Lol, I can already see France's:

Well, the other players just kept attacking each other and ignoring me, so I WON!

That's pretty much exactly how France pulled it off. Frankly, I was hoping it would be my strategy, as well.

Germany, just what in the fuck were you thinking that game? "Hey, I've already attacked, in order, France, England, and Austria. It would be rude of me not to attack russia as well."?

two things I noticed playing live games here
1. France wins at least half the time
2. I have not had the pleasure to play France yet!

Could these be related?

I played Austria in this one, and was greately frustrated by Italy. Even when there was obvious cooperation between Russia and Turkey, he just kept coming at me. I thought it seemed pretty suicidal, but then Turkey didn't it play it too smart (IMHO) which allowed Italy to do rather well. Italy was clever in that he made me put my guard down for just a little. When it seemed obvious that R/T were cooperating he made a dive into the Eastern Med and played nice with me. Then, one turn later, back into Trieste. Oh well, it's a tough row to hoe with Austria. But it is so frustrating that France almost always wins and Italy's almost always go for Austria's. The consequences are obvious enough. Turkey gets big enough to be unkillable, so once Italy gets big, unless France somehow dies, he will inevitably be squished.

After saying all that, Italy's attack on me was quite well engineered, and he got maximum force on me in short order with a fleet build in Venice and a convoy to Albania. I guessed the convoy and build plan and was able to foil him a little, and survived only because Turkey was not quite as aggressive as he could have been. But after the aforementioned lulling me to sleep Italy was able to complete the conquest. To his ultimate demise, but mine was quicker.

Anyway, pregame thoughts...
Fuck, I'm Russia. I hate playing Russia. Hopefully, neither Turkey nor Austria will come after me if I open soft in the south, and I can work on getting Scandinavia taken care of while they fight.

S1901: Dammit, Turkey moved strong on me, and England's going to put an army in Norway. At least Italy opened to Tyrolia, so maybe Austria won't be coming after me.\

F1901: Hmm, Turkey wants a juggernaut, Italy's hammering Austria, and France and Germany look like they're going to be embroiled for a while. I better figure out how I can get Scandinavia while keeping the west fighting. Austria, too bad, old chap, but it doesn't look like you're long for this game.

1902: OK, France and England can fight and I am just gonna enjoy it. C'mon, France, but not too quickly.

1903: Ok, so I got a little bit cute and got my Baltic fleet into Norway after seeing Germany try and move on the North Sea (hooray!). I also moved a fleet down to Armenia, hoping that Turkey would destroy it and we could get on with the business of rolling over everyone. He obliged in 1904. I thought we had the beginnings of a real partnership.

1904-05: Everybody's fighting, Italy and France seem to be friendly and should be able to contain Turkey in the Med.

1906: Germany's war on everybody continues when he decides that although France has an enormous position edge on England and will probably beat him, it's time for Germany to stir up some trouble on its other flank. I see this, and get kind of cute again. Figuring Turkey will win 2 SC off the death of Austria, I decide to take Rumania so I can build an army in Warsaw and start killing Germany. I figure we both should get an SC that turn, so neither party gets too strong relative to the other. I figured Turkey, who had impressed me to this point as a sound judge of the board, would be cool with it when he saw that I was using it in the north. I was mistaken, in a big way.

1907: Turkey takes back Rumania. Fair dinkum,as I took Denmark off of Germany's hands. Meanwhile, Germany decides he wants to give his country to France, and England decides that his last gasp should be an attempt at Norway or St. Pete.

1908: Turkey's not satisfied with Rumania, and wants Sevastopol as well. Unfortunately, for him, Sevastopol can retreat to Armenia. Screw you, if you're totally done with our friendship, I'll help Italy out. Germany decides to bang his head against me for a year.

1909: Germany decides that maybe he really does want his own country, and heads off to fight France, unsuccessfully. meanwhile, Italy takes some advantage of the Turkish retreat from their forward position, but less than I'd hoped. Oh, well, I can aim for the 4 way draw.

1910: Germany decides France is too much, and he wants a piece of me again. I simultaneously decide that I'm not going to be able to hold Denmark, and Norway and Sweden will be difficult, so it's time to stuff the Baltic with fleets and ride out to the draw. Turkey's bringing its fleets towards me, though. Screw that noise, he loses Rumania again.

1911: He disbanded Galicia to keep fleets against me? I don't know if he understands the idea of the draw. Meanwhile, Italy and Turkey keep sparring rather than focusing on the large French presence. Screw it, there isn't going to be a draw. But I will kill Germany before the end of the game.

Well, the other players just kept attacking each other and ignoring me, so I WON!

:hi5 NoFog:

Truly Bob, you had the right of it. I have NO idea why I took Sev, there was really no reason for that. I think that was what lost any chance of stopping France. Well, that, and my continued squabbles with Italy keeping him from focusing on France.