleet Marseilles HOLD. France: Army Paris -> Burgundy. Retaking Burgundy is the defensive imperative here. Plus, he was smart to have Gascony covered to avoid the forward retreat. Offensive action against Italy would have helped him, but he has to stay put in Marseilles to avoid Germany retreating there. Germany: Army Holland -> Belgium. (*bounce*) Germany: Army Burgundy -> Belgium. (*bounce, dislodged*) Germany: Fleet Skagerrak SUPPORT Russian Fleet Norway -> North Sea. Germany: Fleet Denmark SUPPORT Russian Fleet Norway -> North Sea. Germany: Army Munich HOLD. If I were Germany I would want the North Sea for myself and give the Russians the Norwegian Sea, but this is still effective against England. Two German supports makes it a big attack, but England could have stopped it if he had a head on his shoulders. I guess the self bounce in Belgium is an attempt to keep France and England out, while still holding on to Burgundy. Not such a good idea. Of course France is going to concentrate in Burgundy. Moving to Belgium with Dutch support would have made more sense. Or even Holland to Belgium, Burgundy supporting, and Munich supports Burgundy. With success in the North Sea, he wouldn't need to cover Holland anyway. His retreat was to Ruhr, his only choice. Italy: Army Venice SUPPORT Army Tyrolia -> Apulia. (*void*) Italy: Army Tyrolia -> Piedmont. Italy: Fleet Tyrrhenian Sea -> Tuscany. Italy: Fleet Apulia -> Naples. I've got to assume Venice was supposed to support into Piedmont. A move to Gulf of Lyon would have made more sense than Tuscany. What can his fleet do from there? Actually, staying in Tyrrhenian would have been best, but Turkey sweet-talked him into this. Russia: Army Rumania SUPPORT Army Moscow -> Ukraine. Russia: Army Warsaw -> Galicia. Russia: Fleet Black Sea SUPPORT Army Rumania. Russia: Fleet Norway -> North Sea. Russia: Fleet Barents Sea -> Norway. Russia: Army Moscow -> Ukraine. Russia: Fleet Sevastopol SUPPORT Army Rumania. A good across-the-board push on my line here. I pulled off to defend myself from Italy, but the kicker is that I could have kept Galicia if I had stayed there. I doubt she planned on getting Galicia this turn. It's a bonus for her. And I really can't afford to be giving her bonuses. In the north St. Pete is exposed but I don't know if England will be smart enough to take advantage of it. North Sea is great, giving her a say in everything that happens in England or Scandinavia for how. Turkey: Army Greece -> Bulgaria. Turkey: Army Bulgaria -> Constantinople. Turkey: Fleet Aegean Sea SUPPORT Fleet Eastern Mediterranean -> Ionian Sea. Turkey: Fleet Ankara SUPPORT Army Bulgaria -> Constantinople. Turkey: Fleet Eastern Mediterranean -> Ionian Sea. This is good protection from Russia, who didn't choose to come around the Black Sea into Armenia yet, luckily. The Ionian is good, especially because Tunis is unprotectable and he has another fleet ready to follow into the Ionian. If he can hold off Russia, this could turn into a grand fight with France for the Mediterranean (and so far it's in Turkey's favor). Evaluation: Okay, my big idea this turn was to get Germany and England to fight Russia. I'm being attacked by Russia and Italy and can't counterstrike right now, so I need other people to be attacking them. England seems like my best bet for someone to take stuff from Russia's north, but they'll never do it (or at least never succeed) while Germany is working with Russia, so I had the idea of trying to turn Germany. I wrote to England, Germany, and France a whole bunch this turn trying to work something out. I proposed that England hit Norway while Germany hits Sweden. I proposed that Germany get Belgium (both as reward for the risk he'd be taking, and because it lends itself to an effective DMZ). France would get Burgundy back to secure his homeland, and then next turn it and Ruhr, Picardy, and English Channel would all be DMZ'ed. France and Germany said they'd do it if the others would, but England just wouldn't trust Germany. He demanded that Germany attack Russia to prove himself this turn and then after that he would work with him. Now has anyone ever in the history of Diplomacy agreed to do that? And wouldn't it have made sense to say he agreed to the deal even if he didn't? Then there would at least be a chance that Germany would attack Russia. By refusing the deal he guaranteed that Germany would help Russia attack him. Now England's chances for survival are bad and that just means making Russia stronger. And the stronger Russia gets, the worse the news is for me. At least Italy backed off. And with Turkey in the Ionian he'll get Tunis in the fall. Italy has made enemies of absolutely everyone now and can't possibly last long. Even with England getting killed France can do ok if he gets some of Italy. Germany seems to be giving everything away to Russia, which will eventually get his back stabbed. Russia is still the one to beat. