RUSSIA:

I started out as Russia, not my favorite country. I must've made some mistakes here and there but well, I ended up in a draw which is a pretty good result for me as playing Russia. Mostly I'm lucky to get a survive. Anyway, let the show begin:

I don't remember much of the first year, probably some dealings with Turkey, Austria and Italy about screwing their respective neighbours. Except, England, Germany and I closed a secret deal, after England showed me how effective a Northern Alliance could be. G&E would focus on eliminating France while I was free to go in the East. Perhaps not the best alliance being Russia, but it does leave options open. Ofcourse our alliance was secret and I needed a friend in the east too. This became Turkey. The plan was to use him to eliminate some others and then I could stab him and E&G would join in. Constantly I was doubting when and if to stab Turkey. More about that later.

For from the start Italy was messing around in the north, being a great menace to Germany. Of course, Germany asked for help and of course I was reluctant. An alliance is as strong as its weakest link, and frankly I wasn't going to spend my powers just to save Germany. England and I discussed joining in, but around 1904 Germany had pushed Italy from his borders. Meanwhile E&G were doing a good job on France, which was a problem for me as they would be sooner finished in the west and start looking east. Things with Turkey went pretty great and I think at that time we had a good alliance, all the more reason for me to doubt our Northern Alliance plan and I discussed with England a 'second option' of joining Turkey for a three way draw.

Luckily I was correct keeping the alliance with Turkey as in 1905 E&G tried to stab me. I managed to build up some distrust with Germany as he was opening his back to English attacks and he retreated somewhat. From then things got a bit messy as Turkey decided to stab me and not to stab me and England had serious prospects of winning. At the time Turkey made a move against me England would be able to win easily by gobbling up Germany and taking some of my centers. This I told Turkey and he backed off. Problem for me was I was less active in these years, like the title says it was a game for busy people and I was... quite busy with a new thing in my life. So those years I missed a lot of the diplomacy, which must've led England and Turkey to the plan to divide the board in half. Lastly, this happened. I was helping Turkey with the stalemate line when the decisive stab came. I could've seen it, I should've seen it, I saw it happening and I didn't care (much). But eventually I managed to convince Turkey he wouldn't get to 17 before England would've taken the win. With me having three dots left, Germany one, we made up a stalemate line which should've worked. However, England was away and his sitter forgot to enter orders - and so voted for a draw. An end of a very interesting game.

@England & Germany: at the time you guys stabbed me in 1905 I still was going along with the alliance. So, why? :(

@ England: you feared I would stab you in 1903. Why?

And of course I am curious to the experiences of the other players :)

Germany:

An interesting game indeed. Before any turns had taken place, I negotiated a 3 way alliance between myself, Russia, and England that was to carry us through to the end game for a 3 way draw. I of course had expectations of more if I could manage them as England obviously had and Russia most likely did as well.

In the mean time, I fed France some bs about how us working together could only be good for the both of us, and I spoke with Austria about how the German people must work together. The interesting part that would lead to my eventual destruction was Italy's approach.

Italy discussed his idea of the Austrian crusher. Seeing a chance to strengthen Austria while allowing myself ample time in a French war, I quickly agreed to Italy's idea and fed advice to Austria. To my dismay, Austria chose not to listen at all. Had he taken my advice, Venice would have been in Austrian hands at the end of 1901... alas, he did not.

Things progressed well, and I accepted that Austria would be doomed for choosing not to listen to me. However, the Italian front line that now separated myself and Austria did worry me. Bohemia to Silesia was ordered and all hell broke loose. Italy of course swore to be that he was going for Russia, which I was totally content with, but didn't believe for a second. Over the next 2 years, a series of moves with slight help from Russia allowed me to drive Italy out of the Rhineland, and I finally convinced Austria to take Venice, though, it was too late for poor Austria by then.

In 1905, still recovering from the war with Italy, I took English advice to betray Russia. The plan had always been to divide France evenly between the two of us, but the Italian excursion had left me with no French SC's of which to speak. With England clearly the dominant player, I assumed Russia, all his troops focused in the south, would be better served if I had his SC's.

