Sandgoose – Turkey EoG

Pre-game: Pretty stoked that madmarx is actually the one who got me into this game, makes me excited to be playing with all these guys. Just hope I can keep up, I know there was a lot of resistance against me…hopefully he’s Russia or Austria so I can whoop ‘em for trying to talk down to me on the forum >:|
Spring 1901: Okay, talking it up with Austria and Russia, Russia seems pretty flippy floppy as to what he wants, Austria is more set to a future long term relationship. I think I will move in accordance with Austria and just go for the bounce, don’t want to dedicate myself one way and get screwed. Tried to set up a three way with Italy Austria and myself, Austria seems pretty strong for it, Italy…meh, not so much.
Fall 1901: Going to shoot for Rumania and get Russia peezed at me. Going to hit Russia with everything I have, hope that Russia wouldn’t mind the black sea move, have to be willing to adjust before Austria gets too strong, glad Russia moved north.
Builds 01: army in con and fleet in ank, trying to trick Russia into thinking that I am still on his side, actually going to convoy in to Sev. With Austria not building in Tri it makes me a bit nervous…IT building fleet Nap makes me nervous. Maybe Austria might try to lep with Italy. Going to do my best to convince Austria I’m still with him…I am, but…not very sure with that fleet build 

Spring 02: BAHHHH fuckbug….i’m like scrooge with my dildo hanging low…I’m so fucked. But, as my friends always say, keep on going right? I guess the only glimmer of hope is that Italy moved west, perhaps I can get Russia to ally back with me? I’ve screwed him twice already, a third and fourth would make me feel like im raping his trust. Hope I can fix this with Austria, because apparently he wants to be like George bush and send warning signs to the enemy when we attack…has nobody read or understood the whole “element of surprise” thing?

Fall 02:     more smiles than smiley. Negotiated a cease fire, Germany seems to be quite interested in my plans though, is he feeding it to Russia or Italy? Maybe there’s a CPA going on here and I’m just being used…Russia has that thought here, waiting for more proof.
Builds 02: Okay no more surprises, just building exactly what Austria would like, at this point I am at his mercy…mercy mercy…Jesus son of david…lol, nvm, that’s blasphemy up the poop chute. I feel bad for Russia though, he seems to have this real genuine hurt there...it almost makes me want to turn around and kill austria…but it’s too late for that, can’t afford to look back, it will make me appear weak and flippy floppy, I have to stand my ground…but I don’t like deceiving this much…
Spring 03: alrighty, holding down Rumania, getting it back soon…not sure when, I feel like I negotiated my survival pretty well, Austria seems to be buying it all, England is going to work on france for sure…Italy is getting big kind of fast, going to try to convince Austria to turn on him before he becomes a threat…then again…I could work with Italy to get Austria back for being a jerk :D he he he *rubs palms together*…dexter is going to work!
Fall 03: WOOT, got into Sev. Organized the bounce with gre, look at me now! I’m set to survive longer! Sad part here though is that Bulgaria can be left unprotected, need to get Austria off my ass and into Russia fast, he stabbed me once but he’s firm on the no armies crap…it leaves me so defenseless against him…pushy bastard Austria is. Glad that we’re talking it out and compromising though.
Builds 03: just one more army….think I got Austria on board to take Italy out…lets see what happens in the fall…sandgoose you’re doing horrible….get your ducks in a row.
Spring 04: YES, Austria did it! YES, Germany did it! Give myself a few ratta pat pats here and there, I feel bad for Russia though, I don’t like lying so much…in fact, I have never lied so much to one country it’s kind of sad all at the same time..  DMZs in the lower end of the map, full scale northern attacks, looks legit to me.
Fall 04: Italy went about face and left me here in the ion all alone, I think Austria should have jumped into Tyrr so if we are allied to the end of this thing we can beat the stalemate line when England and Germany realize it’s too late…Good move france for the retreat, you get a survive for sure…
Builds 04: I would be an idiot to not build a fleet…building a fleet to sail the 7 seas and enjoy a nice bit of cheese while I am at it.

Spring 05: Writing this over a fantastic baconator from wendy’s….it’s hard not to get the sauce everywhere…if ya know what I mean ;) we have a couple things going on here. I want to take it with Austria all the way at this point, so I’m sticking with him for the rest of the game…I guess my only blackmail ammo is that he stabbed first…Germany is offering Moscow support into warsaw, main issue: armies are all in the north…fudge…I’d do it but I’d be a fool.
Fall 05: COME OOOOON Austria let’s take the game for the two way…but NOOOOO, mr Austria values friendships with the other countries…I say kill em all…I say get me into naples…noooo… *sigh* I think he doesn’t want me to get builds…Supported Germany into st. p…I get this feeling he’s lying and was using me to get Russia out of the game
Builds 05: Germany lied…I hate liars…if it was up to me I’d kill him but Austria is holding me back…I mean…I don’t want a 4 way draw, I’m strongly fighting for a three way, Germany has prime position to attack England, he should do it right? All I know is I can’t push too hard…if I do they’ll cut me out of it…and then what…I get screwed…can’t let that happen…
Spring 06: I guess we are setting up draw lines…I hate this…I was expecting games at this level to keep going until we can’t go anymore, but why isn’t that happening?!?!?!?! Come on guys!!! Germany should be attacking England, England should be pulling back…I should be getting through the med and Austria and I should be set to win this game…why is it that we’re not playing this game until it can’t go anymore…I think they’re bored…either way I’m having a blast! Italy offered to get me into tyr if he gets into GOL, I don’t think he’s actually going to push back….Trying to get Greece in for the win…not sure if we can…
Fall 06: nope, Italy didn’t do it, oh well, guess it’s time to die for him. I guess for this phase not much new to update except that I am frustrated that we are having a four way…It’s just not how I roll the wheels of my bus…Maybe I can make one last attempt with the Austrian to try to keep the momentum going, if he declines again there’s not much I can do…but even though we are locked in the north, at least we can get in the west…Just hoping he might say yes.
Builds 06: Nothing to do here…or even remotely talk about…Although I do find Italy tends to give me the best kind of humor, he’s a pretty cool chap an all, he’s die hard on me trying to solo…note to self that Germany doesn’t like my lovey dubby talk…my, hey baby stuff…meh…it’s coo, I can find another playmate….maybe Austria…or England…yeeeaaa, England.... In other notes and enjoyable EoG, I ate a really good cookie this morning, it was very smooshy and plush. 

Spring 07: Those german moves make me nervous, I have a nagging feeling in my gut that it may or may not be a case for the 4 way draw. Germany seems to have a slight plan to turn on England, at least to gain enough momentum to hold him still…I have nothing protecting my homeland so I am sure as hell pretty nervous. I will move my armies down to defend. I will lose against Austria and Germany if they both fight me…I am hoping that isn’t the case. But I need to pull back and will do so this year…Austria not moving to Ven has me worried…it’s camping in Tri for a possible attack…I’m worried…very worried.
Fall 07: ….it’s going to be a cluster F….good thing I moved back! Blah, I knew I shouldn’t have left myself so exposed, no armies and all fleets, I should have just stood my ground to build a couple armies instead of all these damn fleets that aren’t going to be used for anything except to chill supporting Ionian…damn…I got this nagging gagging feeling in the back of my throat…like somebody just tried to stuff my mouth with a penis or something… T_T

Builds 07: yep, armies…arrrrmies armies armies
YAYYYY twas a draw….surprised that Austria wasn’t MM, I mean he totally had me going after I asked…meh, didn’t really matter either way. I don’t like juggers because turkey tends to get the short end of the stick…that’s alright though, but I can at least see how loyal Austria and Germany were. In the end I guess I came out alright…

Personal notes to all the players:

England: we RARELY talked, and the time when we talked you offered support into tunis and didn’t give it…shame on you sir!

France: whatever communication I did have with you, it was minimal to none…kind of sucks. Make sure you talk with all the players on the map.

Italy: You made a few compelling laughs, you were probably the most fun to talk to
Austria: T_T I don’t know HOW many compromises I had to make with you in this game, I’m glad it ended in a four way because I probably would have not held on to my gains…either way, I still think we should have pushed in the med, we would have made pretty damn good gains, I had the fleets, we had the negotiations. I don’t know why not, I’ll wait for your EoG to find out.

Germany: You’re a nosey character, always wanting to know about everybody else with a lot less, “this is what I am going to do”. I guess you wanted to know if I would stab Austria or not? Good job sticking your nose when It was needed.

Russia: Dearest lovely Russia, you deserved better than me being a fool. I lied to you far too much, I probably shouldn’t have, and hated that. Your arguments of a CPA were VERY compelling, but I put more faith into Austria since he was showing promise. I would have much rather wanted to work with you because jugs are good when turkey has rum and sev and they work from there. But the only problem is that I can’t do much when you’re double dealing under the table and I find out.

