S01: Woo! No NMR’s. I’m going to try and do a better job narrating my thoughts in this game. As France, I really don’t like Franco-Italian wars. I hope R/T ally so that Italy is forced to help Austria.

A01: Well, that army in ARM means that the chances of a juggernaut are… less than 100%. Still, I hope Italy doesn’t come after me. It will be interesting to see how the builds play out – that will probably determine my primary enemy. I’m moving to Munich – but I don’t really want a war with Germany. If I get there, I’ll probably let him have it back and retreat to Tyr.

Builds: Wow. I really don’t know how to play this. Germany will understandably be really pissed. I think I’ll build F Mars and two armies. Move into Tyr and get fleets to the Med. Austria is pretty screwed, it looks like, but without a Juggernaut, I look to become a powerful force over that way pretty quickly. I’d really like to get two fleets (Although I have a tendency to build too many fleets) but I don’t want to send the wrong message to England. Hopefully, my taking Munich will indicate to him I want to be friends. I am unsettled by the fact that he tried to convoy an army to Bel though.

S02: Nice build, England. :-) I’ve got Mun moving to Kiel, but I expect that move to fail and to be forced to retreat to Tyr. Which I have no problem with, ATM. I’ll probably have a disband, but that’s not the end of the world.

A02: Knowing I’m going to have a disband this year, I’m going to attempt to support a friendly English army to Belgium instead of having a hostile German one there. I think that’s how England will play it, but we’ll see. Maybe Russia will support me to Vie and I won’t have a disband at all.

Disbands: I have a feeling I’m making too many enemies here. It’s what I always do as France. I’m going to disband my Ruhr army, hoping that an also besieged Germany sees that as a piece offering, which it is.

S03: Well Germany’s A build doesn’t really signal that he’s over Mun, but it’s not too aggressive. I’ll move to Bur, but I hope he’s ready to let bygones be bygones. I’m encouraged that England built an army.

A03: Well this is exactly why I wanted the RT. Russia’s explosive growth alone is almost enough, but Italy just keeps growing and growing, which is *not* what I need if I’m going to make any gains here. I’m supporting a move to Tyrr, in hopes that he’ll have to retreat – I’m also moving to Tus, so that if he retreats, he’ll fill his only center to build in. I’m also supporting Germany to Mun, hoping he’ll see I want to put our past behind us.

S04: Well that fleet is expected, I suppose. I hope England doesn’t want to make an enemy in me. I can guarantee myself Tunis this year, and I’ll just bank on the hope that England wants to be friends.

A04: Well England can take Brest for free, but he can also force his way into Hol if he so desires. I hope he chooses the ladder. Even if he doesn’t though, I’ll have Tunis, so at least I won’t disband. And I’m glad to see that Turkey took Bulgaria, meaning Italy will have a disband beyond the fleet I forced him to disband.

S05: Sigh. Well it looks like I shouldn’t have trusted England. Such is life. I do control a significant portion of the stalemate, however, which is good news for me. It might not be a bad idea to just play for the draw, and ensure that I am crucial to the stalemate. I should be able to fairly easily wipe out Italy at this point. England will eventually take out Germany, and he shouldn’t be able to take more than Paris this year, as long as I bounce him in MAO. With Turkey’s builds of two fleets, I don’t think I have any option but to play for the stalemate.

A05: Well Germany makes things really interesting. Will he attempt to take Mars or Par? I’ll tap Bre for him so that Paris is guaranteed. Hopefully that will let me build in Mars. Russia’s stab on England looks like it will help things considerably as well. Especially for Germany.

Builds: YES! That worked exactly as I wanted it to. Finishing off Italy may be difficult, and especially so with Turkey coming in quickly. I hope he disbands Ion, but I *really* don’t see that happening. The only real problem now would be Austria trying to grab Venice from me. Turkey’s fleets also present a long term problem. I’d like to see Austria overcome him with armies, which is quite a possibility. Austria will need me far more for the stalemate.

S06: No surprises in the builds/disbands. I’m going to leave Venice open, I really hope Austria doesn’t decide he’s desperate for a build. But even if he does, it’s not the worst thing in the world: I’ll take Naples, and Austria can use that Army against Turkey.

A06: Well Germany is losing centers. Somewhat inevitable. And it really sucks that England outguessed Russia, but that’s exactly how I would have played it. Except I would have done it that way last Autumn, Russia. :-P Hopefully Germany will support me to Gas from Mars. I don’t know if he’ll think of that or not, but MAO’s support is likely to get cut.

Builds: Well that was the worst thing that could possibly happen. Why couldn’t you see I needed Mars open for a build Germany? Well Turkey’s fleets are coming, and they’re coming fast. I don’t think I’ll last very long unless he wants me to. I hope Austria and Russia can work together to stop him. And do we really need to let all 5 minutes tick down for builds England? F Lon. How bad can it be?

S07: I’m voting draw at this point. I really want this to be a three way between either Austria or Turkey, England and myself. But I will throw this game to England if I Turkey forces me to. Which I feel like he might do. Or at least I’ll throw it until I become necessary for the stalemate.

A07: Well this is interesting. I hope England doesn’t see the obvious self bounce in Mars. Or at least covers Paris. Or something. Because I need another fleet. Quickly. :-) Also, I can’t believe Austria would self bounce in Trieste, when I couldn’t use that build even if I took it. But I’m glad he’s making progress towards Turkey. And what’s up with Russia? I’ve been very unimpressed, tactically. Support the move to Ukr in the spring, then support to sev in the fall. It’s not hard.

