all but the very latest post from stratagos are transferred to the blog now.

[SOW2 - Commentary - Spring 1904. gameID=10963]
moves and retreats.

England: well what can i say? it appears you've turned your back on france's generosity. Being part of a triple alliance makes you strong, turning on them is likely to anger germany and france, which you can't really afford unless you befriend Russia, which seems to be far from the case based on the moves.

It is possible you are faking hostilities with either france or russia to throw the other off. Still you appear in a good position to take two builds this year. So perhaps this fight everyone strategy will pay off(at least in the short term)

Fleet norway holding seems like a mistake, but i guess it worked out fairly well.

France: Not taking tunis again, maybe a mistake, or maybe saved yourself a retreat, getting your fleet back to the altantic may help with england. Italy/Austria seems to have you on the back foot but you should be able to hold marsielles for as long as Germany remains a solid ally.

Germany: Things would be going better if England played ball in scandanavia. He clearly has his own agenda. Though without any obvious friends you appear to have something to offer him(as if you fall to russia he is mostly likely next).

Austria-Russia is your biggest threat, and it seems nobody else is working to stop them. Time work on your diplomacy. Why silesia held is beyond me, should have supported your move to warsaw (even though the support would have been cut, and warsaw woiuld have held...) Obviously moving liv to stp would have been better (for using the army against scandanavia, or just taking the supply) but in any case you could probably be using your armies better.

Turkey still dead.

I would love to get in on a future SoW game. I've played about 10 games, won one, drew one, lost three. I'd be very happy to get some feedback on my play.

[SOW2 - Commentary - Spring 1904. gameID=10963] (continued)

Italy: good negotiations with Austria look like you've made a good alliance, France is now screwed but you haven't gained much yet. Slow advance in the med is good.

Austria: Russian alliance still going strong, Italian help may get you into france, but you may be giving up a lot in the long run, likely spain and portugal and the opportunity to get your fleets into the atlantic. Also having to defend your border with italy. (which you are not doing with russia) However you still have a lot of space to expand into germany, (while russia can stay north and head for england/scandanavia and italy into french territories) So things aren't looking bad at all. Another unit or two on the front would be nice, maybe an army from Trieste...

Russia: well finishing off turkey will be fun for you. It looks like England is willing to play ball, and help you out against germany which just leaves me wondering what your fleet in the north atlantic is doing. There is some description of mess in and around scandanavia and one extra fleet might be enough for you to break it.

[SOW IV - Official Commentary, Winter 1903, gameID=11284]

England - Have you been reading the commentary? We both hinted at you mucking up the bounce at Brest by supporting F-MAO-Brest which would have prevented him from building F-Brest. Would have been a nice little manoeuvre. It seems you got some help from Russia, which is good, but with that French fleet coming up soon, you're going to have to start making some diplomatic moves if you're going to avoid the slow painful downfall you've got coming for you.

France - Not much to say, obvious moves. Predictable enough that England should have been able to foil you, but turns out you were right to play the classically solid moves. I fully expect F-Brest, and now you can get your expansion on.

Germany - Good job putting those southern armies to good use. You're getting sparks to fly between Italy and Russia and that's always good. Your relationship with either is still somewhat of an enigma and I think it could still swing either way, with devastating effect. Is Italy supposed to take your support into Venice as an indicator of alliance when you've just supported Russia into Vienna? Your diplomacy here will be key.

Russia - Good move into Ukraine. It's got the same 50-50 prospects as a hold in Warsaw, but if it backfires, you still have a spot open for a build and the opportunity to knock Austria out of there after that. Your relationship with Germany is strange. Was the support of Norway a mistake? It seems you've got one hand extended in greeting and the other shoving him away... but then, I suppose he's done the same to Italy. However, you've got a jilted Italy and Austria close to your home centres, and the possible co-operation between Austria and Turkey, Austria and England, or Austria and Italy makes things much more difficult for you. It'll be interesting to see how you cope. If Italy is jilted, you will be dependant on Germany's armies because otherwise you are severely tactically outmatched in the former nation of Austria-Hungary. You can't afford more enemies. A-Warsaw, as if that needs to be said.

Turkey - I like the move to Armenia, particularly if you co-ordinated with Austria. There's opportunity here for co-operation. Taking Greece was unlikely to work, and defense of Bulgaria probably would have been more appropriate. I'd definitely disband A-Alb.

Austria - Still here! You might find sympathy with Turkey or Italy despite them having played a part in your destruction. England might also have open ears.

