In regular press, i really have a soft spot for France. Really, it is generally very easy to defend against Germany in the beginning, and Italy is usually easy enough to defend against. Your only threat is England, but you can stab very quickly.
I HATE playing as Germany and Austria, i find that i made alliances with the corner countries, and then they come and attack me. And i try to use the Axis Alliance, but i have yet for that to work.

In gunboats, Turkey is my favorite. Your defense is strong, so you can generally just sit by and hopefully get in on the draw

I dislike England in gunboats quite a bit, like Vaft said, it's fairly boring. You're basically forced to play like Turkey, except without the benefits of being Turkey. If you open to the Channel, you probably don't get Norway; if you open to Nwg/Nth, you're at the mercy of a French move to the Channel. Then its sit back and hope Germany and France fight or Russia isn't going to juggernaut.

I love Italy in full and gunboat. I think it just fits my playing style nicely where I can let the game come to me if I choose, or I can be aggressive right off the bat and set the tone for my whole side of the board. I usually don't do well in a position of power in the early game, so starting as the underdog fits me.

Interesting comments from both of you. In regular press I have a love/hate relationship with Russia. In Gunboat games I hate it. I like England in gunboat but not as much in regular press. I like Austria in both games unless everyone goes for you at once.

I like France in gunboat but not as much in RP. Turkey is good in both games. It's one of my best countries, that and Germany. I love playing Germany in bith styles and I think I'm equally successful.

I find Italy a little boring as I generall find that I must wait for an opportunity instead of creating one. This is less true in GB games but still...

As England I think it's vital that you support Germany to Swe or Bel early. That usually sends him away from you. Then he usually sees you as an ally and can help with France. Help him a little further away from his centers, just enough to occupy France's wrath and then hit him. He can rarely retaliate. Then as you grow from German centers hit France and let Russia or Austria clean up the weakened German.Then you must start mass producing armies. Many people make the mistake of building too many ships. You need a mainland sc and then ground units to press on. Then England is strong and hard to deal with.

I'm not too fond of playing France or Turkey in gunboats, because they have such advantages. If I win, my sense of accomplishment is lessened. If I lose, I get too hard on myself. I like playing the statistically weaker countries because there's no rush like being the underdog and kicking ass, and if you lose, you can always blame the board :) It might sound stupid to people, but it certainly influences how I feel about games.

Except for England in gunboats. Every France I've played wants to kill me, and almost every German wants to help them. There's no room for expansion without conversation and compromise. No one likes English fleets with uncertain intentions hovering around. Gaining an ally usually means sacrificing way too much and ending up weak anyway. It's just an infuriating experience. Sure, I've played games where Germany is anti-French, and that makes England dominant. But I don't like other people controlling all my choices like that.

I can't play Russia in gunboats .........