Frantic game for me, but because of RL situation. I had terrible internet, so had to keep switching between a malfunctioning wireless router at home, tethering through a capricious data connection on my phone, and the old desktop at home with the iffy broadband. I was sure I'd CD eventually, but glad I made it to the end.

I was hoping for a 2-way between Italy and myself towards the end, but after I had the line it was probably not happening.

I started writing an EOG, by the way, but from 1905 onwards, I was being trying to make sure I was online long enough to submit moves, so I gave up trying. Writing one up now.

Playing Germany I tried my anti-France opening. Then I see France goes with the anti-England thing so I turned it around to work with him. Generally I hate helping France in gunboat because they just about always cause big problems in the end unless they get ganged up on early. Well, I went against that on a whim this time, and it paid off with a very early death of England, but then France just pulling it off again. Maybe I should have dived into France early? Maybe I should have dived in later? In hindsight those could not have been worse choices, but may have ended up the same with me just getting gored by someone else.

I have to say, this site is serious in terms of draw whittling. Cutthroat.

I'm usually non-commital to draw whittling, if the game has stopped being fun, I tend to be willing to. But of late, I've been in point free-fall, from about ~1100 four months ago to ~80 before this high pot game, so it was too tempting to give up.

I had to decide whether to attack you or not, and two things led to that - Russia was sitting all over Scandinavia, so I should be able to establish northern sea control very easily - and Italy had lots of armies and few very far fleets, so I could make gains quickly and easily.

I like helping France in gunboat as Germany, really, but I usually prefer to make sure I have a hold on Scandinavia first. The stab, if appropriate for the game, comes after you're sitting on StP and Warsaw, and after Italy has been induced to bother his fleets, and it's lethal when it does.

Yeah, I came to the realization that you attacking me was the totally logical thing to do as the timer rolled down to like 28 seconds, too late to rearrange all my orders. But if I would have jumped at you, then likely we would have just had a big stalemate until Russia started walking in behind and nibbling at me. Russia may have seen the very friendly I/F borders though and held off. Oh well.

Here's mine:

Was pretty mad at Russia most of the game...

