Germany: DRAW '18, 13 SCs, Mr A, Blitzkrieg opening - Dutch variation
England: DRAW, 10 SCs, Imhotep, Southern opening - Welsh variant
Turkey: DRAW, 6 SCs, MadMarx, Balkan concentration
Russia: DRAW, 5 SCs, redhouse1938, Ukraine system, Lapland Lurch / Southern Defence
Italy: Defeated '13, 2ndWhiteLine, Stab Lepanto
France: Defeated '11, achillies27, Atlantic Opening, Picardy variant
Austria: Defeated '04, LakersFan, Rumanian gambit, Balkan Roadhog variant
EoG by Russia: "The Northern Triple"
Introduction
In may of this year, I was slowly starting to plan my retirement from this site. The honest truth of it is: the game is too addictive. I'm too eager. The thrill of seeing a message from a country that I'm hoping to achieve a diplomatic breakthrough with is too great, whereas an email from an old friend has to wait nowadays. I stay up late to see the orders resolution, even if the game is slowly deteriorating in a bloodless draw. I had one last wish, and that is to play one game with MadMarx. I just wanted to see if he was really as good as his GR suggests. Well, he is. At least, in a weird, hard-to-follow sense he is. The man makes mistakes, even grave ones, but dang, if there's one person aggressively pursuing policies to repair them and fight back it's him.
And now it's over. 18 diployears, 175 pages of press and countless orders later we've finished the games and while Marxie is preparing for fatherhood, I have nothing but my mental health to end my webdip career for.
It was a great game. I enjoyed greatly playing with all of you and being the abbrasive, arrogant person that I am I'm certain you'll take my word for it. The two people I enjoyed the game the most with are certainly Imhotep (E) and Mr A (G). And we've certainly been through a great adventure together.
Spring 1901, Negotiations on a Northern Triple (!) a Juggernaut and an alliance with Austria
It all started when, for the fourth time in my webdip career (despite having finished no more than sixteen games on this site) I drew Russia. I'd pretty much had it with Russia, but there's one thing I couldn't get enough of doing, and that was opening with StP-Fin. I think I've done that in all but one of my Russia games and it gives me immesurable pleasure every time I do it.
Of course, I do it for a reason and this time the reason was that I wanted to try a Northern Triple and that's exactly what Mr A (1) and Imhotep (2) are doing in 1901. I think looking at the map in its final configuration and these first messages referenced here makes an interesting footnote in opening message history.
Turkey opened negotiations with me by proposing a Juggernaut (3). I don't like his message, but he puts control of the Juggernaut effectively in my hands.
My opening conversation with Austria is extremely friendly, but ultimately fails to bring results because of my wrong-doing. The fact is that the Northern Triple, contrary to what I expected, resonates a lot with Germany and England and because I effectively agreed to a Juggernaut (actually all I want is peace at my southern boarder and control of R/T) I have nothing left to offer Austria. The bounce in Galicia is agreed, my going to Ukraine isn't and neither is his going to Rumania, which I find a very bold move, since I'm allied to all my neighbors.
1902-1903 Consolidation of the Northern Triple
As you can see, the Northern Triple I proposed in 1901 is extremely effective. Germany complains about England's fleet build in a manner that I thought was premature and slightly blunt (and when I say slightly, I actually mean slightly, it's not a euphemism for it being too blunt, it just came off as a little strong and England and me discuss it, without attaching immediate consequences to it).
Tensions also grow between me, Italy and Turkey. I believe the core problem in my relationship with Italy is the same as it was with Austria. With my northern boarder way too secure, any friend I have in the south is actually half a friend too many.
1904 - 1905 Fluid Diplomacy, continuous rearrangement of Alliances
After my conquest of Vienna, for a variety of reasons that I can't remember but believe to be primarily diplomatic, I declare war on Germany by building F StP SC and England promises to join. For the understanding of the events that follow, the 1904 move Rum S Bul-Ser turns out to be one of the most significant moves of the game for my nation. I finally decide that I want to ally with Turkey rather than Italy and again, the reasons escape me, but probably this has to do with two things. 1) My war with Germany will probably be a land war and with lots of armies, I can become dominant in central Europe without posing a threat to Turkey and England, my allies. 2) For an attack on Turkey, I'd have to immediately attack his mainland, whereas an attack on Italy allows me an indirect attack, for the moment sparing the Italian mainland.