Italy - Well, the friction between you and Russia seems to have started, as I predicted. Luckily, you're in a good position, and Russia seems overextended. The key bit is how you play the Germans because their support or simple apathy will mean your victory, but if they support Russia, the battle will be much more drawn out. Galicia's got some fun options, just like the Austrian had when he retreated there. You can work with Austria to harass Russia, or you could even sneak into Silesia, which is especially dangerous for Germany since he has no builds. Either F-Nap or A-Rom, I'm thinking.

Wow, the SOW2 people are pretty lucky. Thats alot of advice!

SOW3 people, when did Babak say he would return?

Babak asked for a pause until he could find a replacement, but didn't actually give a time, so at the moment it's indefinite...

Orthaic said:
"Why silesia held is beyond me, should have supported your move to warsaw (even though the support would have been cut, and warsaw woiuld have held...) "

I did use Warsaw to support Gal-Sil. This is a good example of the need to always double check the actual orders themselves rather than relying on the graphical display of the orders. The graphical display does not always make things clear.

-J

@ Jacob - unless i've missed something, I think Orthaic means why did silesia hold, rather than supporting Livonia into Warsaw (not why did warsaw hold). And Silesia did hold, I just checked the orders history.

ah - i see...

note to so-called "vets" - don't be so quick to respond to a post. always read it twice to make sure you are not reading it wrong! :P

[SOW 1]

Things are getting interesting again over in the first game. We just don't have any commentators.

http://phpdiplomacy.net/board.php?gameID=10755

thanks.
i saw all the games. but i dont want to post anything to sound stupid. i'm still learning how to play =)

you guys are amazing. =) cant wait to learn

@idealist - then ask questions. the purpose of these games is for newer players like you to gain more skills. ask questions about why people made certain moves, or why people suggest certain moves, or label certain moves "anti-russian" or "pro-german".

as they say in school - there is no stupid question! =)

Hi guys - I'd like to take more of a role in responding here on the forum, and discussing some of the games - I find it difficult to jump into a game mid way though and follow everything thats been happening - when I'm done with SoW 2, I'd like to be either an unofficial commentator for a new SoW game that I can follow along, or else provide a less experienced perspective, and perhaps discuss whats happening on the board with a more experienced commentator or something? Would be a good way to learn without jumping into another game directly :)

apologies to all here for my absence... I am in the process of looking for a replacement for ALL my games... for an indefinite period of time. I'd like to be picky in who I choose b/c of my league games being involved as well...

in any case - the reason for my expected extended absence is that since Friday I've been busy with the Iranian Elections and their aftermath... for anyone curious as to my take or a deeper explanation - here is a link:

http://www.phpdiplomacy.net/index.php?newsendtothread=436746&viewthread=436746#postbox

other than that - just cross your fingers that the situation settles down soon enough so I can back to things that matter in life - like Diplomacy =P

@jacob: yeah, i've been thinking about that a bit more.
and it seems obvious that liv - war wasn't trying to take war but merely to cut support against silesia, so i'm not sure my point stands.

maybe russia didn't want austria to take silesia, and so offered support which he knew would be cut due to working with germany.
(not that it makes much difference in any case)

but that's probably just paranoia on my part. (still stranger things have happened in this game...)

babak - i'd sit for you, but you have too many games going on :(

also, I'm going to be gone for a week at the end of this month...

a little bump.

well. is it possible to see what is going on inside the diplomat's desk?
the strategies are strange but brilliant, but the trick lies in what you say to someone at what time

[SOW 1]

questions:
how did france convince italy to not cease fire in 1903?

comments: france is doing great.
i assume italy and turkey will be looking at some fightings. is italy still neutral to france? if they work together, france obviously get the advantage of getting two more supplies, and once that happens, will france give berlin to italy?

Bump

Turn elapsed in SoW2. I -really- want to comment here, but I'm an active player and shouldn't talk about the current way things are going.

wow, what a stab fest.

They ain't going well for you, knox ;)

I will comment in an hour or so

Oh, I know they aren't, but what would the consequences be, right?

This game may end with me communicating (from the grave, most likely) "I told you so" ;)

[SOW2 - Commentary - Fall 1904 Retreat / Builld. gameID=10963]

England, as expected, stabbed France. While this gains him an SC, I have to wonder what he's thinking is going to happen with Russia now that he is no longer distracted by Turkey. Does he expect him to turn on Austria? What was he thinking, attempting to abandon Norway like that? If he doesn't put a unit in Liverpool, he's just asking for doom.

Germany NMRed, and is now virtually guaranteed to lose one or more SCs next round.

Turkey = dead.

