S01: France. Woot. My EOG will probably be a bit short, since I’m playing Quest for Glory 5 in the background at the same time. I’m going to try opening aggressively to the EC. It’s not how I normally play Gunboats (aggressively) or France (Anti-england) but what’s diplomacy without some fun?

A01: Interesting opening from Germany. And Russia, for that matter. Is War/Ukr just supposed to confuse us? Because there’s no difference between that and Mos > Ukr. Hope England bounces Germany out of Denmark, or that Germany sees my opening as friendly and doesn’t move to Bur. Or both. :-) I’m almost guaranteed Belgium though. Hope England moves to London, so that he can’t build there.

Builds: Interesting in the east. Very interesting. Can’t believe Italy is attacking Austria with the juggernaut forming. And not even taking Tunis. But Austria is behind enemy lines. That should make things interesting. I really hope Germany signals peace, especially with the very northern opening for England. Hope England builds in Edi. Would like to see one fleet, one army from Germany. Don’t want him getting too many fleets though. F Bre A Par for me. Want to move Eng > Irish and Bre > Eng if I can.

S02: Like the build from Italy. It’s helpful he’s so anti-Austrian. Hope Germany doesn’t bounce me out of Bur here. I don’t think he will. Like the Russian build as well. F St. Pete: Nice. Interesting build from Turkey – wonder how he’s going to get out of his area with only one fleet. Maybe he’s counting on Russian or Italian help.

A02: Convoy Bel to Wales and support Germany into Bel. Hopefully he sees that. I really hope England doesn’t get a build here, but it looks like he might. I’ll need to get a build quickly to hold off Germany if he wants to attack. It looks like he might.

Builds: Well, as expected. England gets a builds, but it’s not a disaster. I’m guaranteed either London or Lvp next turn, depending on how England builds. Perhaps both. :-) I really hope Germany doesn’t attack though. I can hold him off, at least for now. But I really would rather work with him, not against him. And it looks like Germany managed to get out of his niche after all. And Austria took Moscow, which makes things very interesting. Glad to see the east in chaos, and a strong Turkey that will keep Italy occupied.

S03: Hoping to get Lvp and London by moving Wal > Lvp and Eng > Lon, hoping that London will tap Wales. Doubt it will work, but it would be fantastic if I did. Por needs to get to Mars to protect against Germany, and Bur will hopefully bounce him in Pic. I don’t understand why he’s so incessantly hostile to me. Or maybe he won’t be after I gave him Bel. Like Turkey’s build of a fleet in Ank. More chaos in the east.

A03: Sigh, Germany. Expect a move to Gas from Bur, but can’t take the risk. Hopefully he’ll go for Paris or Mars for some reason. Actually, maybe I can take the risk. Hard guess here. Course, if he takes Gas, Mars is lost anyway. And hopefully I’ll get two builds in England, with a supported move from Lon to Wales. Not sure how that will work. Good luck me though – I’ll need it.

Builds: YES! A perfect turn for me. England is crippled, and I’ll get two builds to fight off Germany. Wow, that was lucky. I think two armies is probably the way to go, but I wonder if I can’t get away with a fleet in Mars. I’ll need more fleets soon…

S04: Well, my gains in England are precarious at best. But my mainland is easily defended at this point, Germany won’t get anywhere. Hopefully he’ll signal peace and move back. That will let me get my fleet out to England. At least I’ll delay a year until England loses Scandinavia, hopefully to Russia.

A04: Well, expect to lose London. Hope England loses two so he still has a disband. Can’t afford to lose anything on my mainland, so I’ll disband Irish when it comes.

S05: Not much to say here. Hold the line… Surprised Italy still hasn’t taken Tunis. He’ll likely come my way when he does. Not looking forward to that. :-/ Hope Turkey grows strong and stops him from doing that.

A05: Well, going to try to retake Burgundy so I can actually get somewhere with this. Christ Germany is being difficult. Why won’t he retreat? The fact that Austria is still in this is making me laugh up a storm though.

Builds: Christ, this is difficult. England keeps outguessing Germany, meaning he stays alive. I’m not impressed with Germany’s play at all. He should have used Pic to cover Bel there, not screw around in my territory. And Italy will likely turn on me this year with his two builds. Sigh.

S06: Moving NAO > Mao because of Italys incoming attack. This is just no fun at all… Although Italy’s tactics have been quite good this game. Surprising, given his attack on Austria. He has Austria’s play against Russia to thank for his success. Moving Lvp > Wales, in the hopes that I can get London. But my guess is I’ll have to disband that army and give up on my English campaign. Thanks Germany. I’m glad you wasted both of our time with your campaign to take Bur and Pic. That was really effective. We could be dominating this game if you would have picked up on my support holds in S02 and A02. Putting up draw vote to signal some kind of an alliance against Italy. I really don’t want a 7 way draw though… Hope Germany finally gets some kind of signal and supports me to London. England will be a power again (somehow) if he doesn’t. Although I don’t expect it – Germany’s play has been abysmal.

A06: Will be trying to stop Italy here. Maybe E/G will pick up on that and help. Would welcome an English fleet in MAO. England seems to be competent. I wish I hadn’t attacked him early, and instead gone after Germany, who seems to be a complete imbecile.

S07: Nope. F Kiel. Sigh. Germany – Italy is going to solo this if you attack me. That’s a guarantee. I swear to God, if you don’t help me set up the stalemate… If you want to eliminate England, at least make sure that I can hold the line without his fleet. Because that won’t be the case for long. Still astonished no one else is voting draw. Not even Austria…….

A07: Disbanding my burgundy army so that I can build F Bre to hold MAO (hopefully). Germany better help me out here. But I will absolutely throw this game to France should he make one more hostile move to me. What an idiot. I hope you know what WTA is.

S08: Well, congratulations, Germany. You just earned one, “I’m throwing this game to Italy”. Enjoy the victory, Italy. I hope you’re happy with your “strong second” PPSC play Germany. What a waste of my time. You have no clue how to play this game, do you?

A08: NOW you vote draw? NOW?!?! Italy’s already won this game – he can take 18 on the other side, now that he has Mars. I’ll have three centers after this year, and three fleets. And I’ll do everything I can to make sure he solos this.

Builds: Italian NMR. Interesting. Wonder if the 500 error messed him up. I got one. At any rate, he should still solo pretty easily. I’ll get at least Liverpool this year. May only have one unit left at the end though.

Builds, 09: Aww, Wish you had self bounced in Spain Italy. Would have kept all my fleets then. Still, two is good. Will keep Clyde and help England hold off Germany while Italy solos.

S10: If Germany is smart, we might be able to get a draw out of this. But he hasn’t been smart all game, so why start now?

A10: Nope, not smart. It’s ok though, because Italy didn’t mess up.

---------

Well done, Germany. Way to ruin a great game.