Autumn 1904 finished with Nth-Eng, a move I am very angry with. I expected England's support in my war with Germany. I don't mention this to England though. I pretend we are still friends and have Germany as our common enemy, but secretely, during 1905, I try to broker a deal with Germany to invade England, which I succeed in doing in the autumn when Germany destroys his Livonia fleet.
In the south, disaster strikes. As I mentioned in autumn 1904 I decide to side with Turkey against Italy (whose relationship is rapidly souring) and support Turkey into Ser, where I support hold him in spring 1904 just to make sure. To my enormous surprise Turkey then decides to invade Sevastopol in autumn 1905.
I am absolutely stunned by this move. I have never in my entire diplo-career been stabbed so deeply. After helping Turkey into Serbia, supporting him there during a turn that he can't do it himself, he decides to invade me, and not very subtly. While claiming he only wanted to destroy my offensive capacities toward him, he uses an army and not a fleet. Also, while one of my peripheral SCs (Rum) is available to him, he chooses to go for a home SC.
The conflict this move provokes runs so deep, that it essentially remains unresolved during the entire rest of the game.
In retrospect, I believe Turkey heavily bet on me and Germany staying at war and I'm lucky that in the same move Turkey stabs me, my negotiations with Germany start reaching their climax.
1906-1909 The Second Northern Triple
One of the most fun periods of the game is the Second Northern Triple, that lasts another three years. At this point, I'm starting to acquire a reputation for relative reliability and tactical prowess, which means I can effectively supply France with advice that allows him to last long after his expiration date (France stays alive with a single army for five years) and that allows me to slow down my allies' advance and vex Italy, with whom I haven't been able to restore relations, as he fell victim earlier in the game to my double play (not so much stabbing, but definitely very dirty Diplomacy) and doesn't want this to happen a second time.
This is definitely a period during which the cultural development in Europe reaches its climax under the Pax Nordica (4).
1910-Spring 1917 the German-Russian alliance
England fights a very divided southern board and this allows him to expand at a much faster rate than Germany and I do. I convince Germany that we have to attack England in order to make sure England doesn't solo or set up a very credible preparation for it and that the fact that we are about to invade England's home SCs probably means relations with him can't be restored after it. To make things a little better, I do send England a formal declaration of war.
Germany is a very anxious player and he keeps reminding me of my fleet build in 1903, that he believes marks what was the pointless end of an effective alliance. In hindsight, he was right. He keeps making me promise to work toward a Two-Way Draw, which I do, at first without being serious about it and finally I'm serious about it: 2WL and MM are well known players who are extremely dangerous and knowing they're in the game, a 2 way may not be such a bad result, although I keep proposing alternatives to Germany such as a race to the finish.
Autumn 1917 - 1918 The last hurrah
Germany decides to invade me. I believe he's driven by a combination of my impopularity on the board at this point (which in turn I think is partly fuelled by me having set up everyone against everyone else in the prior years and getting cranky at the long duration of the game and its phases) and his fear that I will eventually stab him if he doesn't do so first.
He puts his draw flag up and this, I believe, was completely silly. It was obvious that he was making a solo run, and if he wasn't, he should have. Turkey and England have a big problem at this point: I don't really mind Germany's stab. I still considered the 1905 stab by Turkey the deciding factor in my foreign policy and not the stab that Germany just gave me.
England's problem is that I decide to focus on protecting my homeland, meaning Germany can crash through the Balkans (which he does) with impunity and that if he takes Norway, I will stop communicating with him for failing to stop the solo at the right moment.
Finally, the solo threat by Germany is so credible, I manage to convince England and Turkey to put their draw flags up. Germany leaving his draw-flag hanging during this period determines the final outcome of the game: a four way draw.
COMMENTS ON PLAYERS
Mr A: Very well played, although I found you a little paranoia every now and then. At the height of our alliance 1913-1914, I thought I noticed a development toward you slowly feeling confident in allying with me and I greatly enjoyed our conversations during this period. I strenuously apologize for my genuine misorders during this period.
Imhotep: Brilliant game, I think you were the best player during the entire game and I thought you were a fun conversationalist.
MadMarx: Obviously you're a good player, I did think on the spectrum of emotion-driven strategy to intellect-driven strategy you had a tendency to err toward the former.
2ndWhiteLine: I think you played a solid game, but at times I thought that perhaps you were a little absent-minded? My memory is too vague for a better recollection than that.
achillies27: I also think you played a solid game, perhaps next game you should work on really charting a course for your nation, see if you can divise a strategy that includes everything and everyone, so you can tune your relationships to achieve your goals.
LakersFan: Also a solid game, but I believe you should have played a little more cautiously in the beginning.