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Movement results for Fall of 1903. (mets.010) Austria: Army Trieste -> Serbia. Austria: Army Vienna SUPPORT Army Budapest. Austria: Fleet Albania -> Trieste. Austria: Army Budapest SUPPORT Army Trieste -> Serbia. This is totally defensive, but safe. Still, I can only do this for so long. I haven't gotten things done tactically, and I haven't been able to make up for that diplomatically. Still stuck at 4 in 1904 is bad. I've played poorly. I hate being Austria. England: Fleet Norwegian Sea HOLD. England: Fleet Edinburgh SUPPORT Fleet Norwegian Sea. England: Fleet English Channel -> London. I told him twice that he might as well move into the Barents Sea, but he chose not to. I figured that would at least slow Russia down, but I hadn't counted on him gaining Belgium. France: Army Gascony -> Marseilles. (*bounce*) France: Army Picardy SUPPORT Army Burgundy. France: Fleet Brest -> English Channel. France: Fleet Marseilles -> Gulf of Lyon. (*bounce*) France: Army Burgundy SUPPORT Army Gascony -> Marseilles. (*cut*) Good cover against Germany and he can probably keep that up for a while. The same move to the Gulf of Lyon is bound to work if he tries it again, as Italy is probably more concerned now with Turkey. Germany: Army Holland SUPPORT Russian Fleet North Sea -> Belgium. Germany: Army Ruhr SUPPORT Russian Fleet North Sea -> Belgium. Germany: Fleet Skagerrak -> North Sea. Germany: Fleet Denmark SUPPORT Fleet Skagerrak -> North Sea. Germany: Army Munich -> Burgundy. (*bounce*) I don't get this. Why give Belgium to Russia? If Germany is to get part of England this intermixing of their units shows an almost suspicious amount of trust. And if Germany is going to give all of England to Russia that's even more suspicious. I've been thinking for a while that Russia signed on with a different e-mail address to replace our abandoned Germany. Italy: Army Venice -> Piedmont. (*bounce*) Italy: Army Piedmont -> Marseilles. (*bounce*) Italy: Fleet Tuscany -> Gulf of Lyon. (*bounce*) Italy: Fleet Naples -> Rome. He couldn't protect Tunis so he tried to talk him out of it and concentrated his forces on France. Not a bad plan, but he's made enemies of everybody now and probably won't last long. Russia: Army Rumania SUPPORT Army Ukraine -> Galicia. Russia: Army Galicia -> Bohemia. Russia: Fleet Black Sea SUPPORT Army Rumania. Russia: Fleet North Sea -> Belgium. Russia: Fleet Norway SUPPORT German Fleet Skagerrak -> North Sea. Russia: Army Ukraine -> Galicia. Russia: Fleet Sevastopol SUPPORT Army Rumania. Encircling me is a good plan. Even if I had taken Galicia I'd have to fall back to protect Vienna. I may be able to hold him off from here, but I may be better off diving in after him at this point. Belgium gets Russia a build, something I didn't expect to happen. Turkey: Army Bulgaria SUPPORT Austrian Army Trieste -> Serbia. Turkey: Army Constantinople SUPPORT Army Bulgaria. Turkey: Fleet Aegean Sea -> Ionian Sea. Turkey: Fleet Ankara -> Armenia. Turkey: Fleet Ionian Sea -> Tunis. The move to Armenia is good because it puts pressure on Sevastopol and opens up Ankara for a fleet build. Tunis is an easy grab and since Italy went after France the move to the positionally important Ionian goes uncontested. Evaluation: I suspect Russia signed on under another name to take over the abandoned Germany. I thought that right away when the new German wrote with the same terseness, misspellings, and bad grammar as Russia but that's hardly enough to go on. But since then Germany has only done things to help Russia, not even to his own benefit. England's only real hope now is if Russia builds in the south and he gets into the Barents, but I don't think England will try it. He's too defensive and that will kill him. That will kill me too if I don't stop it. France is next in line for RG but could maybe gain a center from Italy. Italy has made enemies of all his neighbors and won't last long. If Turkey can continue to pick up centers he may be the only other guy in the race with Russia. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Adjustment orders for Winter of 1903. (mets.011) Italy: Removes the army in Venice. Russia: Builds a fleet in St Petersburg (north coast). Turkey: Builds a fleet in Ankara. I've been trying hard to sound friendly to Italy even though I've planned all along to attack him as soon as is practicable, and I guess it worked. I've now got a shot at Venice. The luck continues on my side with a Russian fleet in the north. Another unit in the south would have crushed Turkey and I. A second Turkish Black Sea fleet will help us a lot against Russia. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Movement results for Spring of 1904. (mets.012) Austria: Army Serbia SUPPORT Army Budapest -> Rumania. Austria: Army Vienna -> Galicia. (*bounce, dislodged*) Austria: Fleet Trieste -> Venice. Austria: Army Budapest -> Rumania. Losing Vienna was expected. The tradeoff I was hoping for was to get Rumania and give Turkey and I a shot at Sevastopol in the fall. What I wasn't counting on was the German move to Tyrolia. I'm sinking fast here. My best chance is a stalemate line that includes Turkey, France and myself. I retreated to Budapest. England: Fleet Norwegian Sea SUPPORT French Fleet English Channel -> North Sea. (*void*) England: Fleet Edinburgh SUPPORT French Fleet English Channel -> North Sea. (*void*) England: Fleet London SUPPORT French Fleet English Channel -> North Sea. (*void, dislodged*) The deal here is that Germany proposed a big alliance between him, France, Turkey, and me. The Idea was that if we leave out England maybe we can all work together. France was to help