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Austria: Army Galicia can retreat to Silesia or Ukraine or Vienna
Turkey: Army Smyrna can retreat to Ankara or Armenia or Constantinople or Syria
Message from France to England
Wingo:
> I had asked you about Norway->StP, and you
>asked me not to do it. I accepted that, even
>though I worried about your motivation for keeping
>Russia strong.
Prince Boar asked you not to take St. Petes in the
spring. He said that you could reassess in the fall. My
reasons, as I sent through him, were pretty sound. They
involved slowing down the south east and keeping
Germany distracted for the fall season.
I do not recall my brother forcing his opinion on you.
He argued his point and explictly stated that he wanted
to hear your point of view.
If you doubted my motives, why are you following my plan
even while you are at war with me? Does it make you
feel less guilty about betraying France if you can assign
some less than honor motives to ourselves?
Le DAUPHIN
Message from France to all
Tour de France Stage 18&19 Results:
Due to technical difficulties with the communication
system, yesterday's stage update had to be delayed. This
report covers two stages.
Stage 18
Lance Armstrong not only protected his lead but extended
during Friday's time trial. Lance is headed to Paris in
style by winning another stage. This extend England's
lead and with the Yellow Jersey all but wrapped up, he is
sure to win the game.
Stage 19
Erik Zabel improved his bid to win a record
sixth-straight green jersey as the best sprinter of the
Tour de France. He won both the stage and the
intermediate sprint and cut O'Grady's lead to just two
points leading into the final stage. The final sprint
into Paris will surely decide the matter. Zabel should
be considered the favorite. This puts Germany in second
place in points and with the Green Jersey points to
follow, he is sure to take a strong second to England.
Is this a sign of things to come in the real game?
Also, the Polka Dot Jersey (King of the Mountain) will go
to Jalabert of CSC. This should place Turkey in third
place in the TdF game.
Official Tally:
Austria (Domo-Farm Frites): 0 points
England (USPS): 40 points
France (Festina): 10 points
Germany (Telekom): 30 points
Italy (Fassa Bortolo): 10 points
Russia (Robobank): 20 points
Turkey (CSC): 20 points
Doug (O.N.C.E.): 0 points
Selected Standings:
1. Lance Armstrong (USP) 82 hours, 20 minutes, 00 seconds
2. Jan Ullrich (TEL) @ 6 minutes, 44 seconds
3. Joseba Beloki (ONC) @ 9:05
Green Jersey:
1. Stuart O'Grady (C.A.) 212 points
2. Erik Zabel (TEL) 210
Polka Dot Jersey:
1. Laurent Jalabert (CSC) 257 points
2. Jan Ullrich (TEL) 211
-- Prince Boar
Message from Germany to England
Ivy:
I'm beginning to think that we trust each other. I trusted you, so I
decided to pull Holland now, instead of waiting. Also the DEN move
instead of BAL.
You trusted me, as you left the North Sea open.
I think we're in good shape.
I didn't trust Italy. The move to BOH was designed to bounce him out
of there. But he didn't go. That's ok. my moves have probably saved
me a turn. Which is needed as Russia guessed wrong and lost WAR.
But in getting into BOH I've alerted Austria. So be it.
Have you heard from Austria? I haven't heard anything since the
opening bell.
I will be building an army in Berlin as I said.
Looks like we'll have to push BUR back in the spring. Luckily we can.
Fredd
Message from Germany to England
Ivy:
After looking more closely at the board, I've noticed that Austria
doesn't get a build, but Turkey does. Therefore the AI juggernaut that
I was so concerned about doesn't appear to be as threatening as I once
thought. I still think AI will take out Turkey and Russia, eventually.
How will that effect us? It means to me that I'd better take a
conservative approach. I actually do NOT want to build next year.
Because I know that you won't. And if I get too far ahead of you in
SC's then the chance goes up that you'll turn from France and attack me.
It's my opinion that the best chance for victory for both of us is if
we continue on a course of eliminating France. If we pause from that
task, then we might not get another chance.
