Cossack’s Log, Game-date Spring 1902:
I’ve tried and tried to be peaceful to Turkey…opened into Rumania rather than a bounce, I’ve gone out of my way…and now I bet it bits me in the behind. England coming on strong, too…this could be an early bath…I’m also enjoying Mendelssohn’s 4th Symphony, his “Italian” Symphony…ironic, as Italy’s doing rather poor—I really wish I was Italy rather than Russia, I love Italy—and the tone’s just changed from light and cheery in the first movement to doleful…this does not seem a good omen.

Cossack’s Log, Game-date Spring 1903:
Hopefully I can work well with Austria now…and hopefully the war in the North trends the way of Germany and myself…and hopefully France and I can help one another…and THE METS BEAT THE YANKEES TODAY, so the day’s already good regardless.

Cossack’s Log, Game-date Spring 1094:
Well, Mendelsohn’s 4th Symphony has finished, now listening to the 5th, trying to play, and have a Facebook conversation at the same time…I guess Tureky and I are allies now…England just left his back door open and will die now for being a complete idiot and not defending even with France AND Germany in his home waters, not even a token retreat…I’m down one unit this year because of him, but as he’s down three and on the way out, hopefully that’s only temporary.

Cossack’s Log, Supplemental:
I generally don’t trust Turkey as Russia…and this is why—whoever you are at the end of this…I tried to be your friend, I supported you, I kept my distance…your stab is not unexpected, just earlier than expected. And that it happened at all, it does sadden me.

Cossack’s Log, Spring 1905:
England, the fool, has been eliminated…as he attacked me the whole way and never defended his homeland, going so far as to keep Norway and not even a fleet close to home as his last one when some hope remained, I am neither saddened nor reserved in my glee at his departure—my symphony just ended, onto Mendelssohn #3, “Scottish,” a moody piece that I’ve always thought would work well with Macbeth, and what an appropriate play to call to mind, as I must now face Turkey’s stab, and hopefully make him rue that stab tomorrow…and tomorrow…and tomorrow…

Cossack’s Log, Spring 1906:
So many quitters…hopefully Italy will just vote “Draw” and we can draw this thing, everyone left deserves it…there’s plenty to go around
Cossack’s Log, Spring 1907:
Well, Italy DIDN’T hit draw for some reason—whoever you are, please tell me WHY afterward, France has 13 now and can very possibly win, we could’ve all drawn and had oh-so-many points!—and now it appears to be only a matter of time until there’s a three-way draw or France wins this…I shall stay to the last man, and enjoy Tchaikovsky’s “Eugene Onegin” in the process, but the fact a draw could have occurred, should have, in my view, and now it will all go for naught, likely…how bitter.

Cossack’s Log, Spring 1908:
Down to three units, now, but I continue to battle…why Turkey continues to attack me is a mystery. His position at 9 and France’s at 17, 18 if he gets St. Petersburg, should elicit aid on his part, I would think…France will likely win this, and a very deserved win it will be.

Cossack’s Log, Supplemental:
I’ve accidentally disbanded St. Petersburg rather than Sevastopol…well, in any case, maybe THIS will force Turkey to finally see reason—if he attacks me, France gets St. Petersburg, and his quarrels will all have been in vain. Also, I’m changing to Mozart and “The Magic Flute” now.

Cossack’s Log, Supplemental:
Apparently Turkey DOES want ever-so-badly to lose…well, if that’s the case, and he clearly wants me out, I’m happy to oblige him—I’ve never “thrown” a game before, but his attacking again makes it clear he wants me to lose, and makes it nearly certain France will win anyway. So I will just go ahead and make that a certainty for him. Congratulations, France, on your victory, and to you, Italy, for not giving up after a rough start. I’m only sorry a sluggish Austria and a foolish Turkey stood between us. Good game to all…well, to France and Italy at least, and I suppose Austria and Germany as well, they played most of it out, and weren’t utter fools that lost this game like Turkey and England were, full of sound—well, maybe not, as it was a gunboat—and fury, your idiocy signified and netted you nothing. To the rest—good game, well done.

well done smiley. and, umm, my bad. got caught up with games eog and didn't see draw vote. unacceptable, i know. sorry

S 01: think I’ll try my latest highbred, see how it works out. Keeps options of lepanto and anti-France. Risks ven but shouldn’t be a problem to retake.

F 01: well, shame aus covered ven, but I expect he’ll leave, and might get mar if France expects retake of ven. Even without mar, tun will cover loss, so no biggy if it comes to it. Risky but as Italy should have time to recover if things don’t work out, and could be fantastic early growth.

B 01: damn. That was a bad misorder. Still, if it had to happen, best be as Italy. Recoverable. Hope Austria doesn’t get overconfident. Tun will still be mine so should get build. Austrian and Turkish armies would be good. Didn’t like con-arm.

S 02: excellent builds. No fleets in mar, tri, con or smy. Have to cover ven in case aus tries to bring in army, but will build this year. Hope aus leaves now.

F 02: ok aus, time to go plz. Turkey, stop messing with Russia, England be better.

B 02: well aus, I really don’t want to, but I gotta have ven. Nada personal. Army Rome. Russia, get back in GAL!

S 03: don’t understand France’s moves, maybe a misorder? Turkish fleet not ideal but I expect it will park in aeg. Must take ven from pie and go to ion, unfortunately, or retreat to apu is annoying. England is not long for this world, which is worrying, but hopefully he’ll weaken Germany enough to make him the more attractive target for France. Gotta pray for something to break out up there, anyway, but things not looking good.

R 03: aus nmr. Damn. I hate that. Still, makes my position more tenable, though cancel is probably best outcome now.

Whoops, jumped to conclusions. Glad aus is back, but don’t like the favor that did t. should get aus back onside though.

