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Message from Italy to Turkey
I will take non-acceptance as a decline. My offer is officially off the
table. I will make a similar offer to another power.
Roberto
Message from Italy to France
>
> I understand that you are upset with my being in the
> Mediterranean.
>
Not in the least. I'm more disappointed in the approach you took.
> I thought that there was a real chance at a bounce.
There was. I eventually decided to give you some respect.
> It was also a requirement from both England and
> Germany to help me in the North.
>
Here is where you're going to lose me. You chose to deceive me this fall
rather than England or Germany. I think you could have found a way to gain
Belgium and maintained our treaty in the West Med.
> Given where I am, there is no certainty that a war
> between us inevitable. What can you do to alleviate all
> the concerns? My units could easily shift another
> direction, especially in the spring.
>
I'm willing to give you a second chance to regain my faith in you. If you
can provide me with a set of orders to gain me my 10th center (not just a
very good chance but rather a virtual guarantee), then I will hand Tunis
over to you. That would put us at 9/7 with you having excellent growth
potential in the north. If, on the other hand, you decide to make this a
full fledge war between us, then I will of course dig my heels in and the
only powers who will gain from our battle will be England and Turkey. The
ball is really in your court.
Life is Beautiful,
Roberto
Message from Turkey to Italy
Roberto,
I appreciate your communications, but I don't think it's reasonable for you to
expect me to disband one of only two fleets I've got on the board. I don't
think it's reasonable for you to expect me to rely on your support, when
you're the one who is attacking me. For the time being, I must rely on my own
resources and defend as best I can, until such time as you choose to stop your
attacks. But I think it's reasonable for me to ask that you take the first
step in reversing our conflict.
Not once have I ever attacked or betrayed Italian interests, even remotely. I
fought for Italian growth and stability, as well as Turkish, on both the
military and diplomatic fronts, right up until your (second) stab. I never
worked secretly behind your back, and I never had any plans on the table to
attack Italian interests. You paid me the compliment that I speak the truth;
well, in that spirit I will not make promises I cannot keep.
My options are few, indeed they're all but nonexistent. I can only defend. I
expect you to do what you think is best for Italy. If and when you feel that
Italian interests are best served by resuming relations with Turkey, if and
when your forces and mine are on a more even footing, if and when you stop
attacking me, then I will remain open to any realistic discussion about
resuming relations.
Ali
Message from France to Italy
Roberto:
>I think you could have found a way to gain
>Belgium and maintained our treaty in the West Med.
Ah but neither would agree to work with me in the long
term to eliminate the other, unless I agree to throw some
forces your way. I could not go it alone against them
and leave myself exposed to your growing might with
limited things to do with all those new forces.
I guess that I could have asked you to start waiving
builds. Or encouraged you to go north after Germany.
But every time that you could have helped me against
Germany, you said that you could not. You did help me
against England, so I should have given you at least a
chance to find a solution. I apologize for that.
So in that light, let's try to find a solution before it
is too late.
Speaking of which:
>I'm willing to give you a second chance to regain
>my faith in you. If you can provide me with a set of
>orders to gain me my 10th center
A challenge for the Dauphin! I will have him study the
board. Would my supporting you to Munich count?
(armies in Boh and Tyr would be nice) Or does it have to
be a set of orders which you can execute alone?
How would we set up a reasonable, but limited border
defense in the Mediterranean?
--Prince Boar
Message from Italy to France
> Would my supporting you to Munich count?
Anything would count. Support into Munich would be ideal. I have no
sympathy for Mr Fredd.
> How would we set up a reasonable, but limited border
> defense in the Mediterranean?
>
Depends on what you mean by limited. How many units are we talking about?
If you're in Tunis, I'll want at least a fleet in the Ionean and probably
another one in Rome/Naples. If you can live with fleets in Tun/NAF/MAO
under those scenarios, I think that's about as limited as we can get. To me
the key is nothing in the WES or GOL.
Roberto
Message from Master to all
I'd like to encourage End-Of-Year statements from all the players (in
"press to m" format) and from any interested observers as well (in
posts to the vgfp_titleist Yahoogroup.
Doug
Message from Russia to Italy
Hello Roberto,
So much has changed since we last talked, both in the real world, and
in 'titleist', that I don't quite know what to say. What have you been
hearing?
Nick.
Message from France to Italy
Roberto:
I believe that I can live with the fleet scheme that you
suggested. I would probably need to ask for an elaborate
set of bounces, so that you did not sneak into the
Tyrrhenian Sea. The other option would be for me to have
my fleet in Spa (sc) rather than MAO. I am sure that you
would want a third fleet hanging around somewhere. Where
would it be?