My plan was to grow quickly and then throw everything at England, while simultaneously getting Turkey to betray Russia and eventually see a 3 way draw between England, myself, and Turkey. This plan clearly did not work out. A half-hearted stab of Russia by me, realizing England had become too powerful for me to stop on my own, resulted in an eventual mutual stab between myself and England in 1906, with England coming out on top.

This progressed quickly as Turkey eliminated Italy and England had me on the ropes with Russia looking intently at my SC's, hoping to get some payback for my aforementioned stab. Seeing no other choice, I promised England the game as long as he left me with a chance for a survive. England agreed, not attacking Berlin and bouncing Turkey in Marseilles.

This was nearly fatal for Russia. A Turkish stab, my moves towards Warsaw, Moscow, and St. Pete's, and England's acquisition of Munich and St. Pete's left Russia with only a few SC's left. Turkey and England were clearly the drivers in the game, with England the one with a chance for a solo.

Somehow, I had managed to get an army into Warsaw, surrounded by Russia, England, and Turkey. The first 2 held animosity for me and the latter likely saw me as a necessary nuisance. I started frantically writing between everyone, proposing a 4 way draw.

With Russia, it was easy enough. A draw was simply the best outcome he had to offer, and making peace with a Turkey that had stabbed him was the best outcome. England was a much harder sell. I merely tried to convince him that a draw was the only thing he'd be able to achieve and ending the misery now was the best case scenario. I had been feeding England that bs for the past 3 years, and England had been telling me that Turkey would be willing to gobble me up in a draw, so our exchange was little more than formality in which neither of us took the other serious. Turkey was reasonable and realized his chance at winning had just barely slipped out of his hands. A stab a turn earlier may have changed that outcome, but now it was time to force a stalemate line.

Standing pat in Warsaw, I merely waited, encouraged, and hoped that I would gain a support hold each turn, which I did. In the final turn, England's sitter nmr'd, but the outcome had been determined by this point.

FINAL NOTES:
Russia- I am sorry for my betrayal. My head was spinning from the Italian adventure, and I was just trying to set myself up best to participate in the eventual draw. I feel sorry for you. The only person you didn't come into conflict with was France, and England, myself, and Turkey each pulled stabs on you. However, I'm glad you were able to participate in the draw.

Italy & Austria:
I'm glad you both died! I'm joking, kind of, but I want to know if you two agreed that Italy would be targeting me and that's why you didn't do anything Austria? I couldn't believe you didn't take my suggestions to wait for Italy's move and then sneak into Venice.

England:
Well played. It's a shame that Italy got into the Rhine, because I think this may have actually ended up a 3 way draw between myself, you, and Turkey had we been able to take France out efficiently and then stab Russia well maintaining a level of parity.

Turkey:
You probably had the choice to knock me out of this game, so thank you for not doing so. Also, thank you for the stab of Russia which gave me the ability to take Warsaw eventually. Good playing with you.

France:
Sorry

I'll comment tonight. I had a lot of fun in this game.

@Germany: it was never my intention of gobbling up centers from you. At some point you were fighting England, and I'd rather have a buffer state than take a few of your centers myself but be vulnerable to stabs. Which was exactly what happened: when finally taking MUN with Turkey's help I was consequently to weak to resist a stab from him.

And yes, I was kinda pissed when you decided to keep two armies to take out Warsaw, while I was already under pressure from both Turkey and England. When Turkey put up a list of orders to create a stalemate quickly agreed. It was that or a win for England - or worse, elimination.

* I quickly agreed

I was sitting for England for the last phase, so I don't have a lot to add - except I NMRed for the last move like an IDIOT.

Having said that, I'm not certain I could have breached the line set up in Spring 11. Pulling back far enough to let Warsaw get wiped would have been feasable, but it doesn't look like Lando was interested in that - so in the end, it may have been moot.

I know what variation I won't play again... I like to talk to much and this was too restrictive for me. That said, Lando played a great game and took me down hard. Gratz, buddy!

That's about all I ever do EOG wise. I don't look to the past, only to the future.

EOg France

they bunched up. effect France dead. nothing more to add. I believe i tried my best but my future was set in stone already

Wow. Nice Dutch delegation in this one...

