Power

Name

Duration

GM:

Mike Boutot

Spring 1901-end

Players:

Austria

Jim Green

Spring 1901-end

England

Stephen Worthy

Spring 1901-end

France

Tim Miller

Spring 1901-end

Germany

Rob Bristol

Spring 1901-Fall 1904

Italy

Rusty Tisdale

Spring 1901-Fall 1908

Russia

Thomas Franke
David Shipley

Spring 1901-Winter 1903
Spring 1904-Fall 1907

Turkey

Koit Rikson

Spring 1901-end

Year

01

02

03

04

05

06

07

08

09

Austria

5

4

4

5

4

3

3

4

2

England

5

6

8

10

10

13

14

16

19

France

5

5

6

7

8

6

6

4

1

Germany

5

4

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

Italy

4

4

4

4

4

2

1

0

0

Russia

6

6

6

3

2

1

0

0

0

Turkey

4

5

5

5

6

9

10

10

12

My EOG

This was a peculiar game, inasmuch as it was very nearly the perfect game and that never happens.  I found an ally and worked with that ally to destroy a neighbour; we went our separate ways and defeated the next neighbours; and finally I stabbed my ally and won a race to the stalemate line.

The only thing that was missing was that I didn’t get to face a proper stop-the-leader alliance.  Perhaps because it looked like petering out into a three-way draw and finally neither Turkey, Austria or France had the incentive to fight back.  Still it was a nice amiable way to play – no real skullduggery took place and there was no protracted bitter battle to the death.  The only one who really took it in the shorts was Rob, with whom I’m determined to have a productive alliance sooner or later, even though we keep on ending up fighting.

The first key moment came in Spring 1904.  I had the choice of launching a minor stab on France – at the time the only other major power in the game - or supporting him into Berlin and attacking Russia.  I had generally got on with Thomas very well, so I wasn’t mad keen on attacking him, but then he withdrew.  Russia was already vulnerable to me and with the England-France alliance going so well, this made my decision easy.  David took over something of a dead duck and I ended up racing Austria and Turkey to the Russian home centres.  To get to the furthest end of the stalemate line in 1906 was huge.

The second key moment came, not in the season when I stabbed Tim, but in the season afterwards.  Tim pulled his armies back, but not his fleets. Perhaps this was something to do with not wanting to leave a vigorous and annoyed Italy to his rear.  Whatever the reason, the solo could have been stopped by Italy making peace with France at the start of 1906.  France needed to dominate the Mid-Atlantic Ocean and he couldn’t get there in time.

Meanwhile, I got a bit of help from Austria at the end, who wanted to concentrate on staying in the game and creating a bit of havoc rather than heroically defending a lost cause.  If Turkey had held off him and made peace, Jim might have been more tempted to stop me, but I imagine Koit was going for a good centre haul, which he achieved.

Tactically, I don’t think I or anyone else had any poor or great play, but I’m quietly pleased with my logistical planning.  Some might say that you need a fight to the death to really deserve a solo.  But no player can never solo at diplomacy if all his opponents are playing rationally, with a modicum of skill and with the same win-or-draw objectives.  The secret to soloing is to find which players don’t fit that bill and encourage them to express their individuality.  Those players who didn’t throw everything at me, or helped me out at the end, all had their own objectives.

Thanks to everyone for the game and especially Mike, whose GM’ing I always enjoy, even when he reveals my opponents weaknesses to them in his commentary… ;-)

Jim’s EOG

Hi guys,  I guess it is not surprising that Stephen is the only person to have written an eog so far (to my knowledge).   Does anyone else care?

This game for me hung on the decision by Thomas to go for my jugular early on.  I don't think he ever gave me a chance as an ally, instead choosing Turkey, played by Koit, a Finish teenager who challenged by english.  My thought was that perhaps he had thought Koit would be easier to manipulate.  Guess he found that while that might be true, two could play at that game.  Still, the instant war between russia and austria had to play to Koit as the master manipulator.  He had us both doing whatever he wished.  I finally got the better of the "relationship" and Thomas left the game. 

At that point, england and france were pushing forward with england riding high.  I tried to turn turkey, myself, and italy into a three way that would stop the ef.  But for some reason, the new russia  was just as adamantly anti aus as the old. He never responded to my letters, so once again, I was facing a rabid irrational russia.  While sloughing off scs to england, he stood firm in a cadre of armies right off the aus homeland. The only thing I can think is perhaps he had previous "good ties" to stephen or had promised the old russia to stay on my ass.  That delay to turk and I...along with the advantage given to england put EF on the fast track with E looking like solo potential. 

I stressed that point to france suggesting that he act with us against england, even offering to stab my old ally Italy, who had become disinterested in the game.  France held to the english alliance however, way past the time that imho was prudent.  An aside, Rusty was  an excellent ally in a horrible position.  At least he never stabbed me.  Thanks Rusty for being the best ally I had this game.

The endgame saw turkey eating into my sc base even as I said that to do so would end any chance of preventing the solo.  A final ultimatum to turkey from me over budapest was ignored and afterward, I thought I  might as well help england to the solo punishing turkey for his avaricious but flawed play, and france for his too loyal relationship with england. 

So for me this game was a downer.  Struggle and fight as I did, I couldn't get anything going.  Congratulations to Stephen for his solo.  Thanks Michael for the gm work.  Excellently done, if perhaps too forgiving of some late orders.

Koit’s response to Jim’ EOG

Please do understand, the Budapest move failed by itself.

And important note is that I am from Estonia, not Finland...

Rob’s EOG

At the start I played Germany looking for alliance with either England or France.

If England had accepted - we / I probably would of prospered into a dominant position at France's expense. Or had France accepted, it would have been at England's expense.  Either way I or they would have to wait for the right time to stab me - but I hoped to stab first before the other me. 

They chose each other instead, much to my detriment.  Once they were in concert, I had counseled France on what I thought would (and then did) happen.  I saw no point in counseling Stephen (that would be like bringing coals to Castleton).   I think Stephen and I communicate quite well, but thought there was no point when he already had a very malleable partner.

Once the two set in motion I was vulnerable and exited much sooner than I'd like to.  I was unable to change France's allegiance and never made much headway east.

Not my best game.

A good solo for you Stephen, you certainly lived up the the rhetoric that I tried to sway France with.  Maybe next time I'll be more persuasive, and follow through with a more defensive, long-view oriented posture.

Maybe not....

See you all sometime soon.