Good game everyone, well those who stuck around anyway.
I saw I draw Austria and said some choice words, but I shouldn't have been upset. It turned out to be a fairly optimal Austrian start with Italy AND Russia laying off me. In addition, Russia built an army in Sevastopol, which I thought was surely headed for Armenia, and Turkey built a fleet in Ankara (anticipating a Russian fleet in Sev). It couldn't get much better than this, and I dove in to attacking Turkey, while Italy dove West. Turkey outguessed me and I got stalemated after 1902. The Russians though didn't lift a finger to help versus Turkey, so that had me worried. I broke through Bulgaria in 1903 and since Russia was not being helpful (and Italy was concentrating on France) I figured I needed another fleet to take Turkey down. Fleet build in Trieste. Next year I swiped Rum from Russia because he was being so unhelpful and in Fall I noticed a wonderful possibility. I was all set up to take ALL of Italy's home centers the next year. With an opening like that it's tough to refuse, especially when Turkey seems stuck in a box and Russia is busy in the North, so I pulled the trigger. My heart was pounding. If this didn't work, I'd have turned my dream opening into the usual Austrian nightmare of being surrounded by three hostile powers.
It worked. To add a bit of (sour) gravy, Turkey decides to quit (because he's getting beaten). Similarly Italy was apparently demoralized by the stab so he NMR'd too. I see France is moving sporadically also. I needed him to keep Germany honest, so I was very happy to see him put in a retreat order.
At this point, you may ask, "why didn't you draw with all the NMR's and CD's". Well Mr. Strawman, I felt that Turkey and Italy both CD'd likely because of my successful attacks on them. If one were to draw every time you spectacularly bested them, that might take a lot of the fun out of it, eh? That's my story Mr. Reporter.
Anyway, now I was quite the power, and the rest of the board seemed to wise up. I might have made a tactical mistake in attacking Germany instead of Russia now, as Germany and England had started beating on Russia. If I would have attack Russia too, maybe Germany would have stayed friendly a little while longer? Eh, probably not, Seth24c is a quality player and I'm sure he was just hoping to get a build or two off of Russia in order to confront me. So...good thing I grabbed Munich.
Now, even though I've got like 14 centers locked up, I've still got all 4 other remaining powers against me. But wait....France supported me to Burgundy?!? That was weird. Then I thought I had Warsaw dead to rights for #18, but didn't notice in my frenzy of order inputting that Russia had borrowed a center from someone in order to build and army and complete the stalemate line. Well played there guys. That probably would have sewed it up, if not for France, lovely France. Viva those guys! 8-)
)
the ultimate nation building diplomacy war game?
)
)
)
)