@All: thanks, I really enjoyed this game, but I'm never playing 2 day phases again, it got on my nerves :-)
REFERENCES
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(1)
(To: Germany, from you) - Spring, 1901: Hey Kaiser,
An excellent game to you! Thank you for your message, in which you present some ideas that can create trust and an early foundation for cooperation. I just started the game and you are the first one I send a message; I am very open to different alliances and friendships. I promise to be very careful of our Ottoman friend and see that our board does not quietly turn pale yellow. Regarding your proposals (NAP, Pru&Sil DMZs), I can agree with them - consider these areas as quiet as an alpine meadow - but would you perhaps be interested in expanding on that agreement a little ? I have never done this before and haven't found online resources on this combination, so I was thinking about just tossing the idea on the table and see what everybody thinks. And by everybody I mean you and England:
I was considering the option of a "Northern Triple" (EGR) and use this game to write Diplomacy History. Allow me to present some moves I had in mind, from west to east:
Lon-Eng (powerful for England, keeps it safe)
Kie-Hol (leads to some interesting centers, creates early trust)
StP-Fin (I love this move as a sign of my friendship with you)
War-Gal
DMZs in StP&Liv and asking England to not move Lvp-Edi and Edi-NwS in combination with each other.
Would you be interested in such an adventure?
Regards, The Czar
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(2)
(To: England, from you) - Spring, 1901: Hello Your Majesty,
A splendid game to you! What's cooking in the west? Any interesting plans to conquer the world? If there aren't any at the moment, I'd have some!
It’s something I’ve never done before, and haven’t read a lot about on the Internet, so we might be writing a chapter of Diplohistory if we’re succesful! I was thinking about organizing a northern triple (EGR). I already contacted Germany about it. What do you think?
I just add some concrete moves and DMZs to stimulate the senses:
StP = DMZ (to make this plan interesting to you)
StP-Fin (to make this plan interesting for the Kaiser)
Lon-Eng (I guess that’s a standard move in any E/R)
A last ingredient could be that Lvp-Edi (or Cly) and Edi-NwS aren’t played in combination. I hope Germany does a Dutch opening. If the basic outline of this idea appeals to you, or if you have other plans for cooperation, I’d be very happy to learn all about them. Also, I hope you and Germany will discuss this plan between the two of you, also to verify my intentions to do this together.
Greetings,
His Royal Pompousness the Czar
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(3)
(To: You, from Turkey) - Spring, 1901: Greetings and good luck!
Any interest in a Jugg? Thoughts on how to hide it? Want to bounce in Black Sea or DMZ it? Any other thoughts?
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(4)
(To: Global, from Austria) - Spring, 1908: Per Russia's request:
A proud Blue nation
Overrun by those Pinkies
Glad he's in Venice.
(To: Global, from Austria) - Spring, 1908: Early EoG:
Everyone hates Red
So who controls the Balkans?
Yep... Not Austria!
(To: Global, from you) - Autumn, 1908: Time to sleep guys, see you all tomorrow. Anyone who readies up gets a cookie. I see the game progressing tomorrow, drinks are on me. :-)
(To: Global, from Turkey) - Autumn, 1908: Why such a hurry?
Cookies don't motivate me...
Neither do drinks... DRAW!!
(To: Global, from Austria) - Autumn, 1909:
There once was a player in Italy,
Who claimed all he saw was a Broken Key,
So he stabbed right away
and in that huge misplay
Sealed his fate as the one to fall # 3
(To: Global, from Austria) - Autumn, 1909: August's rush gone to
September's slow shuffle off
this mortal coil
(To: Global, from Italy) - Autumn, 1909: The one from Trieste
Learns a valuable lesson
Never play the Key :)
(To: Global, from you) - Autumn, 1909: There was once a player named France
Whose country got screwed in a glance
He fled to the south
Then opened his mouth
And begged for his life as last chance
(To: Global, from you) - Autumn, 1909: There was once a king from Great Britain
Whose press was quite clear and well-written
Except to the French
Who fled in their trench
When Britain chose France to be smitten
(To: Global, from Italy) - Autumn, 1910: No fair, France is much easier to rhyme than Russia.
There once was a czar from St. Pete
Against whom I attempted to beat
I tried to take Buda
And got smoked like a gouda
Now I hope to avoid defeat
(To: Global, from you) - Autumn, 1910: Little poem about 1905
There was once a bold czar from Russia
Who found a brown tank down in Prussia
With no fear to fight
He sat down to write
"You crush it yourself, or I'll crush ya"
Unicorns Are Real!
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