Builds: Well that went exactly the way I wanted. And Austria got a build against Turkey. Well done Austria. And Russia, despite his own best efforts, finally took Ukraine. My chances are looking much better. I really don’t know if I should build an army or a fleet. An Army would help me support hold Gas, once I got it in Spain. But in order to get it to Spain, I have to risk losing Gas. I think an Army is more useful for the current stalemate, but building a fleet would be useful because I could fall back to the Pie/GoL/WM/Tun line. But I wouldn’t necessarily have the centers to hold the line at that point. And if Turkey gets into the Ion, I’m more or less dead. But Russia and Austria seem to have him under control.

S08: Doh. Just realized I don’t need Gas for the stalemate. WM can support hold Spain. Wish I had realized that prior to building my Army. At least Turkey disbanded East Med. I can help Austria get into Greece now too. I think we can get this down to a three way – Austria, Russia, and myself.

A08: Well this is looking great for me. Russia’s assistance in the north looks like it might help me push England back. I really wish I had built that fleet now. But I’m guaranteed to take either MAO or Gas this turn. Hopefully I can get a fleet from retaking Paris *crosses fingers*.

And sorry these are getting shorter, as the game goes on, I need more and more time to think about strategy. But then again, I’ve got an extra 30 seconds here, and nothing more to say…

Builds: Well this is actually looking like it might be (is it too soon to say?) a 3 way between Austria, Russia and myself. I don’t like my border with Austria though, I’m incredibly vulnerable. But he’d gain nothing from a stab on me at this point

S09: Well, it’s going to be hard to push England back. That unit in Bel will probably move to Bur. But that’s not the end of the world. I just will move to Pic or Bur so that he can’t get that unit down here. I’ll force him to choose between losing MAO or Paris. I’m still really nervous about my border with Austria. I’m going to get an army to Ven ASAP – if I can take MAO, it will be my NA army.

A09. Well that worked better than I possibly could have imagined. I got both MAO and am guaranteed Paris next year, and I’ll get my fleet. :-) My NA army can head over to Austria and I’s border now. And the timing will be right too, assuming he doesn’t build in Trieste in this upcoming season.

I’m removing my draw vote, because I want to eliminate Turkey and Germany at least before we do so. I hope Austria doesn’t see it as hostile and attack me. :-/ I wouldn’t do it unless all but one had already voted. We can get a better result out of this, and I don’t want to settle for a 6 way.

Builds: Austria ends up with two because of his forced disband. I hope it’s Buda and Vie, or things will be really uncomfortable for me. I’ll convoy Tun to Apu, and then move to Ven. But I really hope he doesn’t attack me right now. This is probably the most nervous I’ve been all game.

While I have the time, let me just say that this has been an incredibly good game. I’m very impressed with everyone in here. There have only been a couple moves I’ve thought were bad (the two Russian ones I mentioned) but that’s far fewer than you see in your average 40 point bet gunboat. Well done everyone.

S10: Thank GOD Austria didn’t build in Trieste. I’m so relieved. I hope I’m not too early to say this, but I’m starting to look to solo this. If Russia attacks Austria like it looks like he wants to, then no one will have the fleets to stop me. England is going down quickly, Russia might have a number of fleets in the north, but I can always match it pretty easily. It’s not anywhere close to certain at this point, but the best part is I still *look* like I’m in an incredibly weak position from England’s attack. The key will be for Russia to be held sufficiently in check by either England or Austria.

A10: Not much to say. My moves are pretty obvious here.

Builds: Thanks Russia. Now all you need to do for me is build a fleet in Sev that will be more or less useless. :-)

S11: Well I’m unhappy to see the fleet in St. Pete. I don’t know if that means Russia realizes I’m the solo threat now or if it means that he just wants more centers from England. Regardless, I’d bet money that Austria knows I’m looking to solo. And I think he’s The Czech too. Turkey and I are really in a position to help each other right now too.

A11: Sad to see the NMR, Austria. I no longer think you’re Czech. We’ll see how that effects on the landscape. I hope you come back. I don’t want to solo because you CDed. Of course it looks to help Russia far more than myself. So if anything, you’re going to hurt me…

Builds: Come ON, England! Let me outguess you at least once! And Turkey, you’re an idiot for attacking Russia, but thanks.

S12: Well I can’t believe Turkey is still attacking Russia. But I won’t complain. And Austria is back. But is apparently going to make us wait 10 minutes until he CD’s again. Fun times. I’m gonna go get some food.

S13: I’m thinking I may have to draw this soon. I can’t keep up both fronts like this forever without some serious gains. I’m moving Wal > Yor and Bre > Wal. If both of those work, I might be able to make enough gains to break this open. If not, I’m afraid I’ll have to draw.

A13: Well that didn’t work. But I’m guaranteed London. I’m not seeing where I’m going to make continued gains though, unless I can get a build this turn with something funky in the east.

S13: And, of course, I mess up my orders. But things aren’t so bad, actually. Except England will get a build. We might be able to eliminate Russia though. If we do that, I’ll draw. I can’t believe I forgot to order EC to Lon. Sigh. That may have just cost me the game. Well that, and Turkey’s about to take the Ion. Sigh. Time to vote draw. Good game guys.