Germany into London, Germany helps France into Belgium and takes Sweden. England had been very loyal to France and he didn't want to turn on him, but the deal looked good so he left England hanging like this. London retreated to Wales. France: Army Gascony -> Marseilles. France: Army Picardy -> Belgium. (*bounce*) France: Fleet English Channel SUPPORT German Fleet North Sea -> London. France: Fleet Marseilles -> Gulf of Lyon. France: Army Burgundy SUPPORT Army Gascony -> Marseilles. If Germany had been honest this would have been a good result for France, as it is he can still take Belgium by force in the fall. But we know for sure that we can't trust Germany. Germany: Army Holland -> Belgium. Germany: Army Ruhr SUPPORT Army Holland -> Belgium. Germany: Fleet North Sea -> London. Germany: Fleet Denmark SUPPORT Russian Fleet Belgium -> North Sea. Germany: Army Munich -> Tyrolia. Well, he took everything for himself, and did nothing he promised to. Additionally he's going to help Russia out against me. I'm so dead. Italy: Army Piedmont HOLD. Italy: Fleet Tuscany SUPPORT Fleet Rome -> Tyrrhenian Sea. Italy: Fleet Rome -> Tyrrhenian Sea. (*bounce*) It was this or go straight to cover Naples. He made the smart choice. Russia: Army Rumania -> Galicia. Russia: Army Bohemia SUPPORT Army Galicia -> Vienna. Russia: Fleet Black Sea SUPPORT Austrian Army Serbia -> Bulgaria. (*void*) Russia: Fleet Belgium -> North Sea. Russia: Fleet Norway SUPPORT Fleet Belgium -> North Sea. Russia: Army Galicia -> Vienna. Russia: Fleet Sevastopol SUPPORT Fleet Black Sea. Russia: Fleet St Petersburg (north coast) -> Barents Sea. Giving up Rumania to surround me with German help is good. She also understands that in doing so she has to protect the Black Sea or lose Sevastopol. Steady progress in the north with absolute German cooperation is unstoppable. Turkey: Army Bulgaria SUPPORT Austrian Army Budapest -> Rumania. Turkey: Army Constantinople SUPPORT Army Bulgaria. Turkey: Fleet Ionian Sea SUPPORT Fleet Tunis -> Tyrrhenian Sea. Turkey: Fleet Armenia SUPPORT Fleet Ankara -> Black Sea. Turkey: Fleet Tunis -> Tyrrhenian Sea. (*bounce*) Turkey: Fleet Ankara -> Black Sea. (*bounce*) Russia just has enough force and tactical skill to keep us out. Turkey and France have to finish off Italy quickly so we can form the stalemate line. Evaluation: The only way to stop Russia/Germany is to form a stalemate line. Turkey found one that we can use that includes the Iberian peninsula, Italy, the Balkans, Turkey, and the Black Sea. We need to eliminate Italy and France has to be willing to fall back from a lot of his territory, but we have to stop R/G and this is the only way. Then the only way to solo is for one to beat up the other. Once they start fighting we can strike back. That's if they start fighting. If I'm correct that they're the same person (Turkey thinks so too) we may see Germany just start giving away his centers to Russia. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Movement results for Fall of 1904. (mets.014) Austria: Army Serbia -> Trieste. Austria: Army Budapest SUPPORT Army Serbia -> Trieste. Austria: Fleet Venice SUPPORT Army Serbia -> Trieste. (*cut, dislodged*) Austria: Army Rumania -> Sevastopol. (*bounce, dislodged*) The move to Sevastopol was only to ensure that Turkey take the Black Sea. I wasn't surprised to see Germany help Italy take Venice, but the loss forces me to remove a unit. I retreated it to Apulia. Russia takes Rumania back, but leaves me the retreat to Ukraine, which I intend to use to hurt her as much as I can. England: Fleet Norwegian Sea -> North Atlantic Ocean. England: Fleet Edinburgh HOLD. England: Fleet Wales -> Irish Sea. This can only be aimed at the Atlantic in revenge for France turning on him. France: Army Marseilles -> Piedmont. France: Army Picardy SUPPORT Fleet English Channel -> Belgium. France: Fleet English Channel -> Belgium. France: Fleet Gulf of Lyon -> Western Mediterranean. France: Army Burgundy SUPPORT Fleet English Channel -> Belgium. Belgium couldn't be stopped (a tactical mistake by Germany, that he tried to cover up by offering Belgium to France this turn). West Med is important for leverage on the Atlantic in the coming turn or helping Italy into Tyrrhenian would have been better. Germany: Army Belgium -> Ruhr. (*bounce, dislodged*) Germany: Army Ruhr -> Munich. (*bounce*) Germany: Fleet London SUPPORT Fleet Denmark -> North Sea. Germany: Fleet Denmark -> North Sea. Germany: Army Tyrolia SUPPORT Italian Army Piedmont -> Venice. Painful but not unexpected, the German help saves Italy from removing this turn and make me do it instead. I'm not convinced that the bounce in Munich is anything more that an orchestrated R/G event. Italy: Army Piedmont -> Venice. Italy: Fleet Tuscany -> Tyrrhenian Sea. (*bounce*) Italy: Fleet Rome SUPPORT Fleet Tuscany -> Tyrrhenian Sea. Smart to keep Turkey out of the Tyrrhenian as long as possible. And the German help keeps him even for the year. Russia: Army Galicia SUPPORT Fleet Black Sea -> Rumania. Russia: Army Bohemia -> Munich. (*bounce*) Russia: Fleet Black Sea -> Rumania. Russia: Fleet North Sea -> Norwegian Sea. Russia: Fleet Norway SUPPORT Fleet North Sea -> Norwegian Sea. Russia: Army Vienna SUPPORT Army Galicia. Russia: Fleet Sevastopol SUPPORT Fleet Black Sea -> Rumania. Russia: