With my many years' experience at Diplomacy, with great success (especially in gunboat), I offer the following tidbit of wisdom:

Austria is screwed, assuredly screwed, if Italy attacks Austria in 1901 or 1902. Probably Italy too, but definitely Austria.

In my experience, it doesn't matter how much Austria hedges against an Italian attack or successfully defends against one. There mere fact of Italy attacking Austria so early compromises Austria's defenses too much even if Austria succeeds in blocking Italy. The diplomatic situation against Russia and Turkey typically becomes even WORSE if Austria defends against Italy (you heard me right, fighting off Italy worsens your relations with Russia and Turkey), because that means that Russia and Turkey have an even greater chance of profiting than they normally do by attacking Austria, since Austria has moved into position to defend against Italy. At least if Italy makes a powerful attack on you (like actually gets into Trieste while your units are pushed towards Russia and Turkey), Russia and/or Turkey may leave you alone because they don't want Italy to just end up with all your home centers.

With this conclusion firmly entrenched in my mind, I cannot advise any Austrian player to attack Italy on the opening move. If Italy attacks you, you're screwed anyways - I don't think your chances of survival are any higher if you guard against the Italian attack, and indeed I ever think your chances of long-term survival are actually slightly better if you DON'T.

Attacking Italy on the opening move:
1) Sours relations with Italy, increasing the chances that Italy does attack you, which means you will have caused yourself to lose in games where Italy might have been your ally.
2) Increases your ability to defend against Italy by almost nothing.
3) forgoes the possibility of a 2-build opening, which is by FAR your best chance of survival or victory.

From a cost-benefit analysis perspective, I rate Austria attacking Italy on the opening move as: very bad, never do it.

@ubercacher16
I disagree with you, but I understand that you want to end the conversation. I respect that. I am not arguing with you further. I leave my advice for players who wish to learn from me instead of from you.

Even if Italy attacks you in 1901, you're better off moving to Albania.

I have a game as Italy where I attacked uclabb in S01. He moved to Albania. I got no builds. He soloed. Similarly, I once had julien go to tyr/ven on me when I was Austria. With Turkey's help, he got no builds. I got a 2wd with England. I'm including the players here to show that this works even with reasonably good players as Italy.

I also have a game as Austria where Italy decided he was going to Key Lepanto without my permission. I opened to Albania. He took Trieste. I allied with Turkey and won the game.

Basically, if Italy isn't attacking you, you need to take Greece. If Italy is attacking you, you still need to take Greece so that you can kill Italy.

The best Australian opening is to secure Siam and then rack up 2 armies per turn until you can break out into Asia.

I would tend to go with the traditional Bud-Ser; Vie-Gal (bouncing); and F Tri-Albania. If Italy stabs you for Trieste, then suicide on Italy giving everything you can to Turkey. I don't usually like to make threats in diplomacy, but tend to talk about the benefits of a I/A, which are immense for both sides. If I v A take place, then both powers end up in a long war while everyone around you else gets fat.

I like to get two builds as Austria in 1901. Your position in the middle is such that two builds gives you some security for at least 1902. Maybe your a tough enough nut that you can persuade one of your neighbors to join you in an alliance against another.

But I like playing Austria aggressive. Therefore, in 1901, I wouldn't be opposed to A Bud-Rum; A Vie-Bud, if you can persuade Turkey to move to Armenia. Offer to support the Turk to Sevastapol in exchange for an alliance against R.

Blue Water Lepanto every time, obv.

Also, I think hedgehog openings are the worst thing in the world. Don't do those.

BTW, as Italy, I tried the Bohemian Crusher once. It worked out in that game, but it was luck. I don't think it is anything worth the investment for Italy. Italy is better off making an alliance with Austria and waiting for the right opportunity to stab.

I like the BWL. But it is better for Italy than Austria, imo.

For a few games, you should practice by just being super explicit with Italy:if you attack me, I will prioritize defending against you. When Austria is falling, it's basically a race between Italy and turkey to get Serbia and then that person conquers the other. You need to make it clear to Italy that it will not be him.

Additionally, let's be clear, even if Italy gets in to Trieste or whatever you have the tactical advantage as long as there isn't a pile on. So you just need to keep Russia on your side. Turn one you should be talking to Russia about how much you want to help him get going in the north to launch a strong R/A alliance, the actual single best alliance in the game. And you have pull for him as most Germany players are looking out for Austria in the beginning as inside players don't want to just get smuahed between E/F/T

I concur with peterwiggin's advice to move to Albania by default. I would even go as strongly as to say that you are better off not hedging against Italy if you suspect he might stab you. If you're *certain* he will, use whatever intel you did to discern this fact to figure out where and try to block with your Vienna army instead of bouncing Russia in Galicia. If Russia expects to bounce in Galicia and ends up there while you block an Italian attack, he's not necessarily likely to take a shot at your home centers with his "free" position. Especially if you've done your job and ensured Russia and Turkey aren't locked in allies yet, Russia might value getting to support himself into Romania and bounce Turkey in Black Sea, which is a luxury that basically never happens.

