you should have had this written up ahead of time so you didn't get ninja'ed like this

:p

So thanks to all who participated, and despite our early draw one of the things I'd like to talk about is how I predict the rest of the game would have played out.

So when the game started I got a message from SD in Austria offering to destroy Turkey. This is not a normal action for Russia but I was bored with juggernauts and decided to give it a try. I thus formulated the plan: it would appear on the first turn that I was moving against Austria. I got SD to trust that a move to Galicia was not an attack on him. The lesson here I think is that oftentimes it is best to conceal your true intentions until at least the second turn.

When the next turn did come it became clear what was going on. When Turkey is attacked by Russia and Austria, his only hope is Italy, and though I'm not sure I think it was the fact that SD was skittish about Italy being behind him that caused him to be swayed by Turkey to stab me. From this point forward I was playing defense, but I think there are valuable lessons to be taught in playing defense too. After all, most of us lose or are losing more than half the time.

The first important thing to do when you have been stabbed is to let go of whatever grudges, alliances, or otherwise pre-conceptions you may have had before the stab. Drop all of that and look tactically at the board. See what you can see, and weigh your options. Unfortunately due to oversight on my part I actually missed the next phase, so the damage was even worse, and I lost Sweden because Germany figured it would be better to ingratiate himself to England than to me. Understandable.

What to do when you miss a phase is the same as what to do when you get stabbed: forget whatever your original plans were - re-assess. At this point, in Autumn 1904, that's what I was doing. Thankfully I knew I could defend Saint Petersburg with Finland alone, and did so. Conversely I knew that Sevastapol was impossible to hold. When something cannot be held, often it is best just to abandon it and attempt to gain a more favorable position. I took the opportunity to move to Livonia and Prussia. The move to Prussia in hindsight was ill-advised but the purpose was that I was hoping to essentially bluff and threaten Germany, hopefully scaring him into backing me again. I had little else to do, and not much to lose, so in some sense it wasn't a terrible idea.

Since I had left Warsaw, I retreated to Ukraine so as to cover Moscow and Warsaw with just the one unit.

However after some diplomacy with Germany I moved off, using Livonia and Ukraine to get myself into Moscow over Turkey's attack. From there my moves were more or less set in stone - I used Warsaw and Moscow to defend Ukraine and continued to defend StP, though I would have lost it the next turn if we had continued.

Ultimately I was screwed. The original decision to attack Turkey wasn't necessarily a bad one - my mistake was in not being assured Italy would move West immediately. I think that if he had assured me of that, the attack on Turkey would have made sense. In the absence of that, it was not smart. Juggernauts may be boring, but they are far more secure.

Further, the existence of the Western Triple was something I could not have predicted - Russia is unlikely to benefit from a western triple. It meant that England had nothing to do but come down on me hard, so I obviously lost Sweden. One of the most challenging things to do as Russia is to move either north or south without losing your SC (either Sweden or Rumania) on the side you have left. In this case I went south, so I duly lost Sweden.

The best I could have done was attempt to break up the western triple, and I confess that I did, but clearly not well enough.

My predictions for the game are that I would have been eliminated within about three turns, around which time Turkey would have stabbed Austria to great effect. Italy may have hung on, or been killed, depending on logistics. The fate of the western triple is less clear but my guess is that England would have stabbed Germany with France's tacit support. At that point it would be France, England, Turkey, and a rump Austria and possibly Germany or Italy. The final draw I believe would have been a four way between France England, Turkey and most likely Austria, but if not him one of the others who managed to hang on.

It was a good game everyone, you all played really well especially the new players. Clearly you don't need much help!

i will perpare up an EOG right now

I draw Germany. I HATE getting Germany. I would rather get Austria then Germany, at least with Austria your death is quick instead of it dragging on and on.

1901

The first thing I noticed was that the three newest players (me, Dominator (England), and H.H (France)) were all in the west, with the more experienced players in the east. Thinking it would be fun to see what we could do together, I propose a Western Triple to France and England. France asks what the Western Triple is and England suggests we attack France together. After hearing it explained, France agrees to the Triple, and I get England on board. I am all set for this alliance to dominate.
For my Eastern communications, Austria and I made sure we wouldn’t go after each other. I started talking to Turkey, as Turkey in the south chipping away at the others is best for the Western Triple, and he agrees that the Western Triple might not be a bad idea. I also had communications with the Russian, where we agreed to an NAP. I also tell him that England is going anti-France (is WAS true when I said it :P) and suggest he go for Norway.

