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Message from Austria to Master
Since I suspect that England is the one who did not set draw last year, I
will hand him Mos this year (if he wants it). That way, he can pick up a
build from me and one from F/G.
Message from England to Master
Nice try by Austria but nobody can afford to buy it.
There is no way that this can end in anything but a 4 way or a solo for austria.
He is on 16. TUN makes 17, STP makes 18. So does any German SC.
There is no way we can safely remove a power. I control Scandinavia, France has to consider TUN lost.
Germany controls Germany.
I will be setting draw hence forth.
Message from France to Master
Austria may be retreating to encourage England to try t oreduce the size of
the draw.
I think England (confidently) will be clear that he can't do this. But I'll
issue orders that make it plain that there is no easy stab for him.
Clearly attacking Germany is not possible since there are no armies without
Germany to keep a stalemate line.
The only danger will come if Austria cedes war & mos to E/G.
Message from Austria to all
First, I would like to thank Christian for creating this game, and for
putting together a great web site with everybody's comments. It was very
interesting to read!
I feel that the need for an EOG after all my comments *during* the game is
somewhat less than in other nopress games (I normally write long EOG's), but
I would like to bring up two issues:
1. I had a good alliance with Italy, but I feared a stab almost every turn
in the beginning (i.e. since I joined the game in F1902). After reading
Italy's comments, Italy did not even mention that possibility. My
conclusion: I was too paranoid. Or did I just make the stab unattractive
with my semi-defensive moves (e.g. by refusing to accept support into Aeg)?
2. I wonder what would have happened if I had *not* stabbed Italy when I
did. Would I have gotten a better solo opportunity later in the game? Well,
we will never know. I would probably do the same thing again if the same
situation occurs in another nopress game. I got a chance to rush to 17
centers, and EFG all had to cooperate to stop me. In this game, they did a
good job, but that is not always the case in nopress games. Sometimes, a
little incident like the English-German bounce in Sweden in F1909 is enough
to get one power emotional enough to stop defending properly.
A four-way draw was a bit disappointing after getting so close to a solo,
but that's the way it is.
Message from France to all
I too would in particular like to thank Christian for running this game. It
is indeed very interesting to read everyone's thoughts. I hope to play another
game in the future like this if Christian runs it.
Some comments on the Austrian EOG.
> 2. I wonder what would have happened if I had *not* stabbed Italy when I
> did. Would I have gotten a better solo opportunity later in the game? Well,
> we will never know. I would probably do the same thing again if the same
> situation occurs in another nopress game. I got a chance to rush to 17
> centers, and EFG all had to cooperate to stop me. In this game, they did a
> good job, but that is not always the case in nopress games. Sometimes, a
> little incident like the English-German bounce in Sweden in F1909 is enough
> to get one power emotional enough to stop defending properly.
You will read in my comments that I was very much hoping that you would atack
Italy early. In my view your chance for a win would have been far better if
you had given Italy time to attack me.
> A four-way draw was a bit disappointing after getting so close to a solo,
> but that's the way it is.
Although you reached 16 (and could have had 17), it was actually very easy
for EFG to get to 17 centres. In my case I delayed taking the stalemate position
until you had grown more because I thought it was safer for me. This had some
risk. But I also continued to attack England for as long as possible on the
outside chance that he would make a mistake, and I had a chance of a solo. Once
the solo was impossible, I still didn't want to become too vunerable to a AEG
draw by letting England in behind me. Although it is true that sometimes in
no press powers make mistakes, in this case it was the most basic stalemate
line that was required, so provided that EFG were simply aware of its existence,
there was a very good chance to make it.
Also, in a game where everyone is foprced to give commentary, there is more
chance that people will think a little about their moves, and not make some
really bad ones.
I would also like to say that I agree totally with the English comments about
making the stalemate line and not needing to go further. My rational for
trying to take Tunis was that ist might be possible to hold it, and on the off
chance that Germany somehow lost Munich, it would be insurance. And since Germany
moved his armies south and away from the line, I went into the Med. But I
always checked that my retreat was safe.
Message from England to all
First off I too would like to thank Christian for GM-ing the game. The web
site is just "fantastic".
