My EoG: Start of the game, I draw France, a country I love for its versatility. I tend to have trouble making up my mind, so I like how I can switch theatres with relative ease. I open southward, trying to make friends with England and Germany. I figured I'd end up supporting one against the other at some point, but no need to be hasty. Ended up being too kind in the fall, and missed out on a third build in Belgium. Seeing the immediate Austrian stab of Italy, I thought I'd head South and join in the fun, leaving Germany and England to duke it out in the North. Germany's builds worried me, but I was hopeful he was headed Eastward.
By fall 1902 my hopes were dashed -- Germany pushed full strength my direction, and my fleets were of little use against his armies. I took a chance and moved up into the Channel, hoping England would understand the move. He dislodged me, but I'd bought myself enough time that I could keep Germany out of my home SCs. I made peace with the Italian in the Med, and thanked my lucky star when Germany disbanded Burgundy in the end of 1903.
In 1904 I turned north, took back Burgundy and left Italy, Turkey, and Russia (who at that time looked like he was working with Turkey) to fight it out while I dealt with Germany in the North. Repeated overtures to England went unanswered (he may not have seen the failed supports?), so I took it upon myself in 1905 to push on into Germany myself. By Spring 1905, Russia was clearly a solo threat, especially with Italy helping him -- so I rattled my saber at Italy, hoping he'd back off of Turkey (or better yet, support him).
Instead, he turned his entire attention to me, and so I spent 1906 pushing ahead through a still oblivious Germany and setting up against an equally-oblivious Italy. The German CDed in 1907, which was a mixed blessing -- I was able to get around him and grab Munich before Russia did, slowing his progress, but the inert German units were difficult for my forces (which were hampered in, if unwillingly, by the stalwart English armada). In the south that year, I spent both sessions clearly holding my ground, trying to disabuse Italy of his aggressive notions, but to no avail.
1908 saw another wrench in the plan to stop Russia -- a new German player, who immediately attacked my units and stalled the formation of any semblance of a stalemate line for years. Even after it was clear that Russia was the threat, Germany sat like a boulder in the way. By the fall, I was fed up with both him and Italy, and broke through both of their defenses to try and singlehandedly hold back the Russian tide.
By 1909, it was clear Italy was more than just oblivious to Russia; he evidently wanted to ensure the solo. And, eventually, did just that, though a bit of bad math on my part ended it more quickly than it could have.
I guess Italy's already answered the *what* -- though I'm still baffled at the *why* he had such a rage-on for me. And I'm curious what made England decide, at the very last second, to give up his defense and stab me. But that's what EoGs are for.
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Romney visits Europe - stockmarkets in turmoil
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