[quote]The global press format of the messages definitely made it hard to coordinate things between the powers. The one good thing I was able to do this game was to block the attack on Mar because I could react to the G/I diplomat's global planning. The Turkish diplomat even commented that season on trying to do what G/I were doing that season being maybe not the best idea (which is why I'm guessing he was so vague in his messages as Jamie noted) because your opponents could plan defense (like I did).[/quote]

Exactly. Had I seen a move that couldn't be countered, or even an objective that couldn't be countered with coordination, I would have said so. But I didn't see circumstances where the advantage of coordinating outweighed the disadvantage of Austria knowing the plan. What I might have tried more of is something like proposing two plans and asking each general to flip a coin, but I don't think that would have been helpful either.

One thing that might make future versions of this more fun/interesting would be to let the generals and diplomats talk once before the game starts. It would be helpful to understand each other's styles, and maybe even to develop some code words/phrases to signal that we're bluffing/we're fine with our generals disregarding certain instructions.

[quote=DougJoe post_id=439372 time=1732129126 user_id=7820]
[quote=DreamTrawler post_id=439369 time=1732126978 user_id=26923]
[quote=kingofthepirates post_id=439334 time=1732063772 user_id=26135]
I greatly thank my (the German) diplomat for a very successful diplomatic campaign! I believe I generally stuck to your recommendations and play the role of the loyal ally :]
[/quote]

Thank you, and thank you for your excellent generalship! Sorry for disappearing in the lategame.
[/quote]

DT, do you think would you have actually told your general to back off if I'd built that fleet in Brest in W02? Or was my intuition correct that you were thinking "die France die" all along?
[/quote]

I was being cautious. I honestly did want to jointly invade England with France early on. However since I somehow found myself in a position to attack England and France without having to worry about my eastern border I figured it was fine to keep attacking with Italy's help. Especially since Italy was willing to give me a center (Marseille) right off the bat.

[quote=DreamTrawler post_id=439369 time=1732126978 user_id=26923]
[quote=kingofthepirates post_id=439334 time=1732063772 user_id=26135]
I greatly thank my (the German) diplomat for a very successful diplomatic campaign! I believe I generally stuck to your recommendations and play the role of the loyal ally :]
[/quote]

Thank you, and thank you for your excellent generalship! Sorry for disappearing in the lategame.
[/quote]

DT, do you think would you have actually told your general to back off if I'd built that fleet in Brest in W02? Or was my intuition correct that you were thinking "die France die" all along?

[quote=kingofthepirates post_id=439334 time=1732063772 user_id=26135]
I greatly thank my (the German) diplomat for a very successful diplomatic campaign! I believe I generally stuck to your recommendations and play the role of the loyal ally :]
[/quote]

Thank you, and thank you for your excellent generalship! Sorry for disappearing in the lategame.

I would. I think I haven’t read your notes, I’ll do it rn.

Posted my longer form notes in the observer thread but I'll try to summarize and provide some other notes here.

[quote=Pengwinja post_id=439357 time=1732116000 user_id=24697]
I, Respectfully, thank the second French General, and curse the First French general. Sorry I was gone for so long.
[/quote]

Thanks.

Peng, I don't know if you've read or seen my notes yet (you should go read them) but I really, really, felt like I had to build that army in 02 in Paris. I know you wanted to try to get Germany onside with the fleet build but from what I'd read I felt that Germany was trying to string you along - and if I *had* built that fleet, I suspect it would have been over even quicker. Other than that, I made one good move and then a lot of wrong guesses. I was really hoping I could hold out until either Russia put a dent in Germany or Turkey put a dent in Italy, but the Russian stab of Turkey didn't help things there at all.

What made this game frustrating is that I couldn't *explain* to my diplomat why I went *against* his suggestion of building F Bre - I didn't do it lightly nor without considerable thought.

The global press format of the messages definitely made it hard to coordinate things between the powers. The one good thing I was able to do this game was to block the attack on Mar because I could react to the G/I diplomat's global planning. The Turkish diplomat even commented that season on trying to do what G/I were doing that season being maybe not the best idea (which is why I'm guessing he was so vague in his messages as Jamie noted) because your opponents could plan defense (like I did).

IMHO, Germany's diplomat did a really nice job of managing to never be the "bad guy". I think I saw that there was a DMZ of Burgundy early on and that France violated it before I joined - Germany did a really good job of working that situation to his advantage.

Otherwise, of the "big three" near the end (IMHO) I think there was a turn where I thought that Italy could have maybe made a run for a solo - I think it was S08, just after I had been wiped out. Italy was the only power across the MSL and it sure would have been interesting if he had moved to MAO and WMS that turn. A/G to me would have been army locked along the MSL... Germany might have been able to get Por/Mar/Spa (there was also a turn where he could have moved in the spring and been able to force Mar in the fall IIRC) but I'm not sure he gets Tunis to get to 18. Austria didn't have the fleets needed to hit Italy.