Moves going normally, France keeping the DMZ we had in Burgundy. Turkey got the Black Sea as well, which seemed good for us.

In the fall, I go around with press again.

England suggests I support him into Sweden, which I agree to if everything goes as planned. The attack is set for 1902.
France’s press this phase assured my fall, though. He insists that I help him with taking on Italy, and demands that I move Mun-Tyr next spring. We had a lot of discussion/debating going on (the main thing being that if I have to order Ruhr back to Munich or just build in Munich, I didn’t see a difference myself… but France insisted I move back to Munich. I won the debate, however :).) France’s request this phase probably lost me the game.
In order to try to get on good terms with Turkey, I suggest a support hold in Bulgaria, since the moves seemed to lead to a Bulgarian Gambit. Nothing else in the way of press

Moves come in, and things are going somewhat as planned. I was right in saying the Bulgarian Gambit was going to happen in the south. That move caused Turkey to scream PEPPERMINT ALIANCE! And urged everyone to help him. Italy sees our WT coming (DARN IT!) but everything else goes well.

1902
England and I plan a Norway shift, which would end up with him in the Barrents Sea and Norway, assuring St. Petersburg.
Turkey runs up to me and begs us to beat up Russia, which we were planning anyways. With builds, Russia’s north was completely open, and he also suggests the Norway shift.
In global, I try to (pathetically) hide the WT from the rest of Europe, since the sharp-eyed Draugnar (Italy) found it after the 1901 moves, who tattled?

The moves are really bad. I make the boldest move of the game by ordering Munich-Tyrolia, as demanded by France. England apparently didn’t pay attention to my press (though he did reply) and moved to Sweden, which bounced. Worse. France supports himself into the DMZ Burgundy. For good news, the Peppermint is ended when Austria tries to go for Italy and Russia.

In the fall, Austria supports me into Venice (stupid of me to accept it, but I did). And England and I finally get something against Russia and England gets Sweden.

1903

I plan to go south, only to be stopped by the Austrian moving north into Bohemia. Italy also dislodges Venice. Uh oh. Even worse, Russia moves completely Anti-German, and tells me he is going to make sure I get nothing. Feeling left out and weak already, I agree to stab my other members, aka England.

When the game ended, I move north against England with Austria moving on me. If I had to guess, I would say a draw between Turkey, Austria, France, and England was most likely

Nice game name Thucy.

But you don't know shit about noobz. They eat people down there.

1901

I started off terribly, without securing an alliance with anyone. Austria and Russia had decided to kill me quickly (unbeknownst to me) and Italy was not hearing anything I said about an alliance. Russia began with talk of a Juggernaut (Russia-Turkey) alliance, but I was skeptical to begin with and moved Black Sea instead of leaving it as a dmz. That was a mistake that probably saved me in the long run, as I was completely swallowing Russia’s offer up until that point. During the Autumn I got a message from Germany warning me to support Bulgaria. I had a unit handy in the Black Sea do I put the order in. That was the second lucky break that I got (thanks again, Germany) which ultimately let me survive the first two years.

1902
Now I know that I’m in trouble. I began the game by counseling France to be friends with either Germany or Italy but not both. At this point I began agitating for a war between France and Italy. I also began trying to turn Austria against Russia (which worked, much to my surprise). All against a backdrop of crying like a schoolgirl in global chat even though I knew this debaucle was my own fault. Russia missing two turns was the next lucky break that I got. Now Italy was busy with France; Austria was tentatively showing signs that he’d be willing to help me. All I needed was my fifth unit and I could safely turtle if necessary (once Turkey gets that fifth unit it becomes much harder to invade).
By Autumn we had a different game altogether. Austria helped me into Rumania and I was poised to take Sevastopol. Now I had only one enemy, Russia. Always have only one enemy at a time. Now that this was accomplished, the game became one of turning as many people as possible against Russia.

1903
I moved into Sev. but wavered on whether or not to stay there. I could join with Russia, Austria, and Italy to stand against the western triple; rather than decimating Russia and continuing my alliance with Austria alone. I was having trouble getting England to make a decisive move against Russia and Germany was a little slower than I’d have liked too. This wasn’t all bad though as I’d probably be able to get Moscow in the long run. I decided to keep Sevastopol, which cost me momentarily with Austria (the bounce in the Ionian). Italy was still too embroiled in his war with France though, so I wasn’t too worried about a naval assault. Austria only had one fleet and Italy couldn’t afford to send any my way.
Also this move I started suggesting technical moves to France on how to invade Austria. I suggested moving into North Africa as a way to take Tunis, but I’m not sure if his move was a result of my suggestion or not. Italy hadn’t been any warmer than neutral toward me so it was better to keep pressure on him as long as France was listening. It wasn’t as if I was giving France bad advice or anything. Having a sixth unit at the end of the year gave me security to the point that I could see surviving until the later stages of the game.
By 1904 I was mostly concerned with getting England into St. Pete. It looked like the triple was weakening and I hoped to be able to turn England against Germany (It looked like Germany was helping me in this endeavor). I didn’t know that he was kowtowing to Russian threats, but couldn’t see why he’d have done that anyway, unless he was anticipating a French invasion.