Russia has to disband one unit. The obvious choice is the fleet in
BOT. Although he might not do that as it'll leave STP wide open for
me. I've already sent him a note stating the above case. Basically
that although I'd love to grab a few more centers, it is better for me
to wait. What I didn't tell him is that once you break into the MAO,
I'll be going for STP. He won't like that. On the other hand he is
safe there for a year. A lot can happen in a year.
In the spirit of teamwork, if Russia does disband his northern fleet,
I'll move away from Norway. Which will make Russia nervous. But I can't
do everything.
I still think that Italy will build a fleet and either sit on it or
move it west. He can see that France will fall. I'm betting that he'll
offer his services to us soon. Just to get a piece of the pie. And to
be in position to block an English invasion of the Med.
Fredd
Message from France to England
Ivy:
It does look like things are going your way.
>I think you will get some satisfaction from knowing
>that Germany did not send me any note after the last
>set of moves until after 11pm last night.
I am sure that this will cost you on some critical turn
in the future. In fact I just do not know how you could
negotiate such a definative separation of forces in a
half hour. I doubt you were waiting by the computer for
his message.
>I am going to try sticking with Germany and see how
>it goes.
Good, rather bad, ummm. Well just luck I guess.
Boar
Message from Germany to England
Ivy:
Are you detecting a note of desperation in the Boars press? Or more
like 'why won't you work with me, I really have your interests at
heart.'
Message from Germany to England
Ivy:
I guess that I'll make up for missing a few days of press.
This note isn't about specifics, so there's no need to reply
immediately.
Two thoughts.
At this moment in time I look to be sitting pretty. No real enemies to
speak of, plus STP looks like it's mine if I try, and maybe even WAR.
Certainly I'll be fighting France, but it'll be on French soil not
German. Also that pesky Italian army in TYR could divert my attention
from the east. In a normal game, I'd have a big smile on my face.
In this game I feel like someone painted a big target on my back. In
one move I could be fighting France, Russia, Austria and Italy. Excuse
me while I duck and cover for awhile.
2nd, I've been thinking about the endgame. Certainly a win would be
totally fulfilling. But is there more than one way to be a winner? In a
three way what if two countries had the same number of units? Certainly
that has to be the case in a two way.
I've noticed that four out of the seven of us participated in a two way
in the first round. That's amazing actually. But it means that we're
not foreign to the concept. I wouldn't be surprise to see this game end
in a two way.
What would be better actually? I'd love to send a message like that.
I'm so tired of the players in this game using it as an exercise in
finding the perfect stab. And if they don't find it, going with any stab
that fits.
Fredd
Message from Russia to England
Ivy, My Friend,
> Not if Germany attacks Sweden from Denmark. Then it would bounce.
I didn't expect you to vacate Nth, so didn't think he'd dare order
Den-Swe.
> Before the spring move, I offered you Sweden in the spring in exchange for
> Denmark in the fall. You declined, saying that you would prefer to have
> Denmark also, and that had a gigantic effect on my decision to go with
> Germany as an ally.
> I know you were in a tricky situation at the time. Accepting my offer
would
> have meant that you could not have convoyed the army to Livonia. Tough
> choice. Consequently, I was left with a tough choice also.
Yes, had I taken Swe with the Army, and not gotten Den as well, losing
War would have been certain rather than a 50-50 chance, so I still wouldn't
have gotten a build. To remain in the north, I needed two Centers. The
game
is like that, sometimes. Any pro-Russian influence you can exert on Germany
would still be appreciated, and it would also be the wise course to take, I
think.
Nick.
Message from England to France
Dauphin,
> If you doubted my motives, ...
I assume that the motive of the player is to have fun. I assume that,
within the game context, almost all opponents are devilishly and
appropriately selfish. I would have been reasonable for you to want a
strong Russia for all sorts of reasons, even if you actually did not want a
strong Russia.
> Does it make you
>feel less guilty about betraying France if you can assign
>some less than honor motives to ourselves?
No one's honor is at stake; it's just a game.
It's just a game, so why DO I feel guilt at times? It's a strange,
fabulous game that simulates certain real world entanglements that I would
never want to be part of.
For the record: I expect to be completely loyal to Germany as long as the
game is on its present course. I'm not sure I can define "present course."