Like I said, I really enjoyed this game. I don't have a huge EOG but do want to make some specific comments around the endgame.

The game started and everything was confusing. Italy was moving North. It came to be clear to me that A/I/F were allied as were R/E/G. This left me the odd one out but considering I was Turkey this was a good thing.

I probably talked to England more than anyone else all game. We consistently sent our allotment's worth of messages and long ones at that. It was through him I was able to better understand the board. Things seemed ripe for a jugg and Russia agreed so we went for it.

England was way ahead of everyone by the time AH and France were about gone. At this point I made a deal with Italy to help me against England. He did it was great.

I began talking to England about a 2way draw. This seemed feasible considering our powers and positions. I outlined some expectations and with that I stabbed Italy only to have my expectations shot down. England was being emotional by this point and I told him he missed his chance and it was time to draw at the stalemate, 5 ways.

At this point, Italy came to me with a suggestion of a move to WMS. I said sure, of course, but I knew this was him effectively sealing his fate. If he moved past the stalemate line he couldn't protect his centres and he became expendable. Draugnar - why did you do this?

England and I got back on track. I hesitated about stabbing Russia but eventually when I thought I had the right position I did it. I made sure ot be clear with England again regarding where he could and couldn't go. I also made sure to always have a chance at a stalemate.

England stabbed me a second time, moving to LIV and PRU and I knew the game was over as long as Russia agreed to my stalemate. I sent it out and both G and R agreed and I knew the game was over.

Bas - I tried to be extremely clear about how I wanted the endgame to go. I even outlined my contingencies and what I would do if you lied to me. How did you presume to get a solo out of this game when I always had a stalemate line. All your move at the end did was included Germany in the draw. Maybe even England. A 4way is a fine result, but we could have done so much better. I gave you a few chances but you blew it on every occasion. I really want to know what you thought at this stage.

bump

England, where are you, you mastermind?

E won't be back until after the holidays

@Lando - Just as Han did in Empire, I put my misplaced trust in someone named Lando Calrissian. :-)

But seriously, I was already dead and not going to see the end game by the time that happened. I knew it, you knew it. It was just a matter of when I would be eliminated, not if.

I have kept notes during the game. I will polish them (check for spelling errors mainly), and publish them here.

This is probably the longest post I ever made, so you guys have every right to be like tl;dr.

Here are my actual thoughts during the game. I haven't edited anything, so it is a bit incoherent. But it shows my thought proces, which may be interesting.

Spring 1901: I didn't want to play EF, since I'd always have to worry about France moving Mao-Iri at some point. I wanted to play together with Russia. I saw how great the results could be in gameID=64209. Germany and Russia both reacted well to my ideas, so I decided to open to the channel.

Fall 1901: Russia/Germany/England is happening, great! I have entered the channel, and now I really want to take Brest. I've proposed to go Eng-Bel, which discourages France to move Bur-Bel, and encourages Mao-Por. I am also luring Italy and France towards playing Tyr-Mun with support. If all works out, France will get 1 build (A Par), and I get 2. And Germany won't be building fleets in a ERG alliance. I'm unsure of Russia, though. He could build in Stp, and the shit hits the fan...

Builds 1901: The most important phase of the game, deserving of more credit than it usually gets. My mission so far has been to make sure France, Germany and Russia don't build fleets. With France I have succeeded, with Germany I might, and with Russia I'm not sure. He has foolishly left only Mos&Stp empty, and now he needs to waive a build. He hasn't played much to the point, so he might fail this small task.

Spring 1902: What a devious player that Italian is! It's probably Draugnar. I've single-handedly set up a true northern triple, we're blitzing France and Austria, and now he screws it all up! I need to re-engage in diplomacy with everyone, try to find out what's happening, and how to react. If only he had waited until after France dies. If he lives, that guy is gonna be so pissed... Time for a cunning plan.

Fall 1902: Eden took over for me, made a solid move, and confirmed my alliance with Germany.