At the draw, I saw a weakening but still vital western triple. If they could have gotten it together it would have been their game to take since Austria and I would have been their only real opposition. I might have gotten a hand in a four way, but only if I could turtle and bluff my way into it. I really would have had to try to break the triple any way that I could to get any more than a four way also ran. If the triple did disintegrate then there might have been room for Italy, Austria, and I to take a dominant role. Italy as a naval power and Austria as a land power would have stifled me though. The best ending I could foresee would have been an eventual (post triple) alliance with France leaving us a chance for a three way with England, Germany, or Austria.

**1903 technical moves on how to invade ITaly** not Austria

Spring 1901 dawns, and I'm happy as a clam as I've pulled my favorite power. Archduke Franz Josef reporting for duty.

As Austria, I really like the Peppermint. But I play it with a twist (apologies for the bad pun). It is in my absolute best interest if Russia and Turkey continue to be hell-bent on each other long enough for me to mount an offensive on one or the other and carry the momentum through wiping them both out, hopefully with a few centers off Italy in the interim to establish myself. Russia's always going to have at least one Northern Hater so keeping him busy on the south weakens him in the long term, which is good for me.

Thucy goes to Galicia as planned, and while Draug was the one who called Western Triple, the divvying of resources definitely looked that way to me too. Suddenly, I'm having trust gaps with Thucy, and Venice is empty, so I decide I better send a guy to defend either Vie or Bud. I chose Bud. Wasn't needed.

And then Germany rolls up into the Tyrol just as I'm getting antsy in the east, so I talk him into going Venice. I know that it's a choice between hitting me or Italy, and sorry Italy, but that's going to be you. I don't make up any ground, but I am pushing Russia out and siding with the Turk. Turkey's mostly naval, I don't think he can push me out without Russian help. So if they're fighting, I'll be his friend.

It's at this point that Draug and I talk seriously about the WT. I know that Germany heading south was a Preview of Coming Attractions, so I agree to get Italy back the boot. This works well. Hitting Bohemia worked even better. At game's end, I'm sitting with a force 3 attack waiting to hit Munich. Tell us, France, would that have worked?

End analysis: not my strongest Austria, but I think I gave enough people something to think about that I was definitely in the running for making it into a draw.

Well, that explains a bit. lol.

CA:

i was seriously concerned about a French invasion. As i said in my EOG, France and i argued a lot, and he supported himself into Burgundy (which we DMZ'ed) one than more. And i figured Austris was going north so i decided to give in to Russia's hraets

I was actually just surprised that I survived that second year. It was a bit more luck that I was really comfortable relying on. I was already getting the feeling that Austria was a closer ally to Italy than to me, so I was relying on a lot of beneficial contact with France and a bit with England too. They would have been the guys that were strategically the best allies in the later game. If I could have eliminated Russia then France's war with Italy would have hopefully kept Italy tied up for long enough to join you in killing Austria. If you weren't responsive to that I might have been able to join ENgland in attacking you, but Austria would have been a big impediment to that. Either way a war between England and you, and between France and Italy was in my best interest. As much as I do love unorthodox alliances, I doubt Austria/TUrkey would have worked in this one.

i would have joined the war against Austria, if Austria had not attacked me and helepd make me decide to go against England. Russia was saying eastern europe decided to isolate me and make me the weak one of the group so i would get stabbed and the WT would fall, and with France breaking the DMZ i was almost thinking about going for France anyways

So what does EOG stand for anyway?

End Of Game

So is it typical on this site to post your game afterward or was this something special?

eh, depends

for most gunboats, espcially one's Zmaj is in, EOG threads get posted, so things can be explained

full press EOG's are rare, usually one for high quality games or special ones like this

can we play Risk instead?

What happens to points when you draw a winner-takes-all game?

Split evenly among everyone in the draw.

they all get split up evenly between the surviving players, same as PPSC

No EoG from Draugar? C'mon dude let's hear your thoughts. :-)