S01 - I start out not wanting to anger Austria. Austria had enough problems in a gunboat game just surviving most of the time, so I decide to grab Rum and move Mos and War to Sev and Urk. Little did I know then, but this decision to link up these armies in the south would prove to be a major cornerstone to my whole game.

F01 - Good news: Ger won't bounce me in Swe, Eng is moving south, Aus stayed out of Gal. Bad news: the Turk is after me big time. I go defensive in the south and wait to see what happens.

S02 - I decide to go turtle in the south, and to try to take Nor for a center.

F02 - I am in some trouble as the German has taken interest in War. This means I will have to decide to give up War, Sev or Rum. As I am partial to the home centers, and the Rum fleet isn't doing anything for me, I cut Rum lose. This is not looking so good for me, as my only offense is to run my army into the Nwy wall again.

S03 - Austria and Italy appear to have stop fighting, and they both are now after the Turk, so I decide to try to grab Rum back again, while the Nwy move is still not gaining traction in the frozen north.

F03 - The Rum grab fails, so I decide to change tactics and openly try to help the Turk. Plus the Ger move against War rules out another move on Rum as I need to defend. At this point, I think I am toast with Austria's move to Gal and the two German armies on the War doorstep.

S04 - Lucky break! The Eng disband Nwy. But now I fear Pru moving into Liv and surrounding War. I decided to try to help the Turk some more in case he is looking to retake Rum. So, I decide to move Swe to Nwy, thinking the English would bounce me there, and the fleet staying home would then stop an attack from Den. At the same time, I decided to drop St P to Liv to bounce Pru out.

F04 - I am floored!! I got Nwy, Den moves south, and the German dropped to Gal to surround War. To be honest, I didn't consider that move. I now realize that War will be saved for one reason, and one reason alone. Pru did not bounce me out of Liv. If that order had gone happened, War would have fallen, and I would have made a quick exit from the game. I note that Austria still does not trust Italy, but the Italian appears to be heading west fast. I realize that Austria is now a major threat, but has done nothing to attack me. I had best not provoke him, or I am in trouble again. Time to go turtle again. I failed to read at the time of this turn that my savior of the game had just appeared in the form of France.

S05 - I decide to pursue the only course of action that seems safe. Attack my former tormentor in Germany from the north and the east. I play it safe with the Austrian front, and I do not want to provoke the English or French, so I move St P into Nwy and Nwy into Ska.

F05 - A German NMR in the spring? What to do, what to do. I decide to try for Den, but move Nwy to Swe for support next turn as I still wanted to stay out of Nth Sea. Looks like the turtle comes out for another swim.

S06 - The German has lost his battle, and has opened the door in front of me. So I need to move fast before anyone else moves in. I decide to blitz the armies west and move the fleets to grab the Nth Sea. Eng has left Edi open too long, and it looks too good.

F06 - Now, how to get Kie? I can move the armies along the coast, opening a bigger hole in my front, or drop the fleet in. I go for the fleet. Austria has finally out manned and out moved the Turk, so I decided to gamble. We have had a stand off for so many turns now, that I decided to move Sev for two reasons: 1) to support the Turk, as if he is taken off the board, Austria must have a new foe, and he and Italy haven't attacked each other since the start of the game. 2) I hope to open up Sev for a fleet build to occupy the Bla. If I allow Austria to get into the Bla, I am cooked.

S07 - The Sev gamble worked! Now I can prop up the Turk, if he lets me, and I can occupy the Bla. Some southern security! Now, for the north. Italy is pressing France hard, so I need to move quick. I must not allow Nth Sea to fall. So I gamble on taking Mun and leaving Kie open to get the Hel to help control Nth Sea, I reoccupy Den so I can recapture Kie if needed.

F07 - By now I have come to realize that although Austria and I have a stalemate line in place, he will not attack Italy, and never will. So, if I want to go for a solo, I will have to wrap around France.

S08 - I want to extend my stalemate line out to Mun, so I fill in the full line for the first time with armies. Is it a true stalement line? No, but the Austria to date has had about as much interest in attacking me as he does Italy. He is playing it smart and wants the Turk out before he moves on. So I keep the Turk on life support. I grab Hol to keep the attack going in the North. I am worried about Italy sending a rouge navy north around England.

F08 - By now, I realize that a solo is too far gone. Italy has move too fast, and those two to he south will still not attack each other! What is up with that!! I need a draw option, and I need it now. So, who's in, who's out. The Turk is out. Austria will not draw while Turkey is in the game. So I took Ank. Eng has to be out, so I move to guard Edi.

S09 - I would think that Italy would want France gone before he draws. However, since I would not be in the position I am without the French attack on Germany, I float the draw offer. I know that Edi will fall, so I go for Bel and defend Mun. I wonder if Italy's move to Tyr was the long awaited attack on Austria, or if it's for Mun.

F09 - The Draw is agreed upon. Good game all. I enjoyed it!