To all: good game, glad I could be a part of it. Thanks for having me, and I hope to play with you all again someday soon. ;) Hope you enjoyed my humor if you could. I like a few smiles when I play Diplomacy. :D

End Sandgoose EoG - :D

Others?

Meh. They don't live us zultar

Well, I figure France wouldn't have much to say and Italy would have some rather unpleasant things to say about the two of us but he would have something to say. I really want to hear from E, G, and R.

Me too

I'll try to pull together a few thoughts when I have more time, but for now:

Turkey, what double dealings? It was clear very early that you and Austria were allied against me, while Germany was against me too. England did allow me Norway, but didn't really ally with me, he didn't work with me, so I was trying talk *anyone* into working with me, but that isn't double-dealing, that's Survival 101. I'm not just going to talk to one neighbor when four are against me (if you're not with me, you're against me), I'm going to talk to all four to increase my odds. I'm the loyal sort and pretty good at getting a good read on who's with me, so if I can get someone on my side then I go with the first taker long-term (unless they start lying and/or screwing around on me, of course), but I couldn't get a single taker.

Austria, I'm a little surprised at your fearful approach to playing, perhaps you've been listening to Jacob too much? In the pre-game England offered me Norway free and clear if I moved on Germany. I didn't want to move on Germany, but I decided to open north and then England let me into Norway, which England did because England was looking out for his own best interest and then that freaks you out that I'm a good diplomat for talking England into giving me Norway? That whole scenario, in addition to two different things you've said to me separate from this game through PM's all point to a strategy of being scared to ally with a good diplomat (a la Jacob)?

In general, as Russia, I'm just looking for one loyal neighbor to ally with long term. Hell, I could even work with two loyal neighbors long-term. I got the best vibes from Austria and Germany, I just couldn't close the deal with either, and I would have taken both. I never got a real good vibe from Turkey, probably because of all his lies. England gave me Norway but was pretty aloof most of the game, which was odd. Not sure what else to say at the moment, I've been on the road about 8 hours today and haven't been very engaged with the game for a week or two, so I'd have to look back at things a bit more to add much, though since I died it's much more interesting to read about what people did right.

@MM,
I don't know who Jacob is, and I don't know if I am "scared to ally with a good diplomat." I thought Germany was a good diplomat and I had an excellent relationship with him all game long. However, I will allow for the possibility that you are correct. Subconsciously, I could very well be creating situations where I distance myself from those whom I thought would be "too good" at the end of games, though I thought what I did was dependent on how I read the board at the time. To each his own.
I do have issues with you alluding to things we said to each other in private and linking them up to this specific game. That reads to me a bit like a judgment call regarding my character or playing style.

zultar, I was not intending to insult you or judge you, I was just flapping my jaws a bit, sorry for that. I am often not afraid to let an emotionally charged word slip out from time to time, such as "scared", if for no other reason than often an interesting discussion will follow. I am especially not afraid to do that if I have any sort of "relationship" with said person, since I'm confident we can talk it out.

Anyway, and I hope you are not offended if I share one of our recent exchanges (recent meaning in 2012 sometime, I think), I made some comment to you about how you were a "quality" player, or other such compliment, and your response was something like "I don't know if I've earned that" or some other modest response that downplayed your skill at diplomacy. Personally, I can relate to that, because for the first two to two and a half years on this site I had heard a compliment here and there and didn't really get it because I never felt I was very good of a player and I certainly was no good at strategy in a diplomacy game. Anyway, to digress in another direction, when I first joined this site, never having played a real game (i.e. seven player game to completion) of diplomacy, I often found myself taking the "Jacob" approach of identifying the biggest threat in a game, holding that person up to the group as the big threat, killing that person off, finding a new biggest threat, and so on, until I'd won. So, when I said "scared to ally with a good diplomat" I was trying to reference this sort of strategy and in my haste, to get some sort of comment on this thread after a long day of travel, I did let "scared" slip out when it is likely much more of a charged word than I should have used, but again, sometimes that's interesting to do!

Let's see, where was I. Hmmm. I think my main point here, is that I think an EoG is a good opportunity to contemplate my own play, other people's play, and play in general. As I said, I have not been engaged in this game in some time, and I do very vividly remember you getting hung up on the Norway/"good diplomat" thing, for whatever reason. Combine that with a couple other things you've said to me and it got me thinking about how I think you are better than that. Once we get our GR in double-digits, as well as countless other people that are quality players that GR is not accurately describing their skill for whatever reason, we're all pretty much in the same category of play.

Well, I'm starting to get tired and losing my ability to make much sense, perhaps, I don't know...

Oh, I don't really understand what is wrong in making a judgment call regarding your playing style, isn't that a natural thing the people do? F2Fers do that all the time, right? Non-anon players get a sense of how other people play and they take that into account when they play, right? I think it's natural for me to want to try to figure you out, and I by no means think I know anything, especially since I assume everyone's playing style is evolving all the time, but if anything, I want to make it clear to you that I think you are a top caliber player and that I think you have no reason to "fear" (i.e. be nervous about) anyone's perceived ability as a diplomat, you can hang with anyone on this site... I suppose that points out the fact that my impression is that you do not think you are top caliber, and perhaps you take offense at that, but then again you told me yourself you didn't think you deserved that compliment I gave you earlier, so nevermind, just keep kicking ass, as you are, and own it, facts are facts!

Now I am confused as to what to think, so I will magnanimously accept your statement. :)

I swear that this is MM's tactics sometimes. He writes so much that is profound and confounding at the same time that you just do what he asks because it's easier that way.

Either that or you get nervous and do the opposite of what he asks, but who's keeping track...

Hey all!

Well, to start off I guess this game got the paranoid ending its name deserved. :) A four draw. I havent read your EoGs yet, dont want to influence my own, but as soon as I'm done I will, and react to any questions in there in a seperate post.

1901:
SPRING
I was very excited to start this game, with the quality of players involved! Really were looking forward to it. Unfortunately I had some RL issues that made me miss the whole first day of 01 communications: I had to catch up on dealings already made (happens when it takes one so long to communicate) and show everyone I wasnt a non-communicado.

I already received messages of course from all powers. Most were pretty basic welcome messages, except for France's, who just sent me one word: Peace? I had a good laugh about such an opening, it really stood out of the crowd so to say. But unfortunately its brevity was not intended as a joke, it was characteristic of all the frenchman's communication, very short, almost never exceeding one sentence. I just cant work with someone like that.. :( (Sorry france) I'm a player that likes to discuss possibile moves. France did promise to DMZ the channel though, but I couldnt read if he was serious because of the length of his messages: too big of a risk to take.

As a corner power, with only two nations really close by, that leaved me with trying to work with Germany. He seemed like a solid communicator and pretty honest too, told me he wanted to attack France with me. Had a good chat with G and we both concluded that France wasnt really into in-depth communication or long term planning, I think this made G change his mind about attacking me and allying with me instead of his preferred partner F (or were you just saying that to win me over G? :) ). From other powers I got similar info, nations were planning to attack me and make me an early fall guy. I figured winning over G would thwart any plans towards me, as he is instrumental in something like that of course. I like to think I already started my alliance with G as early as 01. G was very supportive about making a move on France.

Other powers had really nice opening messages as well. Turkey is pretty hilarious from time to time :) Russia offered a NAP, wanted Sweden of course and promised he wouldnt open north. Austria just kept making general comments, not really willing to share any real info, same for Italy. The last two were just looking for info.

So G wanted to seriously work with me (even offered me Belgium), R wasnt going to open north, G told me IT was gonna open west and F promised to DMZ channel.. Hmm.. Too good to be true? Usually it is right? Haha. I'm England, I'm pink and this is my fairytale opening ;)

I decided I would open channel to try to get into France early and maybe score two builds.

FALL
Well to my surprise France actually did DMZ the channel, this kind of ruined my relations with him for the rest of the game, as I lied to him tremendously. R didnt do as promised and openend north. Italy did go west. A quick fall of the French was in the making!

I tried to negotiate for Belgium further (told G I wanted to play it safe support convoy in there, didnt tell him I was actually gonna take it with a fleet). Also I was pressuring G into a bounce of R in Swe, luckily A was on my side in this and G was supportive of this idea. A wanted me to bounce Russia out of nwy, but I figured I could get R on my good side if I let him have that. Maybe work with him later. And I also suspected that T and A were gonna move on him further (as did he btw), so the build would go south anyway, making sure A and T didnt get a huge lead by taking out R really fast.

1902:
SPRING:
Really stoked that G kept word and let me into Belgium. I thought Italy performed a rather brilliant move on F by supporting him out of Spa. Happy that my convoy to Bre worked out. That meant that F had no builds. Also Italy decided to go to tyr, which I was hoping to exploit, win G and A over, as I was sure at some point Italy and I would get into conflict as his troop momentum was towards me

I'm E, I'm pink and I got two builds, hell yeah! What to do with them? I figured I needed to secure my french claims by getting a second tank onto the mainland, so I tried a convoy.

