So, I've become comfortable with FvA. I know generally how to open, how to play that. The same can't be said for GvI, however. I'm immensely uncomfortable in that variant, especially so as Italy.
Why is that? Because I feel constrained by Tyrolia, frankly. More often than not, he who controls Tyrolia wins the game. No beating around that bush. But it all seems too...Simplistic. In FvA, for example, there's a strategy to win as France even if you've allowed Austria to hold Berlin and Munich. But in GvI, if you lose Tyrolia (again, especially as Italy) you're paralyzed. To me, that's a huge flaw in the variant.
But it got me thinking, are there any moves where you could gain an advantage by allowing the other party into Tyrolia? With Germany, I figured fairly easily that Mun-Burgundy, Berlin-Munich was a strong opening. Perhaps even superior to the traditional Mun-Tyrolia, Berlin-Silesia opening.
But for Italy I'm at a loss. What does Italy's win condition look like? For me, it's Iberia+Marseilles+Sev. But could it be a different set of center? Could Italy safely abandon a larger portion of the Balkans, commit fully west and hope to win? Ven-Piedmont, Rome-Ven? Or perhaps go all in on the Balkans early and sacrifice Venice? (Ven-Tri, Rom-Ven followed by Tri-Bud, Ven-Tri, with fleet to Tunis) Or even use the fleet to bounce Venice in the fall while putting two armies into the Balkans (same as above, but fleet opens to Apulia and then Venice)
Each of those Italian openings supposed a different win condition. So, part of what I'm asking is, what SC's is it possible for Italy to win with?