So, I must get this off my chest, because I still feel sick of this.
I created this game FOR Dragunar, to show him how a top level gunboat looks like, so instead of FPers trashing gunboaters all the time, one of the most promiment forumers could finally tell them they are wrong on many levels.
I was lucky I got France, so I decided to control the entire game in a way, to keep the balance as long as I can. I attacked England because we had a week Germany at the beginning, so while Italy was doing Lepanto, I kept the balance north. The moment Germany got stronger I changed against him, and cooperated with England, who seemed having an understanding of what’s happening here.
I also started abusing Italy, as he was advancing in Turkey, so I can slow him down. Keeping the balance again, so Draugnar will be impressed hopefully, an see that we don’t hurt each other, we don’t play out of fury, and most of all we do not let anyone get too strong.
Things went very well, in 1914 I put up my draw vote, as we had 6 powers still, everybody with at least 4SCs. I wanted to draw, because a) I wanted to express my respect towards the others, how good they have played b) my humble towards the game itself dictated I finally achieve a 6-way true draw.
I was in love with this particular game, I was amazed by how everyone understood what’s happening, and how careful everyone is, not to screw up the game while they are also trying to win.
My plan was to get Tunis, as 18th SC, and deal with Germany/England later. Sadly Germany played very bad, hence England got strong and my plan went to the trash. But it was for the solo only anyway. I realized around 1918 Germany cannot survive, and we must erase him, so I committed to England, sent my fleets south, and attacked Germany.
Yet my plan was still, to hold Tunis only, because holding Italy is extremely hard. I wanted to play a clean and beautiful game, about which I can write a very positive EoG. As many of you know a gunboat game is like a ballet for me, and this game was the ‘Swan Lake’ among all of my previous games. I usually think about moves all the time, on bus during dining, before sleeping and after waking up. Additionally this game was a passion project of mine, to bring FPers and GBers closer on this website, improve the mood and the community, and most of all teaching!
I think everyone can learn, until his death and everyone should. Presenting a good game to Draugnar and being able to brag about it later was something I was looking forward to. I showed this game to many fellow players, including mods, saying: ‘Look! Look! How balanced we are, this is a beautiful game, it is worth to follow’
Then in 1920 Russia built a new fleet StP south coast and things started to go south. As we all know (well I thought we all know) StP cannot be defended from the south, hence you can take it anytime you want. Therefore this new fleet was crucial to be contained (nice build Fairfax!)
My very first mistake was I assumed (because that’s what I’m used to) that everyone in this game is well aware of the fact, that fleet must die, and that priority number 1!
By 1921 that fleet has entered Prussia. In 1921 I had Italy FULLY covered, all I had to do was to pull back to Tunis from Ionian and build in Mars, stalemate is done!!! England didn’t see that, he started coming down, instead of taking care of that fleet. So I had to go defensive, build in Brest, and let Italy be lost to Russia.
England, even though he says, had nothing to do south. There was no single moment in the game, when I wasn’t able to pull back and save Tunis with a solid stalemate. No English unit was ever needed south!
In 1922 I had to decide what to sacrifice, Marseilles or Munich. This is where this Forum thread starts to be interesting. England finally taking Berlin (after years of my unused support) I knew we are in big big trouble. I even PM-ed one of my fellow players, that we will lose this. So my choice was clear I have to save Munich, and lose Marseilles, which gives time for England to clear Prussia!
And here is where my head blew up! Draugnar says, I’m stupid I let Marseilles fall, but if he had looked at the map he would have seen I had to choose. My intention was to HELP, to keep Berlin safe, so he can take Prussia. In 1923 Spring he screwed up, though it was a 100% solution, to attack Moscow. I lose Munich, he gets Berlin, I retreat to Tunis (as always planned) and we draw.
After screwing that up, he kept going south??? Which I had covered all the time, I guess he just cannot count to 17. One phase later all he had to do was to do the same attack, and attack Moscow. Yet he has lost Livonia, and with it Berlin instantly.
I had 3 choices to SAVE this game and HELP England: one was to try to get back Munich, second to take Kiel with an army, and take back Munich with it’s help, 3rd was to save Italy somehow.
All my following moves were determined to serve the above 3 goals, for which this stupid fuck thinks I was attacking him, even though I was trying to HELP him and SAVE his as, while correcting his mistakes. Yet he’s blaming me.
First: I have attacked Bohemia from Tyrolia in 1923 Autumn. That was my ONLY option, to give another chance for England. I had to do this, to ensure Silesia is not used to move into Prussia, which leads to instantly losing the game. Every other move of mine was less likely to save the game. Meanwhile I held Naples/Tunis/Rome and allowed England to enter south, where he still had nothing to do.
I fucking helped you you idiot, and you think I was attacking.
In 1924 he still had the chance to save Berlin by entering Prussia, he didn’t, by this time it was clear we cannot hold it, as I lost Tyrolia, hence keeping Munich is easy for Russia, hence Silesia can be used to enter Prussia, which I was preventing for 2 years.
At this moment my options reduced to 2 scenarios: Get back munich (hence take Kiel) or save Italy.
In 1924 I have entered Holland to be able to take Kiel, so we have an army there, and I can triple attack Munich! Draugnar, I wasn’t attacking you!!!! I put a fucking army into Kiel, which you should have done years before to help holding Munich. Yet this ass thinks I was attacking him, I wasn’t, I was trying to save the game.
Meanwhile Italy, I was still keeping my lines mysteriously Russia played bad here.
In 1925 we had the opportunity to save the Italian line, also to take back Berlin! As I was finally able to triple attack Munich, Russia was unable to hold Berlin, my plan worked!!! I was finally in a position to secure Berlin for us, and I helped Baltic -> Berlin which I did, shown by the big map. I sent Brest north to help later in StP, as it was still weak, yet he thought I’m attacking him.
Fun fact, in 1926 I was also supporting Baltic -> Berling, which would have worked!!! My plan was finally working, we had this game, yet he moves against Livonia, making our one time chance go.
In 1925 autumn, I have attacked Western Med, to ‘tell him’ retreat to GoL, so you can help me create the only Italian stalemate line! What did he do? Took away Spain, instead of securing the game.
Meanwhile, more likely even though, I somehow managed to pull out the rabbit from the hat, and recreate the ONLY possible stalemate line, saving us, and all he had to do was support hold Naples. He didn’t and we lost at this moment for good.
At this point I was almost crying. I was trying to teach a fellow player how a quality gunboat looks like, how we usually operate, how to save a game, how to cooperate, how to communicate. I was doing my best, following 3 different strategies parallel (save Berlin, get back Munich, save Italy). All my hard work and effort to succeed in at least one of these three were sent to the trash.
I felt nausea, I couldn’t eat, my chest had this strange pressure. I was working my ass off to TEACH, HELP and EDUCATE someone how to play this game. My intentions were to make Draugnar a better player, this community more interconnected, FPers an GBers to understand each other and respect their differences. I have failed on each and I was about to cry, that this world cannot be a better place.
Draugnar you are cruel, your motivation is to destroy, your success in your life is ruining others’. People like me try to create something new and worthy, educate and widen the spectrum of others, as my SoW contribution shows as well. You have been given the chance to learn, to understand and experience a game, which only a few does here. You been invited to perform the most beautiful ballet we have ever had on this site, and be part of something special, you can be proud of.
You not just didn’t use this exceptional opportunity to your advantage, but you have ruined something unrepeatable and ripped out a piece of my heart. My ‘Swan Lake’ just went to ‘Romeo and Juliet’ in a single afternoon, which I cannot ever forgive you. And now I’m finally crying …
St. Petersburg
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