F 03: good aus retreat, expect everything’s smoothed over. First guessing game of the night, and not a good one. Will lose, am sure, but t will certainly support hold ser and convoy con-aeg (I think), so only shot is alb-gre. Big turkey obviously bad. Would take a miracle for this to work. Sending out telepathic waves to Austria now. Expecting to see mar-gol followed by f (mar). not at all good. Oh England, what have ye done?

B 03: god I wish I’d been checking the game instead of typing this. I hate you, smiley. (not really). Nother aus nmr. Crap. Good that France didn’t do as expected though and tension brewing. Gotta hope for Russian ally now. Fleet obvious necessity if don’t want to lose ion.

S 04: like what I see from France. Do not like Russia, at all. Liv had to go there, man. Now t will walk all over you and a, and I’ll get swallowed whole in a couple years.. Turkey is know odds on favorite to win, and I can’t get tri. Best shot is to try and bounce alb and swing nap-adr.risks ion but that would be ridiculous. Try to claim what can of aus with tyl/ven.

R 04: alright chaps, time to cancel. Please. Hope France thinks that I’ll need to check strong t, but I doubt it somehow. Really lucky if has come to support ion. Nice misorders from the Turk, but I don’t know what the Russian’s playing at. Even if lose tun, good exchange getting foothold in aus.

F 04: I thought t would try for alb. Huh. If he’s really mean he’ll hold tri and cut alb, but I expect he’ll take bud from ser. Here’s hoping the Frenchman comes through – I really need the build. Not too hopeful, though.

R 04: olay! My faith in humanity is restored with france’s moves, which does not reflect well on my position . Russia finally came throuh for me, but I have little hope, as that fleet in tyr will turn on me the second the turkish threat is neutralized.. I have prospects this year, though not good ones. Germany just big enough to merit france’s attention. France maybe actually stronger than turkey now. Not much I can do about it though

B 04: gotta be army. Nothing to be gained at sea atm.

S 05: gotta get alb-adr while still only two on ion but can wait as t has to oust ank 1st. will try boh/tyl. Risks ven but if I don’t will lose it for sure when t gets vie. Tri cuts ser to prevent loss of alb, just in case, and ion sh tyr to affirm friendship with france.

F 05: less aggressive from turk than expected. Hopefully can get ven now. Again risks tri but I hope he’ll feel the need to covr gre, leaving alb to support hold. Of course, now I think about it I have been assuming turkish hostility this whole time, but I still don’t see how we could not be at odds eventually. Will try for vie from tyl. Will make it easier to get army builds out and sets up gal possibly.

R 05: ah yes, there comes the inevitable french stab. Not totally unexpected, but nothing to be done. Kept tri and got vie. Didn’t really worsen my position at all, I was always in trouble when sandwiched between two biggest powers. Only hope now is to hope france gets really big, fast, and get on line somewhere. Depending on ger, mun may be best shot. Otherwise naples/rome?

S 06: france will probably win now. Hope turkey sees that. I’m holding everything for now, and can spare boh to hold munich. But f is favorite to get be/mun, which gives him 18. Fleets must swing to nap/rom to lock that up and count on t for support. Would like to bring tri back but can’t lose my shirt too quickly.

F 06: And cue now too bring tri back. Maybe I made a mistake letting france into tun so easily but didn’t think I had much choice. Anyway, can put myself on rom/nap so should hold there. If rus gets armies to pru/sil pronto may have chance.

R 06: as exected. Thx t. stop hitting sev now maybe?\

F 07: r/t get it together. Game is up, though, france won. Too bad guessed wrong on tus. Mun gone might as well try and set up at tyl/ven.

B 07: game no longer worth comment. Poor form, t/r.

Final thoughts: well played f. I may have erred early with my anti-turkish play, but I think if not one then the other would’ve eaten me. My poor start didn’t help. Russia and turkey should’ve gotten it together sooner, but the reality is france was always going to win grabbing all eng so easily + tun.

I'll try and read this and discuss in more detail later. But we have our other game to play!

I was following this game once in a while... I was actually betting that France was going to win after autumn, 1902 mainly because England is wide open and far from home, Germany lost Russia's trust, Austria is screwed from waging war against all three neighbors, Italy is crippled and need time to recover, and Russia and Turkey doesn't seem to trust each other which leaves France at the advantage because he have no obsticles in enlarging then getting rid of Germany while Russia and Turkey have to first somehow get together then clear away the obsticle of Italy and Austria

Smiley, may I ask if you are of the fairer sex? I've just never heard a guy describe Yoda as "so cute." ;)

sorry for barging in :D

No, I'm not. But I'm a quite effeminate man. I have no problems with this - I'm comfortable with myself. :-)

anyway, gg all. will look more closely later.

GG all. Italy, your not hitting draw was very frustrating; also, I got bogged down with Russia and paid attention to France far too late. I figured Aus+Rus as enemies would be enough, so I tried not to be hostile to Italy (after, admittedly, one attempt on Tri). I had way too much trouble getting through Sevastapol. Just stupid amounts of trouble. And that, combined with an unwillingness/inability to expand elsewhere, really kept me from offering a challenge to France.

someone hoped for Italy over France? wowza ....

In a Gunboat? Yeah. I hate playing France in gunboats.

Italy's my favorite power period...Italy/England/France are my top 3, Austria/Russia/Turkey are the next three, and I just hope dearly I don't draw Germany, I just cannot seem to do well with her.

DanEcht, why did you keep attacking me? I made it clear I didn't want to fight you....your fighting me cost us all a draw (that and Italy not hitting draw...WHY, Italy, WHY?)

Sorry obiwan; I really just didn't pick up on signs that you didn't want to fight me. My apologies.

(And I second your feelings on Germany; especially in Gunboat, the fatherland is no good for me).