Spring 1903: I'm going to take Paris or Mao now (unless he finds the only counter). Germany is trying to move Ruh-Kie, Bel-Ruh. If it fails, hopefully I'll have a retreat to Belgium.

Fall 1903: Paris is mine, and Mao is going to be mine soon. Germany will take Munich, but he can't build. Maybe he'll even lose Berlin. That would be great. I'm happy with Italy in Gal, as long as he harrasses Russia, I don't have to worry about Norway. Just a few more moves, and Germany and I can take Stp and Sweden.

Fall 1904: I fucked up my convoy, great. For what it's worth, it succeeded in the fall. Marseilles was a good gamble, though not so hard with France's obvious play. I am actually doing really great. I'm leading the board! Should I start thinking about solos already? Nah, let's just play nice for a while. Stab Russia, use Germany and Turkey as allies, then stab Germany for the solo, or a two-way with Turkey. Yeah, that sounds right.

Fall 1905: A difficult decision is to be made. Should I stab Germany, or not? I can go Bel-Hol, Nth-Hel, Eng-Nth. Germany gets no builds, maybe even a disband, and I get 3. Next year I'm almost guaranteed to take Kiel and Denmark, propelling me to 13. But the question is, can i still solo from that position? I think it all depends on Turkey. If he keeps tight with Russia, I'm not getting past the stalemate line. But if he stabs Russia, I may get chances.

Fall 1906: So, that was a wild year. Germany stabs me, which was stupid. Turkey makes a brilliant move with Italy, but it falls apart immediately. I may be getting renewed chances to solo. Italy's reacted positively to my plan of giving him Tunis. If he gets Tun, I can keep it in his possesion until the endgame. Then Italy has no other options in the endgame than to throw the game to me.

Spring 1907: Starting to get doubts... Turkey is angry. I've made up a complete rubbish story about Tunis, and he doesn't seem to buy it. Most problematic thing: Italy isn't playing nice. They all vote draw, and Italy starts pushing me to hit the draw button. I need him to be desperate, but I also need him in Tunis. Russia just royally screwed up his orders. A complete NMR, except for moving his units close to me.

Have a made a mistake in helping Italy? It felt like a golden opportunity, but maybe it'll backfire. Only time will tell...

Fall 1907: Exciting times. Germany stopped talking, but I'm going to eliminate him anyway, so I don't care. Turkey is reaching out big time. He sounds sincere, and he wrote like two pages of text. I don't understand what the point of that would be if he doesn't intend to make peace. Italy's still a wildcard. His play with two units is almost as agressive as with the five he once had. I like his style. It's probably not optimal, but it makes for exciting games.

Bottom line: if my diplomacy works out, I'll end the turn with two builds. If not, I might even end with two disbands. A scary thought...

Fall 1908: Phew. Germany and Italy made some non-moves. Russia attacks me, which was anticipated. But most importantly, Turkey and I are back on track! Italy will be eliminated this year, Germany will be reduced to Mun/Ber/Mar, and Turkey will gain two. Turkey's talking about a two-way. If he's serious, this game may end very well for me...

Fall 1909: A disappointing end. Turkey doesn't have the spirit to continue for a two-way. I don't know if this is a good decision or not. It depends on how communication between him and Russia has developed. I'm quite curious to see the EOG statements there.
There remains only one chance: Germany has offered support into Munich if I promise not to attack Berlin. It could be the final trick of a player facing elimination, but maybe it's an opportunity. I could offer to leave Marseilles, thus giving him to units to play around with. If he then uses those armies in my favor...

Spring 1910: Germany is my puppet. Great! And Turkey did the stab! If I play this correctly, I should be able to win. There is no way that Turkey can eliminate Russia, convince Germany to defend a hopeless position, and gain his two-way. The question I should be asking right now is not "How can i win?", but "What can stop me from winning?". I like the sound of that. Still, it's a pity for Lando. He deserved his part in a two-way. But what can you do?

Fall 1910: Lando made a better move than I gave him credit for. Moving Bud-Gal was really very clever. I guess this proves why he consistently wins gunboats, and I fail at the endgame. He tells me they have a stalemate line, which probably means they do. Let's just hope Lando isn't the kind of player that keeps a small country in the draw just to spite the big power.