Would I try this variant again? Maybe, at least to experience it from the beginning instead of coming in when the position was already tenuous... I think it could be tweaked, though, somehow - but not exactly sure how.

I, Respectfully, thank the second French General, and curse the First French general. Sorry I was gone for so long.

I greatly thank my (the German) diplomat for a very successful diplomatic campaign! I believe I generally stuck to your recommendations and play the role of the loyal ally :]

Since the game is over, to repeat what I said in the Observer Thread:

I was the Turkish general and I made the following notes in the first few years, before I was defeated:

Spring 1901: I believe I entered the moves requested of me by the Sultan. I would not have had Smyrna hold, but that is what he asked for, so I have done it. The Black Sea bounce was necessary as Russia had not agreed to the Sultan's suggestion to open directly to Rumania.

Autumn, 1901: (early): Given Russia's southern opening stance, and his lack of agreement to the Sultan's proposals, I am provisionally entering a set of anti-Russian orders. Ankara to Black Sea, Bulgaria to Rumania, and Smyrna to Armenia.

The Sultan has yet to speak this phase, so these orders may be subject to change.

Interesting that Italy's Admiral ignored the instruction of his King!

Autumn 1901 ~(build phase):
Things are going acceptably so far. It appears we are treating Russia as an ally.

I have not had any build suggestions from the Sultan, so I'm currently building a Fleet.

Autumn 1902:

The Sultan is not posting very often in the thread, and when he does, he is making clear where his alliances lie, which is helpful, but is delegating all military decisions to me. That's fine as it goes, but it leaves me in the hands of the Russian and Italian generals since I am mute, and the Sultan is not proposing any specific tactics.

The Russian diplomat sucks as much as my own Sultan.

"We leave it up to the generals to do the tactics."

Ok dumbass, FINE, but I cannot SPEAK to the Russian general, can I? So I cannot co-ordinate MOVES with him.

Autumn, 1902: Literally my only instruction is "be allied with Russia". Great.

Spring, 1903:
Finally, some strategic thinking from the Sultan. Let's see if Russia does cut Serbia as asked.

-----------------------------

After that point Russia stabbed HARD and Turkey was doomed. I entered moves for a few more turns and then died.

This was an immensely frustrating experience as a General. Effectively I was playing a Gunboat with one diplomatic instruction "be allied with Russia", who then stabbed me.

I would not play this type of game again. My experience was shit.

Spring, 1909

The war is dying down, and I think we should prevent any further conflicts. Russia is divided and will surely be torn apart in only a few more years. I propose a three-way draw between Austria, Germany, and I to the other leaders.

To my General,

Let's stand down against Austria. Wait a year, and Russia will surely have to disband one of its fleets. Then, we can move in and take the rest of the original Turkish centers.

- Italy

Crowned Heads of Europe (and grubby commoners living above your station):

It is I: Ahmed Tevfik Pasha, Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire and King (in exile) of Greece. I bring tidings that his Most Serene Excellency, Mehmed Han bin Abdulmejid V, Exalted Sultan of the Ottoman Empire and rightful Caliph of all Muslims, has renounced worldly power and possessions to walk the earth as a Dervish. Your earthly kingdoms may have the power to bring the high down low, but only the true power, the spirit power, the power of the Friend within us, can bring the lowest to a state of exaltation and bliss.

Our crowns have not been knocked from our heads, no! We fling them off with the heart-gladness of a healed man throwing down his crutches. Continue your struggle over the muddy, brackish pond of earthly power--we dive, naked, into the depths of the ocean.

On a personal note, I am now unemployed. I have over 15 years experience as a high level lacky/flunky, and am proficient in Turkish, English, Arabic, QuickBooks and Microsoft Office. Accepting all serious inquiries.

-Ahmed Tevfik Pasha, Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire, Spring 1909

Meanwhile, somewhere in the mid-atlantic...

"Captain?"
"Yes?"
"We're out of ammunition. We're out of fuel. What do we do?"
"Get the crew and our honored leader to the lifeboats. Head for the States. You may make it... and someday France may be restored to her former glory."
"...and you?"
"It is my duty and honor to go down with the ship... keep her from falling into enemy hands."
*salutes*"Godspeed, Captain".
*saultes*"Godspeed."

Dearest friends, esteemed heads of state, and that psychopath clinging to power in Vienna:

It is I, Ahmed Tevfik Pasha, Grand Vizier of the Independent Kingdom of Greece. We are a proud people, an honest people, a simple people. We want nothing more than to govern our lands honorably and avoid unnecessary bloodshed.

