there was a discussion about this a while ago... here's the thread:
http://webdiplomacy.net/forum.php?viewthread=1157214#1157214

should that blitz be naval or should I attempt the convoy? I see many wikis that say Convoying the english army to norway is a good move out the gate against russia; but I don't feel comfortable putting my army so High north with france and Germany to my south. Is it within reason to take North sea and Norwegian Sea with navies and use those to advance into Russia?

@Tv thanks

no problem.

The opening that you described is probably the most done. it is very safe but will also give you a somewhat safe position.

If you blitz Russia, you're open to French attack. No solutions there.
I've never seen England do well against France straight away, so you should focus on that diplomatically.

The convoy works 4 times out of 5, and Russia usually can't recover from it, unless all of its other neighbours are allies.

F Edi - Yor
F Lon - Yor
A Liv - Yor

the exception to what i said is if france goes anti england.

The nice thing about Yorkshire Pudding is that it protects against a French move to the Channel.

Now if I convince Germany to fight France that should work greatly in my favor?

I recommend an alliance with Germany and Italy if you can

Talk to your neighbours, find their weaknesses, and exploit them to allow you to expand. As with England, as with all.

Don't allow yourself to be dictated to by established ways of doing things or that insane phrase gunboaters often use "the board never lies". The board is the best liar in the game! It offers a mirror to the minds of the players, and like mirrors it can be distorted.

The last game I played as France I secured two builds in the first year, built two armies, and invaded England. It worked beautifully in no small part because the English player believed the "board never lies" tosh, and thought he was perfectly safe.

A single fleet can slip into places a half dozen fleets would struggle to force their way to. The same is true of armies.

I'd also like to say this thread is in breach of "do not talk about ongoing anonymous games" as potentially I am in a game with you and I now have a suspicion that you might be England.

Mods can we get this locked please.

I cannot confirm or deny that your accusation is true, SYnapse, but on the long shot possibility that Commander Byron or any other user on this site is playing in a game that does *not* involve you, and given the dearth of Diplomacy discussion on this forum, I'm going to leave this thread open.

2ndWhiteLine, I respectfully disagree with your opinion. I have posted in this thread tactics and advise which may give me an advantage in an anonymous game with him so the forum has become a tool of influencing the game. It’s fair and well to make a thread of how to play as England, but not by saying that you are now playing as England if you’re in an anonymous game.

If you don't want to give away secrets, don't post them.

You're making too many assumptions SYnapse.