From the Kenyan perspective:
I hate everything. This is supposed to be a good country.

Well played, you four.

I took extensive notes on all my games as I played them. Here's what I have for this game:



Quebec Game 5 gameID=104122

Quebec is stupid.

@ghug, you got slammed by everyone around you early. Unfortunate break :(.

Russia here: Not much to say -- tried to grab Western Siberia and then make peace with PacRus, but he was having none of it, and my ill-advised assault on MidEast left me open to being torn apart. Good game all -- looking forward to the rest of these.

Frozen here: Locked in battle with Oz I could have challenged South Africa for his Antarctic foothold, but was hoping that by not he would leave me alone as well. No such luck. Oz and I fought ourselves to death, neither making enough progress to do anything but die when another country started moving in.

China here: I started off pretty well, finally getting the better of India and managing to stay close to the leaders, but had one of my worst moments of the tourney (as in getting the most pissed) when South Africa seemed to notice that Libya was about to NMR and switched his move to support India in Bombay when I had a seemingly guaranteed take of it. It really set be back and I thought at that point I couldn't survive. I was lucky that Pacific Russia was a great ally the entire game and I was also lucky that when Near East was about to give me a really hard time, Europe devoured him. Then toward the end, WC wrapped around the map to get me and he was a year or two from getting the better of me but then he realized that South Africa was too close to solo to continue battling.

Looking back through the moves, what Europe did in this game is really impressive. He was nearly dead and came back in a huge way.

Libya: Made solid progress in the early years, whittling away at my neighbors (especially Kenya). Ghana was not a concern, given Europes advances south, but my real problem was Frozen Antarctica not putting ANY pressure on South Africa and allowing him to advance north at will. By the end of 1903, I've got a wall of light blue coming at me from land and sea. My NMR was unfortunate, but my fate was decided long before.

Well played, South Africa.

estern Canada:

I had the benefit in this game of taking over a strong position. With everyone else mired in conflict, and South Africa out of reasonable reach, I was able to clean up my continent and focus on taking as much early control of the oceans as I could.

I recognized pretty early that I would need Europe as an ally against South Africa, and figured if I kept chipping away at Pacific Russia, pulling resources east, that Europe would be able to expand. Europe proved to be an excellent ally, which made me feel I could take some risks and leave myself a little exposed to him in order to push more force south and west. Well done, Europe ;)

Nice job, South Africa. It was fun jockeying for the upper hand in South America, and it would have been interesting to play it out a little further to reach a stalemate, but I think the result would have been the same.

Let's just say I have enough other moves to make for this tourney that I didn't feel the need to push this one further :). If I saw a way to break your defenses, I would have plugged on, but I didn't see any clear path to 44 when I decided to hit the Draw button, especially thanks to Europe.

Oz: Refer to FA's post above. Just could not seem to do anything but keeping crashing over and over into the same brick wall. Lost Indonesia to China, which started a downward spiral towards inevitable defeat.

I am sorry that I took Indonesia! I was probably desperate.

Around the World Gunboat Tournament EoG
Game 5

Player: Tasnica
Nation: Europe
Result: 4-Way Draw

PPSC Points: 16
Townshend Points: 22
Continent Points: 10

-2000-

Europe! Definitely not the world's easiest nation to play. While relatively defensible by land, it is accessible from multiple angles by sea, allowing a multitude of potential invaders access, and a lot of sea to cover. Additionally, it has access to relatively few neutral territories. Great Britain can not be contested, but all the others almost certainly will be. More than a single build in 2000 seems to be rare for Europe, which is amplified by the fact that neighbor Russia often gets three.

For my opening, the Mediterranean was an obvious choice. It is one of the most valuable spaces on the board, bordering eight supply centers, and I can not afford to allow anyone else in there. For my other fleet, I had the choice of NEA or North, and chose the former to allow more influence over Africa. It isn't like I had much hope of acquiring Scandinavia anyway. Germany went to Poland to keep Russia from doing the same.

Spring moves: Med and Pol are bounced, and I occupy NEA. Quebec doesn't go for Godthab, and Ghana is bounced out of Algeria. Everything else is pretty standard.

For fall moves, I decide to take the free Morocco instead of GBr. I hope that this will convince a three-build Russia that I am not interested in fighting him, so that I can find some African allies and expand there.

Developments elsewhere are promising. Quebec gets _no_ builds, Ghana is in conflict with both Kenya and Libya, South Africa gets a triple build, and Near East isn't contesting the Med. In bad news, Russia offers PRussia peace and builds a fleet in StP north coast, clearly wanting Godthab.

I build F France for Britain, and hope Russia doesn't come after me immediately.

-2001-

Russia comes after me immediately, unless he's just taking Poland to establish a perimeter. Still makes me uncomfortable, though, but on the bright side I get Med and Ghana seems more interested in Libya than myself.