At the end of this turn I saw F entering Bel, which I wasnt too happy about, it seemed as though either I, R or G supplied him with info about my planned move. So I went around complaining, to see if I could draw some negative sentiment towards me out and then try to mend that.

FALL
I got in touch with F again and to get him out of Bel, lied to him a second time (I didnt expect him to actually follow through with what he promised, but he did). From here on out it was pretty clear F was going to suicide on me for being such an ass. I wish I could have read his statements, figure out within a sentence response if he was honest y/n, but i just cant do that. F actually turned out to be a very reliable player, I just couldnt judge him to be by his press. If I could have, this game might have spun another way for him and me.

This turn also saw Italy entering Mun. From this, the movements in the east (A allying with T) and in the west (G bouncing swe moving on R), I was getting real afraid of a CPA. I started rattling cages about this with R and T, trying to get them to ally up (I was hoping they could still jugger). I shared my concern with A and G in the next turns, they denied of course. But if there was a CPA or wasnt, I was sure Italy would be coming to Bur to make trouble for me. I tried to convince him other wise of course.

1903 - SPRING 1904
During this phase the result of this game was carved up, imo. This was a pretty frustrating period for me, as I basically didnt have alot of options and had to just 'accept the circumstances'.

I noticed an alliance/cooperation between G and A, also between A and T. A and IT also seemed to be in cahoots. They were all very dismissive on moving on the other. Italy was coming at me full throttle and he wasnt very open on potentially moving on G (he left mun) and pretty secretive about his moves. F was still around, but almost dead. G was getting increasingly nervous about Italy.

I had very good relations with G, good with R, reasonable with A and IT.

Hence, I had to deal with Italy (who made a hostile move on me in 03). Either take out G or strengthen our cooperation further into an alliance.

The first thing I tried was setting up a EGR alliance (as early as 02 I believe), if A and T kept growing I wouldnt be able to do anything about that, I figured if G and R worked together they could do something about A and T, and help me out in the process by keeping T small and hence the MED accesible. Also, I got the best vibe from talking with them. Alas, G and R were seriously at odds with each other. Russia had been talking about attacking G almost non-stop, insisting I help, the same goes for G, who really, really wanted my help with R. This forced me to choose between G and R, both seemed pretty loyal, but I was never gonna get them to trust each other anymore.

So I had too choose between G and R. Strategically I would have liked to be allied with R, if IT would be involved and R somehow succesfully pried open AT, this would have been a winner and a guarantee for me to have quite some expansion space into G. Also, when G would be out, I'm sure I could have convinced A to attack IT with me and I would have a considerable amount of sc's won. But IT was never really into making a move on G and R remained under attack by ATG, if I would have helped R, without IT's help, surely I would be defeated next, certainly because IT seemed more loyal to A then either me or Russia.

I feel that my mistake in this game is that I didnt begin with trying to get something going between Italy and Russia early enough.. That could have changed the game I feel and made me into a bigger power then I ended up to be.

So onto the third option, didnt have any other options. I needed to try to ally myself with G and get him to move on Italy. G was a very solid partner up until 03, he helped me a great deal and I knew I could count on him. Also, I feel up to this point I owed him. Although strategically I would have prefered to work with R and IT at this point, G gave me by far the best vibes to partner up with long term. Him being supportive and IT not, I decided I would promise him help (support him into Nwy) in exchange for him helping me out with IT. He had to move into Bur first, if he did I promised to support him into scandinavia. He agreed and to my delight he helped me with Italy, guaranteeing my survival and Italy's downfall. I helped G with Russia, and I guess the EG cooperation turned into an alliance.

To my initial delight and unexpectedly, Austria stabbed Italy already, who kept himself pretty undefended of course against the Austrian. I guess AT was gonna stay to be. And Italy would be down and out.

FALL 1904 - 1905.
Here I spent my time helping G, advancing on F and IT, and talking to A and T to try to get them to fight a bit. Germany remained a great ally to work with!

Promised A that we could take out T (my fleets wouldnt be a threat to his land empire) and I tried the same (but too a lesser extent, as I never got a good conversation going with T) with T vs A. But all in all relations wouldnt budge. Also, we were all growing at the same rate and a stalemate line between EG and AT was shaping up.

Italy was pissed at A of course, for stabbing him. So I tried to capitalize on this anger a bit, but I regard this as my second mistake in this game, I didnt start early enough. For Italy to be really interesting for me still, he should have been in possesion of ION. I didnt communicate this early enough and Italy let himself be outmaneuvered by AT. The only option for him would have been to enlist me real early, or the other way around. I was negligent and didnt put a lot of pressure on IT soon enough to work together. Also, it seemed that A still had a lot of sway over IT, to his credit. It seemed that he convinced IT that he wouldnt stab him or something, I dont know.. wait fort the IT EoG I guess.

In 1904 there still would have been a chance for me and IT to get into ION and break the stalemate line. It was clear in spring A was gonna move on IT, I didnt start early enough with trying to enlist IT, as I was too distracted with fighting him and france, I realized the potential of us working together too late. If IT and me would have started working together after srping 04, with R still alive and kicking, I think G, IT and I could have beaten the AT. But unfortunately I realized too late (I guess so did he) and IT already lost the option to forcefully occupy the ION.

1905 - END
Hence I had to make sure I stalemated AT in the MED, so that G would regard me as invaluable as to not being overrun himself. I used ITs new found goodwill to maneauver as best I could to keep AT at bay and simultaineously get ITs sc's.

At this point I think T started a hate campaign against me, starting to try to get G and A moving on me. Truth is, if I were a reall asshole I could have offered A and T to take out G. England is pretty safe that way, I just need POR, MAO and IRISH sea fleeted to keep a hold out, if A and T cant get into MAO, I can be safe until kingdom come, G could have been eliminated very neatly, without any danger to my position. Altough A or T might stab the other and solo of course. And another deterent to do that was that I still had a very nasty French fleet in my back. But mostly, I really liked my alliance with G, so I'm wasnt gonna eliminate him. I think thats a real waste of friendship built. I like to form a stable alliance until the end, no sense in shaving one off for a better draw, certainly if you have had such a pleasant game with one another. A draw is a draw.

I guess this was the concensus all around. As we are all of the same size, not willing to move on our allies and all paranoid about solo's, this was destined to get to a fourway, a reasonable result. Altough I was slightly worried at some point G might want to move on me, as he was building yet another fleet north.

The four of us worked towards a draw in an organized manner, Austria was pivotal in this, restraining T's greed :)


END NOTES

Thanks for the game all! Maybe the end looks rather boring, but for me the opening until middle game was actually quite exciting. I think a lot of nations really played a careful, good and self posessed game. I guess thats why in the end the nations that gambled (R open north, IT open west and F not attacking anyone straight away), got eliminated, because the rest was so meticulous and relatibely conservative. I was a little dissapointed with my lack of choice in some matters, for example choosing to cooperate with G or F, or G or R and IT. Also I feel I could have taken initiative a bit sooner on some fronts.

@Germany: Thanks for being a great ally in the beginning and end, always willing to talk and being honest about your wishes. Altough not completely moving as you announced from time to time (I can understand, a German's life is a paranoid one :) ), you were delightful to work with as England, you helped me a great deal, I hope I also delivered. Unfortunately we werent able to also punch through more defenses.. :) After 1904 I was gonna stick with you to the end, no doubt.

@France: You turned out to be actually very reliable, please, please in future games try to convey that you are such a reliable player by adding more text to your messages so other players can also determine that you are. We are all depedent on communciation and moves, but pre-1901 just communication, if you dont talk we cant cooperate.

@Italy: Had a hard time getting us to try to cooperate, I really appreciated your support into Paris, but then you destroyed my appreciation by attacking me again. Also, I never got you to talk about long term plans :( I think there could have been more in it for us in this game and I guess both of us realized that too late.. As said it was either gonna be you and me vs G or the other way around, and G just showed a lot more enthusiasm and I knew he would come through as I could help him with russia, G and I really could offer each other something, a safer bet. Also, I should have mentioned you take the ION earlier, my bad, sry about that, I have to be faster with conveying options like that. Thanks for the game though!

@Russia: Sry we couldnt continue something after I gave you nwy. Circumstances forced me into helping G attack you, else IT and G would have overrun me. Also, the fact that you explicitly promised to not open north and did so anyway was in part responsible for me not wanting to work with you fully in the very early years. After that, I tried to get you and G into a cooperation, but that failed, I guess it just wasnt in the stars.