I like uclabb's specific advice as well that you should be point-blank to Italy about prioritizing defense against him. I think eturnage's comment to talk mainly about the benefits of an alliance is prudent and smart advice to follow, but I do also think that the warning is essential to someone who's getting all of the nuances of Austrian play down.

Also second uclabb's comment that Russia-Austria is the best alliance in the game. It's damn close if it's not. Russia-Italy may be slightly better, but R/A is shockingly good at turning Turkey inside-out and there's little that Italy even wants to do about it (they would rather try to subvert the Russian side of that alliance and crunch Austria next, instead of propping up Turkey, who will always be an obstacle to Italian ambitions in the end). Austria and Germany tend to enjoy amiable relations early in most games, which helps Russia develop a northern foothold and focus on offense instead of worrying about survival. The duo is a bit weak in enforcing its will in the Mediterranean, but the upshot of working with Russia is having more leeway to build fleets, which Austria always needs in order to win (but can rarely find time to squeeze out).

Priorities I would give you to focus on as Austria:
- Ask Italy questions about his or her playstyle. Italy more than any other country lets its controller put a personal touch on the game, given Italy's proximity to the middle and superb defensive posture. Figure out whether Italy is the type of player who likes having one strong alliance or likes to meddle a little bit everywhere, and try to sell an alliance that would resonate with the type of player they are. (This is good advice generally, but it's hard to do that with six other players... and if you can only do it to one as Austria, you need to do it with Italy.) Prioritize the benefits of alliance but make sure they know that if they attack you, you're going to prioritize beating them.
- I would favor Russia over Turkey in my negotiations, all else equal (i.e. if I could choose my ally between the two, pick Russia), but be aware that a solid number of Russians see you as food and don't neglect negotiations with Turkey either. Your gameplan should probably be to attack Turkey with Italy and/or Russia, but don't get pigeonholed into that if Russia isn't biting.
- Build fleets whenever you can afford to do it. It's exceedingly rare that this is in W1901, but you're going to need at least three if you intend to make a solo push by way of the western Mediterranean, and you'll want two in order to beat Turkey or Italy anyway. Austria is primarily a land power, but you have to be aware of the diminishing returns on army builds given the geography of the board (where it's not hard for Austria to get stalemated out of Germany and Scandinavia). If you're familiar with England, it's a reversed version of England's army dilemma: in this case, you need armies to get anything going, but you'll need a few fleets at some point to actually win the game.

At the risk of sounding cynical... and without any particular advice in mind.. I wonder how many of these great morsels and feasts of advice are at least partially motivated by the hope of playing against people who TAKE the advice. :-)

Playing against people taking this advice would require playing games.

It's Italy's job to lose to Austria. That's my mindset going into games as either power.

It's a tough job... but somebody's got to do it, ghug.

Austria in regular play is not bad, but it's damn annoying to actually play Austria in Gunboat. In general Austria needs to rely on his talking skills to ally up with Russia or Italy; without it, Austria is basically unable to do anything and you can only pray you get two builds on year one.

I've never won with Austria. I agree with Swordsman's comments about it being of little use in attacking Italy at the start. I think Serbia is the most important sc to capture in the first move. I've been watching the ex Mods game #f**kghugboat which is a public press only game and the poor blighter with Austria played adventurously but has been consumed by Turkey. Diplomacy ..Italy is the country you need to work best with. If you can persuade Italy to go West early, against France and help you attack Turkey as well then a good start can be made. The plan with Russia is you want him to hold Rumania with a fleet, not an army and help you fight Turkey. So play the "Turkey is the danger/ common enemy" card with Italy and Russia, is my usual strategy. You need a really good alliance with Italy, but you probably have to doublecross Italy Mid game to win. I liked the comment about Austria and fleets being the opposite, but similar "balance of forces between armies and fleets issue" of England 's with armies.

I suppose the best tip I might offer is "look at the best players games with a win with Austria" by going to their player page & looking through their finished games, finding their winning games with Austria, opening those games, & use archived maps to be able to go back to the opening move, and then study "how they did it" by moving through the moves of the game.

I will ignore gunboat because holy fuck if you aren't the first one eliminated as Austria.

Tips in standard game:
1. Talk to Italy. Get Italy to commit to attacking Turkey. Turkey's success is directly correlated to the destruction of Austria and then Italy. IA are natural allies against Turkey. Sell anything you have to. Promise 2 of Turkey's centers as a starting point and offer 3, explaining you're content with the Balkans, if 2 isn't enough for your Italy.

2. Establish a friendship with Germany. Germany knows its game is in the West for the next few turns. A strong Austria generally prevents a strong attack coming in from the back. An antagonistic Russia can be subdued by the threat of a bounce in Sweden in the Fall of 1901.

3. Turkey is your enemy. Russia can be a potential ally. Doesn't matter. Make them both think you want to work with them. Get one of them into the Black Sea. A bounce can be worked out between the two of them and you're looking down the barrel of a juggernaut. You will lose that game. A successful move to the Black Sea is antagonistic, even when agreed upon, and it can make the juggernaut nearly impossible to pull off or tenuous at the very least.