To our Dearest friends in Rome:

Together we govern the two cradles of European Civilization. Do not allow our the minor differences between your Catholic and our Orthodox faith deceive you: we are brothers. The Austrians are a warmongering menace who will surely use Greece to launch an assault on your peaceful waters--do not let our friendly and peaceful kingdom fall into their hands.

To our Esteemed and Beloved Czar:

From the rivers of the Volga to the estuaries of our own Archipelago, we are the keepers of Orthodox civilization. Do not allow the brutish and warmongering Austrians to turn our Beatific Isles into the launching pad for a vicious and unjustified assault on your rightfully claimed Anatolian possessions.

To the Beloved, Justly-Crowned Kaiser:

You are the true heirs of the Holy Roman Empire. Smash the pretenders to the South. Most of all, protect your beautiful, proud, and independent women from their voracious and creepy grasp.

To the French:

The past seven years of war have proven that elected leaders are weenies. Sorry for your loss.

To all, including the Maurading Magyar to our North:

Don't you think it's time that we declared a draw? I think we can all agree to immediately declare a draw.

With warmest thanks,

-Ahmed Tevfik Pasha, Grand Vizier of the Kingdom of Greece, Autumn 1907

[quote=DarthPorg36 post_id=437207 time=1730550437 user_id=19127]
From the Office of the Czar

To my general - you are holding valiantly against the odds. I am sorry to hear we are surrounded, but I encourage you to fight on.

To Austria - any time you want to work together, let me know

To Germany - our fleets would be better served attacking with you, not against you.

To Italy - if you'd want to join against the Austrian, assuming they don't make peace with us, that'd be real swell.
[/quote]
Greetings everyone ,
Long time .hope that everyone is sound & cool .

To Rus : Sure , but you need to assure me that you wont be attacking me by building Fleet only in future .

To Italy : i heard of greek beauties . you can keep it or give your lil bro , kicog , the "peace " lover . we are open to help you if needed .

to sultan : :raging: :raging: :raging:

To general : praise to you , our lady general . First prince is coming for this winter . Have fun ! 8-)

- wife of kicog , the "peace" lover

From the Office of the Czar

To my general - you are holding valiantly against the odds. I am sorry to hear we are surrounded, but I encourage you to fight on.

To Austria - any time you want to work together, let me know

To Germany - our fleets would be better served attacking with you, not against you.

To Italy - if you'd want to join against the Austrian, assuming they don't make peace with us, that'd be real swell.

[quote="sin(2x) = 2sin(x)cos(x)" post_id=437166 time=1730477872 user_id=28971]
Winter, 1907,

First, I congratulate my general for predicting and taking advantage of France's fleet move. This will save us a lot of time, so good job!
[/quote]

...yet *another* guess that I got wrong this game (would WMS hold or try for MAO, should I stay or should I go?) I really was hoping to buy another year, but oh well. C'est la vie!

Good game, everyone. I'll post my notes (or a link to them, about nine pages worth) when the game is officially over.

Winter, 1907,

First, I congratulate my general for predicting and taking advantage of France's fleet move. This will save us a lot of time, so good job!

I think we've reached a stalemate in the Mediterranean. I don't see any way we can break through. To my General, I suggest staying put and supporting the fleet in Greece to hold.

To Austria,

I don't want my army to sit around, twiddling their thumbs until something happens. Perhaps we could send a single army through a corridor to join the fight against Russia? I would understand if you wouldn't want that, though. Similarly, to Germany, we could also send over a single fleet to help.

- Italy

To Austria - I think you can take both Warsaw and Sevastopol this turn. All you need to do is cut support from Moscow using Livonia, and support yourself into Sev (presumably Ukr-Sev). Meanwhile, I will support Galicia into Warsaw. Of course, if you want to let me have Warsaw I would much appreciate it, but barring any further communication I will support you in.

To my general - Redouble all attempts to retake Denmark. The fleet and army in England must be brought into the fray ASAP.

To Italy - I hope your loyalties lay with us, I would hate to fight after such a long peace.

- Kaiser of Germany, fall 1907

Spring, 1907 (Retreats)

There hasn't been a lot of talk in here recently, which surprises me. It appears my General has decided on their plan to take Albania and flank the Austrians (this is my understanding based on my General's moves). That wasn't my original plan, but I can't stop my general, and it seems like it would be a pretty good opportunity. Sorry, Austria.

To my General, if you are truly committed to this plan, I'll support you after this turn.

- Italy

Winter, 1906,

To my General,
I think a fleet build is appropriate here. After all, with the French threat soon gone, we can convoy our army out of Tunis and gain another army.

- Italy