So if you end up in Bohemia and Tyrolia, I can support
you to Munich in exchange for Tunis. Alternatively we
could discuss your supporting me to Munich instead of
Tunis. We could then fall back on the Gibraltar and
Tyrrhenian Sea stalemate regions. We can discuss in the
fall.
You also have a 50-50 shot at taking a Turkish center.
Would that count for your guaranteed center?
--Prince Boar
Message from England to Italy
Roberto,
My moves are in and, once again, I am doing what France requests. My goal
is not the destruction of Italy, but I really didn't want you to get that
stalemate line. You were so close.
Once it is clear that the game is balanced again, then I will be prepared
to reconsider everything. So please remember me in your plans.
Ivy
Message from Italy to France
> The other option would be for me to have
> my fleet in Spa (sc) rather than MAO.
>
That would be fine. I almost suggested that but thought you might want to
actually be in the MAO to stop England from getting there. I guess it all
depends on how successful you are in getting to England.
> I am sure that you would want a third fleet hanging
> around somewhere. Where would it be?
>
Not sure. Where would you want it to be? I imagine Apulia would be a
legitimate counter to Spain/sc. It wouldn't have to be on the Western side
of the Ionean though.
> So if you end up in Bohemia and Tyrolia, I can support
> you to Munich in exchange for Tunis. Alternatively we
> could discuss your supporting me to Munich instead of
> Tunis. We could then fall back on the Gibraltar and
> Tyrrhenian Sea stalemate regions. We can discuss in the
> fall.
>
> You also have a 50-50 shot at taking a Turkish center.
> Would that count for your guaranteed center?
>
I've looked at the map and I really don't think I can get to BOH/TYR and
still have a 50-50 shot at a Turkish center. Truth be told, I'm not really
interested in another Turkish center. I'm really only interested in keeping
him in his corner.
Germany made mention that he will be moving Tyrolia north this spring. That
must mean that he'll also be moving Munich. It would help me greatly in
getting to BOH/TYR if his moves were to succeed. In other words, I would
kindly ask that you not interfere in any German moves to Ruhr or Munich this
spring. I'm not sure he's going to move Mun-Ruh but it's certainly a
possibility.
Life is Beautiful,
Roberto
Message from Italy to Russia
> What have you been hearing?
>
Very little. Seems nobody wants to talk to the big bad bully.
Anyway, I'm still open to supporting you to any Turkish center when you are
ready.
Roberto
Message from Italy to England
>
> My moves are in and, once again, I am doing what France
> requests.
>
Good, nothing more I'd like to see than France prosper.
> My goal is not the destruction of Italy,
>
Odd since that is my goal. I offered up my centers to Turkey but he refused
so now I've offered them up to France. We'll see if he accepts or not.
> Once it is clear that the game is balanced again,
>
I really don't see how the game will ever become balanced again. Once the
balance of power shifts over to France with a weak or non-existant Germany,
whom do you expect to stop France? It won't be Italy. I'd just assume this
game be over. It might be bad sportsmanship but quite honestly I'm not in
the mood to play this game anymore. Here's hoping France takes me up on my
offer.
Roberto
Message from England to Italy
Roberto,
> quite honestly I'm not in the mood to play this game anymore.
This is more than understandable, given all that has transpired.
>It might be bad sportsmanship but ...
I am not convinced that we are about to witness any bad sportsmanship; we
all have too much respect for each other. So I must conclude that you are
trying to influence my stance. Why not?
I don't believe you expect me to attack France in order to preserve Italian
superiority. I do believe that you should expect me to attack France to
prevent French superiority and to preserve an Italy who could help me do it.
> Once the balance of power shifts over to France ...
I don't want France to have a dominant position any more than I wanted
Italy to have a dominant position. Perhaps I may misjudge what it takes to
control France or when to do it, but I will be watching and thinking. You
might ask how I expect you to help against France if you are weakened and
besieged by Turkey in the rear. For starters, I talk to Turkey and request
that he desist any attack against you. Am I naive? I don't think so. Not
with the players in this particular game. Not with this Turkey.
I was about to be squashed by France and Germany when the world realized
that something had to be done about Italy. The same should happen if
something needs to be done about France.
Hang tough.
Most courteously,
Ivy
Message from Turkey to Italy
Roberto,
Well have you any thoughts, or are we dead in the water? Is my one fleet of
such great political import that it means everything to you, or do we have any
basis for talk?
I will be continuing my efforts of last year, which is simply to defend
myself. I realize you may not have a great interest in the game right now.
Indeed, my own has waned as well. But I would like to continue to try and
survive if possible.
As I said, I don't think it's unreasonable for me to ask that you take the
first step. I think if you look at things objectively you'll come to the same
conclusion. Put yourself in my shoes; would you really have disbanded the
fleet? Is there some logical reason why this was a do-or-die request on your
part?
