yes, i think russia is the worse one

Actually if Italy gets off to a good start, I have to say I really do like Italy, it just so easy for things to go wrong badly early in the game.

1. Germany
2. France
3. Austria
4+5+6. England, Russia, Turkey
7. Italy

I like Germany and Austria for all the diplomacy involved, and once you manage to get through the first years, they've got a very good position, dominating middle-Europe. Then France, because you've got some leverage to pull (not having to be committed right away) and a very defensible position. England and Turkey are actually quite nice, but somewhat too easy. However, when your neighbours turn upon you you're thoroughly screwed. Same goes for Italy, minus the well-faring when left alone a few years. You're always struggling to keep either France or Turkey off your back, and once you've got some position Austria stabs you in the back. Last and least, Russia. I never seem to play well with Russia: never won, perhaps drawn one time, some surfivals and a lot of defeats.

1. Austria
2. Germany
3. Italy
4. France
5. Russia
6. Turkey
7. England

The only reason I have Turkey is having the joy of watching a hapless Austria/Russia attack you for years without much success.

1. (Tie)France
1. (Tie)England
3. Germany
4. (Tie) Italy
4. (Tie) Austria
6. Turkey
7. Russia

I think the western countries are in general easier.
Its because in the west three countries (F,E and G) compete for roughly half the board's SCs, whereas in the west you normally have 4 countries (T,I,A,R) competing for the other half. Clearly its gonna be easier to be in the west.
I suppose if Russia plays a big part up north, or italy goes west, the difference is not as pronounced, but in general I think western countries are easier to play.

1. France
2. Germany
3. Austria
4. England
5. Turkey
6. Italy
7. Russia

Italy going west tends to hit France pretty hard, which in turn almost forces Russia to help out in the north

Why don't we do this in a more organized fashion? Everyone gets one +1 and one -1.

0 Austria
0 England
0 France
-1 Germany -1
1 Italy +1
0 Russia
0 Turkey

I love playing Italy because you're usually not at the top of anyone's hitlist. This usually give you time to come up with clever strategies with people.

I really just need to get better at Germany strategy.

- 1 for England it´s easy but boring
+1 for France this country has everything this game is about

1) Russia/Turkey. I enjoy the difficult starts.
3) Germany. Fun to play and I'm not bad with it.
4) Italy. I like the patience involved to play it well. It's also challenging so that's always good.
5) England. I just don't find it all that fun to play.
6 Austria. Should be fun like Germany but I can never keep everyone from attacking me no matter what I say.
7) France. For some reason I never do well with this country and it irritates me. Definitely my least favourite. -1

1) France (Easy 2 SC opening)
2) Germany (Played right can get a 3 SC opening)
3) England (Can be friends with R/G/F and play each of them against the others)
4) Turkey (good defense being in the corner, but boring play)
5) Austria (unless gunboat, then it is dead last)
6) Russia (just cause you are tall poppy right out of the chute and others assume the juggernaut)
7) Italy (Hard to defend and hard to expand. Should have started with 2 fleets, not one.)

0 Austria
-1 England
+2 France (+1 from me)
-1 Germany
0 Italy (-1 from me)
0 Russia
0 Turkey

+1 Austria
-1 England
+2 France
-2 Germany
0 Italy
0 Russia
0 Turkey

1. Russia. Not easy but I often get lucky with England and Germany.
2. Germany. I like the potential, intimidating Russia by attacking Sweden, and England's potential to stab France.
3. France. Unless E, G, and I don't all stab you in S 01, which happened once. :(
4. Turkey. Not played much but great if there's no Lepanto.
5. England. I get it too much and I can rarely expand well without France stabbing me.
6. Italy. Also get it way too much. Can never influence anything without Russia getting too powerful or an unfriendly Turkey or France bothering me.
7. Austria. Hard, and never get lucky with Italy. Either a juggernaut kills me or Italy somehow manages to.

bump!

+1 Austria
-1 England
+3 France (1 from me)
-1 Germany (+1)
-1 Italy (-1)
+1 Russia (+1)
0 Turkey

1.Austria
2.Russia
3.England
4.Turkey
5.Germany
6.Italy
7.France (MAN I hate being France)

1. France
2. Russia
3. Germany
4. Turkey
5. England
6. Austria
7. Italy

Austria
Germany
England
France
Italy
Turkey
Russia

Germany
France
Russia
England
Austria
Italy
Turkey

1.Italy
2.France
3.England
4.Austria
5.Germany
6.Turkey
7.Russia

1. France
2. Turkey
3. Italy
4. Russia
5. England
6. Germany
7. Austria (Biased- I have yet to play a game where I'm not destroyed by the juggernaut or a German-Italy alliance)

1. France
2. Russia
3. Turkey
4. England
5. Germany
6. Austria
7. Italy (but real damn close to Austria)

1. Italy
2. Austria
3. Turkey/France/Germany
6. England
7. Russia

1. France
2. Germany
3. Russia
4. Turkey
5. England
6. Italy
7. Austria Hungay

1. France - can play England and Germany against each other
2. England/Turkey - corner positions = win. Also, Turkey can overtake Russia in the Black Sea.
3. Germany - same as France, but more vulnerable to stabs from England. Also can't build a naval force without arousing suspicion from the English player.
4. Russia - Several options for expansion, several reliable allies (Italy and France + Russia = win)
5. Italy - hard to get initial supply centers, and often destroyed by Austria early on.
6. Austria - always gets owned by a combination alliance. Center starting position is FAIL.

Italy, France, England, Turkey, Germany, Russia, Austria