Big Peanut rolling in for duty.
Pleasant to see some unusual opening moves! I hope we can continue in this vein. This'll probably be the friendliest commentary you'll get; as it's hard to fuck up in S01. Enjoy it while it lasts.
Vecna (England): Standard northern opening, so not a whole lot to say about that right now. France and Germany looking friendly toward each other isn't the most positive of things, and Germany being in Holland can be very anti-England. On the other hand, If you take a massive risk, I could finally see an England supporting a German fleet into Belgium in 1901 so that the Channel is guaranteed in 1902 whilst also being able to build F-Lvp. Certainly a lot of options to play with there - demanding & firing for Denmark is the more standard move here, playing for the EF... but either way it's not a terrible position.
Socrates Dissatisfied (France): Interesting! That's an opening move set I see used in live Gunboats quite often now because of how common Ven -> Pie has become for Italian openings here, but I rarely see it in FP games. The fact there is no German army in Tyrolia and no Austrian army in Trieste does make me suspect that the bounce was pre-arranged, which I actually quite like. Guarantees Spain/Mars are threat-free this year with zero cost to yourself. Lot of options with Picardy there, too - whether you go for Belgium yourself, cede it to Germany, or try to block it with English help. It's good to be a bit of a kingmaker in 1901, so I like your position a lot. Have a small cookie.
Valis2501 (Germany): Given you knew that was my favourite German opening, I'm sure you're just fishing for cookies here! As it is it's missing getting one of EF to open to the Channel, but as long as you can pull the press off to ensure England & France don't block Belgium; you're going to end the year very solidly. England bouncing Denmark would be an irritation but nothing more - and such a strong English presence in Scandinavia can usually be used to get Russia on your side, too. I'm not giving you a cookie just for using my favourite opening though - you'll have to do better than that.
TooCoolSunday (Italy): Much like for France, I like that bounce for you a lot. I hate the Piedmont opening for Italy unless it's combined with F-Tyrr and a massive anti-France commitment from the beginning. Staying in Venice might not be the most interesting of moves, but it keeps the option to plunge a knife into Austria, so that's always handy. Standard opening to Ionian Sea & Apulia give me little to comment on, but the very interesting far east of the map certainly puts you into a very nice position - if Russia & Turkey ARE fighting, then you've got the possibility of an IT, an IR, or following through with the Lepanto here. I'd be looking at Greece with more interest right now than anyone except for the European Central Bank & The IMF.
ghug (Austria): See, usually I'd be strongly criticising this opening move because I hate hate hate Vie -> Bud as Austria, but I strongly criticised a certain uclabb for using it in the first Peanuts game, and then he went and solo'd it. As a result I'll let you off, just this once. Once again, fairly standard moves other than that; but the very interesting moves that Russia & Turkey have made certainly give you a lot of options here. Being in Budapest does this time give you the option of starting an AT and supporting Turkey there, but unless you risked Greece by not supporting it in, it'd be unlikely to do more than bounce Russia (which kinda sucks for everyone). I'd be very concerned about a possible IT, but if you can get through this Autumn unscathed and Russia & Turkey aren't pulling a masterstroke, then you could go into 1902 in a very strong position.
xorxes (Russia): Well, for someone who never plays FP, you've made the best of starts here. Love it! Either you and Turkey are pulling off a hilariously good strategy by temporarily swapping Con & Sev to get your fleet into the Med, or you've completely outplayed Turkey and got a massive headstart on him. Mos - Sev is always a big risk because of the possible bounce, so either way you've clearly convinced him to leave Black Sea open, and the fact you went Sev & Ukr rather than Gal & Ukr means you can very easily side with Austria here too. Best Russian start I've seen in quite a while - his army in Armenia is definitely strange, but if you are attacking him it can also be very easily dealt with. Controlling the Black Sea is the ideal start - having units in Sev & Ukr, an empty Galicia, and not to mention an empty Denmark so you're also guaranteed Sweden... Awesome. Massive cookie for you!
goldfinger0303 (Turkey): My first reaction here was "What the fuck is that". I've stared longer and convinced myself that the Con/Sev swap is on here, and I certainly hope that's what you played for... because if that wasn't on the cards and you made an opening like that, I'm utterly mystified. Going pro-Russian whilst also pissing Russia off by being in Armenia would be pretty bizarre. The advantage of the board screaming that you and Russia are fighting here is obviously that you might be able to get an IT or an AT going; and break a Lepanto before it can happen. The disadvantage is that Russia could crush you beneath his foot like you're an unworthy slug if he so chooses. I can't imagine you wanted to see Galicia DMZ'd in either scenario, and therefore I think you've been out-pressed by Russia here, but it's definitely salvageable... for now. Unusual for A01 to be such a make-or-break turn for Turkey, that's for sure.
Now, some of you go and make some amusing errors of judgement so I can *really* rip into you next turn, please!
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