You often get supports for moves that don't actually occur in no press games. But you also get moves that look well planned. Like flash says, it happens when people know how to play.

In the same no press game that Flashman is in, I supported a French army to Belgium early in the game, to keep England out. However, the same French army I was supporting tried to support my German army there! The result was, both France's army and my army simply stayed put, while England was able to walk right in! So, yes, I suppose support holds do happen in No press games, although, it doesn't work out how you want sometimes!

LOL! That same French player just posted above me, related to the same move, I think, at the same time!

Though looking at your game I'm not really sure WHY austria would have supported that move. He's just asking for Turkey to eliminate him as well.

Glad you posted - I was wondering about that move too.

Ok, now look.. There's nothing 'odd' or 'underground' about any of my moves. This is the second time I've been stuck with Austria in a no-press game. Russia and Italy were the ones that tried to initially pinch me in the first place - once I'm down to only one unit, I'm pretty much thoroughly useless. Last time, Turkey took me out within.. I might be generous to say three years :P

Russia was shoved up because Turkey; the only thing keeping Italy from taking me was Turkey. I've only got one unit and tend to return favors (even when they're entirely selfish - AKA, Turkey expanding), and there wasn't really a particularly good reason to not use my unit as a support. If Germany had come down, there'd been a fair chance I'd have supported either him or Italy against each other, especially in that last move. And I realized that supporting Turkey into that particular spot would end up being the death of my hide - but there gets to be a point where it's kinda pointless only having one unit with no chance at expansion :P

Do supports show up on the map even if they fail? If so, they are a very valid form of "sign language" indicating your support. An easy example is Germany supporting Russia into Sweden to indicate their support for Russia.

Supports will show on the large map.

In play by email (and on dipbounced), players use convoys, usually to Switzerland, to express a desire to ally, as invalid convoys get printed in the judging, but invalid supports don't.

I cheat in intensive-press games by not communicating with other players at all.

hence your name Menace...

Anyone tried finalising-unfinalising-finalising-unfinalising-etc as a way of signalling the desire for an alliance?

i find that failed supports are good means to call attention to your willingness to repeat the same support next turn. the downside being that you cant organise anything tricky and your opponent can also see that failed support!

Hence with experienced players you can mislead them...

Unless they are very experienced, in which case they will realise that your are misleading them...

Must agree - supports are THE way to signal intent.

Can someone tell me the point of a no-press game if the players are simply going to communicate in the forum?