It started with a simple rhyme, posted in the forum:
Sad promise of Spring
Foul rumours threaten the peace
Dark days lie ahead
and eventually we had seven players for a classic game, with public press only. The only "oddity" was the request that all press be in the form of Haiku or Limerick, although none of the latter was seen.
The only oddity in the opening moves was Austria choosing to support Vie to Tri with Budapest. This allowed me two builds in the first year and enticed Russia into attacking Austria too. Autumn 01 saw Russia allowing Germany into Sweden, the beginning of the end for him.
Austria's response was to attack Italy, taking Venice in S'02, and swapping Vienna and Budapest with Russia. I thought Italy could have done more and said so (in Haiku of course); unfortunately this upset Italy who sent one of his fleets into EMS in A'02. This was the season when Russia went NMR, never to return, which allowed England and myself (Turkey) some easier builds, as well as letting Austria off the hook.
In S'03 France began his push for growth with attacks on Italy, already weakened by Austria. By A'04 Italy was gone and Austria reduced to Vie and Tri. France, England and Germany had declared their intention to eliminate me so I tried to use Austria to form stalemate line against France. This might have worked in a full press game but was hard to organise in public.
In S'06 France stabbed Germany and England, although the latter was quickly withdrawn. This marked the start of the end for Germany. I tried to work with him but his line was in tatters and he was soon reduced to an army in Vienna. I would have liked to use him to extend the stalemate line north but public press remained a problem so I administered the final blow. At this point the three remaining players agreed a draw.
The Haiku press was great fun (I think) and had me laughing at times. I spent a lot of time trying to sow dissent between F, E & G, with some success I think (I hope to hear their side of this). The downside is that made me the natural target of a 3 way alliance.