Oh cool, game 2 then?

It wasn't modified , just discussed. Lol unless skittles just wants to go again.

My EOG is I misordered in 1903 sending ska and hel to North Sea, at the same time England supported one of those moves and wrecked my position. Next move Italy cut my support to Berlin for some reason and I was done for. I don't know why I ever let Russia into Sweden. Every time I do he just ends up coming at me for my kindness.

Hell yea I want to go again. Even if we went be original post rules, I'm still at 98 :)

GG all.Well earned Skittles even though in spring 08 if I was Russia would have convoyed Norway to Clyde instead of using fleet to take Liv following year to give it up so quick.Having 2 units in England would have kept France busy longer in his rear.
On side note to all others who look at game when Italy took Trieste seeing solo run by France I never once as Austria made a move on it he needed fleets to battle in Med.
Can't say that about most players who would have taken it back first chance ruining what little hope we had of stopping solo.

My EOG:
1901: Normal first year.
1902: Nobody likes me.
1903: I start losing horribly.
1904: I continue losing horribly.
1905: I finish losing horribly.

1901

I love France. It's my best power, by far, and most of my solos have come with it. The West all opened completely standard. I moved MAO/Bur/Spain, England York/Nwg/North, Germany Den/Kiel/Ruhr. Italy, however, moved to Pie/Ven/Ionian. I guessed that he wouldn't try for Marsailles, but I didn't want to take the risk, so I moved to Burgundy to Marsailles and I moved MAO to Spain SC in case Italy was planning on an early French assault. He didn't move on me, but he didn't really move on Austria, either. He did move to Tyrolia, but held Piedmont. England and Germany bounced in Belgium, an ideal result for me. It looks like Turkey is pro-Russian, so I'm confident Italy will realize coming after me isn't smart for him. If he doesn't yet, I expected he would once Turkey builds the expected fleet in Smyrna. I expect to be able to move against England, but either way, I pretty much have to build fleet Brest army Paris, with my army in Burgundy successfully moving to Marsailles.

1902-1904

Germany build Fleet Kiel, which was great, and army Munich, which wasn't preferable, but not too bad. Everyone else built normal, except Russia who build an army in StP. Germany had bounced Russia out of Sweden, so it looks like he might be making a play to get it. I wanted Germany's fleet next to the North Sea, not diverted in the Baltic. It all worked out there, as not only did Germany help Russia into Sweden, but StP tried to move to Norway, and would take it in the fall.

England bounced me in the Channel, but I took it in the fall as Germany took the North Sea. Then, a series of perfect events happened to me. Germany built a third fleet and sent it to the Baltic towards Russia, starting a war on his flank. With Russia's 3 units in the north, Germany wasn't likely to make any progress against him. Germany had to split his forces, and he wasn't going to make gains in either direction. Even at that, England was more devoted to defending against Germany, so I was able to convoy to Wales unsupported, in which I forced England to support London as I sailed into Liverpool. The R/T vs A/I was making no progress. Zero centers had been exchanged, but the A/I was slowly establishing position. Russia decided to abandon his offensive against Austria and commit his armies against Germany.

In 1904, first blood was drawn in the German-Russian conflict, with Russia taking Berlin. Germany was neutered against Russia; he could defend against him, but there was little chance he was going to take a center back immediately.

I also remember thinking at this time that I was in a very good solo position. Austria and Italy were still attacking Turkey and the small Russian Balkans outpost (aka Rumania), but they still had not taken a single center and were getting no builds. I had just taken Edi, was in position to Immediately take London, and there was a good chance I could walk into the North Sea (and even if I didn't, I would guarantee it in the fall), all while Germany was probably going to disband his army Belgium. Russia is probably going to have to pull a unit or two off attacking Germany to defend against Austrian aggression, so those centers should be mine. Then, all I have to do is take Tunis before Italy breaks Turkey and turns on me, and then I force myself through Scandinavia and into StP. Simple, in theory. Harder to execute. The time to strike is now.


1905-1907

I build army Paris and Germany did indeed disband Belgium. I walked into Belgium in the spring and took that and London for two builts. I built another fleet Brest and an army and continued north. Austria had finally taken Bulgaria, which marked the first center exchange in the east.

Germany and Russia exchanged Munich and Burgundy a couple times, but Russia was making no further progress and I closed in. In 1906, I welcomed Denmark to the French empire.

Italy moved to Piedmont in fall 1906. I know I needed southern fleets pretty soon, but the time wasn't quite right. A fleet build would almost certainly cause Italy to turn away from Turkey and defend. It finally took Con, so I knew he was building another fleet, but I'm sure he wants to eliminate Turkey, so I don't want to spook him into turning on me now because: 1) I want to get the jump on him 2) the solo is gone if he turns full force at me now, and 3) if I do get held to a draw, I also want Turkey eliminated. So, I build an army and sacrifice him to guard duty....for a year.

In 1907 I put myself in position to take Holland and Kiel. Seeing this, I knew it was time to strike south, but a fleet Marsailles build would be a huge advantage. I moved out of Marsailles and moved Burgundy there hoping to get the bounce, and I did.


1908

With two fleet builds, I head south. I KNOW Italy was turning on me now, and it's going to be a fight. Hopefully I'll be able to snag Tunis in the ruckus. Except....Italy moves Ionian to Aegean.

I guessed I could take Munich with Kiel, and I did, and I successfully convoyed into Prussia as well.

The only downside is that Russia shifted his fleet in Sweden in order to get that fleet behind my lines, which was unfortunate, but it allowed me to take Sweden along with Munich.

I tried to sneak a self-bounce in Marsailles, but Italy learned and supported me in. Additionally, he finally took Con and also walked into Trieste giving him two builds. Was I going to be able to hold Tunis long enough against the incoming naval fleet to set up the stalemate? I thought so, but wasn't quite sure. I was sure, however, when Italy insisted on using THREE fleets to corral Turkey's final army, leaving only two fighting for Tunis.

At that point, I knew the solo was in the bag unless I misordered. I had an army in Britain which made the rogue fleet no threat to my centers, and I gave Russia no opportunity to get into MAO in order to mess up the situation down there. I fell back to the Berlin/Munich stalemate, slowed Italy's progress where I could, and I was in position to lock up the Tunis stalemate whenever I needed to. All I had to do now (besides prevent the disrespectful Russian from painting ugly purple graffiti on innocent civilian provinces in the ascending French Empire) was use my four northern fleets to force StP, and that's what I did in 1911.

I'm probably going to laugh at myself when I see how long this wall of text is.

@podium

Yea, convoying would have been a bigger annoying. You are also correct about the Italian taking Trieste. It was a smart move by him, and obviously a smart move by you to realize he needed the build.