Ivy Wingo
Message from England to Russia
Nicky,
> Any pro-Russian influence you can exert on Germany
>would still be appreciated, and it would also be the wise course to take, I
>think.
Strange guy, that Germany. After two days of silence, I find that I have
four messages from him awaiting my answer.
I do not expect Germany to make any attempt whatsoever on StP this
year. He is aware that I cannot get builds for quite some time. He knows
that I would be upset if he got more than one supply center ahead of
me. He knows that it is best if the east proceeds as slowly as the
west. That means having a Russia with some resources.
Although I knew better than to ask him not to take Sweden last turn, I will
insist that he leave StP alone indefinitely.
Ergo, I suggest that you consider disbanding the northern fleet. It could
not save StP anyway, even if Germany wanted StP soon.
Most cordially,
Ivy Wingo
Message from England to Germany
Wonderful Freddy,
Nice moves. I do like the Kiel-Munich-Bohemia maneuver.
My own modem was down all yesterday evening and my ISP had a planned outage
from midnight until 2pm today. That plus the problems with USIN on top of
your own unavailability for a couple of days made for a truly crazy
communications fiasco.
It is a tribute to our mutual good will that we put together a good set of
moves.
Now let me look a your four messages (count 'em, 4!!) and respond.
Ivy
Message from Russia to England
Ivy,
> I suggest that you consider disbanding the northern fleet. It could
> not save StP anyway, even if Germany wanted StP soon.
Obviously, one of the Fleets will go, but I'm considering Bot-Lvn
to prevent War from retreating northward, if I can dislodge it.
Nick.
Message from England to Germany
Freddy,
> Are you detecting a note of desperation in the Boars press? Or more
>like 'why won't you work with me, I really have your interests at
>heart.'
In my case it is progressing from desperation to resignation. He is
beginning to accept my loyalty to the EG alliance. I respect his attempt;
that's the way to play the game. He sent hoards of messages trying to get
me to change my mind.
My only goal now in my correspondence with him is to repair any personal
animosity that may have arisen.
*******************
> After looking more closely at the board, I've noticed that Austria
>doesn't get a build, but Turkey does. Therefore the AI juggernaut that
>I was so concerned about doesn't appear to be as threatening as I once
>thought. I still think AI will take out Turkey and Russia, eventually.
Absolutely, and the longer it takes the better it is for us.
> How will that effect us? It means to me that I'd better take a
>conservative approach. I actually do NOT want to build next year.
>Because I know that you won't. And if I get too far ahead of you in
>SC's then the chance goes up that you'll turn from France and attack me.
I think it best that you refrain from taking StP for this year, hoping that
Russia concentrates on Austria. Tell Russia openly and honestly what your
reasoning is. If Russia fails to destroy the northern fleet, then he is an
ingrate.
> It's my opinion that the best chance for victory for both of us is if
>we continue on a course of eliminating France.
At some point, not necessarily now, I hope you will trust me enough to
invite London-> North Sea so that it can support Belgium. As it is, Ruhr
is obligated to take Belgium and we cannot go after Burgundy. A little
later, the Channel will be free to cut Picardy. That's when a triple
attack on Burgundy will succeed. We will have ruhr & munich supporting
Bel-Bur.
> I still think that Italy will build a fleet and either sit on it or
>move it west. He can see that France will fall. I'm betting that he'll
>offer his services to us soon. Just to get a piece of the pie. And to
>be in position to block an English invasion of the Med.
The only thing I don't want Italy to do is to help France defend!
************************
> But in getting into BOH I've alerted Austria. So be it.
> Have you heard from Austria? I haven't heard anything since the
>opening bell.
We talk occasionally, but there has never been anything of substance to
talk about. Let's both of us think about how the Bohemia move should be
handled diplomatically.
> Looks like we'll have to push BUR back in the spring. Luckily we can.
Can we? I don't think so. The Channel can't cut Picardy and defend
Belgium at the same time.
**********************
> I guess that I'll make up for missing a few days of press.
I was stunned to find four messages from you when I finally got
online. Are you sure this is the same old Freddy? Perhaps success is
stimulating! 8-)
>At this moment in time I look to be sitting pretty. No real enemies to
>speak of,
Austria? Be very careful there.