@Austria: In the early game I found you quite offensive actually :) You were demanding all kinds of info, without giving anything out. As the game progressed it seemed you were in control of european proceedings, taking initiative and being a middle man in negotiations, I guess that was part due to your position, but I think you are also a very good communicator. Keep up the good work haha :)

@Turkey: I was a little dissapointed with our exchanges from time to time, you didnt seem to really want to discuss long term planning. I liked your jokes, but maybe sometimes it obscures actual strategic conversation a bit. Also, as I'm not a native speaker, I have a hard time joking back. I guess that is the last that one commands in a foreign language, actually professing humor :)

@All, once again thanks for the game. Looking forward to read your EoGs!! Hope to play you again in the future :) Hopefully we can advance the next game beyond a paranoid four way haha :)

All the best to you!

England.

Germany EOG
--------------------

I don't have the time or energy for a real EOG, but you fine players deserve a few words from me. A warning, though—they'll be fairly self-aggrandizing and narcissistic.

I had been thinking about trying an A/T alliance the next time I drew Austria, because Russia seems to always get his pick of ally in the southeast because A and T always want to kill each other and petition him for help. But instead I drew Germany, and cursed my lousy luck—it's one of my worst powers.

So I pitched my A/T idea to Turkey and Austria. In talking to Russia later, I guess I wish I would have given him a chance before trying to orchestrate his demise before I even heard from him, but please forgive this as my own inexperience with this game. I've never personally played an R/G alliance successfully—someone always stabs in 1902 or 1903, and so I wanted to take him out quickly, or at least try to ally A/T against him.

In the west, I initially reached out to France for a sealion opening, and asked Russia about helping us with it by opening north. (Yes, England, I was telling the truth about that part.) France seemed sort of lukewarm on the idea, and said something about randomly deciding whether to trust me. I opened with friendly words to England as well, naturally, even though my first choice was to use them to deceive him, but I was happy for it, since I really liked his press, especially compared to France's (who, like with England, just opened to me with a one-word, un-ironic "Peace?").

Italy was the wild card in this game, moving to Tyrolia in autumn 1901. He said he didn't mean to attack me or Austria with the army, and intended to move northeast through all the neutral provinces, irritating everyone and slowing everyone down. I offered him safe passage through Munich to Burgundy if he promised not to send any more armies north and east. We put this plan into action, but unfortunately, Austria stabbed Turkey at the same time, which got everyone screaming "CPA! CPA!" all the time. Really, I was close to committing to a CPA, only because I thought the corner powers would unite against it. I pleaded this case of "self-fulfilling prophecy" a few times, and I don't know if it worked, but I was thrilled to see Turkey kiss and make up with Austria.

Oh yeah, Austria. I guess I just overlooked my dealings with him, but his friendship was key to my survival, I think. Early on, I sent him lots of press about sticking together as the 2 central powers, and promised that I'd stab him last of all should I get the chance to win, and asked him to do the same for me.

I probably don't know how to win this game very well, but I've been involved in a good share of draws.

That's about all I've got. Sorry I didn't make play-by-play notes as we went like it seems some of you do.

England:
I stabbed you at the end there because I was sure that you would stab me as soon as you got into the Med. I knew it would lead to a 4-way draw, which is sort of boring, but I figured at that point it was the best I could hope for.

France:
Breaking a DMZ in 1901 and then claiming you did it to protect yourself is no substitute for talking about your safety concerns ahead of time. If you were nicer to me, I would have told you Italy's and England's autumn 1901 moves that I knew about which prevented you from getting any builds.

England (again):
That reminds me, it was me after all who tipped France off about your move out of Belgium in 1902. I still wanted to ally with you, but France was imploding, and I didn't want you to grow that fast compared to me.

Italy:
Why must we always hurt the ones we love? Why?!

Austria:
That was fun. Sorry about being demanding there in the middle, telling you what to do. As I said in-game, I was at work writing quickly, and didn't have time for nuance.

Russia:
I should have given you more of a chance. Do you have a link to that game where you said you went 17/17 with Germany and Russia? I'd love to see it. Reading everyone else's EOGs, though, I'm glad I didn't give you the inch of rope you would have used to strangle me with later.

Turkey:
I'm thrilled that you liked my "kill Russia" plan, and glad it worked out well. I had every desire to attack England when I said I would, but Italy moved out of Marseilles, causing England to not lose anything, so I settled for a fleet to keep him at bay. There was never any chance of me letting you into STP after Russia was dead, though.