Fleet Barents Sea SUPPORT Fleet North Sea -> Norwegian Sea. I was expecting an attack on Budapest, but Rumania isn't exactly surprising. What she missed, though, is that it left me a retreat to Ukraine, where I will be a major pain with a back rank marauder. In the north things are too smoothly organized with Germany for me to believe there is any real tension over Munich. It may be that Russia intends to give England to Germany. Turkey: Army Bulgaria SUPPORT Austrian Army Serbia -> Rumania. (*void*) Turkey: Army Constantinople SUPPORT Army Bulgaria. Turkey: Fleet Ionian Sea SUPPORT Fleet Tunis -> Tyrrhenian Sea. Turkey: Fleet Armenia -> Black Sea. Turkey: Fleet Tunis -> Tyrrhenian Sea. (*bounce*) Turkey: Fleet Ankara SUPPORT Fleet Armenia -> Black Sea. Not a lot happening here, and that needs to change soon if we're going to hold off R/G. The important thing is getting the Black Sea. It's a necessary piece of the stalemate line and can be hard to get, so we'll want to hold on to it tight. Evaluation: Getting all the pieces into the stalemate line across the Balkans and northern Italy will be tough. We have to move quickly. Getting that unit behind the Russian lines could help a great deal, though. Russia has to pull two units off my northern line to get rid of him. Hopefully I can cause some trouble before he can get that done. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Adjustment orders for Winter of 1904. (mets.016) Austria: Removes the army in Budapest. England: Removes the fleet in Edinburgh. France: Builds a fleet in Brest. Germany: Builds an army in Munich. Budapest wasn't necessary for the stalemate line. England has either cut a deal with R/G or just wants revenge, but he's coming after France. France's build is good, it gives him leverage against England and can fall back to the med to form the stalemate line. The army in Munich can be used either against France or against me. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Movement results for Spring of 1905. (mets.017) Austria: Army Trieste SUPPORT Fleet Apulia -> Venice. (*cut, dislodged*) Austria: Fleet Apulia -> Venice. Austria: Army Ukraine -> Moscow. I kind of expected the attack to be on Budapest instead of Trieste, but the move to Venice worked anyway. Holding Venice will be tricky, but very important to the stalemate line. I hope the guy in Moscow is pissing off Russia. I retreated from Trieste to Serbia, his place in the line. England: Fleet North Atlantic Ocean -> Mid-Atlantic Ocean. (*bounce*) England: Fleet Irish Sea SUPPORT Fleet North Atlantic Ocean -> Mid-Atlantic Ocean. Still hammering at the French. This is probably revenge, and not a deal with R/G because he lost Edinburgh in the process. France: Army Piedmont SUPPORT Austrian Fleet Apulia -> Venice. France: Army Picardy SUPPORT Army Burgundy. France: Fleet Belgium -> English Channel. (*bounce, dislodged*) France: Fleet Western Mediterranean SUPPORT Fleet Brest -> Mid-Atlantic Ocean. France: Army Burgundy HOLD. France: Fleet Brest -> Mid-Atlantic Ocean. (*bounce*) Thanks to France I got Venice. Losing Belgium sucks, but was inevitable. The fleet in Brest needs to get down to the Mediterranean area, but I don't think that will be a problem. Germany: Army Holland -> Belgium. Germany: Army Ruhr SUPPORT Army Munich -> Burgundy. Germany: Fleet London -> English Channel. (*bounce*) Germany: Fleet North Sea SUPPORT Army Holland -> Belgium. Germany: Army Tyrolia SUPPORT Russian Army Vienna -> Trieste. Germany: Army Munich -> Burgundy. (*bounce*) He's pushing hard on France, who needs to think about how to fall back in order to make the stalemate line. I'm worried that he and Russia will help Italy take back Venice. Italy: Army Venice HOLD. (*dislodged*) Italy: Fleet Tuscany -> Tyrrhenian Sea. (*bounce*) Italy: Fleet Rome -> Naples. Smart choice going to Naples. It cleared up Rome for the retreat. Otherwise, the army would be destroyed and I'd be pretty sure of holding Venice, but as it is he'll probably get help back. Russia: Army Galicia SUPPORT Fleet Rumania. Russia: Army Bohemia -> Vienna. Russia: Fleet Rumania SUPPORT Fleet Sevastopol. (*cut*) Russia: Fleet Norwegian Sea -> Edinburgh. Russia: Fleet Norway SUPPORT Fleet Barents Sea -> Norwegian Sea. Russia: Army Vienna -> Trieste. Russia: Fleet Sevastopol SUPPORT Fleet Rumania. Russia: Fleet Barents Sea -> Norwegian Sea. She's hooking around me. She'll get Budapest whenever she wants it. This was the turn for her to go for the Black Sea, but she missed it. I don't think R/G sees the stalemate line we're aiming for yet. Turkey: Army Bulgaria -> Rumania. (*bounce*) Turkey: Army Constantinople -> Bulgaria. (*bounce*) Turkey: Fleet Ionian Sea SUPPORT Fleet Tunis -> Tyrrhenian Sea. Turkey: Fleet Black Sea SUPPORT Army Bulgaria -> Rumania. Turkey: Fleet Tunis -> Tyrrhenian Sea. Turkey: Fleet Ankara -> Armenia. The Armenia/Black Sea position arrived at here is the anchor of the stalemate line and Russia should have stopped it from happening. Now that it's in place the weak spot is Albania, and northern Italy. Evaluation: Lucky for us, Russia and Germany haven't seen the stalemate line we're working on. That gives us a chance but the timing will be close. We need to finish Italy quickly. