H6G3 EoG
Nation: Russia
Result: Defeat, 1909
Fair warning: I hated this game, so there will probably be a fair amount of bitching in the following EoG.
-1901-
Russia! I rarely seem to draw the eastern nations, so I actually don't have a great deal of personal experience with Russia, particularly in gunboat. That said, I've seen a lot of Russia's in action, and know that the southern front is particularly important. I decide to focus my efforts there, while seeing how the west develops.
I make a fairly standard southern opening, as does Turkey (hardly surprising), while Austria goes for the Balkan Gambit and Italy takes Tyrolia. Nothing surprising in the west, except that France focuses both armies on Belgium.
I conclude that Austria and Germany are likely to be in trouble. Italy will probably be attacking Austria, while the Germans have to content with an empty English Channel and a French push on Belgium. This encourages me to move to Galicia again, and take Rumania with an army rather than a fleet. The latter is definitely pro-Turkey, as it means I can't build in StP, and my overall stance is fairly anti-Austria.
Germany, disappointingly, bounces me out of Sweden. I was hoping he might make an overture in the face of English and French friendliness. England's moves are also disappointing, as he convoys to Norway. Italy, meanwhile, walks into Vienna, countering Austria's defense. Turkey, however, goes for Rumania rather than Greece, a strange move in my eyes as Austria is under pressure from Italy and is unlikely to support a move to Greece. Furthermore, I am obviously vying for Rumania, so going for it anyway is definitely not a friendly gesture toward me.
Builds are also disappointing. France builds two fleets, taking considerable pressure off the Germans, and England misses his build! While the English aren't necessarily friendly toward me, the last thing I need is for them to get slaughtered by an FG alliance. With a German fleet in Kiel, this seems likely. I know that my timetable to settle affairs in the east has been shortened.
Unfortunately, courtesy of Turkey, Austria gets a build in Budapest, which dashes hopes of easy expansion. Worse, Turkey builds an army in Ankara, which suggests that his plans include competing over Austria at best, attacking me at worst.
Looking for utility, I build an army in Moscow.
-1902-
Anticipating a French and German beatdown of England, and knowing that things are way too chaotic in the south to leave that alone, I decide to give the west ample room. I pull my fleet back to StP, and focus all my other units south. I throw Italy a support hold on Vienna, rather than attack Budapest (I fear that Austria will retake Vienna otherwise, leading to an Italian retreat into Galicia). Having nothing better to do with Rumania (I don't want to support the Italians into Bud, as I want Bud for myself), I support Gre-Bul. I figure maybe Austria will get desperate and retreat eastward, and I am fairly certain that Turkey will attack me.
Lo and behold, Turkey attacks me. They get nowhere, of course, and Austria/Italy remains inconclusive. This would be fine with me, as I can easily wait things out until Turkey realizes he has to move west, except...
Germany throws three units eastward. What the hell?
I get the fleet pressure to guarantee Sweden, but the move to Prussia baffles me. Why in the world is he attacking me when France is getting huge and England is free for the taking?
England, of course, NMRs. Again. I throw up my first Cancel vote, which goes ignored.
For the fall, I decide to gamble that Germany will leave me alone. The east is a stalemate, and attacking me would unbalance that. If I were Germany, I would immediately address the English weakness before France takes the whole thing.
Also, I am counting that Turkey will recognize his attack on me as fruitless, and move on Austria instead. Then I can grab a center or two, and focus on any western incursions.
My gamble pays off, and Germany leaves Warsaw alone. Concerningly, he keeps the army in Prussia.
Meanwhile, Turkey really pisses me off by throwing everything he has at me, even trying to convoy into Sev. Defending against this ties up four of my units, leaving only my northern fleet to defend Liv and StP.
I start to realize that it might take Italian intervention to dissuade the Turks, but Italy and Austria remain stalemated. France pushes hard against England, who finally moves. England moves to counter, and offers peace to the Germans.
England finally gets his build, and France and Germany both build fleets. It seems that the west will be infighting for at least a while longer.
-1903-
I continue to defend myself against the fanatical Turkish assault, hoping that Germany will finally leave Prussia and focus on the west. While he does move toward England as expected, he moves into Warsaw as well. God damn it.
I can't do anything about the Germans without ceding ground to the Turks, and seeing as they attacked me first I have little interest in seeing them do well. Also, I entertain the hope that rapid German expansion will provoke a French stab, and return German attention to the west.
England NMRs again, so this is probably likely. I throw up another Cancel vote.
Italy and Austria, of course, remain inconclusive. And despite my continued efforts to support the Austrians into Bulgaria, they instead support the Turks against Rumania. That's now three neighbors attacking me, while France gets to do whatever he likes. That's gunboat for you.
In the fall, I hold off yet another Turkish assault, while Germany takes Moscow. Italy and Austria are _still_ inconclusive. England starts to collapse. France gets to 7 centers, and Germany to 8.
Knowing I am entirely at Germany's mercy in the north, I disband my northern fleet. I can't stop him, anyway, and Turkey is either going to attack the Austrians or stagnate.
-1904-
I hold off _another_ Turkish assault, and Germany sends a handful of units eastward. It is clear that he is going to take all my stuff, but I decide to flip off the Turks anyway by continuing to hold the line. France still hasn't stabbed the Germans, and I start to develop hope that I might become essential to a stalemate line on StP.
Germany reaches 10 centers by the end of the year, and starts to butt heads with France. I keep my units in Rumania and Sev, hoping to continue denying Turkey builds and also hoping that the German threat might finally convince them to leave me alone.
Of course, Italy chooses this time to finally make ground against Austria. Thanks, Italy.
-1905-
The spring moves nearly made me tear my hair out. Expecting a Turkish assault on Rumania, which he can guarantee, I hit the Black Sea instead of support holding Rumania. Turkey, of course, NMRs, and Italy and Austria's moves work just perfectly to allow Austria to dislodge Rumania. God. Damn. It.
Why has this bloody game not been drawn or cancelled yet?
My fortunes are somewhat reversed in the fall, where Turkey and Germany bounce each other out of Sev. Serves both of them right.
I keep my fleet in Sev. Germany is now at 11 centers, and my one hope is that an anti-leader alliance will form. That, or people will get tired of all these NMRs.
-1906-
Holy shit, Turkey finally support holds me! About time, buddy. And Austria is finally getting killed by the Italians. I briefly entertain the hope that France/Germany/Italy will stalemate, and not be able to afford cutting out Turkey and myself. I hate the Turks, but they can redeem themselves by helping me hold a defensive line of sorts.
-1907-
Everything falls apart. Turkey starts getting cut out by the Italians, and Germany NMRs!! Ugh, another huge NMR, and it shatters any hope of making Germany a large enough threat to necessitate my survival. My only real hope now is for Italy or France to arise as solo threats, but I doubt I will live long enough to see it.
-1908-
Turkey and Germany begin to collapse spectacularly, which I would have been more than happy to see if it didn't happen _after_ they'd stopped pounding on me. It becomes clear that Italy won't be trying to keep me alive.
-1909-
Italy efficiently finishes me off.
-Afterward-
Turkey gets killed by the Italians two years later. Would have been one year, were it not for an Italian misorder. The Italian solo threat finally emerges, and Germany is fortunate enough to find himself on the stalemate line. Three way draw.
Hate hate hated this game. Way too many NMRs and a fanatical Turkey that attacked me for seven consecutive turns (followed by an NMR, followed by one more attack), all for no gain, ruined it for me.
So I have this huge addition to my family coming in.....
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