EOG Italy (P.S. I do Loooooong EoGs)
I didn’t go writing this as we went (I really should start doing that) but I’m looking back through the press now.
So I drew Italy. Italy is an….interesting….country for me. I’ve never had much success with it, but have managed to do all sort of very very fun things. I started this game just as I was wrapping another one up as Italy, where I did indeed move all the way through Bohemia to Livonia with an army actually. It was great fun. I went into this game wanting to try something new. Additionally, for those who don’t know how I play, let me explain myself to you. Especially in the beginning of the game, I trust no one. I tell people (in most cases) what I would tell the whole board, because I assume it is going to be told to the whole board. That’s why I wasn’t completely forthcoming with everyone. However, I usually am quite honest with people. I try to keep my word on things because I know how valuable trust can be. I think actions speak louder than words. But hopefully as can be seen in this game, I enjoy doing crazy things, and I usually do keep my word on those sorts of things.
Along these lines, I’m an information whore. I try to get as much info as I can about *everything*, no matter where or who it is. Because it all leads back to me. Whether E and R are fighting in the north directly affects their ability to attack F or T if I find myself in need. Therefore, I try to keep my finger on the pulse of the game for as long as I can. I like to imagine myself as a spider in the middle of a web, directing things in the game….but that’s just imagination. Clearly, this game shows I have *zero* ability to sway people to my side.
Additionally, many have said I don’t give long term plans. Well, that’s because I don’t think in the long term. I have an idea of what will happen in the next year and where I want to go from there, yes, but I re-evaluate everything as the board changes. For example, in the beginning had R and T moved against Austria, I would’ve switched to the east, or if France and Germany did a Sealion I might have moved more on Germany and forged closer relations with Russia. Anyhow, here I go.
Spring 1901: I find it really funny now after reading the press that France sent me the same “Peace?” message that he sent England. That showed me right off the bat that he was not a player I trusted. Russia offers an I/R, which I haven’t done in a while, so I’m intrigued. Germany asks for a DMZ, but I tell him I may or may not be in Tyrolia. (Personal note, I love being in Tyrolia, there’s so much you can do with it. Italy should always go to Tyrolia.) Turkey flatters me by calling me handsome (I like him from that point on). Hah, I forgot about my gaff in the global press early on against Turkey. Russia flatters me after it though, since I told him I did it on purpose (Russia is actually really good at flattery.) I propose my idea of moving west to both Russia, Germany and Turkey. I pass it along to Russia that we let A and T duke it out against each other and pick up the pieces when we can. Turkey likes it as well since it gives him lots of flexibility. Then Austria and Turkey propose an A/I/T alliance, which is bizarre. But since now I’ve made up in my mind to go west, I agree to it. I don’t want anything to do with quarrels that will draw my units east. Austria hears from someone that I planned on attacking him, which I never did, so I copied my press boxes and sent him a bunch of my press. I would hope it builds some goodwill there.
To explain my moves here, I wanted to move to Tuscany so I could convoy to Tunis, but I was afraid of the potential for an Austrian stab since he knew I was moving west. I hedged my bets and decided it would be better if I went to Venice anyways. It gave me places to go in the future.
Autumn 1901
France doesn’t take kind to my move. He calls me a lying scoundrel. Great way to get me on his side. I press turkey to find a way to deny Rumania to Russia if we really want to do this A/I/T alliance (plus, I thought it was good at the time since it would give my Austrian ally some more breathing space). It is here that I also first find myself talking to Germany about a CPA, though indirectly, noting how easy it was to get the corner powers fighting each other. Germany doesn’t say anything but admonishes me to not attack Austria. Here’s my problem though, and here’s where I probably lost it with Austria. I wanted fleets to move west and take out France. I wanted them *real* bad. Since I had already decided that France would bounce me out of Marseilles, I knew I was only going to get one center this year, but I wanted two fleet builds. So I asked Austria to let me borrow Trieste. I would take it, build the fleet, and move back out. I was 100% honest with this proposal, since I really had no use for armies, and needed to jump-start my fleet campaign. Austria takes it as I thought he would, and suggests Tyrolia instead. While I’m not entirely happy, I can still have a lot of fun in Tyrolia  Oh, and just before the turn goes over France says I’m a piece of shit, and that my word is worth shit. Its all rainbows and smiles with the two of us haha. But he mentions people’s worries about the CPA. Definitely time to move to Tyrolia.
Builds – I tell England that I want Marseilles and Spain, and we begin to plan on dividing up France. Germany offers me something risky and crazy. I can’t resist. He points out that Russia is going to be his main enemy, that I need an additional front on France, and that he was wondering what I was doing with Tyrolia. Well, I told him I intended to troll around with it (and also told him England was his biggest threat moving into the future. I didn’t like the prospect of an E/G facing me. Here’s where I started to become fixated on turning Germany against England. He even responded that he hates allying with England, which gave me hope). Its here in this next year that we (at least in my eyes) really solidify a CPA. Anyways, G wants me to move through Munich to Burgundy. I say of course! Turkey comes by with questions, I try to get him to build F Con instead of F Smy, but he brushes it aside. Anyways, I start telling him that Germany and I will be teaming up to fight against England. In retrospect, England, I was fixated on fighting you from here and that may have poisoned our relationship a bit down the road, because already now I was fearful of your power in France, and wanted to beat you to MAO and block you up. I even tried to get G and R working together at this point. Austria isn’t saying much, but offers to destroy my army per my request last year. I decline without saying much. I can’t spoil the surprise move to Munich.
Spring 1902 – I send France a request to support me into Munich. Apparently the response was quite funny, because Germany messaged me lolling about it. Germany is really pushing anti-english moves one me, and I in return push for him to take Belgium. He even called me Il Duce. The CPA is going great. Well, the I/G and G/A are going great. Since I haven’t told Austria about the move to Munich, he’s pooping his pants over it all. Austria’s scared in general, because he thinks there is a Jugg. I don’t see it, though. I enter moves to Marseilles after promising France peace.
Autumn 1902 – Holy crap I’m in Marseilles. I don’t believe it. And holy crap turkey just destroyed half his forces. Turkey pleads for help. I want nothing of it though. The east seems very stable to me. I push for the formation of a Jugg, and hope that the Jugg vs. Austria will hold things up to the east until I have enough strength to deal with it all. I don’t want to half-ass anything by splitting my forces across the Med. Germany seems to thing there’s an A/R now, but again I just don’t see it. People seem to be very paranoid in this game. Germany also thinks he’s “hosed” in this game and tries to get me to turn on Austria. Russia, meanwhile, wants me to sit in Munich. Russia is very compelling, and though I eventually decide not to stay in Munich, I immediately regretted it. Anyways, in my press again I keep predicting to my fellow CPA members that England will go for the solo shot eventually, that he is all of our biggest threat (plus he hadn’t been too chatty). But still, I keep thinking that we need to break up this myth of the CPA so the others will keep fighting each other (In short, I went to Germany “Yeah, CPA brothers unite!” and then went to Austria “Seriously, lets dump this loser”) I work with England to bounce me in Bur so I can stay in Munich, but then Germany messages me to say he’s dislodging me  I assumed it would be coupled by a move to berlin, so I cancel the agreement. If only I had known Berlin would be open…
Builds 1902 – Strangely Germany is mad at me now, since I moved out of Munich and didn’t stay and be dislodged. Weird. But I move on as though its all fine. Germany seems extremely paranoid though. I keep pressuring him to attack England I worry though, that Austria will build in Trieste and move into an open and undefended Venice. So I, in my brilliance, decide to build A Rome. Close enough to guard, far enough to not be a threat. I start talking with England more and more now. Turkey has been strangely silent. He’s actually fallen off the planet to me, and I just receive a message saying there’s going to be the “Surprise of the century” (the first of many). Austria seems very nervous too. Why are my allies so nervous? In fact, the confident ones seem to be England and Russia (hindsight, I should’ve worked more with them).
Spring 1903 – Russia is concerned about the Turk’s build, but I don’t see anything of it. I do hope that the Jugg keeps a rollin. Germany keeps talking about attacking Russia, but I really really want him to turn to the west. Both Austria and Germany are asking for aid, but they don’t see how much I need to guarantee myself Spain and Portugal. Here’s where I tried to play it too cute. I offered E support to Paris, but at the same time was working with Germany on a plan to take Belgium. He came up with a good one, but I declined it as I didn’t want England to distrust me (because I feared his wrath. I wanted to build a stalemate line against him before I did anything concrete). I’m even more scared because I find England has offered Germany Paris. Then Germany talks to me that he fears an E/R/I. Honestly, what have I done to earn such distrust? Still, Germany ends up agreeing that he and I will be good long term partners. I am hopeful. Germany keeps up the England hate, and questions my about if I’ve offered France anything. It got my mind going, and I reach out to him.
Autumn 1903 – Really interesting moves. Austria and Turkey working together? Russia says England and Germany are working together too, but I think I know better than he and believe Germany and I will stick together. Germany frustrates me though and I’m upset that he didn’t move to Belgium. Anyways, I’m convinced that Germany will keep working with me, so I keep the faith there. CAP has worked well thus far. I am really scared about that English fleet in MAO though….it bothers me, and I worry about him striking a deal with France, so I strike a deal with France. He will essentially act as an extension of my fleets and help me defend MAO, and I keep him alive. I intend to create a complete stalemate line to the west and force England to fight Russia or Germany. Anything to keep his attention away from the south.
Builds 1904 – An obvious fleet for me. Nasty retreat by England. He didn’t even try to talk it out with me first! I had hoped we could talk it out an arrange a retreat by him to NAO and then we’d have a status quo in the west, and I could use my new build to start getting involved in the east. I tried to get Russia and Austria back together, but Russia wouldn’t let Austria take Rum permanently. Sounded odd to me.
Spring 1904 –Germany tells me he’s dislodging Bur….if he hates/distrusts England so much why is he following his orders? My birthday got me into trouble in negotiations here though. I had no time to work things out with England, and I think that poisoned some of our relations going forward.
Autumn – 1904 – Wow, what a shitty year. Germany displaces me as promised, but I frankly don’t trust him anymore. There’s an E/G in my mind. I retreat to Paris to give me better leverage over future negotiations. The Austrian stab was completely unexpected, and in my mind stupid. If I were turkey, in the fall I would’ve moved Rumania to Serbia and convoyed Armenia to Rumania. Austria explains his stab in that I haven’t been up for an alliance all game long, that I’ve been giving him the cold shoulder. Well, if the previous three year’s *hadn’t* been an alliance, I don’t know what you would call an alliance. I’m not splitting my fleets to your side of the Med while trying to hold back England. Indeed, now I see that my anti-England focus all along had been misleading me and clouding my judgement. Still, from what Germany was saying, I felt it was what I had to do. Here is where I realize that Germany is a slimy, slimy player, and that England is the player (not power, player) who I would be better off working with. I try rationalizing with Austria, to get him to stop after Venice. I sincerely thought that I could convince Austria to stop at Venice and move on Turkey to defend himself. Now Turkey all of a sudden appears and offers an attack on Austria.
So from here on, this is essentially how it goes. I appeal to Turkey to stab Austria, he says “Yeah sure, I will, just you wait.” I appeal to Germany to act quickly before he gets knocked out in the 3-way, he says “yeah, you’re right, I’ll think about it. I’m really worried about it.” I try to rationalize with Austria, explaining how he’s opening up himself to a stab from Turkey, he says “You know what, you’re totally right. I’ll stop after X center and turn myself around. England was the best about lying to me. He worked with me for a plan, about how I’d just have to put my units in X position and then we’d tackle Germany and his fleets would help me out at home, that he was worried about A/T. I genuinely believed him, did everything he said down to the letter, and it was all for naught. Can anyone blame me for cracking after 4 consecutive seasons of that? It was painful. So the last shot was me threatening to suicide against England for Turkey. Turkey was my biggest friend in the end game. I had tried with Austria and tried with England, but it was Turkey who I felt was most unsatisfied with how the game was ending. I offered to hit West Med with a support and either take it or retreat to GoL when Austria took Tyrrhenian behind me. I would be left with two fleets and would do everything I can to support A/T into MAO. I felt for sure that England could be cracked He only had 4 fleets, after all. But alas, it was for naught. I did everything I could to encourage a stab, and it just didn’t happen.
In all, this was a game with a thrilling, exciting opening, and an awful, drawn-out, and boring finish. I honestly expected better from top players. Everyone mentions that they felt they were being “pushed” into the draw, but no one actually was saying they were the ones pushing for it! It’s a self-fullfilling cycle that gave this game a miserable and disgraceful finish. If Turkey had the guts, he could easily have wiped out Austria and made it to Tunis for the solo before a stalemate could be formed. Germany could’ve stabbed Germany like he promised time and time again. In fact, there were just 3 stabs in this entire game. And two of them were on me, the other one being Austria on Turkey. Everyone else was in open conflict from the beginning. (A vs. R, T vs R, G vs R, E vs F, I vs F). I’m just really upset that nobody went for a solo run, or even tried to break the status quo after 1904. Pre-arranged draws disgust me and honestly I expected better from this caliber of players.
In personal notes to the countries
England – I’m a bit sorry I didn’t trust in you early on. As you can see, I was plotting against you most of the game, but in fact you were probably the best player to ally with in the west. It was good having talks with you.
Germany – you didn’t seem quite yourself in this game. Always unsure of yourself, indecisive, etc. We worked well in the beginning, but something happened around Spring 1903, after which you were never really willing to work with me again.
Austria- you were good fun to work with in the beginning. The stab was wonderful and logical (thought I tried to convince you otherwise). However, after the stab I began to find you quite abrasive and demeaning. I don’t think you’re that type of person though, so I still will remember this game as a good time with you
Turkey – I tried my best to get you to go for it, and I knew you wanted to, but it wasn’t meant to be. You’re a very fun person and I should’ve been in touch with you more consistently during the game. However, press with you wasn’t always very constructive. You were cryptic when I first tried getting in touch with you again and never really told me much about your plans, which is why though I tried to get A and E to stop stabbing me, I never truly reached out to you until the last year or so.
Russia – I should’ve listened to you and went I/R with you. Oh well, we all live and learn. It was good playing with you again.
France- you have to talk some more. I can’t really say much more than that other than don’t curse someone out who stabs you.
In short, my problem here is that I imagined a problem into existence (re: England), but all my eggs in one basket (re: Germany) and didn’t communicate enough with the rest of the board in the mid-game. I shall do better next time, folks.