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Movement results for Fall of 1905. (mets.019) Austria: Army Serbia -> Trieste. (*bounce*) Austria: Fleet Venice HOLD. Austria: Army Moscow HOLD. Boring, but the best I could do toward holding the stalemate line. I figured I'd hold on to Moscow and start causing trouble next year. England: Fleet North Atlantic Ocean -> Mid-Atlantic Ocean. (*bounce*) England: Fleet Irish Sea SUPPORT Fleet North Atlantic Ocean -> Mid-Atlantic Ocean. Same thing here. He's losing a unit and Liverpool won't last next year. France: Army Piedmont SUPPORT Austrian Fleet Venice. France: Army Picardy SUPPORT Army Burgundy -> Belgium. France: Fleet Western Mediterranean SUPPORT Fleet Brest -> Mid-Atlantic Ocean. France: Army Burgundy -> Belgium. (*bounce, dislodged*) France: Fleet Brest -> Mid-Atlantic Ocean. (*bounce*) He wasn't going to retake Belgium, this is a bad idea. His best chances lay in falling back to the stalemate line, but he apparently didn't see that. Continuing action toward the Atlantic is good, and supporting me in Venice is good for the line, but he's so concerned with gaining back that supply center and unit he lost that his gives up anything like a defensive line against Germany even if his move succeeded. But then he makes matters worse by retreating to Paris instead of Marseilles. No way now to get to the stalemate line. I said several times we needed to keep the stalemate in line in our retreats, but apparently the message didn't make it home. Marseilles is exposed and he'll most likely use Piedmont to cover it which kills Venice anyway. Germany: Army Belgium SUPPORT Army Munich -> Burgundy. Germany: Army Ruhr SUPPORT Army Belgium. Germany: Fleet London -> Wales. Germany: Fleet North Sea -> English Channel. Germany: Army Tyrolia SUPPORT Russian Army Trieste. Germany: Army Munich -> Burgundy. Obviously good work covering Belgium while pushing into France. If he squeezes through to Gascony before hitting supply centers France is his. The move to Wales in concert with Russia's move to Clyde is aimed at Liverpool. Italy: Army Rome -> Venice. (*bounce*) Italy: Fleet Tuscany SUPPORT German Army Tyrolia -> Piedmont. (*void*) Italy: Fleet Naples -> Rome. (*bounce*) I'm not sure what the story is behind Italy's void support. Maybe he was expecting help into Venice in exchange. In any case, R/G doesn't need any help from Italy at this point. Russia: Army Galicia SUPPORT Fleet Rumania. Russia: Army Vienna -> Budapest. Russia: Fleet Rumania SUPPORT Fleet Sevastopol -> Black Sea. Russia: Fleet Edinburgh SUPPORT Fleet Norwegian Sea -> Clyde. Russia: Fleet Norway HOLD. Russia: Army Trieste SUPPORT Army Vienna -> Budapest. (*cut*) Russia: Fleet Sevastopol -> Black Sea. (*bounce*) Russia: Fleet Norwegian Sea -> Clyde. Might as well take Budapest if I've got Moscow. He's testing our line at the Black Sea, a good idea, but we've got it covered. Clyde, as I said, is aimed at Liverpool. There's not really much for Russia to do at this point unless she decides to stab Germany. Turkey: Army Bulgaria -> Greece. Turkey: Army Constantinople -> Bulgaria. Turkey: Fleet Ionian Sea -> Naples. (*bounce*) Turkey: Fleet Black Sea SUPPORT Army Constantinople -> Bulgaria. (*cut*) Turkey: Fleet Tyrrhenian Sea -> Rome. (*bounce*) Turkey: Fleet Armenia SUPPORT Fleet Black Sea. The armies can now move toward their places in the stalemate line, and I don't think they can be stopped. Evaluation: Even without France's help, Turkey and I can form a stalemate line that will hold up until Russia or Germany gets fleets through the Mediterranean to the Balkans. Hopefully things will change between Russia and Germany before then (assuming they aren't the same player). Italy may or may not survive, depending on how Turkey manages to do against him. I'd feel better if he were eliminated so he can't help R/G in the water. France has made a critical mistake that cut him off from us and let Germany break through into the critical province of Burgundy. His chances are now very bad. England will die next year. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Adjustment orders for Winter of 1905. (mets.021) England: Removes the fleet in the Irish Sea. Italy: Removes the army in Rome. Russia: Builds an army in Warsaw. Russia: Builds an army in St Petersburg. Germany: Builds an army in Munich. After a whole lot of delays and an abandonment (Italy) the builds are finally in. England's choice didn't really matter, he's dying this year either way. I'd have preferred Italy to remove one of the fleets, he could have helped us out maybe with R/G. He sees Turkey as his biggest threat (and rightfully so I suppose). It's no surprise that Russia chose not to build a fleet. She's about done in the north (unless she attacks Germany) and two armies get Moscow back for her right away. Munich is good for Germany. It can work both the southern line and the French one. