yeah this is the first legitimate gunboat Russia I could find of myself, with no NMRs or anything, against reasonably competent players.
http://webdiplomacy.net/board.php?
gameID=172667It was over a year ago, when I had a weird philosophy about playing as Russia. IT was to completely forgo the north to and focus south. It worked pretty well.
My fatal mistake happened in Autumn of 1909, when Italy took Venice because I misordered and accidentally cut my own support into Venice. Not only did I lose Venice, I lost my ticket into the med as well because Apulia was dislodged and disbanded. RIP me.
The philosophy works more times than not, I find. Here's why:
If you give England StP, they will want some centers in the near future. If Moscow is occupied, and you're doing relatively well in the south (which you should if you just gave up StP. They will likely go for Germany next simply because it's easier than having to get an army into Livonia, and the play the guessing game with Moscow.