Ugh, the spacings are horrible in that post. They clearly don't carry over from word. Let me re-post it and make it prettier.

EOG Italy (P.S. I do Loooooong EoGs)

I didn’t go writing this as we went (I really should start doing that) but I’m looking back through the press now.

So I drew Italy. Italy is an….interesting….country for me. I’ve never had much success with it, but have managed to do all sort of very very fun things. I started this game just as I was wrapping another one up as Italy, where I did indeed move all the way through Bohemia to Livonia with an army actually. It was great fun. I went into this game wanting to try something new. Additionally, for those who don’t know how I play, let me explain myself to you. Especially in the beginning of the game, I trust no one. I tell people (in most cases) what I would tell the whole board, because I assume it is going to be told to the whole board. That’s why I wasn’t completely forthcoming with everyone. However, I usually am quite honest with people. I try to keep my word on things because I know how valuable trust can be. I think actions speak louder than words. But hopefully as can be seen in this game, I enjoy doing crazy things, and I usually do keep my word on those sorts of things.

Along these lines, I’m an information whore. I try to get as much info as I can about *everything*, no matter where or who it is. Because it all leads back to me. Whether E and R are fighting in the north directly affects their ability to attack F or T if I find myself in need. Therefore, I try to keep my finger on the pulse of the game for as long as I can. I like to imagine myself as a spider in the middle of a web, directing things in the game….but that’s just imagination. Clearly, this game shows I have *zero* ability to sway people to my side.

Additionally, many have said I don’t give long term plans. Well, that’s because I don’t think in the long term. I have an idea of what will happen in the next year and where I want to go from there, yes, but I re-evaluate everything as the board changes. For example, in the beginning had R and T moved against Austria, I would’ve switched to the east, or if France and Germany did a Sealion I might have moved more on Germany and forged closer relations with Russia. Anyhow, here I go.

Spring 1901
I find it really funny now after reading the press that France sent me the same “Peace?” message that he sent England. That showed me right off the bat that he was not a player I trusted. Russia offers an I/R, which I haven’t done in a while, so I’m intrigued. Germany asks for a DMZ, but I tell him I may or may not be in Tyrolia. (Personal note, I love being in Tyrolia, there’s so much you can do with it. Italy should always go to Tyrolia.) Turkey flatters me by calling me handsome (I like him from that point on). Hah, I forgot about my gaff in the global press early on against Turkey. Russia flatters me after it though, since I told him I did it on purpose (Russia is actually really good at flattery.) I propose my idea of moving west to both Russia, Germany and Turkey. I pass it along to Russia that we let A and T duke it out against each other and pick up the pieces when we can. Turkey likes it as well since it gives him lots of flexibility. Then Austria and Turkey propose an A/I/T alliance, which is bizarre. But since now I’ve made up in my mind to go west, I agree to it. I don’t want anything to do with quarrels that will draw my units east. Austria hears from someone that I planned on attacking him, which I never did, so I copied my press boxes and sent him a bunch of my press. I would hope it builds some goodwill there.

To explain my moves here, I wanted to move to Tuscany so I could convoy to Tunis, but I was afraid of the potential for an Austrian stab since he knew I was moving west. I hedged my bets and decided it would be better if I went to Venice anyways. It gave me places to go in the future.

Autumn 1901

France doesn’t take kind to my move. He calls me a lying scoundrel. Great way to get me on his side. I press turkey to find a way to deny Rumania to Russia if we really want to do this A/I/T alliance (plus, I thought it was good at the time since it would give my Austrian ally some more breathing space). It is here that I also first find myself talking to Germany about a CPA, though indirectly, noting how easy it was to get the corner powers fighting each other. Germany doesn’t say anything but admonishes me to not attack Austria. Here’s my problem though, and here’s where I probably lost it with Austria. I wanted fleets to move west and take out France. I wanted them *real* bad. Since I had already decided that France would bounce me out of Marseilles, I knew I was only going to get one center this year, but I wanted two fleet builds. So I asked Austria to let me borrow Trieste. I would take it, build the fleet, and move back out. I was 100% honest with this proposal, since I really had no use for armies, and needed to jump-start my fleet campaign. Austria takes it as I thought he would, and suggests Tyrolia instead. While I’m not entirely happy, I can still have a lot of fun in Tyrolia  Oh, and just before the turn goes over France says I’m a piece of shit, and that my word is worth shit. Its all rainbows and smiles with the two of us haha. But he mentions people’s worries about the CPA. Definitely time to move to Tyrolia.

Builds
I tell England that I want Marseilles and Spain, and we begin to plan on dividing up France. Germany offers me something risky and crazy. I can’t resist. He points out that Russia is going to be his main enemy, that I need an additional front on France, and that he was wondering what I was doing with Tyrolia. Well, I told him I intended to troll around with it (and also told him England was his biggest threat moving into the future. I didn’t like the prospect of an E/G facing me. Here’s where I started to become fixated on turning Germany against England. He even responded that he hates allying with England, which gave me hope). Its here in this next year that we (at least in my eyes) really solidify a CPA. Anyways, G wants me to move through Munich to Burgundy. I say of course! Turkey comes by with questions, I try to get him to build F Con instead of F Smy, but he brushes it aside. Anyways, I start telling him that Germany and I will be teaming up to fight against England. In retrospect, England, I was fixated on fighting you from here and that may have poisoned our relationship a bit down the road, because already now I was fearful of your power in France, and wanted to beat you to MAO and block you up. I even tried to get G and R working together at this point. Austria isn’t saying much, but offers to destroy my army per my request last year. I decline without saying much. I can’t spoil the surprise move to Munich.

Spring 1902
I send France a request to support me into Munich. Apparently the response was quite funny, because Germany messaged me lolling about it. Germany is really pushing anti-english moves one me, and I in return push for him to take Belgium. He even called me Il Duce. The CPA is going great. Well, the I/G and G/A are going great. Since I haven’t told Austria about the move to Munich, he’s pooping his pants over it all. Austria’s scared in general, because he thinks there is a Jugg. I don’t see it, though. I enter moves to Marseilles after promising France peace.

Autumn 1902
Holy crap I’m in Marseilles. I don’t believe it. And holy crap turkey just destroyed half his forces. Turkey pleads for help. I want nothing of it though. The east seems very stable to me. I push for the formation of a Jugg, and hope that the Jugg vs. Austria will hold things up to the east until I have enough strength to deal with it all. I don’t want to half-ass anything by splitting my forces across the Med. Germany seems to thing there’s an A/R now, but again I just don’t see it. People seem to be very paranoid in this game. Germany also thinks he’s “hosed” in this game and tries to get me to turn on Austria. Russia, meanwhile, wants me to sit in Munich. Russia is very compelling, and though I eventually decide not to stay in Munich, I immediately regretted it. Anyways, in my press again I keep predicting to my fellow CPA members that England will go for the solo shot eventually, that he is all of our biggest threat (plus he hadn’t been too chatty). But still, I keep thinking that we need to break up this myth of the CPA so the others will keep fighting each other (In short, I went to Germany “Yeah, CPA brothers unite!” and then went to Austria “Seriously, lets dump this loser”) I work with England to bounce me in Bur so I can stay in Munich, but then Germany messages me to say he’s dislodging me  I assumed it would be coupled by a move to berlin, so I cancel the agreement. If only I had known Berlin would be open…

Builds 1902
Strangely Germany is mad at me now, since I moved out of Munich and didn’t stay and be dislodged. Weird. But I move on as though its all fine. Germany seems extremely paranoid though. I keep pressuring him to attack England I worry though, that Austria will build in Trieste and move into an open and undefended Venice. So I, in my brilliance, decide to build A Rome. Close enough to guard, far enough to not be a threat. I start talking with England more and more now. Turkey has been strangely silent. He’s actually fallen off the planet to me, and I just receive a message saying there’s going to be the “Surprise of the century” (the first of many). Austria seems very nervous too. Why are my allies so nervous? In fact, the confident ones seem to be England and Russia (hindsight, I should’ve worked more with them).