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Movement results for Spring of 1906. (mets.022) Austria: Army Serbia -> Trieste. (*bounce*) Austria: Fleet Venice HOLD. Austria: Army Moscow -> Sevastopol. We have a new Italy now and he seems to understand the Russian-German threat and how to stop it with a stalemate line. So I shifted gears and held Venice (which I had previously figured was a goner) and used Serbia to cut Trieste's support. Turkey also asked me to take Sevastopol while he hit Rumania. It was a bit of a risk but it paid off. England: Fleet North Atlantic Ocean -> Mid-Atlantic Ocean. (*bounce*) I think England's mentally in the RG camp. He didn't even try to protect Liverpool. France: Army Piedmont SUPPORT Austrian Fleet Venice. France: Army Picardy -> Burgundy. (*bounce, dislodged*) France: Fleet Western Mediterranean SUPPORT Fleet Brest -> Mid-Atlantic Ocean. France: Army Paris -> Gascony. France: Fleet Brest -> Mid-Atlantic Ocean. After Turkey explained it to him several times I think France finally understands how stalemate lines work and sees that he has to retreat to ours to even survive. I'm still not sure he can make it, but at least he's moving in the right direction now. Picardy retreated to Paris. Germany: Army Belgium -> Picardy. Germany: Army Ruhr SUPPORT Army Burgundy. Germany: Fleet Wales -> Irish Sea. Germany: Fleet English Channel -> Brest. Germany: Army Tyrolia -> Venice. (*bounce*) Germany: Army Burgundy SUPPORT Army Belgium -> Picardy. Germany: Army Munich -> Tyrolia. (*bounce*) This is probably more than he expected to get. I bet he figured France would fight for his homeland more. Venice held out, holding him back on my front for now. The absence of support for the attack on Liverpool shows that England is working for them. Italy: Fleet Tuscany -> Tyrrhenian Sea. Italy: Fleet Naples -> Apulia. What we really need is an Italian army. Italy worked this out with Turkey. He'll take Tunis and build the army to fill in the stalemate line. Russia: Army Galicia -> Rumania. (*bounce*) Russia: Army Budapest SUPPORT Army Trieste. Russia: Fleet Rumania -> Black Sea. (*bounce, dislodged*) Russia: Fleet Edinburgh -> Norwegian Sea. Russia: Fleet Norway SUPPORT Fleet Edinburgh -> Norwegian Sea. Russia: Army Trieste SUPPORT German Army Tyrolia -> Venice. (*cut*) Russia: Fleet Sevastopol SUPPORT Fleet Rumania -> Black Sea. (*cut, dislodged*) Russia: Fleet Clyde -> Liverpool. Russia: Army Warsaw SUPPORT Army St Petersburg -> Moscow. Russia: Army St Petersburg -> Moscow. The attack on the Black Sea is a little too offensively minded. Sure Russia's got the upper hand but with the disposition of our troops she should have tried to protect her fleets. Edinburgh is an easy gain, though, and causes our first elimination of the game. Turkey: Army Greece -> Albania. Turkey: Army Bulgaria -> Rumania. Turkey: Fleet Ionian Sea -> Tunis. Turkey: Fleet Black Sea SUPPORT Army Bulgaria -> Rumania. Turkey: Fleet Tyrrhenian Sea -> Gulf of Lyon. Turkey: Fleet Armenia SUPPORT Austrian Army Moscow -> Sevastopol. Lyon is to prop up France. Tunis is heading to North Africa. The attacks on Sevastopol and Rumania were all Turkey's idea and well thought out. This is a very active and successful turn for him. Evaluation: The French end of our line is the biggest question mark at this point. With a cooperative Italy our chances are much better, though. So far RG hasn't acted like they see the line we're aiming for. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Movement results for Fall of 1906. (mets.024) Austria: Army Serbia SUPPORT Turkish Army Rumania. (*cut*) Austria: Fleet Venice HOLD. Austria: Army Sevastopol SUPPORT Turkish Army Rumania. In the long term we can't hold Rumania, but we might as well keep it as long as we can. With the new Italy playing along Venice is necessary for the stalemate line. England: Fleet North Atlantic Ocean -> Liverpool. (*bounce, dislodged*) He retreated to Clyde, but will have to remove it anyway. France: Army Piedmont -> Marseilles. France: Army Paris -> Brest. France: Fleet Western Mediterranean -> Mid-Atlantic Ocean. (*bounce*) France: Army Gascony -> Spain. France: Fleet Mid-Atlantic Ocean -> Portugal. Straight move to the stalemate line. He's got to remove one, and it's got to be Brest, There will be some tricky stuff to hold Marseilles, but we may be able to do it. The longer we keep RG out of the Mid-Atlantic, the better. Germany: Army Picardy SUPPORT Army Burgundy -> Paris. Germany: Army Ruhr SUPPORT Army Munich -> Burgundy. Germany: Fleet Irish Sea -> Mid-Atlantic Ocean. (*bounce*) Germany: Fleet Brest -> Gascony. Germany: Army Tyrolia SUPPORT Russian Army Trieste. Germany: Army Burgundy -> Paris. Germany: Army Munich -> Burgundy. Germany would have been better off getting an army into Gascony, but I don't think he saw how the stalemate line was going to work. As it is, the time it takes to get an army there may be the time we need to arrange our forces to stop him. Italy: Fleet Tyrrhenian Sea -> Tunis. Italy: Fleet Apulia SUPPORT Austrian Fleet Venice. Tunis gives him the build we need to complete the line. Russia: Army Galicia -> Rumania. (*bounce*) Russia: Army Budapest -> Serbia. (*bounce*) Russia: Fleet Norwegian Sea -> North Atlantic Ocean. Russia: Fleet Norway -> North Sea. Russia: Army Trieste SUPPORT Army Budapest -> Serbia. Russia: Fleet Liverpool SUPPORT Fleet Norwegian Sea -> North Atlantic Ocean. Russia: Army Warsaw -> Ukraine. Russia: Army Moscow SUPPORT Army Warsaw -> Ukraine. Given our recent aggression, Russia took a bit of a chance leaving Budapest exposed here, but it was a pretty good bet anyway. She's in position now to take back Rumania and then Sevastopol. I'm not sure what to think of the move to the North Sea. It could be heading to the channel