Italy is stronger, imo, because Italy can build fleets and armies. In addition, Italy is far less likely to succumb early on.

I'll also note that one of the players in that game was banned and the others appear to be relatively new. It is significantly harder to survive as Austria with more experienced competition from what I've read and my own meagre experience.

I love Austria, so much fun. Far more interesting than the darn Western nations, which are worth FA

Argh, sorry: "worse, FE"

Wow Stalin you're great, you won as Austria and Turkey and Russia weren't even playing for most of it.

And you knew that Turkey was inactive because you know him in real life, and you also know England in real life.

the first game I ever played as austria ended with me having a solo-win with 20 centers

I'd say austria is not bad at all

Of course Austria is the best country in the game. Here is what everyone says about Austria, and why it is untrue.
The 3 way IRT assault: If you allow this then you haven't diplomed properly. Especially since Italy would be an idiot anyway for letting you go down so quick.
Can't build fleets: Ok so you only have one centre for this, but how often will you get more than one build AND want 2 extra fleets in the water? If you're not England, rarely if never.
Can't easily expand into Turkey due to Con bottleneck: This is where Austria's fleet building capabilities come to the fore. Build F(Tri) send it to the Ionian and Aegean with support from Greece and voila!

Since my first win was my first game with Austria, and half of all the solos I've played in were wins by Austria (including Akroma's) Austria is one of the best countries for a diplomat.

I wish to counterpropose that Russia is in fact the useless country in the game because it is basically designed to get stabbed at any point after 1902.

France is useless.

Why?

Because I never could get the hang of France :-)

France is easy. England and russia are the worst, though.

Is Austria bad? Well Vienna is a little stern and dull, but Salzburg jhas a more playful air and of course the skiing is pretty excellent. That said, many Austrian ski resorts are at pretty low altitudes and so can be less reliable for snow that others...

I love Austria. Of my six times playing it (I think it was six, I don't really know) I won three times. My first two wins were my first two games as Austria.

I agree with what OMGNSO said. If you get ganged up on, you haven't diploed properly. Although, one hilarious game I had, I was Germany and convinced Russia, Turkey, and Italy to help me blitzkreig Austria. He was dead by 1902. It was HILARIOUS.

Also, I hate Russia. But not as much as I hate Germany.

France? Pssh. It's easy, so long as you can get England off you back, and Italy decides to expand West first.

Austria, I hate. And the system seems to set me up as Austria in ~50% of my games. :p