good game...it was very funny and sorry austria!!!

gantz where are you from?

And mine is coming shortly as well.

Spring 1901 messages all sounded great- Italy sounded game for an alliance, and I got in my veiled threats to freak out if they didn’t follow through, Russia wanted a bounce in Galicia, and Turkey was friendly. England actually leaked me information… the whole “let’s share information” thing often fizzles, but even that was off to a great start. I knew BESM was Germany right away just cuz he is so darn annoying (no offense?), so I wasn’t stoked about that, but besides that everything was solid. In fall, though, Russia stabbed into Galicia, which was annoying but manageable. I didn’t understand why Turkey was so trusting of Russia, which was a little scary, but at the same time, they were leaving themselves so wide open it seemed like a stab by Russia was only a matter of time. In fact, I started talking to Russia about it right away and it sounded good.
More interesting was the north. Germany was literally freaking out and I felt that at least England was lying to me and probably France, so I am curious about that. England said the bounce in Denmark was on purpose, but I was pretty confident it was not. Such things happened a few other times in the game.
So Russia “stabbed” me again in Spring 1902, but I wasn’t an idiot so it obviously didn’t work. The moves were almost insulting as it was very easy to cover. Italy made a beautiful convoy to Smyrna, the diplomacy nerd in me loved it. I always love djbent when I play with her, and it happened yet again. Russia finally flipped in fall and all was good again.
Except this was when I first started worrying about a F/I/R three way, so I sent out the messages to England and Germany. It was the best way I could think of of trying to bail out Germany and was a legitimate concern. I also needed to get Italy thinking about moving west or else I was in trouble once France was gone. Italy never really moved west which is what I think ultimately screwed us both. I can’t decide if the problem was that Germany basically quit in 1901 and just wasn’t trying or if it was because England and France were fairly inflexible (not necessarily in a bad way… it worked out!). Probably a combination of both.
Anyway, spring went well, and it became time to talk about post-Turkey diplomacy. I offered both Russia and Italy all of Turkey proper with me getting all of the Balkans, which is the classic split I think, and I meant it. Russia and I had fully agreed on moves, including me supporting Black Sea to Constantinople (which I ordered) and me taking Rumania with him disbanding Rumania so he could rebuild a much needed fleet in the north. Unfortunately, both Russia and Italy stabbed me (I obviously stabbed Italy too so no hard feelings there). This was the third time Russia stabbed me and his excuse was something weird about not being on to change it when we had clearly sent like 4 or 5 messages back and forth, but whatever. The big game changer was that Russia didn’t get a northern build, so they had become a south only power, which was really really bad for me. I went back to Italy and talked about how I now saw the game shaping up E/F/R since Russia was (in my opinion clearly) now playing for a draw and E/F seemed strong. The turning point was that I promised to build in Vienna if Italy promised to build a new fleet, and I followed through and she didn’t and that was basically it for our relations. We talked a little about possible moves, but she didn’t want to do strong moves, she wanted to do ones where I made concessions and I could get screwed over easily. It was clear she was coming for me. The good news is that I had been talking to France as a fall back and that was promising. I helped them out a little against Germany and they came down to pressure Italy (they did try to rook me once by selling an arranged bounce in Piedmont as a stab…. Come on now). Russia also was telling me that he would work with me, but it seemed unlikely just because he had stabbed me three times by then. And in spring, he didn’t work with me. But my position was actually pretty good and France followed through, so not all was lost. And Russia was telling me he would work with me again, so who knows, right?
That turn worked out perfectly and Italy was done. At this point it was all about end game. Basically France/England against Austria/Russia. I thought taking our England was clearly the most stable thing to do, but France didn’t want to do it. Not sure why, but basically a boiling point was reaced and Russia stabbed me. Again.
So I figured, what the hell, I will try to go for the whole why take someone out for no reason? Russia had stabbed me over and over so I think they had enough guilt that they were game. But France and England just wouldn’t go for it, so Russia eventually came after me again. I suggested me slipping to Ankara and us basically forcing the 3 way, as there is no way England and France would have played to try to take me out of there, but Russia didn’t go for it and I was knocked out.
Good game all!

Sorry this is so long!

Also, my chat was 62 pages when I copy pasted it into microsoft word. that is crazy.

over 900 messages!

England's EOG.

1901 started off great--I really felt like I had good relations all around the board, but it was really just a matter of time until some part of the western triple fell apart. If I remember correctly, France wanted to move against Germany early, and I was up for it. We DMZed the channel and really our trust lasted the whole game. Great friendship.

The bounce in Denmark in the fall of 01 really was on purpose. At that point, I felt I knew what every one of the three of us were going to do, and I figured that would be the most crushing to Germany. I was right. Russia's build in St Pete did not sit well with me, though.

Russia's moves in 1902 had me not very happy. If I remember correctly we were able to work things out, though, the following year. And France's move into the channel in 02 was planned. That was a fun/nerve-wrecking part of our friendship. Made for lots of chat, that's for sure. Until the fall I was beginning to think that maybe Turkey and Russia were masking a friendship, but that didn't seem to materialize. Really, most of the game I was confused by Russia.

in 03 Russia and I arranged a swap in the spring and I stole Norway in the fall. I still had France sitting in the channel and now he had an F brest build and an A paris build. This was definitely my most vulnerable moment for the stab.