Unfortunately for Ghana, I conclude that I desperately need a double build to be able to defend myself against the larger Russia, and so choose to firmly ally with Libya by taking Algeria. This is successful, and both Ghana and Kenya find themselves in trouble as Russia does indeed close in on my centers.

Russia builds a second northern fleet, but I have several lifelines. Firstly, my double build, which gives me a fighting chance. Secondly, Western Canada, who is slaughtering Quebec and is building northern fleets that could someday harass Russia. Finally, PRussia, who has made peace with China and has armies pointed west.

-2002-

Russia prods at India, but Near East clearly has other ideas in mind. This is good, because I now have to worry about refugees sailing across the sea.

Yes, refugees. Got your ass kicked by your neighbors? No worries! Just sail away and camp out in a few centers from an unexpecting player! This happened a _lot_ in this tournament, and was particularly annoying when coming from nations which had previously been friendly, and only spontaneously made a beeline for my centers after being unceremoniously ejected from their own.

Of course, being a hypocritical bastard, I've done this a few times myself, though I always prioritize nations which have screwed me in some fashion over poor saps who happen to be nearby.

Anyhow, back to this game. One of Quebec's fleets plants itself within range of a whopping _four_ of my centers, and I can't defend all of them thanks to both Russia and Ghana trying to kill me (the latter with good reason).

So, I improvise. I figure that Quebec will almost certainly hit France like the opportunistic refugee he is, and send Germany to bounce him. I have Italy cut Austria support, and have North move to Scandinavia. I figure that Baltic is a likely candidate for attacking Germany, so cutting support won't do any good, and if I lose Germany that way I'll at least get Sca.

My predictions end up being correct, and I bounce Quebec out of France. Sorry, immigrants, but your visas have been rejected!

Meanwhile, Russia defends both Ukraine and Sca. He neglects to defend Godthab, however, and is forced to demolish his army in Turkmenistan (immediately after helping Near East to a center)! I'm still, alas, under heavy siege.

-2003-

Ghana and I sort of leave each other alone, which is just as well as Russia is hitting hard. He gets Germany, but at the cost of Scandinavia. Worse for him, Quebec is still on the prowl, and PRussia has West Siberia surrounded. Western Canada is too busy with America to be of any help.

In the fall, I swap Sca back for Germany, which is just as well, as Russia is in huge trouble anyway. He loses WSi to PRussia and StP to Quebec.

Elsewhere, Kenya dies, and SA invades Ghana. Libya is chilling out in the Med, which is concerning, but he's been my buddy so far, and has SA to worry about.

Also, SA builds an army in Sanae. We all know where this is going.

-2004-

South Africa goes on a blitzkrieg, attacking Ghana, Libya, and Argentina simultaneously, while setting up to stab Antarctica as well. This wouldn't bother me, except that I suspect he's eyeing my North African holdings as well. Western Canada is also expanding like wildfire, and his eastern fleets are starting to get close.

In the fall, I make a bid for Scandinavia, but PRussia fails to make any helpful moves. Meanwhile, both WC and SA get triple builds, and I begin to feel the fear of stagnation. PRussia and WC are working together, SA is killing everyone on his own, and other than Libya (who NMRs this turn) I don't have any clear allies.

-2005-

Suspecting that either South Africa or Western Canada is going to attack me soon, and deciding that I need to do something unexpected to secure further growth, I give up on Scandinavia and sail into Poland instead.

You see, Scandinavia is vulnerable to Canadian attack, which I feel is on the horizon. I need to secure territory inland, which is rather complicated given that I only have two armies and Pacific Russia is fighting over Russian territory.

The solution? Why, sail into Ukraine, of course! I support my Polish fleet into Ukraine, possibly dropping Russia's jaw in the process (and perhaps those of PRussia and Near East). Meanwhile, SA starts trying to steal my African stuff, and WC plops a whole bunch of fleets next to my territory. Guess I'd better start building a Black Sea empire!

Europe EoG, Part 2

-2006-

I close in on Scandinavia and Belarus while Libya collapses under SA, and the fight continues over my North African colony. WC offers peace, at least, thank goodness, and by this point he is obviously going to war with PRussia.

Fall moves are a relieving success, and I capture the last two Russian centers with help from WC and PRussia (who are still fighting). SA finally outguesses me in the south, though, and Libya is pushed back to Egypt. SA is huge now, with over 20 centers.

The question is, where to go from here? Attacking South Africa from the north would be difficult at best, and I am almost certainly going to lose the rest of my colony. WC could wreck my day if he wanted to, but he's fighting PRussia and would risk further SA expansion by attacking me. Not that this would stop a lot of people, so I don't count on it.

