I love playing Italy. It is currently my favorite country.

You're rarely one of the first countries to be defeated an you can have a very strong, yet indirect effect on the game.

you're rarely one of the first countries beaten IF France makes some sense and leaves you alone

I agree, Italy's not that bad. at least it ain't Austria.
@Rem: the main problem is the fact that Trieste and Venice are adjacent, It can be hard to negotiate a DMZ or NAP.

My faves are Italy, Austria and France, so i think only bad players find Austria bad, and Turkey is not too hard to defend, and good to attack as, if Russia is on side

Then I think I just got unlucky on neighbors all the times I've been Austria.

I didn't ask about Austria, I asked about Italy. Seems like all i ever do with them is lepanto, and Turkey stops that every time.

Gee, someone has either a mental disorder or is on drugs or drunk hey mr killer? The thread mentions, France, Austria and Turkey. So why not mention the others. Otherwise just keep the story at Turkey.
Geez

And of course Austria will normally ally with Italy, but how long will they keep it? If turkey or Russia dies, then you're next nearly every time, so you basically have to hope that they don't do too good until you're in position to stab

But that's the fun of the game.

it's simply a game, nothing more. Deal with it and play a game, don't overkill it with analysis

What is? Getting one build for four years while your Austrian neighbor stockpiles? A good player wouldn't leave his SCs open to Italy.

instead of saying I'm on drugs and telling me it's all in the game, why don't you give me some advice Aussie?

Italy sucks balls. Austria, on the other hand, is awesome, especially in a game where you are allowed to do actual diplomacy.

Italy is a very strong nation and very easy to play

I kinda like Italy. It has alot of options early if your not afraid to be creative with your opening moves, and don't just go straight for the classic Lepanto (or one of the variations). You can do a Bohemian Crusher if you want to go for Austria, or even turn it against Germany. You can also go against France. Italy has the potential to meddle in both the east and the west, its just too bad most Italys are way too conservative (combined with a tendency for the Juggernaut to form), which makes it seem like Italy has to do the same thing every time

Also, the Lepanto can be very effective, but I rarely see Austria complete there part, F Gre - Aeg in spring 02, so you often end up with halfdone Lepanto's

Personally, I prefer Turkey, you have a good, strong defensive position and your choices, while limited, are obvious. Sure, it can be frustrating that you can only attack Austria or Russia (or both), but at least you know what you have to do. Or maybe it's just because I'm a crap player.

But with Italy, attacking Austria usually means that Germany won't be happy, and is hard to pull off with out Russian help. An attack against France takes a while to set up, and ts/he can see it from a mile away. Attacking Germany can be hard, as Austria will be annoyed, and you can only attack through Tyrolia, and therefore must rely on French help, which may or may not come, and who would want Munich for him/herself.

Oh, don't annoy killer135. He said he asked about Turkey not Italy, lol

I once played a game where I was trying to lepanto and France came out of nowhere and attacked me. Austria tried to do a full lepanto, but as soon as he saw me pull out, he jumps all over me and attacks me for no reason. He got crushed by Turkey and made no gains from me.

Oh I thought this thread was about germany.

My bad.

This thread is really about Italy I think, and I hate playing Italy too.

Italy is only weak if your relations with Austria are bad, but in higher skill games, Austria will ALWAYS want to ally with Italy until at least Turkey is beat and Russia is crippled. If Italy can't improve his position in time to be an equal and not a stepping-stone to Austria that is Italy's fault and not Austria's.

Nah, this thread is really about Risk and I hate playing with the yellow pieces.

Italy rarely gets hit early. So you have a pretty nice chance to get into midgame without too much trouble, even with a really conservative opening.

You can't expand early, either (unless austria is just terrible). This means you don't get the "everyone go after the big guy" that is a typical opening strategy at the beginning of mid-game.

Yes, winning as Italy is tough as balls, but italy usually has the opportunity to sway the game. I've been in a game where italy had very few SCs, but ended up part of a 3 way draw, because if either of the two major powers hit him, he had a strategy (complete with moves) to give the win to the other power. Really an amazing game, honestly.
Italy is powerful and can get you rule #1 pretty easily in the 3 strategies to win diplomacy (1. survive, 2. be part of a draw, 3. win).