4. Take Serbia and take Greece. You can make a stab at Romania or Bulgaria (with Russian support). However, neither of those are guaranteed. Serbia and Greece are yours if you want them and you haven't absolutely fucked up your diplomatic relations with everyone. Your third army should almost always bounce in Galicia.



Situation specifics:
1. Italy attacks
Either you have a novice Italy or you did a bad job and let someone else turn Italy's head. Damage control time. First, do not abandon your plans for Serbia and Greece. Gaining 2 centers and losing 1 in a strong position is better than gaining 1 in a weak position. if Italy is not yet in an Italian center, sell him on taking a shot at Germany or reinforce the benefits of the Lepanto. Do everything you can to make sure that Tyrollean army isn't heading south. If you bounced in Galicia, utilize that army in whatever way best guarantees 5 centers. If Italy is already in Trieste, it's probably time to see him on the Blue Lepanto. You're going to want to use all the tricks you have up your sleeve to grab Bulgaria (as a first choice) or Romania (if you just can't get into Bulgaria. In this scenario, Italy is putting his already gained center at risk, so you need to work on him a lot. You get Serbia back next turn, and you end up in the position you wanted with an Italian army already on the doors of Constantinople. If you wake up and it's 1902 and Italy is hanging out in Trieste, chances are you're done. Take some wild swings and let me know how it went.

2. The juggernaut forms
If there is a clear juggernaut, DO NOT ACKNOWLEDGE IT TO RUSSIA OR TURKEY! Let them think they're clever. Meanwhile, scream from the rooftops in every other private message about the danger on the horizon. Your best hopes are in England and Germany. Form a strong alliance with Italy, convincing him that he's going to be decimated right after you are if this thing gets rolling. Do everything you can to keep Galicia unoccupied by Russian soldiers and get an army to Syria as soon as possible. Quick, decisive, coordinated action is the only way to stop this. It can be done, but be wary of the Italian stab once you know you can defend yourself from RT.

3. You're doing well
Austria is often out of the game by early 1903 or so. If you're thriving, don't get cocky. I find the best time is when Turkey is about to be put out of his misery, make sure you have a friendly and occupied Russian and sever a few nerves in Italy's back. You should have built a fleet by now. If you've done well enough, Venice is yours, you have a fleet in the Ionian and you're building a second one in Trieste in the winter after the stab. Hopefully France or England is yet to wrap up the West. Get an army to Piedmont as quick as possible. Take another Italian center or two. You don't need to get your fleets into the MAO, but you want to make sure there are no other fleets in the Western Mediterranean either. I'm currently playing Austria. England, Italy, and Turkey are dead. I have a Russian ally... or I did. Germany and France have worked together very well. I am the largest, and am trying to get it down to a 3 way draw that the other 3 aren't interest in. I couldn't beat France, Germany, and Russia. That being said, I have set up a blockade in the Mediterranean. The only way France can touch me is by marching through Germany, which would likely accomplish my 3 way draw. Fleets are of incredible importance in winning or dictating the terms of the draw. You need to build them as quick as you can or the Italian peninsula is nearly impossible to control.

The single most important thing as Austria is to consider all your options always. Be prepared to work with anyone who wants to work with you.

Far too many juggernaughts are caused by the Austrian player believing the terrible articles that say that A/T can't work, and failing to give the Turk an alternative, even though oftentimes the Turk might be the only player who wants to work with him. Never rule an alliance out! It just makes things harder for you.

Sure, R/A and I/A might require less trust, but that doesn't mean they're superior to T/A. Often an alliance which requires more trust has a much stronger foundation and in the midgame, you'll find that they're less likely to stab.

Yeah, sounds sweet captainmeme, Austria looking for an alliance with Turkey... Look how well that's working out for ATC in that ex Mods game that you're in. He trusted Turkey and got shafted, doublecrossed and done over by uclabb with Turkey.

Even Uclabb would agree that his stab was a bad move in terms of going for the victory there. He pretty much guaranteed himself a draw instead of a shot at a win by doing so - the only reason his solo is possible at all is because of Goldie being Goldie.

A/T can work incredibly well and you'd have seen that if ATC hadn't retreated into Tunis and annoyed Italy there.

Well the argument that "Goldie being Goldie" is irrefutable.LoL. I accept that no possible alliance should be ruled out, I played Turkey in along lasting alliance with Austria once. But the success of any alliance really rests with the players involved

Plus I cannot pretend that I have any understanding of ATC's strategy in that game, but it is fun to watch it..one of the best that I have watched.

I also agree that uclabb's attack on Austria was at the least, poorly timed..way too early given the way ATC played, in my opinion.

I've won twice starting with an A/T alliance ... once as Turkey and once as Austria. Here is a good example of how an alliance with Turkey can work out for Austria even if Italy takes Trieste iin 1901. gameID=183081