Near East, meanwhile, is pounding China, and will probably finish him off at around the same time that SA defeats Oz. The two of them would be logical foes afterward, but them fighting wouldn't be that great for me. If SA wins, he's a serious solo threat, and if NE wins then WC and/or PRussia can put me under siege.

So, I decide to profit from PRussia's decline and build up enough strength to convince WC to leave me alone. Then, if WC and SA aren't crashing into me by then, I can go after NE.

-2007-

Spring moves go perfectly. I stall SA, launch a successful surprise attack on PRussia for two centers (and the continent of Europe), and WC gives me some space. Hallelujah!

In the fall, I lose Algeria, but get two builds regardless by managing to snag West Siberia from PRussia. This finally gives me a sizable nation to work with, but the competition remains fierce. SA and WC both get triple builds (again), but on the bright side NE is stagnating and his homeland is poorly defended. I see a clear opportunity to seize his territory before South Africa can take it for himself.

-2008-

Much to the joy of China, I launch a blitzkrieg against Near East, exploiting my fleets in the Black Sea and Mediterranean to thrust armies into his homeland. I seize Turkey and Armenia right off the bat, and grab East Siberia as well to finally get a triple build of my own. Of course, both SA and WC get triple builds as well. Again.

-2009-

The now-huge SA clearly realizes he has solo potential, because his troops start racing all over the place, with particular targets being the collapsing Near East and South America.

I snag Iraq, while WC claims the remainder of PRussian territory. This limits my future growth options, but fortunately I now have enough units to forge a solid fleet perimeter that can do a decent job of keeping out both WC and SA.

SA manages to get Saudi Arabia, though, and with a growing number of footholds he now seems a considerable solo threat. I start prioritizing defense against him over defensive measures for WC, as with each passing turn it becomes more suicidal for WC to dare attack me.

-2010-

Spring moves, I claim Iraq, but SA grabs both Bombay and West Australia. A possible solo is definitely foremost on my mind, but other than locking SA out of the Mediterranean and Near East there isn't all that much I can do about it. I reinforce my southern defenses, and contemplate how to be of more assistance in Asia.

Meanwhile, I start to grow rather concerned about Western Canada. While he is a clear ally at this point, he seems to be fighting all the same nations that SA is fighting, and not interfering all that much. True, I'm fighting NE, but I have a solid defensive position and SA has little hope of breaking through my fleet wall. Western Canada, on the other hand, just has units all over the place, and the South Africans are swarming everywhere.

For this reason, I don't even think about going after China. Which is good, because with WC already attacking him there is already far too much distracting from thwarting an SA foothold in Asia.

Europe EoG, Part 3

-2011-

All right, it's time to get serious. It is evident by this point that the outcome of this game is going to almost entirely based on whether or not SA solos, so all other concerns are henceforth secondary.

Priority 1: Hold NEA and Med at all costs. Check.

Priority 2: Isolate the Near East remnant and ensure that he is of no help to SA.

Priority 3: Ensure that China does not fall into SA hands.

To this end, I fortify my naval defenses and starts moving armies into Asia. The rest, alas, is up to WC and the minor powers.

By the end of the year, I have NE cut off from doing any damage to me, and am encouraging him to cover Pakistan. WC pulls more of his troops away from me, which reassures me that he isn't thinking of doing anything stupid with me (though he still seems quite eager to do stupid things with China).

The situations in South America and Australia aren't looking good, either. The former now has a whopping four SA armies, and the latter is slowly being surrounded by the SA navy. But I can't do anything about either of those fronts, so...

-2012-

Spring moves are definitely disconcerting. Neither Oz nor NE have any interest in slowing down SA, Canada is losing ground in the Pacific, SA is now in Pakistan, and Canada is still trying to cut out the Chinese.

In the fall, I begin launching mixed assaults against North Africa to keep SA on his toes, hoping to either punch a hole or force him to start ordering all support holds. Meanwhile, I start supporting Delhi and Canada manages to disband one of the SA armies in South America.

-2013-

In the spring, Canada finally gets my message and offers peace to the Chinese. NE, however, declines my last attempt to support him into Pakistan, sealing his fate. SA takes Rio de Jeneiro, and it is clear that New South Wales is on the chopping block as well.

Fall, I take Afghanistan to finish off NE. Oz is also defeated, so we're down to four players. With cooperation between China and Canada, Chinese defenses are now quite solid, confirming that the game will be decided in South America and Australia.

In South America, Rdj is retaken by Canada, but at the cost of Brasilia! Chile, however, falls to Canada, and both sides are pumping in reinforcements.

-2014-

This is a decisive year. I take Pakistan in the spring, putting Bombay under threat, and Canada secures most of the Pacific. Brasilia is retaken, but Peru, Rdj, and Chile are all lost.

Fall moves, Peru is retaken by Canada, and SA also gets kicked out of Indonesia, while barely holding onto Bombay. Now even New Zealand will be difficult for SA to capture, and further gains in South America will be nearly impossible against a competent defense.