> I've been thinking about the endgame. Certainly a win would be
>totally fulfilling. But is there more than one way to be a winner? In a
>three way what if two countries had the same number of units? Certainly
>that has to be the case in a two way.
If two or more countries are tied in units at the end, then the winner is
the one who had the most centers the previous turn. If still tied, Doug
will look back yet another turn, etc. So if two or three persons agree to
a draw, they will know at that moment which of them is going to be the
tournament winner. Will that make any draw very difficult to achieve?
I would be happy just being part of such a dilemma. The primary goal right
now is not to get eliminated. The second goal is to gain enough strength
to be a factor in the end game. The EG alliance can achieve this goal for
us easily.
Ivy Wingo
Message from France to England
Wingo:
I find my honor important. As my lands and cities are
taken, it will be all that I have left.
Whether you will be loyal to Germany or not will be
revealed. I certainly have no plans to tell him that you
told me that you will be loyal to him. Will he be loyal
to you, or can you continue to be loyal to him, when he
grows faster than you? An interesting dynamic that may
get played out on the face of Europe. Fredd has told me
several times that he does not forsee any alliances
lasting more than a couple of game years. I was looking
forward to proving him wrong. Now someone else will have
to do that.
You must be gleeful that Turkey outguessed Austria. That
will make a huge impact on the future. Does it help you
and Germany or weaken the necessity that drove you to a
complete trustful alignment. A question for
philosophers, not myself.
Le DAUPHIN
Message from France to all
Tour de France Stage 20 and Final Results:
Lance Armstrong rode into Paris, wearing the Yellow
Jersey on the final stage. This is his third Tour de
France victory in as many years. Jan Svorada of team
Lampre won today's stage. The Green Jersey goes to Erik
Zabel of Telekom and the Polka Dot Jersey to Laurent
Jalabert of CSC World something or other. At least each
Jersey was won by a team representing one of our great
powers in Europe. Of the 20 stages and the Prologue, 13
were won by our teams.
England wins the game the Grand Prize of having Ivy
Wingo's sister get a date with the Dauphin. Knowing that
the relations between England and France are a bit shaky
right now, we will allow Ivy to escort his sister
throughout the evening. Do not worry, you will be
perfectly safe in France. Our word is as good as yours.
Second Place goes to Germany. He wins the prize of
having the Dauphin call his sister and wish her well.
Turkey, in third place gets an autographed picture of the
Dauphin with Lance Armstrong. The autograph is the
Dauphin's not Lance's.
I truly thank everyone fror playing and putting up with
my game. I especially appreciate those who made
references to it during Titleist. Personally, I am
looking forward to the break from reporting on it. :-)
Final Tally:
England (USPS): 90 points
Germany (Telekom): 50 points
Turkey (CSC): 40 points
Russia (Robobank): 20 points
France (Festina): 10 points
Italy (Fassa Bortolo): 10 points
Austria (Domo-Farm Frites): 0 points
Doug (O.N.C.E.): 0 points
-- Prince Boar
Message from Russia to all
> Tour de France Stage 20 and Final Results:
> Final Tally:
> England (USPS): 90 points
> Germany (Telekom): 50 points
> Turkey (CSC): 40 points
> Russia (Robobank): 20 points
110 points for Union Riders! More than twice the total of any non-union
team. Go Union!
V.I. Lenin.
European Economic Union Steward for Russia.
Message [from Austria] to all
> Final Tally:
> England (USPS): 90 points
> Germany (Telekom): 50 points
> Turkey (CSC): 40 points
> Russia (Robobank): 20 points
110 points for Union Riders! More than twice the total of any non-union
team. Go Union!
And Russia is the least of the Union. C'est dommage.
Message from Russia to all
> > Final Tally:
> > England (USPS): 90 points
> > Russia (Robobank): 20 points
>
> > 110 points for Union Riders! More than twice the total of any
> > non-union team. Go Union!
>
> And Russia is the least of the Union. C'est dommage.
Russia merely leads the EEU from behind.
