i don't see how russia is in such bad shape as you all make it out to be. i mean, with austria in rum sweden is basically guaranteed, and failing to move to serbia in s01 will cost austria more than russia i think - especially because italy turned on france, which means turkey will have an even bigger incentive to get armies into the balkans early (maybe even this fall!) and attack austria.

Well, England gets a relaxed opening.

IMO Austria has no reason not to all-in on cooperation with Turkey this turn, as it's the best play whether or not Turkey cooperates. Russia has no reason not to all-in on Rum, as it's the best play whether or not Turkey cooperates. Anything else requires some pretty specific mind-reading not to fail miserably.

So Turkey gets to choose how the turn goes--who gets Rum, whether to deny Greece. He could deny builds to both of them...and honestly, who's going to punish him for it? Or he could pursue an alliance wholeheartedly. I wonder who's playing Turkey.

where is the list of players? we should try to guess who is playing what power :)

shouldn't Russia use both units to defend Black Sea and Sev? Turkey is gonna attack Sev anyway, so Russia won't be able to take Rum.

Kasimax, are you suggesting Austria give up Romania to take Serbia? Because that's bonkers

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@pat, so what's you're suggestion? a turkey with two builds, an angry russian and an italian focused on france? doesn't sound too good for austria either.

Turkey can't get two builds, russian might be pissed enough with Turkey opening. Austria should keep Rum and later see

kasimax,
Actually, the only way for Turkey to get Serbia, is allowing Austria in Greece, so maybe I don't understand if you'r talking about current tactics, or hipotetic ones for spring 01

Turkey and Russia need to make peace.

Kasimax, as Principians said, Turkey is only getting one build, and if he takes Serbia, Bulgaria is open. I think Austria should try to keep Romania. If Russia knocks him out, he can retreat to Serbia or Bulgaria depending on Turkey's move. I'll be interested to see what happens with Greece.

I also have no idea what Italy is doing with the move to Piedmont, but everything else looking like a Lepanto

"shouldn't Russia use both units to defend Black Sea and Sev? Turkey is gonna attack Sev anyway, so Russia won't be able to take Rum."

Hm, fair point. If Turkey doesn't cooperate, Russia can hold BLA and Sev...unless Austria supports Arm-Sev. Then Russia has to either support hold Sev, or tap Rum from Ukr--and in the latter case, he should be supporting Rum-Ukr from Sev, just in case Turkey starts working with him.

On the other hand, should Austria support Arm-Sev in the first place? I'm having second thoughts, because it's pretty awkward if Austria gets bounced in Greece *and* Turkey gets two builds.

if I'm Austria I go for Greece and support hold Bulgaria to try to show friendship, but I'm not getting Turkey into Sevastopol this turn

If I'm Turkey I'm bouncing Austria out of Greece. It's a no brainer. Austria already committed to the anti-Russia move. This keeps Austria out of Greece through 1902 and gives Turkey a great shot at it, and Italy almost certainly piles on to Austria in that case. Especially because Germany probably bounces Russia out of Sweden here as going to Finland makes it so there is basically no cost to doing so.

Oh, how exciting.

Turkey just dug its own grave, and England is a noob.

Bets on builds?

France: A Par, F Bre
England: F Edi
Germany: ... Waive? (But that is crazy. A Ber? F Ber?)
Italy: A Ven, F Rom
Austria: A Bud, A Vie
Turkey: F Con
Russia: A Mos

Maybe. :-) Some dicey choices there - particularly Germany, who chose to waste a guaranteed Holland and a build F Kie by signalling friendly to France. With the Italian in Marseilles ... I think that was a bad mistake.

France: A Par, F Bre
England: F Edi (He would build F Lon if smart, but this England is stupid.)
Germany: A Mun
Italy: A Rom, F Nap
Austria: A Vie, F Tri
Turkey: A Smy (Austro-Turkish juggernaut?)
Russia: A Mos

Astria should be happy. Maybe Turkey thought "there's no Lepanto, maybe if I allow Greece, he'll support in Sev.
But truth is that Austria has the strongest postion of the table

I/A for the win. Even if they don't win, they just made this game hilarious.

England: F Lon (France has to deal with Italy now, leaving him weak up north. Capitolize on it)
France: A Par (seems to be the only option)
Germany: F Ber
Italy: F Nap, A Ven ?!? (awesome 2 build turn.)
Austria: A Tri, A Bud
Turkey: F Con for utility.
Russia: A Mos

Teacon, France has 2 builds.

Worst move of the game so far? I vote Germany supporting France in Belgium instead of himself into Holland. Best move was Austria to Romania. Funniest move, Italy into Marseilles no problem.

These are the builds I believe should happen:
England: F Lon
France: F Brest, A Paris
Germany: F Berlin (What's Russia going to do about it)
Austria: A Trieste, A Budapest
Italy: F Rome, F Naples
Turkey: F Con
Russia: A Moscow

well, maybe Germany will support himself in Holland next year, with no further consequences. Not only that, I think Germany is basically saying France: 'let's be allies, you fight Italy, I face England'. I France agrees, Germany got a friend.

There are two other mover that I'd postulate, which could be very worse (is 'very worse' correct english?).

1. England moving his army to York instead of Edinburgh in S01, which didn't allow him to convoy to Norway in the fall (if he would not go fully vs. Russia), with the result that England's position is the mess that probably Leon dislikes so much.

2. Turkey suppporting Austria into Greece. This move could give Austria an advantage that Turkey could greatly regret in the future.

Note that 1 is tactical, and 2 is strategical.

I actually like the support into Belgium from Germany for the reason principians put forward. Bit of a gamble, but if the German gets the center and an ally, good move I think.

i still don't like it. france has to face italy anyway, especially with two italian builds, so germany more or less wasted a move, and, more importantly, a build.

But if England had bounced Belgium instead (which Germany probably asumed), France going south could be to open to England. A stronger France, could also ensure that Italy can't turn North soon.

Still, I would not have supported, since the british opening was oriented to Russia (or was a bad opening), but I think it's not soo bad, especially, if Germany had guessed right.

German moves are godawful. The point of them is to try to get Russia and France on board for attacking England, but *both France and Russia are getting attacked.* Use your brain.

And like I said before, Turkey should have bounced Austria out of Greece. Now Austria is the dominant power in the east instead of Turkey, and for no reason.

I'm not sure the point of supporting France was that France would attack England, but to ensure France fights Italy for a while. And Russia could sitll fight England, he'd need to make smart moves, but with a bit of luck he could get Norway and defend the South at the same time.

^Also, Germany had no way to know that Russia would be under so an intense fight on the South