Spring 1903
Russia is concerned about the Turk’s build, but I don’t see anything of it. I do hope that the Jugg keeps a rollin. Germany keeps talking about attacking Russia, but I really really want him to turn to the west. Both Austria and Germany are asking for aid, but they don’t see how much I need to guarantee myself Spain and Portugal. Here’s where I tried to play it too cute. I offered E support to Paris, but at the same time was working with Germany on a plan to take Belgium. He came up with a good one, but I declined it as I didn’t want England to distrust me (because I feared his wrath. I wanted to build a stalemate line against him before I did anything concrete). I’m even more scared because I find England has offered Germany Paris. Then Germany talks to me that he fears an E/R/I. Honestly, what have I done to earn such distrust? Still, Germany ends up agreeing that he and I will be good long term partners. I am hopeful. Germany keeps up the England hate, and questions my about if I’ve offered France anything. It got my mind going, and I reach out to him.

Autumn 1903
Really interesting moves. Austria and Turkey working together? Russia says England and Germany are working together too, but I think I know better than he and believe Germany and I will stick together. Germany frustrates me though and I’m upset that he didn’t move to Belgium. Anyways, I’m convinced that Germany will keep working with me, so I keep the faith there. CAP has worked well thus far. I am really scared about that English fleet in MAO though….it bothers me, and I worry about him striking a deal with France, so I strike a deal with France. He will essentially act as an extension of my fleets and help me defend MAO, and I keep him alive. I intend to create a complete stalemate line to the west and force England to fight Russia or Germany. Anything to keep his attention away from the south.

Builds 1904
An obvious fleet for me. Nasty retreat by England. He didn’t even try to talk it out with me first! I had hoped we could talk it out an arrange a retreat by him to NAO and then we’d have a status quo in the west, and I could use my new build to start getting involved in the east. I tried to get Russia and Austria back together, but Russia wouldn’t let Austria take Rum permanently. Sounded odd to me.
Spring 1904 –Germany tells me he’s dislodging Bur….if he hates/distrusts England so much why is he following his orders? My birthday got me into trouble in negotiations here though. I had no time to work things out with England, and I think that poisoned some of our relations going forward.

Autumn 1904
Wow, what a shitty year. Germany displaces me as promised, but I frankly don’t trust him anymore. There’s an E/G in my mind. I retreat to Paris to give me better leverage over future negotiations. The Austrian stab was completely unexpected, and in my mind stupid. If I were turkey, in the fall I would’ve moved Rumania to Serbia and convoyed Armenia to Rumania. Austria explains his stab in that I haven’t been up for an alliance all game long, that I’ve been giving him the cold shoulder. Well, if the previous three year’s *hadn’t* been an alliance, I don’t know what you would call an alliance. I’m not splitting my fleets to your side of the Med while trying to hold back England. Indeed, now I see that my anti-England focus all along had been misleading me and clouding my judgement. Still, from what Germany was saying, I felt it was what I had to do. Here is where I realize that Germany is a slimy, slimy player, and that England is the player (not power, player) who I would be better off working with. I try rationalizing with Austria, to get him to stop after Venice. I sincerely thought that I could convince Austria to stop at Venice and move on Turkey to defend himself. Now Turkey all of a sudden appears and offers an attack on Austria.

So from here on, this is essentially how it goes. I appeal to Turkey to stab Austria, he says “Yeah sure, I will, just you wait.” I appeal to Germany to act quickly before he gets knocked out in the 3-way, he says “yeah, you’re right, I’ll think about it. I’m really worried about it.” I try to rationalize with Austria, explaining how he’s opening up himself to a stab from Turkey, he says “You know what, you’re totally right. I’ll stop after X center and turn myself around. England was the best about lying to me. He worked with me for a plan, about how I’d just have to put my units in X position and then we’d tackle Germany and his fleets would help me out at home, that he was worried about A/T. I genuinely believed him, did everything he said down to the letter, and it was all for naught. Can anyone blame me for cracking after 4 consecutive seasons of that? It was painful. So the last shot was me threatening to suicide against England for Turkey. Turkey was my biggest friend in the end game. I had tried with Austria and tried with England, but it was Turkey who I felt was most unsatisfied with how the game was ending. I offered to hit West Med with a support and either take it or retreat to GoL when Austria took Tyrrhenian behind me. I would be left with two fleets and would do everything I can to support A/T into MAO. I felt for sure that England could be cracked He only had 4 fleets, after all. But alas, it was for naught. I did everything I could to encourage a stab, and it just didn’t happen.

In all, this was a game with a thrilling, exciting opening, and an awful, drawn-out, and boring finish. I honestly expected better from top players. Everyone mentions that they felt they were being “pushed” into the draw, but no one actually was saying they were the ones pushing for it! It’s a self-fullfilling cycle that gave this game a miserable and disgraceful finish. If Turkey had the guts, he could easily have wiped out Austria and made it to Tunis for the solo before a stalemate could be formed. Germany could’ve stabbed Germany like he promised time and time again. In fact, there were just 3 stabs in this entire game. And two of them were on me, the other one being Austria on Turkey. Everyone else was in open conflict from the beginning. (A vs. R, T vs R, G vs R, E vs F, I vs F). I’m just really upset that nobody went for a solo run, or even tried to break the status quo after 1904. Pre-arranged draws disgust me and honestly I expected better from this caliber of players.

In personal notes to the countries

England – I’m a bit sorry I didn’t trust in you early on. As you can see, I was plotting against you most of the game, but in fact you were probably the best player to ally with in the west. It was good having talks with you.

Germany – you didn’t seem quite yourself in this game. Always unsure of yourself, indecisive, etc. We worked well in the beginning, but something happened around Spring 1903, after which you were never really willing to work with me again.

Austria- you were good fun to work with in the beginning. The stab was wonderful and logical (thought I tried to convince you otherwise). However, after the stab I began to find you quite abrasive and demeaning. I don’t think you’re that type of person though, so I still will remember this game as a good time with you

Turkey – I tried my best to get you to go for it, and I knew you wanted to, but it wasn’t meant to be. You’re a very fun person and I should’ve been in touch with you more consistently during the game. However, press with you wasn’t always very constructive. You were cryptic when I first tried getting in touch with you again and never really told me much about your plans, which is why though I tried to get A and E to stop stabbing me, I never truly reached out to you until the last year or so.

Russia – I should’ve listened to you and went I/R with you. Oh well, we all live and learn. It was good playing with you again.

France- you have to talk some more. I can’t really say much more than that other than don’t curse someone out who stabs you.

In short, my problem here is that I imagined a problem into existence (re: England), but all my eggs in one basket (re: Germany) and didn’t communicate enough with the rest of the board in the mid-game. I shall do better next time, folks.

@Italy, as I try to distant myself from thinking of you as a player but as a power in the game,

Germany and I never got a good feeling from you about a CPA, at least I did not. I asked you for some signs of an alliance with either AIT or IGA but I got what seemed like a lot of vague statements. So while you thought there was a CPA on, Germany and I did not think so. You were too secretive and sly that neither of us felt like we could trust you. I do apologize, however, if I sounded abrasive and demeaning after the stabs. I did lie to you multiple times to get information out of you and to work with Turkey to take you out.

I understand that about the lying and such, but how could you can Germany not have trusted me? I kept in constant touch with both of you (though I'll admit in 1903 I didn't talk to you as much) and never once built threateningly towards you. I hope my EOG explained a little about why I was secretive and how I play. Some things I'm willing to let the board know, but I had thought Germany was on my side and didn't want to let any of our plans slip into England's hands. But I never once threatened you, or moved on one of your centers, or even demanded things from you. I thought that you would understand that I needed to face west

But you hid moves from me and Germany. You just didn't seem reliable. I didn't ask for every single move, but you would tell me one thing and moved another. I read your EoG, and I think I understand why you did what you did. I was just letting you know how you were perceived by being vague and by the some of your moves.

I do get that a lot, actually. In the very high caliber games I'm almost always "the sly one" or "the tricky one" or "that f***ing troll" so I can see where you're coming from. I realize I focused too much on talking with MKECharlie towards the middle of the game, and I should've expected the stab.

But frankly I don't see how I was being secretive. I think we just didn't talk enough. We didn't talk much in 1903, and ever since builds in 1904 I gave you my exact moves. I was vague in 1901, yes, but that was because we were still building trust. I grudgingly told you my Munich plans (though not completely) in 1902 and was honest on my builds, vetting them with you every time. But I can see where my denial of the CPA to you could be seen as a distrustful thing, but in reality I wanted to dump Germany.

Still, it was a good stab, and even if Germany or England had cooperated with me, I would've been run over by you eventually.

