EOG's to follow

This was one of the best games I've played every player did their best to play, I will say the weakest play was France but that may have been because he took over a CD in 1902. My initial strategy was to play the southern players off eachother and keep friendly relations with turkey long enough to focus on the north. I decided to go with an unorthodox opening in which I convoyed an army into sweden in 1901 instead of using my fleet to take it. This gave me leverage to force my way into norway and eventually denmark. I negotiated for norway instead of aggressively taking it which allowed me to work closely with england through to the midgame when we eliminated germany. Meanwhile I pivoted to supporting Italy against Turkey and Austria. Once Germany and Austria were eliminated I encouraged both England and Italy to move west to grab the french centers. This was to open them up for a stab. My stab came (honestly half-heatedly as I didn't see an immediate path to 18) in 1906 when I took Kiel and attempted to take Bulgaria. From there I played turn by turn trying to find my path to 18.In spring 1908 I was going to draw but at the last moment saw an opening in burgundy exploited it and took belgium. Throughout england was a character he was very difficult to play against, he was able to see the obvious moves quite easily and so i had to find creative and risky means for fighting him. Italy was also very good, although he was overly aggressive, I think in 1908 he could have ended my solo if he cycled his armies through to Bulgaria in spring as I wouldn't have been able to defend at that point. Of course in retrospect we all have great ideas. I think this really tested my ability to look for alternative routes and I am proud of my opening.

My game was a bit strange as England. France CD'd early, meaning I could head to Iberia-but before I got there, a new France took over. That meant that I appeared strong after a 2 build 01, but in reality wasn't in that exceptional of a growth position.

Russia told me he was taking Norway in 02 and had a long explanation for why. I still hadn't gotten a good feel out of Germany, and decided to go along with Russia-after all, I thought I had Iberia. Negotiations were difficult but productive. France waking up and making numerous questionable decisions-including not really picking an ally-slowed me down greatly. I was in the unenviable position of holding just two armies when Russia took Berlin and Denmark, and didn't have enough firepower to hold him off. Meanwhile, France slowed me down with fleets, allowing me to get overpowered in the North Sea.

I saw the Burgundy play, thought about telling Italy not to move Mar, and now have a good amount of regrets.

Really strong diplomatic play by Russia-no one knew what he was thinking, but everyone seemed to think he was their best chance for growth.

great game tatertrotts i'd love to play another high quality game with you mate. Send me a PM whenever you are ready for round 2

My strategy was based on opening press. Both Russia and Turkey were telling me that I'd be part of their alliance and that I should go after France. As Italy, I knew all that would do would be to ensure my early exit from the game. The press I was getting from both of them at that point seemed obviously phony to me. Having decided that I would move east my hope was to beat out Austria and Turkey and make myself more valuable to Russia than they were.

I don't particularly like attacking Austria right away when I am Italy. However, Germany's move to Tyrolia put me in a strange spot. Germany was saying how he wanted to go east as well. Since I was afraid of a juggernaut I decided to get Germany to help me into Trieste. It was a bit duplicitous of me to get Austria to support me into Greece the same turn. I just liked my press with Germany more and decided that was the person I would ally with. I didn't really like the Autumn 1901 moves I made as I was afraid that all it would do is give me another enemy. It was a big gamble on my part. It mostly worked out in the end.

My late game was marked by a little bit more indecision. I was trying to garrison more of the east with armies - the navy in Bulgaria really hampered me. I knew that going after France with England would distract me from Russia but I was hoping for some more builds to shore up northern Italy. Maybe too much wishful thinking on my part. I have to say I feel like I'm okay at the survival stage of the game and the mid term, but I have problems reading people sometimes when it gets down to the final 3 or 4 players.

I enjoyed the press and the scheming!

Grumble we need you in the next round of that.

I have a question for grumble: do you see the point I'm referencing? Before I took Serbia in which you could have cycled an army into Bulgaria to break my Balkan defense? I think it was immediately after I took trieste. Personally I would have cycled in the spring for a hopeful gain in the autumn.

I was actually really worried about that but didn't want to hint at it by trying to block it.

Yeah, there were several points where in retrospect where I said "I should have done X" but I was being cautious. I second guess myself. I figure if I see it my opponent will see it so they will do something unorthodox so I should do the unexpected by doing the expected.

That actually totally worked too, I had so many moments where you outplayed me by doing the "expected"

An interesting interesting game.. I've had a quick look at the "maps"... Germany ...what was bamawhites strategy ?..attacking Austria from what I can see only really helped Italy and Russia..and Russia pretty quickly attacked Germany

I only glanced over the EOGs, but it interests me that Russia wasn't blocked out of Sweden. Why was that possible?

MajorMitchell- I encouraged Germany to move on Austria and promised him assistance. This move also helped me because I was able to use it as "evidence" of a western triple in 1901 which started the bonds between myself turkey and Italy. Press allowed me into Sweden.

Well I think persuading Germany to attack Austria at the start of the game was an unorthodox and risky strategy.. unless he showed interest in the idea first..and for a player with Germany to decide to attack Austria at the start of the game..I can't see the risk / reward choice ever being to Germany's advantage.... worked brilliantly for you given the way France and England played