This is a batrep from my perspective as Russia. Instead of writing a book, I'll try to chunk my thoughts into several posts.
The Opening:
In the initial press I got from Austria and Turkey, mutual bounces were asked for in Galicia and the Black Sea. It would be a hard sell to say no, so I agreed. It also meant that half of my forces would still be at the starting gate for the opening. So I had to pursue a more conservative approach. I remember at the time that someone in the forum here said the openings were traditional and boring, and I agreed. But I had no real opportunity for something splashy in the opening.
In the North:
I had asked Germany not to bounce me in Sweden, and to his credit he never agreed not to. But in either case, he did, limiting me to one build. But the bounce and his stab at France meant a hostile 6 SC Germany in Spring of 02. I thought I could persuade England to at least help me fend him off, but it turned out that he was in cahoots with Germany, too! I was in trouble.
In the South:
Turkey tried a quick stab at me right away, trying to bounce me out of Rum as well as taking the Black Sea to keep me honest. Scuttlebutt was that Italy was lining up for a Lepanto, and Austria had a large presence as well. This made Turkey see that he definitely had bigger issues than me to worry about, especially since my attention was divided. So in this case, having E/G at my door helped Turkey decide to not make me a target. The problem still was a strong Austria with a solid Italian alliance. A/I is never good for Turkey or Russia. And with France occupied with a brutal stab by Germany, he was unable to put any immediate pressure on Italy. So even if I don't get stabbed by Turkey, my south would be eaten by Austria eventually. And with my divided attention, I needed a miracle to survive.
My Miracle:
One of my more favorite press tools is the Chainsaw. So I dusted the ol' girl off and fired her up on Germany and England. The whole time, I had been getting these pleasant messages as half-to-no-truths, and they were shining me on. I decided to call their alliance out in the open and accuse them of outright plotting against me. I sternly told them that I would sooner see Turkey walk into what remains of my centers while I fight them both tooth and nail to see that neither would gain from their war against me. I also told them that Turkey would be made aware of this arrangement for him to use at his discretion, which I did. Germany said he would trade his uncontested Sweden for peace on my border. I agreed, but was certain it was another lie (I was right, as he moved Pru, Sil, and Bal). England, on the other hand, had a change of heart. He told me that he indeed had been scheming with Germany the whole time. But he found my honest press intriguing, never mind more voluminous than Germany's. He agreed to switch sides and devastate Germany with a brilliant stab. And it worked. I distracted Germany with increasingly threatening press while England and France reduced him back down to his starting centers. Sure, England was huge now, but the immediate threat to my border was gone. Plus, England with a devastating stab and sizable SC lead meant that everyone else was not planning on working with him. This put me in a great position to work as his solid ally in a truly unconventional E/R.
More to come...
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I'm married!
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