to help out with the Atlantic, but it also now has access to four Germany supply centers, two incontestable. Turkey: Army Albania SUPPORT Austrian Army Serbia. Turkey: Army Rumania SUPPORT Austrian Army Sevastopol. (*cut*) Turkey: Fleet Tunis -> North Africa. Turkey: Fleet Black Sea SUPPORT Army Rumania. Turkey: Fleet Gulf of Lyon -> Piedmont. Turkey: Fleet Armenia SUPPORT Austrian Army Sevastopol. We're going to hold on to Rumania and Sevastopol as long as possible, but I doubt they'll last through next year. Giving Tunis to Italy allows him to build the unit he needs, and Piedmont fills the last gap in our line. Evaluation: If we can get units properly arranged to support Marseilles and Venice, then we've got RG stalemated. It basically all comes down to that. If it works, then RG either has to settle for a six-way draw fight each other. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Adjustment orders for Winter of 1906. (mets.026) England: Removes the fleet in Clyde. France: Removes the army in Brest. Italy: Builds an army in Rome. Germany: Builds a fleet in Kiel. Russia: Builds an army in Warsaw. Russia: Builds an army in St Petersburg. France and Italy did what was necessary for the stalemate line and I don't think they can stop us from forming it now. Russia's two armies don't tell us much. She wants armies both if she's going to continue fighting Turkey and I or if she intends to attack Germany. The German fleet, though, doesn't look very cooperative. Between them they already had five fleets in the north, three immediately on the Mid-Atlantic. So the fleet Kiel doesn't seem necessary against us. Maybe we will get some Russo-German fireworks. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Movement results for Spring of 1907. (mets.027) Austria: Army Serbia SUPPORT Turkish Army Rumania. Austria: Fleet Venice HOLD. Austria: Army Sevastopol SUPPORT Turkish Army Rumania. Turkey suggested a counterattack we could try but I argued against it, saying we should be careful with our line and make Russia earn it if she wants anything from us. That's why I ordered the double support of Rumania. Turns out it was totally unnecessary, but it's safe. And that's the way you've got to play it when you've built a stalemate line. France: Army Marseilles SUPPORT Army Spain. France: Fleet Western Mediterranean -> Mid-Atlantic Ocean. France: Army Spain SUPPORT Army Marseilles. France: Fleet Portugal SUPPORT Fleet Western Mediterranean -> Mid-Atlantic Ocean. With the fleets where they are in the west we should be able to hold the Mid- Atlantic for a while. And with the German armies where the are we should also be able to keep Marseilles. Germany: Army Picardy -> Brest. Germany: Army Ruhr -> Burgundy. (*bounce*) Germany: Fleet Irish Sea SUPPORT Fleet Gascony -> Mid-Atlantic Ocean. (*cut*) Germany: Fleet Gascony -> Mid-Atlantic Ocean. (*bounce*) Germany: Army Tyrolia SUPPORT Russian Army Trieste. Germany: Army Paris SUPPORT Army Burgundy -> Gascony. Germany: Army Burgundy -> Gascony. (*bounce*) Germany: Fleet Kiel -> Denmark. Gascony to Mid-Atlantic wouldn't have worked even if his support weren't cut so he wasn't going to get his two armies on Marseilles in time for a fall grab anyway. Brest was pretty easy though. Italy: Fleet Tunis -> Western Mediterranean. Italy: Fleet Apulia SUPPORT Austrian Fleet Venice. Italy: Army Rome -> Tuscany. West Med and Tuscany fill out the Stalemate line positions and Apulia's already playing his role. Russia: Army Galicia -> Vienna. Russia: Army Budapest SUPPORT Army Trieste. Russia: Fleet North Atlantic Ocean SUPPORT German Fleet Gascony -> Mid-Atlantic Ocean. Russia: Fleet North Sea -> English Channel. Russia: Army Trieste SUPPORT Army Budapest. Russia: Fleet Liverpool -> Irish Sea. (*bounce*) Russia: Army Ukraine -> Rumania. (*bounce*) Russia: Army Moscow -> Warsaw. Russia: Army Warsaw -> Galicia. Russia: Army St Petersburg -> Moscow. This seems like a badly executed turn for Russia. She could have taken Rumania by cutting both my supports and still attacking with two supports. That would have set up a fall capture of Sevastopol, and given her two builds. As it is she can take Rumania in the fall but why waste the time getting an army into Vienna? Sure she can kick Germany out of Tyrolia now, but that's not even a supply center. I don't see what good Vienna does her. Liverpool cutting Irish Sea's support may just be missed communication, but it costs them the Mid- Atlantic for a year or so. She clearly knew where the attack was coming from, though, because she ordered the right support. Turkey: Army Albania SUPPORT Austrian Army Serbia. Turkey: Army Rumania SUPPORT Austrian Army Sevastopol. (*cut*) Turkey: Fleet North Africa SUPPORT French Fleet Western Mediterranean -> Mid-Atlantic Ocean. Turkey: Fleet Black Sea SUPPORT Army Rumania. Turkey: Fleet Piedmont SUPPORT French Army Marseilles. Turkey: Fleet Armenia SUPPORT Austrian Army Sevastopol. This is mostly stalemate line-like activity. It's wait and see time. Evaluation: Given the retreat from Rumania to Bulgaria the stalemate line is in place and everyone seems ready to play along with it. The cut support in the Irish Sea and Russia moving into Vienna are possibly precursors to an attack, but that's just speculation. I'm not sure either of them has really realized that they're down to two choices: a six-way draw or fighting each other. