As a start I suggest you do a search for "diplomacy austria hedgehog"

Austria isn't that bad - there are much worse things that can happen to you!
As with everyone, make alliances. As Austria its hard to get a 'safe' side, but then again if you do you're very well set because you can build near the front-line to attack.

Well as you can see here your main problem was cDing on the first two years...
http://webdiplomacy.net/board.php?gameID=18286&viewArchive=Maps

Italy and Austria are the best countries for alliance just sometimes 3 powers will gang up on you and that's were you areacrewed

I like to open with the southern hedgehog if I don't trust anyone and then see who hasn't attacked by 1902

There are very few situations that will leave you screwed Denis (although I've done one of them in my last game :P )

as for this game http://webdiplomacy.net/board.php?gameID=18286&viewArchive=Maps i joined after austria went afk for 2 rounds. i didn't figure i'd survive this one

Thanks for the advice

Austria's main goal is survival for the first years.
If you stay alive, you're in a pretty good position to go on and possibly win.

Survive somehow, get someone to help you.
Get Italy to attack France. If Italy attacks Turkey with you, Italy will almost always take you next. Then attack Turkey with Russia and stab Russia afterwards.
I think its really important for Italy to be your ally, and then if all goes well either you or Italy can win the game. And you can stab Italy easier than he can you, presuming no fleets in Ion. Just get one into Adr and convoy armies to Italy and attack Ionanean.
Austria has a big advantage that once it get going, it rolls, since you can easily get your units anywhere you need them, if you are turkey it will take ages for you units to run to the border.

Just my opinions, so do not take the "always" etc... to seriously.

Of course you can ally with Germany, Russia, France as well, even England later in the game. But I think Turkey is almost not possible, since he sort of has to stab you, and if he does not he won't win the game.

And don't fall into the trap of squibbling with Italy.
It will distract you and lead to your eventual downfall.

Yes, as Sendler says: predictability is the worth thing you can do tactically.

I don't agree at all. Your goal shouldn't be to survive. It should be to dominate. Austria is actually in a pretty sweet power position. If you get Serbia and Greece (and you should) Austria goes from vulnerable to fortress pretty quickly.

All you need to do is make absolutely sure that Italy doesn't attack you. After playing almost ten games as Austria, I don't recall ever being attacked early by Italy. I think that is one of the easiest arguments that you can make, that opening against Austria is craziness. Even if Italy does attack you, you should be able to whether as long as Russia isn't attacking you.

Then its just a matter of playing up the black sea problems and offering supports into Bulgaria or Rumania. Austria can be quite strong. Just don't let Russia into Galicia.

Don't forget, Germany is your best friend diplomatically - the Kaiser and Archduke should be singing from the same songbook in the first year.

I say, just like all the other countries, that good diplomacy is the key to playing Austria. You just can't win without being a diplomat with any country, considering of course that this isn't gunboat or other silent games.

@Baron Samedi: "And don't fall into the trap of squibbling with Italy."

EXACTLY.

Game after game, especially with new players, Austria launches a foolish, short-sighted attack on Italy, or vice-versa, which results in one center changing hands, if that, followed by Russia and/or Turkey steamrolling Austria while the Austrian players sits there like an idiot with a surprised look on his face. "Wha . . . huh . . . Russia is a threat? Wow, really? But . . . I never saw that coming . . . !"

Chances of being attacked by Russia are slightly better than 50%, and chances of being attacked by Turkey are pretty much the same (where else is he going to go?) Bottom line, pick Russia or Turkey and ally with the one against the other. Make peace with Germany and Italy and see if you can send the Italian west against the French or (not as ideal, but still workable) south against the Turk. I'm not sure how many Austrian victories I've seen (I could finish this sentence here) where the Austrian player started with an attack on Italy, but it's very few.

Must i say if you cycle from start to finish in this game the German was the dumbest player! he should have taken home the victory EASILY! gameID=18286

if you dont agree with me let me know but how bad does it have to be when you own all of russia and england and you die?

Possiblye BD, but he got control of all of England&Russia in the first place, so he can't be that bad. Also, it may be that in doing so he left himself overstretched, tactically and diplomatically. Indeed, he would become an obvious target and thus in danger.

To be good at Austria you need to be a smooth talker. You should always make it a point to be a smooth talker but if there's one particular country that you want to use grandiose words with it'd be Austria. Talk friendly with everyone and attack only when attacked. If no one attacks you then try your best to let tensions build between countries and then make your move when you are ready.

I'm pretty sure you can win with France without being able to speak English.

How many times have you seen Austria attack Italy in the first year Peripheral? It makes no sense at all.

italy is usually key. a true diplomat excells with austria, it takes a lot of negotiation

you wanna see a great austria? im not saying who it is or anything :)

http://webdiplomacy.net/board.php?gameID=18388&msgCountryID=0&rand=98981#chatboxanchor

@Centurian: "I'm pretty sure you can win with France without being able to speak English."

+1. I'm pretty sure you can win at France without speaking English and knowing the game's rules.

"How many times have you seen Austria attack Italy in the first year Peripheral? It makes no sense at all. "

Pretty much every Gunboat game I've ever played (first rule of Gunboat: play Turkey; second rule of Gunboat: if you can't play Turkey, play France.) Also in fast games, where there isn't as much time for diplomacy, and in newbie games, where they don't understand diplomacy.

In short, Austria's chances for survival go way up if given the chance to talk to neighbors who are not complete novices. In expert games, Austria has a reasonably good record, in amateur and no-press games, a downright lousy one.

Another key with austria as any power is to cover your butt. Leaving room for an easy and effective stab is simple a poor idea unless you really trust your ally.