Spring 1911 and onwards: I consider this the end of my game. Stratagos took over from me, and made a four-way out of it, which is kinda disappointing from a GR perspective, but I don't really care.

There were some specific questions posed to me.
From Ursa: at the time you guys stabbed me in 1905 I still was going along with the alliance. So, why? :(
You didn't stab Turkey in 1904, and you were starting to grow big and scary. I figured if I waited any longer, I would not be able to come out on top so easily. Also, I had no target anymore, so I had to choose whether to stab you or Germany. I hesitated a long time, but decided it would fit my diplomatic purposes better to have Germay as an ally. In the spirit of Machiavelli: protect the weak, and crush the strong.

From Ursa: you feared I would stab you in 1903. Why?
Because it would have been a great move. If you, Italy and France set up your own triple, you would have me and Germany out of position to react, and Austria/Turkey too much at war to create a counter-alliance. You would have had tactical and strategical advantage.

From Lando: How did you presume to get a solo out of this game when I always had a stalemate line?
Being handed it on a silver platter. It was clear (from my perspective at least), that both Russia and Germany had no hope whatsoever of joining in a draw. Why would they hold your stalemate line? Had I been playing until the end, I would have retreated, and allowed you to swallow them up. So they had to choose between survive or defeat. Unfortunately for me, Germany had no problem being eliminated, and Russia wasn' t responding all that much.

Or, if you hadn't made your excellent fall 1910 move, but the obvious take Sev+Bud, you would never hve been able to set up the line in time.

What am I proud of?
- Not stabbing Germany in 1905. It was very tempting, but in the end I decided to keep
- Playing a solid strategical game. At the end of 1901, it was clear that the main theater was going to be the center of the board. This could only benefit me and Turkey. We had a very great long-distance relationship going, and never lost control , except to each other.

What do I reget about this game?
- Misordering twice. The first one was manageable, the second may well have cost me the game.
- Misjudging Italy. I thought he would take my offer on Tunis (and rightly so!), instead the only thing that happened was that Turkey got angry.
- Being too optimistic/underestimating Lando. Reading through my notes, I see I expected to win, when Lando could easily have stopped me (and did). Kudos, Lando!

There is one thing I want to clear up. I'm not an emotional player. I'm a cold-hearted calculating stabber. I stab if I think it gives me victory, if it doesn't, I delay the stab. In 1907, when I stabbed Turkey for the first time, this was the reason. I knew getting Tunis would be crucial to getting the solo, and I should not waste any chance to do so. It meant stabbing a long-term ally, but the solo is worth it. However, this is not the attitude one should portray when negotiating a two-way. SO I feigned to be emotional, I played the 'honour' card big time, in the hope that Lando would have faith to continue for a two-way if and when my attack failed.

Was this a good show? Were you fooled? Most of all, Lando, did my attitude during the Italy/Tunis encounter influence your decision to stab Russia? Would you still have done it if I said what I just said above?

Finally, I would like to give some advice. I don't know if you want it, but here goes.
- democ: Be more creative. Your moves and diplomacy were predictable, which makes you a target. If you do something weird, you can take the initiave, and dominate the game. Take a lesson from Draugnar.
- Tusky: talk more. I didn't receive any message from you during the entire game.
- Ursa: Try to play more aggressive. You didn't stab me, or Turkey, or Germany for the most part. You could have taken the initiave, whereas now, you ceded it to me (and later Turkey).
- patizcool: Nothing to add. You played well, but you were unlucky. Italy's attack in 1902 made you diplomatically and tactially dependent on me, and everyone knew how that was going to end. There was not much you could have done.
- Lando: play more press games. I played you a couple of times in gunboats, which was impressive, but it's much more fun to talk. And you're quite good at it, too.
- Draugnar: This is a hard one. You have everything to be a top player. You are creative, you answer communication punctually, and your tactics are solid. I think you should play more strategical, with a bit more long-term vision. Creative tactics are cool, but they are useless without a bigger plan, if you want to win. Aside from that, try flattery. It really works. Diplomacy players tend to have big egos, and stroking them every once in a while can do no harm. You called me a bold face liar, childish, and an elitist. While most of this is true (I plead guilty to two out of three), what purpose does it serve to tell me this? I only get put off by it.

