|
|
Message from Russia to France
I'm one of the ones that's going to be unavailable (hence the long deadline
extension), but I wanted to share my thinking before rather than after going
silent:
I was disappointed to see you do such a huge backing off in the south. I'm
guessing it was partly based on my lack of help in Italy last season, so I
can understand backing off some, but the huge backing off seems more
problematic than a more measured one. I *was* trying to get Ben and Andy to
see me as not threatening, but I only wanted to do that in the Spring -- I
wanted to work with you in Fall.
I worry that by pulling back you may have effectively eliminated yourself in
favor of an EIR 3-way. While Andy may choose to attack me, he's certain to
use his fleets to head after Tun and Iberia (even if he does it at the same
time). And with no pressure on Andy or Ben, I can't influence either of their
moves anymore. I would have preferred to see you take Nap and then help you
into Ven in Fall. (I supported Andy in Ven because I knew you weren't
attacking based on the failure to ask me *not* to support it). Then in Fall
you could have ensured two builds, against only one loss to Ben, which would
allow you to put an army into Mar as fast as Pie can get there anyway, while
keeping Andy hemmed in.
You still have a chance to pick up Ven, but it's a lot less likely now. So
what is your plan, and can I help?
I hope this doesn't come across as me complaining. I'm just sharing how the
board looks to me, because I'd like to get your take on things.
--- Eric
Message from France to Russia
>
> I hope this doesn't come across as me complaining. I'm just
> sharing how the board looks to me, because I'd like to get
> your take on things.
Well, frankly, Eric, you haven't been the best about providing concrete
support when I've asked for it in the past, so I didn't really think I
could count on it now. Attacking Naples and providing pressure on Italy
is certainly convenient for you, but it means the certain loss of Iberia
for me (so let's count: with two fleets behind to take Naples, I'd lose
Por / Spa, Bre and Bel; at least now I'll only lose Bre and Bel, and
there was no guarantee of taking Venice or Naples anyway). No offense,
but your advice is taken with a grain of salt these days.
In any case, I have started to write off the game. Italy had the decency
to back off and let me try to defend myself against England, but I don't
know how much good that will do me when he's gotten back on his feet
against you. If you'd like to support me into Venice, I'm game to try it
out; otherwise, I will do my best to defend myself from Ben and then
Andy, when the time comes.
Alternatively, if you can demonstrate a set of moves on my part that
will get you close to a shot at a solo within the next few turns, I'd
entertain those, if for no other reason than to spite Ben.
Erik
Message from Russia to France
> Well, frankly, Eric, you haven't been the best about providing concrete
> support when I've asked for it in the past, so I didn't really think I
> could count on it now.
Fair enough of a comment. I can see why you would have this point of view.
> No offense, but your advice is taken with a grain of salt these days.
None taken. Obviously I've got a significant pro-Russian outlook. I haven't
given much advice recently for just that reason. It may have been
inappropriate to send the last comments as well. My apologies if I offended.
> Italy had the decency to back off and let me try to defend myself
> against England,
And if he really does back off -- even for a short time, then I think my
advice was even easier to take with that salt.
> but I don't know how much good that will do me when he's gotten back on
> his feet against you.
I was more focused on that in my comments, but you are correct -- you really
need to deal with first things first.
> If you'd like to support me into Venice, I'm game to try it
> out; otherwise, I will do my best to defend myself from Ben and then
> Andy, when the time comes.
If Andy doesn't support Ven then he'd lose a center to you. If he does, then
I take Tri. It seems like it's worth it to try -- but let me look at answers
to your next question before committing.
> Alternatively, if you can demonstrate a set of moves on my part that
> will get you close to a shot at a solo within the next few turns, I'd
> entertain those, if for no other reason than to spite Ben.
Obviously I like this idea better than the others. Let me look at it and see
what I can come up with. Again, it may be a while before I write. Don't take
any silence on my part as lack of interest!
--- Eric
Message from Italy to France
Erik,
Well you are in a bit of a spot...but no unrecoverable
my suggested moves for you that cover the bases you can cover are
BUR - PAR
BEL h (likely retreats to RUH)
SPA - POR
MAR - SPA
PIE - MAR
WES - MAO or s TUN - NAF
TUN - NAF
I wont discuss disbands with you unless you want me to.
