France, Germany, and England are my three favorites, in that order. France because it has a virtual guarantee of two SCs in '01, Germany because it has a good shot at three SCs in '01, and England because it is so easy to defend if you focus your initial builds on fleets and dominate the northern waters.

I hate Austria as it has way to many potential enemies who have other good allies (Germany has England or France, Russia has Turkey and vice versa) and so many Italian's just love to try and munch on Italy expecting it to fall rather than realizing that a solid IA alliance is the only way either of them have a shot.

*Italians just love to try and munch on *Austria* expecting it to fall...

Italy is the worst for that very reason. You have to try something dumb to have a chance.

I like to play mother Russia. Granted, everyone fears you right off the bat, and so you have to worry about pretty much every potential alliance, but there's so many options for development that it's a hoot to pick and choose. I hate playing Austria because, although you might even have superior opportunities to develop to Russia, you are going to be at least one country's initial target. And that country is usually Turkey.

I love being Russia and hate being Italy.
The others depend on diplomatic circumstances, even Austria can have a decent chance if you meet a smart Italy.

@aslan - Have you tried, as Italy, working with Austria? He pushes on Turkey, Russia, or Germany while you push into France and watch each other's backs. It isn't "stupid" and it works fairly well if both remain loyal to each other.

Turkey is great. They are difficult to invade and have their back covered by the edge of the map. If they can maintain an alliance with Russia they can steamroll over Austria and Italy. Here are two examples:

http://webdiplomacy.net/board.php?gameID=29474
http://webdiplomacy.net/board.php?gameID=28435

I feel somewhat torn about Austria. I dislike it because there are too many potential enemies and often, as others have said, you get a shifty Italy looking to pounce and foolishly push IA into mutually assured destruction. However, playing Austria can also be quite enjoyable since it really requires careful diplomacy with at least 5 other players. Austria is difficult but at least it's rarely ever boring. I must be a masochist. Ironically (not the correct usage of this word), I've drawn Austria is 3 out of 5 recent games.

I dislike Russia. It's initial size and exposure are often a liability requiring a player to cover too much ground. I don't like the RT alliance. It can be powerful against novices, but long-term it favors Turkey and if it causes England and Germany to unite, things can really get bogged down for Russia.

I have the worst time with Russia, and like just about everything else.

I guess my playing style is to start out trying to be on good terms with my neighbors and I have ahard time doing that as Russia. I generally end up with Turkish armies in Moscow or English fleets in St. Pete (or both).

When I said "I've drawn Austria is 3 out of 5 recent games", I meant that I was randomly assigned to play Austria in 3 out of my 5 most recent games.

Does anyone strongly dislike any of the western trio (EFG)? I feel like the playing style of those three have a very different feel from the others. They all have a decent and relatively balanced initial position.

I really enjoy playing as turkey, probably because I was turkey in my first ever diplomacy game, (a FtF) but I also really love France and Germany, I absolutely hate England, and I am only partial to Russia

I dislike Germany. Not strongly, necessarily, but I do dislike them. If they get big too quickly, they invite an E/F/R. If they don't get big quickly, Russia comes in on them pretty hard pretty quickly. I think Germany's only chance is if there's an A/T to keep Russia occupied, and either UK or France allies with Germany initially and firmly.