I for one will certainly be signing up for games of this type. It's very
enlightning to read all comments.
Congratulations to AFG with their share in the draw. Like Jonas I am a
little lost for words having read all the press. It was also enlightning to
see my own thoughts and conclusions.
I did notice that I mainly commented on my own situation, a lesson learned
for the future.
A smile came to my face when I read Russia's concerns about me attacking
him whilst at the same time EFAG came to the conclusion that there was no
threat in removing him. I guess that oversight is gained from experience.
That is why I wasnt worried about my two fleets in ENgland towards the
end-game. France proved himself worthy. I knew he could hold the stalemate
line without any danger at all. My heart did skip a beat when he went
tally-ho towards Austria and actually lost TUN. But still there was no
danger. When I did finally move my fleets it was more for the show that any
pratical reasoning. France could hold. The game was stalemated long before
my fleets had to move.
I am not sure what happended with the SET DRAW. I see from my comments that
I (and FGA) all stated that we would hence set draw from a certain point.
Obviously someone did forget. There was no way any power could be removed to
make the draw smaller. That was obvious to us all.
All in all a normal game. I too dislike 4 way draws but thats the way it
turned out.
Germany I feel was tied down most of the game due to circumstances.
FE had an interesting battle but I was never in any real trouble. I am not
one to hold grudges. I always play the board and what it dictates. You can
stab me a 1000 times on the trot, if the board dictates that I remain your
friend and ally then I will.
As regards Sweden. At the time I was a little (unjustly) worried about
Germany setting up the stalemate line. He obviously knew his stuff and was
just as coll as I was. I meant to move to BAL to help support BER. After we
bounced I waived my build to let him know that he could take Sweden.
Untill we meet again.
Message from Austria to all
>In my view your chance for a win would have been far better if
>you had given Italy time to attack me.
I disagree. Had I not attacked Italy when I did, I would not been able to
build any fleets (a fleet build = anti-Italian), nor could I have left more
than one army in Turkey. This means that I would have had to advertise a
later attack on Italy well in advance.
If this had been a press game, I would agree that my attack on Italy was too
early. But in a nopress game, it is often a winning strategy to rush to 17
centers and hope that someone will make a mistake or even choose to *help*
you win (yes, I have seen that happen). In my humble opinion.
Message from France to all
> >In my view your chance for a win would have been far better if
> >you had given Italy time to attack me.
>
> I disagree. Had I not attacked Italy when I did, I would not been able to
> build any fleets (a fleet build = anti-Italian), nor could I have left more
> than one army in Turkey. This means that I would have had to advertise a
>
OK, let us explore this more. some points for consideration.
1) To win you have to pass a stalemate line. I agree with you that sometimes
defense is bad, or players help you to win. Did you depend mainly on this
occurance? Alternatively, you need to find your own way across a stalemate
line.
To break into MAO was unlikely. So you need to get stp or mun. I would have
tried for Munich.
2) After fall 1905 Italy was going to be right out of position. 2 units in
Turkey. Army pie. Final 2 fleets probably GoL, and maybe WES. So at the very
least, would it have been worth delaying the attack by one move at the least?
Let
Italy move further away.
Notice that after Italy build a fleet in Rom, he was committed to peace with
Austria and an attack on France for the foreseeable future.
3) And although it is a guess. Let Italy take a build from Turkey, and if he
is embroiled in a war against France, he needs another fleet. In the meantime
you will take mos/war. These builds will give you ample excuse to build in tri
later (to stab at venice). And you can always order sev-arm later.
These are just ideas since my instinct is that delaying does NOT mean that
you have lost the opportunity to stab. Italy will get at most one build from
Turkey - you can see France will stop him getting quick builds. And in the
meantime you allow his units to perhaps give you yet another way to victory.
If
Italy and France fight, then maybe their units will become intermingled, and
the
French fleet holding reduced. Then after you stab Italy there might be an
opening into MAO. In the meantime you have the alternative option of
pressuring
Munich while it is at its most vunerable - and before you are such a big solo
threat that an attack on Munich will force EFG to lay down all other
considerations in order to defend.
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