Quick one for Lando: If I had played until the end, I'd have pulled back everything, put fleets in Stp and Berlin, armies in Marseilles and Spain (if you'd let me). Would you still have kept Germany and Russia in it, just to punish me?

Respect, basvanopheusden! I am totally going to read this, and yes you're right, I am really too nice. :)

Merry Christmas everyone. Just read Bas' post and it is very interesting. A couple of comments/responses from me:

I don't think I would have played for a two way at the end if you were still playing your power. I don't think it is so much to "punish" you but more to show respect to Germany and Russia. As you said, they didn't really need to play for a draw with me but they did. Until your move to LIV the game always had an element of fluidity. When you made that move to LIV and subsequent other moves it was clear that it was a final push for a solo. I believe that if a stalemate line is reached, then a draw is finalized. I have never before engaged an opponent in that kind of a move (a pull away so smaller powers can be eliminated). Both R and G played important roles in that draw. But every situation is different and I cannot answer this question for sure.

You ask about your acting as an emotional player. I must admit that I believed it, but I am not sure it worked as you intended. I honestly look far more to moves than I do to words even in a game like this. And your moves talked a lot for you, Bas. I think you calculated around this as well. Sometimes your moves spoke two-way draw and sometimes they spoke solo attempt. And I tried to go with the flow, defend when I saw your solo attempts and keep you on track when you showed some backing-off. You were talking about being stabbed yourself and I didn't buy that at all. There was no way you could feel the victim in that situation. The fact that you were talking about it and sending the messages you did probably did help me in my decision to stab Russia. But at the end of the day I stabbed Russia because I thought I could reach the stalemate as quickly as you. I knew I couldn't win, but tactically I thought I could make it. I also didn't count on Germany's moves.

I tried very hard to always stay a reachable distance from stalemate lines. I did not talk 2way so much to try and sneak a win, but because it was the best possible outcome for me.

I wonder if there was a way to get to a two-way draw. I mean, there was based on moves but I wonder how I needed to approach it in my dialogue with you to make you commit to it. Would that have been possible, do you think? I wasn't overly thrilled with the ending but I don't know what could have made it better. Likely me not stabbing Russia and playing for the three way...

Very nice to play with you Bas, hope to get the chance again sometime.

I also appreciate you saying I win a lot of gunboats, but really, my strongest skill lies in stopping solos rather than earning them myself.

Good game Bas. I admit I may have appeared emotional as well, but was just trying to claw my way into a draw. You also mentioned that Russia and I had the choice of a survive or a defeat, which would cause us to not play for Turkey. However, I see a defeat and a survive as the same thing. In that situation, I was playing for a draw- if I was eliminated because of trusting Turkey, so be it. I would consider preventing the solo and being eliminated a better outcome than surviving and allowing the solo.

I enjoyed playing with you, and it would have been interesting to see the northern triple play out without Draugner's interference ;)

Well, my interference was required to break up that triple, and it worked. ;-)

@Lando: It was impossible to convince me to play for a two-way draw when I still thought I could win. The moment I knew you'd be able to reach the draw was the same moment I tried to win. As I said, I did not anticipate your 1910 move.

In my opinion, our game went perfect. I don't think a game should go towards its natural conclusion in a straight line. I would have been happy to make the two-way after your defense succeeded.

@patizcool: if that's your approach, my solo attempts were futile. I don't have much experience playing these final endgames, so I wasn't sure what to say.

@patizcool - I feel much the same way about defeat and survive except that survive is *worse* than defeat if I couldn't rally the others to stop the solo or I was to late in seeing the solo approach. I'd rather get wiped than survive a solo.

Indeed. @basvanopheusden: at some point you offered me a survive in exchange of me helping you win. But this offer wasn't actractive for me - though you succesfully told me you'd convinced Germany to such a deal. My fear was indeed to be crushed between you and Turkey but I also knew Turkey wouldn't reach a win before you would, so his best option would be a draw, favorably with me included.