Yeah, I hope you don't take this the wrong way, but maybe you don't want to be known as the "sly one" in these high caliber games.
I wanted to try AT because I've been told one too many times that it doesn't and cannot work, which I really do not like to hear, and it is very hard to get it to work because of how easy it is for Turkey to stab Austria, but I would have been happy to work with T to take out R and to work with the CPA to finish the game. I think that would have produced a more likelihood of someone getting a solo and/or having a good three way draw.

goldfinger's Italy has probably been the strangest combination I've ever seen. I remember playing in that high-class game where both the move to Livonia via army and "that f***ing troll" came from, as France, and his description of what he was aiming for was extremely apt - US-Pakistan relations; continued alliance out of absolute necessity despite extreme distrust.

And he does manage to do it. His Italy is the least predictable, most slippery and, one would think, most prone to early attack and elimination you'd see, but he consistently manages to slip into all the right places to be just necessary enough to keep around.

Not to be mean or judgmental, but that was one game when I peruse goldfinger's history. Isn't the question more along the line of whether or not that particular method works for him or for Italy?

I think it's part of both. It has to work with the country first, I will say the country supersedes the player - that is, if a strategy is incompatible with a country, no player can salvage it regardless of the player's skill with that strategy. I remember another game (again with me as France) where he was England, and I think that England usually ends up, due to its stronger initial position, needing to take a more definite stand. More people get more worried about a slippery English player than a slippery Italian player. I don't know that his style is incompatible with England, but I do know it ended up with him getting blasted by F-G-R, and I would think it fairly incompatible. Meanwhile, it has succeeded more than once as Italy, and Italy does seem more built for it.

But it definitely depends on having skill as a player with the strategy, and goldfinger certainly does.

That make sense?

It does and I do think that goldfinger is skillful, but I think this might be a good discussion where he can see that being too sly is perhaps detrimental at times.

I am not saying this to criticize him but rather as constructive feedback.

No zultar, it is a legitimate concern, that I'm not trustworthy enough. I'm getting blasted as England right now in another high-quality game because I'm try to be too cute and coy about it all, trying to manipulate other players into doing something just a certain way. I dare say its gotten me into loads of trouble.

More on this tomorrow though,

I'll try to get a full EoG up tonight, especially after all the great ones so far. It really was an excellent game, which makes it all the more frustrating that France didn't really come to play, can you imagine if France had been trying as hard as everyone else, this game would have been exponentially better, it's honestly a real shame...

I certainly agree with you there MM, the dynamic would have been different. I hope next time I'm setting up a game I can get seven to participate fully, message wise :) Why is it that in a lot of games there seems to be one that isnt as engaged as the rest? In my last 10ish games I only had 2 games where all seven players were about equally communicative. Maybe its just periods in people's RL, I dont know, that sometimes interferes with my dedication to a game.

Looking forward to your EoG MM! I enjoyed reading the other's, always fun to finally know what everyone was really thinking and if you guessed right on some accounts. :)

It's a lot easier when one neighbor doesn't communicate, because it's easier to pick a target. :-)
I agree with the sentiment, though.

Also, a few responses to Italy's EOG:

1. I forgot about how I insisted that I dislodge you from Munich rather than having you willingly move away. It was because I was trying to convince Turkey to get back with Austria rather than jugg on us, and our cooperation with you moving through Munich would give Russia more ammo to scare Turkey into an anti-Austrian alliance with the fear of a CPA.

2. I admit to being the one who made the draw inevitable. Germany is my worst country to play, I think. I had hopes of solo possibilities in the beginning when Italy went balls-out against France, but when France didn't want to go through with the sealion, I abandoned any hope and played it as safe as I could.

Oh yeah...
3. If I seemed indecisive and paranoid, it's because I was. I think that's just how I am as Germany.

4. I hope you meant slimy as a compliment.

I always mean slimy as a compliment :)

I honestly hate EoG's, the past is the past, why relive it, especially when it was a crappy past... Regardless, here's a little more effort compared to my first try...

I'm not a fan of Russia. I typically open south. I want a friend. Or two. I could Juggle three if I had to. Maybe not. Everyone seems nice. Everyone talks nice. It doesn't last.

I want Sweden. Germany seems nice. Germany demands I don't take Galicia. CPA. England seems nice. I say I'll likely open south. I think. I usually do. Turkey's open to talking, but not productively, as I recall. Austria seems nice. Italy too. Hi France, want peace?

I don't know what to do. Germany wants me to open north. To piss off England. Okay, what the hell.

If any of you know how much I enjoy run on sentences, you'll appreciate how hard that was for me to do, not my style, never has been, never will be, can't imagine ever doing that again. I do really dislike EoGs, perhaps I'll try again this weekend, sorry...

Who wants a rematch with a different France?

I was thinking the same thing, sort of... I don't plan to join another game for a few months though, at least, and it's typically difficult to pull off with such a delay...

Long time marxy! How bout this is your last one before you have a long vacation?

I was supposed to take a break from January until April, but I went to WACcon, met some really cool people and wanted to try to get them to play on webDip, so I joined a few games and hopped into a couple others (like Paranoia) since I was playing anyway... I need those two months off, especially now that it's time to get my tomato seedlings started in the garage as well as plan the rest of my garden and get the yard in good shape, nothing like playing in the dirt! ;-)

I'm taking a break until autumn as well, as soon as my other games-in-progress are done.

I guess we should all take a break :D

I have a few questions for some of the players though. MKE - you did a real good job fooling me in regards to attacking England, but I have to ask why didn't you? I didn't stay in Munich or anything. I thought for sure that would earn your trust.

Sandgoose - I know you wanted to stab Austria, so why didn't you back in 1906? You certainly had the capability.

@Mrcs - we were working well up until that I supported France to MAO, and I know that I didn't have a chance to explain myself to you, but did you ever seriously consider working with me after that?

why? because I only had fleets, his armies could have come down like a flock of birds and I wouldn't have been able to do ISH without germany's help. and germany would have tipped him off, I noticed how good of a relationship he had.

hope that answers ur ?

Hm, I suppose, but I wish I could've advocated for that earlier. I think he would've collapsed with a good stab by you taking away 2 or 3 of his centers in 1904 or 1905

I have a feeling my responses to all of the answers to my questions will be along the lines of "Oh, I wish I had done X" haha

@Goldy:
Its always hard to adequately try to reconstruct one's decisions, motivations and feelings IN the game when one's now actually out of it and reasoning from the hindsight zone.

Let me start off with saying, as I said in my EoG, that during the game I felt, from your moves and messages, that your preference was to work with Austria and Germany, instead of me. Your sudden move on MAO didnt come as a surprise as such, I already expected you to not support me into Paris actually. I was happily surprised when you did.

Your support of France's MAO attack was a confirmation to me you were out to get me, I tried to start a cooperation before that by trying to get you to move on G and I would have supported you into Iberia (as I promised) if you would have made a move on G.

If I recall correctly, after you got dislodged in BUR by G in spring 04 I tried to convince you to retreat to MAR, but I'm not sure about that, I think I tried though. If you would have retreated to MAR, instead of PAR you could have dealt with Austria's stab and I am sure we would have found a way to cooperate a bit, but you didnt and I guess that ultimately sealed our mutual hostility. From that moment on I wanted to dominate your position asap.

In autumn 1905 I became very nervous about AT and G, I was afraid AT'd be able to breach me with the nasty french boat on the other side of the stalemate line able to help them. Also, G ministabbed me by taking Belgium. At that point I was very seriously considering working with you again, as I thought we both might become victim to ATG and they might shave me out of a potential draw. After that autumn I had a very elaborate negotiation with A and G, and finally, finally I got sure enough I could trust them to get to a four way and A and me were going to attack you further.

Looking back, I should have tried to cooperate with you just one turn sooner, in spring 1905, as then you could have claimed the ION and maybe, just ,maybe AT could have gotten in trouble if we would have gotten G onbaord. But I also mentioned this in my EoG.

After 1905 I had no real intention of working with you anymore. :(

I hope that answers your question? :)

@All: I'd be down for a rematch in a month or so, should be fun! But with a different France definitely.

@goldfinger:
You asked: "you did a real good job fooling me in regards to attacking England, but I have to ask why didn't you? I didn't stay in Munich or anything. I thought for sure that would earn your trust."

I liked England's press better. He was always straight with me. You, on the other hand, moved to Tyrolia with the stated intention of moving northeast past my SCs. I didn't realize how tempted you were to stay in Munich, actually.

As for why didn't I attack England…all I can say is that I *did* attack him—the "ministab" he just referred to when I took Belgium. If you had stayed in MAR that autumn, he'd have lost a unit, and I may have actually tried to attack him.

As it turned out, though, mini-stabbing him in BEL and building the fleet was my strategy for finishing the game alive. If I was France or Russia I may have tried to solo, but as I said earlier, I'm not very good at Germany.