Recognizing this, South Africa draws, and the game ends.

-Closing Thoughts-

Russia: I originally wanted peace with you, but you would have none of it. Our resulting war was an enjoyable challenge, but your earlier provocation of PRussia and Near East came back to bite you later. You also weren't able to defend yourself from the Quebec refugees in the same way I was. Even then, I might have left you alone had it not been for Africa being too competitive and me always wanting to try sailing to Ukraine from Poland.

Ghana: You had the misfortune of being my preferred first opponent by default, and your early conflict with Libya sealed that fate. Unfortunately, you then got so tied up in trying to counter Libya and myself that South Africa was able to sail right in.

Libya: My early ally! Helping South Africa kill Kenya kind of came back to bite you, and Ghana's thirst for vengeance left you fighting a two-front war. Combined with your NMR, you didn't stand much of a chance. Fun while it lasted, though!

Quebec: It really sucks when your chosen opening just happens to be the one that gets completely shut down by whatever it is your neighbors decide to do. I don't think I've seen a no-build Quebec before that hadn't NMRed. Your attempt to steal France later on certainly wasn't appreciated, but you get a bit of a pass for then taking StP.

Western Canada: You absolutely slaughtered your neighbors, and proved to be an excellent ally in the mid-late game, though it admittedly took a long time for me to trust you. You also contributed substantially toward stopping the SA solo, and narrowed the draw while you were at it, so additional props for that. I just wish that you had given up on China sooner, as trying to cut him out was immensely risky, as far as I'm concerned.

South Africa: Well played! You were obviously the dominant force in this game, and it took a great deal of coordination to finally bring your offensive to a halt. I feel really sorry for all your neighbors.

Near East: You were doing really well until South Africa started getting huge and you kept on fighting China. I knew then that you were probably going end up getting stabbed and killed by him down the road, so I took your centers while I had the chance. Unfortunately for you, you ended up being far less essential to the draw than China.

Pacific Russia: You played a fine game early on, and I owed you one for pummeling the Russians. I probably would have left you alone had Canada not made you his next target. As things were, though, I had no desire to fight the superior Canadian navy and your centers were relatively accessible. You're probably the nation I felt worst about attacking, though.

China: You never really caught a break in this game, as other than PRussia it seemed that just about everyone wanted to kill you. Fortunately, you mounted an impressive defense and stayed alive long enough for your survival to become a necessity. All the nations who tried to kill you eventually paid for it, and by the end of the game everyone else came to realize this.

Great EoG, Tasnica -- you're absolutely right that the move from Poland -> Ukraine confused the hell out of me. I'd be mad, but honestly it was a brilliant use of your knowledge of the gameboard. Our fights were fun and challenging, but (as you said) PacRuss never forgave me for grabbing Western Siberia, and I couldn't fight both of you *and* the Quebequois refugees. Great game, and great EoG.

Yes, thanks Tasnica. That was excellent.

Jmbo: Or Quebecer, if you prefer to be less French. ;)

Bump for Near East, Ghana, Argentina, India, Brazil, USA, and Pacific Russia. :)

Random question for the surviving players: what became of your starting units? One thing I like to do sometimes after a game is track the fate of my original three units, and see what they accomplished (and what ultimately became of them).

Europe's Starting Units:

-Fleet France-

This fleet conquered Morocco, my first neutral center, then was garrisoned in North Africa for several years. After a brief tour of duty elsewhere, it returned to North Africa until the region was overrun. Then, for the rest of the game, it defended the crucial location of Northeast Atlantic against South Africa.

-Army Germany-

After a brief entanglement with the Russians, this army returned to Germany for defense, and was also the unit which successfully kept the Quebec refugees out of France. Afterward, it was dislodged from Germany, made several failed efforts to invade Scandinavia, and eventually invaded Russia instead. Following the conquest of Russia, it participated in the invasion of Pacific Russia, which it defended until South Africa became a global threat. It then marched south to Afghanistan, conquered it, and finally moved to Pakistan, which it defended until game's end.

-Fleet Italy-

This fleet worked closely with the French fleet in the African Campaign, and after said campaign ended in defeat it spent the rest of the game in the Mediterranean, convoying many armies and holding the line against South Africa.

Fleet Sanae IV: defended BAT/Sanae IV early on, then went on to take Syowa/Mawson, and eventually land in Indonesia. Game ended when this guy got booted from there.

Army Namibia: lead the charge up the middle through Africa. I think this guy was the one who ended up in Saudi Arabia, but I'm not sure.

Fleet South Africa: maneuvered from Mozambique to the Channel to Northwest while assisting the takedown of Kenya. Eventually plows across the Indian Ocean and ends the game in South Pacific Ocean.

bump for EOGs