It was a pretty fun game for me as Italy. I don't think I made any huge waves, and I never really had a chance to be the alpha of the board, but I think I did a good job as a wingman.

Anyway, right off the bat, I wanted to signal to Austria that early on, he would get no beef from me. I love the opening which puts my armies in Piedmont and Apulia, as it gives me a possible crack at holding down France's early growth, too. I have to say, Austria and I worked a ludicrously efficient Lepanto, which I think was aided by Turkey feeling safe enough to go after Russia after I opened anti-French.

I thought my signaling was clear, when I moved from Piedmont to Tuscany in the same turn. I figured that would show that I wasn't hunting France, just trying to give him an opportunity to build an army up north to deal with rampant England.

Ugh, France, why did you have to keep against me once I disbanded BUR?

My NMR kinda screwed me, and I wasn't happy to see Italy flip-flop so much.

That should have been a three way draw. I regret not moving to the open French centres when I was on my last legs.

I don't see how this would have ended as any less than a four way draw. Even if you'd taken Brest, which I thought you would, I still would have held onto Spain, Marseilles, and Portugal, which would be more than enough to hold on for the draw once Italy realized what was going on and got his fleets over to prop me up.

I thought you were taking Bre then Por Lando. I was shocked that you went for Lon.

Bob scared me when he vacated Mar and headed my way. I kept signaling that I was friendly. After there were 4 I wasn't going to stab so England could get a cheap win.

Sorry I scared you, Czech. I abandoned Marseilles because there wasn't any way I was going to hold it. I never doubted your amicable intent, but I also had to keep in mind the possibility of an Austrian solo, especially after England stabbed France.

You were the big solo threat for a while there, Czech, and I was anticipating (hoping) that you'd stab Italy for two or three easy centers that he left wide open.

without fleets and without stp i couldn't have soloed

I do want to thank everyone for showing up and playing out the game. It probably shouldn't be noteworthy, but I get a warm feeling in a somewhat cocklish area when no one CDs in a live game.

lol