V. I. Lenin,
Hindmost (with thanks to Larry Niven)
Message from Germany to England
Ivy
I'd say that desperation to resignation to accusation is how I'd sum up
the Boar.
Well Russia should dump the northern fleet, and I had already done what
you suggested. Maybe he will maybe not. It doesn't really matter. If it
stays I'll push it out.
Perhaps in the future I can invite you into the North Sea. Perhaps
soon, I guess it depends on Russia disbanding his fleet. WIth that
gone, I can move back to DEN while you're in the North Sea. I wouldn't
want to leave DEN and HOL open while you're in the NTH. Just as I'm
sure you wouldn't like to see me there while EDI and LON are open.
If at all possible we should just stay out. We were lucky in
disengaging this time. It's the most difficult thing in this game. A
simultaneous move away. If we go back in, we'll have to do it all over
again.
Belgium and Burgundy:
Thinking out loud.
You'll have to support ENG with LON, and support NWG-NAO with IRI. Any
support from ENG will be cut. So you're right RUH has to support BEL.
BEL can then support MUN - BUR. But that will never go. That all ok,
I feel. Your first gain will probably be Brest, anyway.
> **********************
>
> I was stunned to find four messages from you when I finally got
> online. Are you sure this is the same old Freddy? Perhaps success is
> stimulating! 8-)
The Tour de France is over. That frees up 2 hours per day for me. There
were times when I could sit and watch the Tour or do the Dip thing. You
know which one won. I don't regret that at all.
>
> If two or more countries are tied in units at the end, then the winner
> is the one who had the most centers the previous turn. If still tied,
> Doug will look back yet another turn, etc. So if two or three persons
> agree to
> a draw, they will know at that moment which of them is going to be the
> tournament winner. Will that make any draw very difficult to achieve?
Maybe we could change the rules. I don't see why not. If it were a
two way, we could sit and sit and not set draw. Doug might go along.
(Right Doug?)
Fredd
Message from Master to all
I'd like to take a moment to encourage all the players to submit
"End of Year" statements by 'press to m', for use in the "Showcase"
of this game.
Doug
Message from England to Germany
Greddy,
> I'd say that desperation to resignation to accusation is how I'd
> sum up
>the Boar.
He will continue to sing sweet nothings to you until his last breath. Let
this be a test of our resolve.
> Well Russia should dump the northern fleet, and I had already
> done what
>you suggested. Maybe he will maybe not. It doesn't really matter. If it
>stays I'll push it out.
Russia tells me that he is considering destroying the southern fleet
instead. That fleet does him little good as well. Either way you will have
no trouble in the north when you advance in that direction.
> Perhaps in the future I can invite you into the North Sea. Perhaps
>soon, I guess it depends on Russia disbanding his fleet. WIth that
>gone, I can move back to DEN while you're in the North Sea. I wouldn't
>want to leave DEN and HOL open while you're in the NTH. Just as I'm
>sure you wouldn't like to see me there while EDI and LON are open.
> If at all possible we should just stay out. We were lucky in
>disengaging this time. It's the most difficult thing in this game. A
>simultaneous move away. If we go back in, we'll have to do it all over
>again.
I tend to agree. Last night I looked at potential tactics on the
French/German border. We should be able to break through there without a
fleet in the North Sea. The Channel can get involved with either Eng->Bel
or Eng->Pic in conjunction with certain actions by Ruhr and Munich. The
only catch is that this can't be done safely until I occupy the
Mid-Atl. That is my immediate goal and it will be accomplished by this fall.
Anyway, this spring I only ask for Ruhr supp Belgium. Munich doesn't have
to do anything except remain in place, although Bel supp Mun-Bur keeps the
Frenchman honest.
>Maybe we could change the rules. I don't see why not. If it were a
>two way, we could sit and sit and not set draw. Doug might go along.
>(Right Doug?)
I will speak for Doug here. [We really are the same person. Having access
to all the correspondence has been a great boon!]
Rule changes require seven players PLUS the master to agree. If we sit and
sit without setting a draw, then the master can, on his own and within the
rules, declare the draw himself. In which case, we still have a unique
tournament winner based on the criteria set up at the beginning. Under
those criteria the only way for the tournament to end in a tie after a
17-17 draw is for the two drawing players to have been at exactly the same
strength for the full game. Let's see, you have 6 and I have 5, so ... 8-).