Or we can do it after the fall turn processess.
Hopefully Ben will get too big for his britches and we can hold him to 1
build.
Andy
Message from Russia to all
Greetings all,
Well, after much packing, unpacking and schlepping of boxes, I believe that I
am close to rejoining the online world from my new locale. I'll be busy this
evening, but I think tomorrow morning and evening should find me with
sufficient time to check in.
I'll probably still have sporadic availability during the work day, but with
a phone line AND computer both in the same building, it should at least be
possible for me to communicate some. (I have yet to actually try to dial up
yet, but we'll see how that goes tomorrow AM).
Talk to you all soon,
--- Eric
Message from Russia to France
Hey Erik,
Sorry for the long delay. As noted, I've been incognito due to not having a
functioning computer.
I haven't looked at how intelligent this would be, but the most aggressive
moves I could think of to try to generate a Russian solo go along these
lines:
Tyl-Ven, Pie S Tyl-Ven
Ser-Tri
One of these two takes a dot from Andy. If we're lucky both would.
Alternately, we could try to get you Ven, which lets you keep a unit, but
probably isn't as good for trying to get me the solo. Depends on your focus.
Mun ??? -Ruh? -Bur?
That puts Marseilles in range for a potential quick-dot score
StP-Fin
Mos-StP
Might allow a quick steal of Swe or Nwy.
The rest is pretty obvious.
The problem is I haven't really looked carefully at what the EIT-counter
attack to these moves are. I think I could grab 2 or 3 dots that I can't get
to without your help, but that only gets me to 13. I could get the extra dots
-- Turkey, the Balkans and maybe Berlin and a dot here or there -- but I'm
not clear I could get them before I lost Mar and any Scandinavian gains.
As I said, I want to look the options over on an actual board, and I'm hoping
to have the time tomorrow now that things are settling at home. But I wanted
to give you my first thoughts as to how we might go forward if you are
serious about examining a Russian solo bid.
--- Eric
England: Fleet Baltic Sea SUPPORT Fleet Berlin
England: Fleet Berlin SUPPORT Fleet Baltic Sea
England: Army Brest → Paris (*bounce*)
England: Fleet English Channel SUPPORT Army Holland → Belgium
England: Army Holland → Belgium
England: Army Kiel → Ruhr (*bounce*)
England: Fleet Mid-Atlantic Ocean → Portugal (*bounce*)
England: Fleet North Sea SUPPORT Army Holland → Belgium
England: Fleet Norway HOLD
France: Army Belgium HOLD (*dislodged*)
France: Army Burgundy → Paris (*bounce*)
France: Army Marseilles → Gascony
France: Army Piedmont → Marseilles
France: Fleet Spain (south coast) → Portugal (*bounce*)
France: Fleet Tunis HOLD
France: Fleet Western Mediterranean → Spain (south coast) (*bounce*)
Italy: Fleet Eastern Mediterranean → Smyrna
Italy: Fleet Greece SUPPORT Russian Army Serbia → Bulgaria (*void*)
Italy: Fleet Naples → Ionian Sea
Italy: Army Rome → Venice (*bounce*)
Italy: Army Venice → Trieste (*bounce*)
Russia: Army Armenia SUPPORT Italian Fleet Eastern Mediterranean → Smyrna
Russia: Fleet Black Sea → Constantinople
Russia: Fleet Bulgaria (east coast) SUPPORT Fleet Black Sea → Constantinople
Russia: Army Moscow SUPPORT Army St Petersburg
Russia: Army Munich → Ruhr (*bounce*)
Russia: Army Rumania SUPPORT Fleet Bulgaria (east coast)
Russia: Army Serbia → Trieste
Russia: Army Silesia → Munich (*bounce*)
Russia: Army St Petersburg SUPPORT English Fleet Norway
Russia: Army Tyrolia SUPPORT Army Serbia → Trieste
Turkey: Fleet Aegean Sea SUPPORT Army Constantinople → Bulgaria
Turkey: Fleet Ankara → Black Sea
Turkey: Army Constantinople → Bulgaria (*bounce, dislodged*)
|