Spring 01:
Drew Turkey, easily the best country in gunboat. That bodes well. Italy hasn’t submitted though, which kinda sucks. This may end in a cancel. Hope he shows up though. Almost opened to Arm cause I thought I remembered it was statistically best, but apparently it’s not. And I forgot how to play gunboat: don’t piss off anyone until you have to.
Autumn 01:
Well an Italian NMR. Austria is voting Draw/Cancel, but no one else at this point. I like to see the Russian in Gal, it means I’ll have my pick in allies between Austria and Russia. I think I’ll pick Russia, since he’s in a far more powerful position, but it’s a tough choice. Interesting opening by France, but it worked for him. Surprised to see him leave Burgundy open. God, I’ve missed this game. Italy is back and is voting cancel. We’ll see if it happens.
Builds 01:
Well shit. This is insane. Russia gets two builds, but I would be very surprised if there isn’t an E/G alliance. Russia will have a hard time with that. Italy came back and took Trieste. That pretty much seals Austria’s fate. I’m really surprised that Russia didn’t go for Rum and Buda, but I’m glad. Austria supported me to Rum. That’s interesting. Not sure if he can forgive me for Greece, but I wouldn’t mind working with him now that he’s desperate. Builds will determine who I end up working with. I don’t want Italy to get too much of Austria, because it means I won’t get as much as easily. Italy is in a very strong position despite NMRing. I really feel like France is screwed by E/G though, which will be a huge problem. Position in the Black Sea will be incredibly valuable.
Spring 02:
Wow. GREAT builds for me. Very hostile towards England from Germany and France, which is good news. Maybe I misread Germany. Looks like he’ll play for Denmark. And Russia didn’t build in Mos, and Sev was occupied. He’ll be very easy to stab, and doesn’t look like he wants to be involved in A/I. I’ll play for Greece, and if Austria gives it to me, I’ll prop him up. Should be able to take Aeg, since Italy will almost certainly take Tunis. Or maybe he’ll support me to Greece to indicate alliance and then go to Greece. I’d really like that.
Autumn 02:
DAMNIT ITALY! Why would you do that? Are you just looking to have no allies? There’s definitely an F/G alliance, which is bad news for England, but I hope F turns on Italy soon. I need to get Greece. I would have been far more successful had I gone after Russia, but I’m glad I didn’t. I’m not close to out of this yet, even though I don’t have terribly many allies. Italy had better not move to Aeg again, that would just be retarded. Just take Tunis and work with me, man. I hope Russia is smart enough to support hold Vienna. We can’t let Italy get too strong too fast. Looks like Russia and Germany are getting along better than I would have liked too.
Builds 02:
Damnit, Russia. Italy is a PROBLEM! Why did you attack Austria? Now he gets two builds on us. If I can’t get Greece this year, it may be the end of me, thanks to this.
Spring 03:
Russia, this is very simple. I have shown no signs of hostility. It’s entirely safe for you to tap Serbia so that I can get something fucking done against Italy. If you don’t take risks in this game, you lose. Hopefully you’ll also get Sweden and can get a build in Warsaw. It’s us against the world here, bro, so get with the program.
Autumn 03:
GOD DAMNIT RUSSIA! I am NOT TRYING TO TAKE RUMANIA. Now I have to support hold Greece so that Italy doesn’t get ANOTHER two builds. God damn. I’m support holding everyone here and maybe SOMEONE will give me SOMETHING. Jesus Christ Russia. How hard is it to take an ounce of risk? Italy is going to wipe us out. I’m calling a three way between IGF. My only hope at this point is Italy using his builds here to go after France and not me. Or France going after Italy. Hopefully France gets two builds.
Builds 03:
Well. That’s a little better. Russia and Italy will clearly be at war now. Italy gets no builds… I can live with this. Austria handed me Greece, I wish I had taken it… France has two builds, but can’t build in Marseilles, because he moved there with an army. Don’t get that, unless he’s just trying to assure Italy he won’t build there. Don’t understand that at all, now is the perfect time for him to stab Italy. In other news, England is completely dead.
Spring 04:
Well I’d like to take Greece with Aeg and get a build, but I don’t think I can do that, because of Italy. Italy chose to disband Alb and get an army, that’s interesting. I’m thinking a self bounce in Greece with Aeg and Bulg. Next turn I can try to take Greece. Hopefully Italy will try for Aeg again, and he’ll stall there. I need a fleet build so that I can take Ion, or really just hold off Italy. Russia is voting draw. I guess I will too, to signal support/maybe we can actually get something out of this disaster of a game.
Autumn 04:
Well… This is interesting. Looks like France is stabbing Germany. I guess that’s ok? Mean’s well all have to band together to stop France soon. In other news, it’s unlikely I’ll get Greece. But we’ll see if that works. Italy may support me in. But I wonder if he’d support Bulgaria or Aeg. He may just tap Serbia, which would be really nice, but I doubt he will. He only needs one support hold on Budapest though. All in all, I’m glad he’s at least not moving to EM or Aeg… But his next build will almost certainly be a fleet. I’d like to get Black sea out into the med to do something. I don’t think Russia will stab me, but I have no real guarantee of that right now.
Builds 04:
Damn. Greece was a long shot, but I had to take it. I think I’ll support hold Serbia and Greece and cycle my fleet out into the Med. That’s about all I can do. Austria keeps supporting me against Italy, I guess I should take it. But Italy will build a fleet, which means I can’t take Ion until I’ve got mine out. I’m surprised that Germany went for London instead of saving Edinburgh. Oh, I guess it was still 50/50 when you consider France could have tapped North.