In the event a 17-17 draw seems possible, I am willing to flip a coin to
see who will be the official tournament winner. There is plenty of glory
to go around for both.
None of this bothers me in the least. The end is so far off. I agree with
you in that it won't do much good for any player to get far ahead near the
beginning. He will just get beaten down by the others. Players in
titleist are too good to permit a runaway. The right procedure is just to
survive with average health while, one by one, others get
eliminated. First Russia, then France or Turkey, etc.
What should you do with Bohemia this turn? Should we discuss this?
Ivy
Message from England to Turkey
Ali,
That was some magic you pulled off there. Austria must be fuming.
I am reasonably confident that, now that he has Sweden, my German friend
will leave StP alone. At least as long as Russia can effectively help you
with Austria.
I am happy that the east will remain unresolved for a while, because it
will take two or three years just to win one supply center from
France. And that is assuming that everything goes my way.
Hang in there.
Ivy Wingo
Message from England to Germany
Greddy,
"Greddy"?
Purely unintentional. I didn't catch it until I saw the confirming message
from USIN.
Sorry,
Jvy Xingo
Message from England to Master
1902. Draining.
Never before have I poured so much energy into a relationship (with France,
in this instance) only to betray. And I have no idea if I made the right
decision.
I have been on the receiving end of something like this before. Once as
England I was so taken by Jeff Stephens' French correspondence that I was
100% certain that he was going to be my ally. I was completely fooled and
learned a lesson from that experience. With good players you cannot always
gauge sincerity by the frequency and length of the correspondence. [Jeff is
out there somewhere in titleist!]
Why did I finally go with Germany?
1) I was afraid of France. Still am.
2) Italy had me believing he and France were on such good terms that France
might well have continued northward against me after Germany was weakened.
3) I believed that France influenced Russia to make that early move to StP
and that France wanted a stronger Russia to keep me in check.
4) A French partnership meant giving up Belgium to France as I took
Holland. Fair enough, but this has France moving north.
All this I could live with. After all, Germany had been a very unreliable
communicator. Allying with him would be a risk.
So I made one last attempt to have a French alliance in which I would not
be immediately vulnerable to a French stab. I offered to help Russia into
Sweden in exchange for Swedish help into Denmark in the fall. I was
confident Russia would accept.
5) Russia replied that if he attended to the north (instead of trying to
defend Warsaw and Moscow from Austria) then he would need Denmark himself!
Reasonable for Russia, but this wouldn't do for me. I could get nowhere
with a French ally in Belgium and a Russian ally in Denmark. Especially
when I believed that France and Russia were on very good terms.
So I went with Germany as an ally.
Finally, did I believe that France would have been a good, loyal ally for a
long time? Yes, I think so. But I also think Germany and I will stick
together for a long time also.
Allen Schweinsberg
Message from Turkey to England
Ivy,
Thanks for your words of encouragement. I hope Germany does back off of
Russia, for the time being at least. Otherwise, AI are going to have their
way with me and Russia. I got in a lucky guess, but I don't have any way to
support it and I'm still on very shaky ground. Still, I have to say things
turned out for me as well as they could have, under the circumstances.
It looks to me as if you and Germany are about to tear France a new one. I
hope you can get through it quickly so Italy doesn't just have a cakewalk in
the Med. In any case, best of luck to you and let's stay in touch.
Ali
Message from Master to England and Germany
usin@thekleimans.com said:
>Maybe we could change the rules. I don't see why not. If it were a
>two way, we could sit and sit and not set draw. Doug might go along.
>(Right Doug?)
Wrong.
Doug
(Do you do this just to see if I'm reading along?)
Message from Master to England and Germany
usin@thekleimans.com said:
>In the event a 17-17 draw seems possible, I am willing to flip a coin
>to see who will be the official tournament winner. There is plenty of
>glory to go around for both.
Actually, I stated up front that any players tied for the most SC's
in a draw would be declared co-champions.
Doug
Austria: Army Galicia → Vienna
Turkey: Army Smyrna → Ankara
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