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Movement results for Fall of 1907. (mets.028) Austria: Army Serbia SUPPORT Turkish Army Rumania. (*cut*) Austria: Fleet Venice HOLD. Austria: Army Sevastopol SUPPORT Turkish Army Rumania. (*cut*) France: Army Marseilles SUPPORT Army Spain. France: Fleet Mid-Atlantic Ocean HOLD. France: Army Spain SUPPORT Army Marseilles. France: Fleet Portugal SUPPORT Fleet Mid-Atlantic Ocean. Germany: Army Brest -> Picardy. Germany: Army Ruhr -> Munich. Germany: Fleet Irish Sea -> English Channel. Germany: Fleet Gascony SUPPORT Russian Fleet English Channel -> Brest. Germany: Army Tyrolia SUPPORT Russian Army Vienna -> Trieste. Germany: Army Paris SUPPORT Fleet Gascony. Germany: Army Burgundy SUPPORT Fleet Gascony. Germany: Fleet Denmark -> North Sea. Italy: Fleet Western Mediterranean SUPPORT French Fleet Mid-Atlantic Ocean. Italy: Fleet Apulia SUPPORT Austrian Fleet Venice. Italy: Army Tuscany SUPPORT Austrian Fleet Venice. Russia: Army Vienna -> Trieste. (*bounce*) Russia: Army Budapest SUPPORT Army Ukraine -> Rumania. Russia: Fleet North Atlantic Ocean -> Mid-Atlantic Ocean. (*bounce*) Russia: Fleet English Channel -> Brest. Russia: Army Trieste -> Serbia. (*bounce*) Russia: Fleet Liverpool -> Irish Sea. Russia: Army Ukraine -> Rumania. Russia: Army Warsaw -> Ukraine. Russia: Army Galicia SUPPORT Army Ukraine -> Rumania. Russia: Army Moscow -> Sevastopol. (*bounce*) Turkey: Army Albania SUPPORT Austrian Army Serbia. Turkey: Army Rumania SUPPORT Austrian Army Serbia. (*cut, dislodged*) Turkey: Fleet North Africa SUPPORT French Fleet Mid-Atlantic Ocean. Turkey: Fleet Black Sea SUPPORT Army Rumania. Turkey: Fleet Piedmont SUPPORT French Army Marseilles. Turkey: Fleet Armenia SUPPORT Austrian Army Sevastopol. Evaluation: With the exception of Mid-Atlantic we're pushed back to the stalemate line at this point. France loses Brest (more on that later) and will remove Mid- Atlantic, which we didn't need anyway. Russia loses Rumania which we saw coming. He retreats to his stalemate line position in Bulgaria and removes Piedmont, which we also don't need. Russia keeps gaining centers and Germany just keeps letting her. I understand that giving Brest to Russia is the fastest way to bring decisive power to bear on Mid-Atlantic, but Mid-Atlantic doesn't gain them anything and come on Germany, stop being Russia's bitch! Russia has offered a three-way to anyone of us who will break the stalemate line up. I think she just didn't realize we had a stalemate line until now and is feeling desperate. She's got nowhere to go but Germany, and Germany may just let her. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Adjustment orders for Winter of 1907. (mets.030) France: Removes the fleet in the Mid-Atlantic Ocean. Turkey: Removes the fleet in Piedmont. Russia: Builds an army in Warsaw. Russia: Builds an army in St Petersburg. Nothing unexpected here. France and Turkey do what they must to maintain the stalemate line. If Russia had built a fleet it might have signaled conflict with Germany, but two armies tells us less. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Movement results for Spring of 1908. (mets.031) Austria: Army Serbia HOLD. Austria: Fleet Venice HOLD. Austria: Army Sevastopol HOLD. France: Army Marseilles SUPPORT Army Spain. France: Army Spain SUPPORT Army Marseilles. France: Fleet Portugal -> Mid-Atlantic Ocean. (*bounce*) Germany: Army Picardy -> Paris. Germany: Army Munich -> Tyrolia. Germany: Fleet English Channel SUPPORT Fleet Gascony -> Mid-Atlantic Ocean. Germany: Fleet Gascony -> Mid-Atlantic Ocean. Germany: Army Tyrolia -> Piedmont. Germany: Army Paris -> Gascony. Germany: Army Burgundy SUPPORT Army Paris -> Gascony. Germany: Fleet North Sea -> London. Italy: Fleet Western Mediterranean SUPPORT French Army Spain. Italy: Fleet Apulia SUPPORT Austrian Fleet Venice. Italy: Army Tuscany SUPPORT Austrian Fleet Venice. Russia: Army Vienna SUPPORT Army Trieste. Russia: Army Budapest SUPPORT Army Rumania. Russia: Fleet North Atlantic Ocean SUPPORT German Fleet Gascony -> Mid-Atlantic Ocean. Russia: Fleet Brest SUPPORT German Army Paris -> Gascony. Russia: Army Trieste SUPPORT Army Budapest. Russia: Fleet Irish Sea SUPPORT German Fleet Gascony -> Mid-Atlantic Ocean. Russia: Army Rumania SUPPORT Army Budapest. Russia: Army Ukraine SUPPORT Army Rumania. Russia: Army Galicia SUPPORT Army Rumania. Russia: Army Moscow -> Sevastopol. (*bounce*) Russia: Army Warsaw -> Silesia. Russia: Army St Petersburg -> Livonia. Turkey: Army Albania SUPPORT Austrian Army Serbia. Turkey: Army Bulgaria SUPPORT Austrian Army Serbia. Turkey: Fleet North Africa HOLD. Turkey: Fleet Black Sea SUPPORT Austrian Army Sevastopol. Turkey: Fleet Armenia SUPPORT Austrian Army Sevastopol. Evaluation: France takes a "why not" stab at the Mid-Atlantic, but otherwise we're just holding and supporting along the stalemate line. R/G moved into their place in the Mid-Atlantic but it doesn't gain them anything. I've set draw for the last few turns. Both Germany and Russia said they would this turn. I'm sure Turkey has been for a while. And I thought France and Italy would as well, but apparently someone didn't. France was late with his orders so I'm guessing it's him.