Spring 05:
Well I pretty much said what I’d do here. Support hold and cycle. Nothing new. I think I’ll tap Ion with Aeg instead of support holding though. Austrian support may get me in (or at least bounce) and it’s far harder for Italy to get one up on me. Not that it will ultimately matter. I’m the only weak point in our line. Large French growth is my best hope at this point.
Autumn 05:
Austria, NO! I had your back, man! Most likely outcome at this point is a FIR three way, I think. Hopefully I’ll be around for it because French growth will be too much for Italy. I think I’ve got a decent chance at that, with France poised to make significant gains pretty quickly up north. I’ll move to Ion again keep cycling my fleet out. Hopefully Italy sees France’s MAO fleet and gets worried. I have to make my fleets crucial to the stalemate if I want to be around. Or at least I have to be in a position to support France into the Med.
Builds 05:
Blergh. Austria moved to Ion instead of supporting me. Which I guess was smarter, I should have supported him. Russia HAS to see that we can take Serbia if we try though. That’s just not optional. I wish France had gotten a build, but at least Russia did.
Spring 06:
Wait, we’re voting cancel now? I guess I’m OK with that, given the NMR. But it’s a bit unorthodox. Anyway. We can guarantee Serbia if Russia sees the obvious move. And I’m tapping Ion and Ser, so Greece should be pretty safe.
Autumn 06:
Jesus Fucking Christ Russia! How can you not see that we can take Serbia if you support me in and tap Budapest! Let’s see how may moves it takes you to get this. Hoping France takes this opportunity to stab Italy finally. He’s got a build, move Mars > Pie and build a fleet.
Builds 06:
HOW HARD IS IT TO TAP BUDAPEST RUSSIA?!?! The move is guaranteed to work, it’s just a matter of actually doing it!
Spring 07:
Going to hopefully force a disband of EM, or at least a retreat to Ionian. Oh damn. He can go to Syria. That’s not good. Should change those orders. Well. Maybe not. He may be smart enough to disband regardless. He needs to fight France, and I think he knows that, based on Pie. I guess we’ll know his intentions based on his retreat order.
Autumn 07:
Guess he pretty clearly wants to eliminate me, supporting Russia to Bulgaria and retreating to Syria. It’s all up to Russia now whether I stay around. Frankly, I don’t really expect to.
Builds 07:
Italy: I’m trying to give you a fleet against France… Come on dude. And Russia, I hope you see that I’ll need a support hold in Bul this turn. It’s not a huge deal if I lose it though, I guess. This is a fucking disaster up north though. France can break past the stalemate easily. I think it’s a French solo at this point. And frankly, I’m fine with that. Italy and Russia both deserve that. I don’t get why on earth Italy is coming after me instead of supporting the stalemate line.
Spring 08:
This game is getting really boring. But Italy, I hope you see our only hope is you pushing back France. So to that end, LET ME DISBAND YOUR FLEET SO YOU CAN BUILD AN ARMY FOR THE STALEMATE. For the love of god. Gunboat is not this hard people.
Autumn 08: Meh. Same stuff.
Builds 08: Hahahahahahahahaha. My retreat to Rum I think has virtually guaranteed me a spot in the draw. I’m not sure they can force me into a territory that I can’t retreat into another one from. That being said, it would have been more guaranteed if Russia had just let me live. Besides, France is pretty easily going to overrun Italy I think. So probably no draw anyway. I’ll be working as a free agent for France though.
Spring 09: Well, maybe not. Russia got a build in Sev, so that makes this appreciably harder. I won’t move. Just support holds. Retreating always gives me the better choice. They can’t cover all four SCs I could retreat into. On the plus side, France is the only holdout on drawing. Can’t believe Russia was dumb enough to build in Sev though and not St. Pete. That’s just… the stupidest thing I’ve ever seen.
Autumn 09: Wheeeeeee! Italy and Russia both are moving away. Russia may try to take Rum, but Italy again can’t cover all three. I don’t know what to make of Russia’s support hold. He could just be screwing with me, and probably is. I’ll hold like I did last time, but if they make a move to eliminate me, I’ll raise as much hell as possible. Good news: Italy realizes he needs 4 fleets for the stalemate.
Builds: Sorry Italy, don’t blame me. Blame Russia. Good news is you can afford it. You just can’t eliminate me. It’s got to be one of your eastern armies. And all in all, probably a good move there for Russia. He can’t afford to lose a unit up north right now.
Spring 10: Glad to see Italy’s not a complete idiot and disbanded Serbia. I’d like to move Smy to Aeg to make my position more solid, but I think Italy would freak out at that. And really, with Bud, I don’t need much more insurance. Now it’s just a matter of forcing France to back down. Which hopefully Russia is smart enough to do. If not, I may have to try and get another center and take him over… But I don’t want to have to try that, it’s incredibly risky and doesn’t need to be done.
Autumn 10: Come on France… press draw. You know you want to. You *might* get two more centers. Not four.
Spring 11: Really, Italy? You’re going to try to wipe me out? Come on…
Autumn 11: Well. I’m throwing everything I have at Russia. We’ll see how this works out. Not your fault, Russia – it’s Italy’s. I was happy to stay in Budapest and wait for the draw, until he moved to eliminate me. And a “have a support hold while I surround you with units to eliminate you” isn’t going to work, Italy, sorry. Good luck on soloing France. I’ll stop attacking Russia when Italy backs off me.

smiley, you have some anger going, enjoyable read. :)

Fun read, Smiley. I was also surprised that Russia didn't take a more definitive stance in our fight. You two were definitely doing a lot of support holding. Luckily it worked out in the end; I had enough units to hold the line and eliminate you.