We finally began to break ground on Germany. Russia's moves in the north in 04 really killed any shot I may have had at a solo. Not only did he sneak into sweden, but he opened up st pete for a build on the south coast. It was risky of him, but, at least in the north, this was his move of the game. I thought I'd support hold just to be safe thinking that surely he wouldn't abandon st pete just in case I decide to move norway. Good move by him.

Over the next few years France and I finally finished off Germany. Austria begged and pleaded that I turn on France but I just wasn't willing. We had trust and it would've tipped the board to much in my opinion. Things with Russia kept flip flopping. One year we'd be friendly and set boundaries and then it seemed like it would get hostile again. Finally we did work something out.

Eventually France, adhering to a long-ago pledged plan, gave up holland to me. Russia did the same with Norway. Prior to both of them giving them up I moved to make sure they actually would. I was content gaining an sc a year.

I did feel bad for Austria, he just seemed caught between. I knew, once France had moved his fleets to the south he really had no good opportunities to stab me. Russia didn't either. I felt safe and could just wait for one of them to wipe out austria while I weighed the board making sure nobody had any solo chances.

Honestly I was hoping, right to the end, that France would build again in the south and I could grab brest and belgium quickly and see what would happen. I had a good stalemate line at st pete and it could've gotten interesting. His build nullified that thought.

I also considered offering russia a 2-way, in hopes of eventually getting the solo, but I just didn't see how I could get 18.

Fun game. Lots of chat. Good game everyone.

Good game to everyone. I don't do end of game statements since I don't see much value and hard to remember what happened when. I know when I've been outplayed and congradulate the winners. Just to clarify, I was never freaked out. I simply knew what was coming. Nice game. Probalby see you again.

I don't think you gave up tactically. But it did seem to me like you gave up diplomatically. It became "How long can I last?" instead of "how can i last?" if that makes sense.

Well, I will not do a really long EOG as I don´t have the time and the game was so long and with so much messages and negotiations that this will be really long and painfull.

First I want to apologise with Austria for the "I don´t know how many" times I stabbed him, that could set a new record maybe.
At the start I like the negotiations with Turkey and Germany and Turkey allowing me to enter Bls (we have agreed a bounce then he change his mind and tell me I can move there) make me go for a Jugg, but I try to keep it undercover (having Bls helped me a lot on this).
Then in 1902 it become clear that it will be A/I against R/T and we will be stuck for a long while. On the other side E/F are going to steamroll Germany and England position make me feel I can´t afford a long war against Austria, so I try to make amends and stabbed Turkey.
Then things started to happen really well, with a solid north position and gains in the south.
Then Turkey is done and our eastern tripple seems hard to keep. At this point i choose Italy as my ally, as she have the best shot to build a stalemate line against E/F, but when it seems that we are going to take Austria down two things happened: France helped Austria and Italy start to comunicate really poorly (in the end she NMRed twice I think).
At least in the north things are still under control and I was helping Germany to stay alive a little longer.)
Then I did my big mistake in the game, I agree with some moves with Austria but forget to change my moves accordingly (Ausy tria, I swear I forgot, there was no sense on my actual moves as I know what you will do, and I lost a build). This lead to diplomati problems (Austria was really pissed with me) and tactical problems (I miss a build and lost my chance to get the upper hand against England.
cid
From this point this went down hill. Me and and Austria were unable to set a stalmate line against E/F and this is just a matter of time until they will start to take our centers. On the other hand, Austria start to become a little demanding and I fear his good relation with France, so I decide to make the move first and head for a 3-way after a long and painfull negotiation with England. I was also worried that
Austria could try to throw the game to France, so agreed to let England have Nwy. But France and England moves also his messages start to seem really directed to a 2-way, so I ask for forgiveness from Austria once again and try to head for a 4-way.
But E/F were inflexible about that, and both told me they will keep pushing until we kill Austria, so I decide to agree with that, while I was still a 10 center power that can affect the game outcome.

All in all a great game, but I am not realy proud about the way I played it.

bartdogg42 i'm from Spain. And you? where are you from?

I usually don't write EOG, because sometimes (like this case) i have around 10 games at the same time, so it will take a long time doing so!!! :P

In any case i really enjoyed this game. My alliance with England was perfect; but i have to recognize that i was tempted to go fot the solo...fortunately i didn't do that. Austria, when i offered you the 3 way draw, i really meant that, but when you refused to help me...well, in that i decide that i wanted you out, sorry for the revenge!!!

England and me were tempted also for going for the 2 way draw, you know russia, you supported us, then supported austria...but finally we didn't, so we ended with the 3 way.

Nice game!! and for sure i will see you in other games :)

and sorry for backstabbing you Italy!! that wasn't nice :(

i don't have much to say, just that i'm sorry to everyone for NMRing. real life decided to kick my butt this past month. not sure when i'll be back to play again, but would love to enjoy more games with all of yall.