Italy is still working with Austria, while being slowly surrounded. Expect a stab soon

Austria is putting an awful lot of units in the west, when he has a huge border with Russia, who now will have three units in the south with nothing to do. It would be prudent to cover his flanks, given that Russia could be virtually guaranteed to take BUL and BUD if he chose to.

France has problems, but he's not having a lot of luck convincing England or Italy of the greater threat from Russia. Which unit to disband is an open question, and will depend on how well he can work with either of them.

Russia, who was once on the ropes, but is now kicking serious ass. With Turkey down and a very narrow border with Germany, he's going to have to decide who to stab. Since he 'has' to put a unit in SEV, I would expect that his alliance with Austria is about due to expire.

ping

[SOW IV - Official Commentary, Fall 1904, gameID=11284]

England - Well France's NMR buys you some time, but if you don't sway him or Germany soon, there won't be much left of you soon. Germany's fleet in the North Sea poses many problems as it borders so many territories, and it will be costly for you to cover them all, or some. Russia's coming to give you relief, but it probably won't save you as much as she will simply gain from the conflict. We'll see. Germany has two powerful enemies and might solicit your help, and France could be persuaded by you and Italy to attack Germany, and you would be safer if either or both happened.

France - NMR. Grrrrr.... 36 hours and you couldn't get in on time? You built F-Bre like expected, but you've wasted a phase. Your position on England is still ok, but your NMR is probably going to cost you Marseilles unless you can appeal to Italy to be less greedy. You might be able to do this if you agreed to attack Germany or something like that. If you hadn't NMR'ed you would have probably been in Spain too. You can't really afford more mistakes.

Germany - Well things are looking a little more difficult for you. Russia's coming up on you, it seems your Viennese favour didn't really woo her, and she's jeopardizing Sweden, and helped Italy into Silesia which makes it costly for you to cover Berlin and Munich. The board is quite a mess now, and it'll be interesting to see how you play it. Do you play aggressively and take the centres, or do you go on damage control to protect your home centres and the ones you already have? I'm guessing the latter.

Russia - Way to patch things up with Italy. I'm impressed. It seems your support in Norway last turn was absolutely not a mistake, and now you're increasing your Scandinavian presence and posing a decent threat to Germany. Depending on Germany and England you might be able to take Sweden, but you can't take both Sev and Bul back. I imagine you'll be taking Sev back, and it's lucky that Turkey's fleet in Bul can't cut support at Rum. Your moves were surprisingly efficient considering you supported Italy where he would have been bounced, moved unchallenged into a territory where that wasn't guaranteed and moved out of one and made Turkey's support superfluous.

Turkey - If Russia concentrates on Sev, you have the chance to secure a build if you support hold at Bul and move to Smy from Arm. No guarantee that she won't lend a helping hand to Italy if she expects you to cover Smy with Arm and not use Arm to protect Sev. It's a 50-50 game of chicken. Who's more likely to secure their home centre? If you are, then Russia can benefit from your move to Smy and take Sev back easier and support Italy into Bul. If Russia is, then you can capitalize on her safe concentration in Sev to cover Smy and secure a build for yourself.

Austria - Sorry mate, I don't see you surviving past this year. Unless... you make a crafty deal with Russia to get convoyed across to Ankara. This would save her the resources of taking back Sev, let her help in the destruction of Turkey with Italy, as well as set Turkey back a centre. However, this would really be a temporary sanctuary and you might consider pulling out of the game instead of screwing over Turkey.

Italy - Apparently you're OK with Vienna being taken, and you've patched things up with Russia. You'd probably help Russia keep Vienna if you think Germany will play aggressively, but you might be able to depend on him covering his home centres and not worry about that too much. You've got build chances in Turkey and France. You might consider using your leverage in Marseilles to get France to do your will (probably attack Germany), or you might take the one SC, but make an enemy. If you think you can trust Russia, then you might be able to afford to take the fight to France, but if you don't trust Russia then it might be better to use France to attack Germany and leave more units to protect your centres.

All in all, very interesting phase, with a lot of gambles all around as the map is quite a mess with many, many raiders. Sad to see France NMR. I hope that the players are still taking the time to read the commentary, and also the commentary Pete and I write about the other countries besides your own, because I don't always repeat myself but give what I believe to be the most relevant advice to each country, some of which contains some juicy information you might want to keep in mind.

[School of War IV]
Came home very drunk last night. Scribbled some nonsense to my ally. Thought I put my moves in but I mustn't have click update. Passed out. Work up this morning and the phase had just ended. :(
My apologies too all - again.
I have three games going at the moment - the other two going well. This one - every thing that can go wrong has gone wrong.