I continue to welcome any discussion, and I hope you will reply.
Ali
Message from Italy to England
>
> I was about to be squashed by France and Germany when the
> world realized that something had to be done about Italy.
> The same should happen if something needs to be done about
> France.
>
And the key word here is "should". Of course, there is a major hole in your
argument. It assumes a sane Italy who will give up his war against Turkey
and look to stop France from victory. At this point in time, I wouldn't
make that assumption if I were you. You'd be sadly disappointed when it
didn't transpire.
Roberto
Message from France to Italy
Roberto:
Thanks for your note. We can work out the fleet details
later as there is little time right now. I have been at
a conference the last two days and basically awary from
e-mail.
I understand your request for not interferring with
German moves. I do worry about his having two units to
attack Burgundy. If that was coupled with your being
in Peidmont, I would not like that. But will give your
request serious weight.
Good luck.
--Prince Boar
Message from Italy to Turkey
>
> Well have you any thoughts, or are we dead in the water?
>
No pun intended I'm sure.
> Is there some logical reason why this was a do-or-die
> request on your part?
>
Of course not, but you're not dealing with the same logical individual you
were at the start of the game.
> I continue to welcome any discussion, and I hope you will reply.
>
I suppose this qualifies as a reply although not much of a discussion.
Apparently an offer of complete withdrawal from the Balkans as well as two
of my centers didn't qualify as a 'first step'; thus, I'm going to have to
ask you to make the first step and tell me what you want from me assuming of
course you want to continue this discussion.
Roberto
Message from Italy to Germany
Here is a comminique my spies have intercepted from my Russian embassy.
> I worked hard to convince Germany that he needed to pull back,
> but he refused to see the sense in it, and he's now paying the
> price. EFR should take three German Centers in 1906. That
> means I'll finally get back to four Centers if I can keep
> Turkey from accepting German support into Mos/War.
>
> Czar Nicholas II.
Nice to see how your 'friends' react to you taking the banana from the 800
lb gorilla.
Roberto
Message from Italy to France
>
> I understand your request for not interferring with
> German moves. I do worry about his having two units to
> attack Burgundy. If that was coupled with your being
> in Peidmont, I would not like that. But will give your
> request serious weight.
>
Feel free to move your MAR fleet to PIE if that will give you piece of mind.
Roberto
Message from Turkey to Italy
Roberto,
> Of course not, but you're not dealing with the same logical individual you
> were at the start of the game.
Then I will look to you to enlighten me as to who I am dealing with. I
understand your enthusiasm for the game has diminished, if not vanished
entirely; but I have not yet grasped what is motivating you at this point,
which of course is the first necessity in any negotiation.
> Apparently an offer of complete withdrawal from the Balkans as well as two
> of my centers didn't qualify as a 'first step'; thus, I'm going to have to
> ask you to make the first step and tell me what you want from me assuming of
> course you want to continue this discussion.
I guess I ought to clarify what I meant by "first step". Apparently I
misinterpreted your press; I'll have to go back and re-read it, but I guess I
took it as more theoretical than hard promises. Also, I'm back to "once
bitten, twice shy" mode when it comes to promises anyway, and I felt you were
expecting me to take the first actual step -- in terms of game results --
which I wasn't really ready for at the time. That's what I meant by "first
step."
If we can reach some agreement to resume relations, I'm certainly willing to
take it slowly. Even if you abandoned the Balkans entirely, I wouldn't grab
at centers willy-nilly. I would prefer a one-at-a-time transition. As you
know from before, I've always had an emphasis on stability, and I haven't lost
that desire.
As I may have said before, my moves will be similar to my last fall move,
though perhaps not identical. Which is to say, they will be purely defensive.
If you continue attacking me, I fear we won't have much to discuss. If
instead your orders reflect a release of pressure against Turkey, then I would
certainly want a constructive dialogue so that we can proceed gracefully.
But the bottom line is, I'm still searching to better understand your motives.
On one hand, you implied that you have lost much of your interest in the game.
But on the other, you seem to be taking a hard-line reaction to my not
disbanding my fleet, despite the fact that I *still* have not attacked any
Italian-controlled province yet in the game, and have only been responding to
events controlled by Italy.
In any case, yes, I do very much want to continue this discussion.
Ali
Message from Germany to Italy
> Nice to see how your 'friends' react to you taking the banana
> from the 800 lb gorilla.
Tell me about it. Ivy tells me that France is supposed to come at you
full force. For what that's worth.
My orders still have my army in TYR moving away from you. Someone else
can take the next banana.
It'll also be interesting to see if EFR and stay together. And what the
end result will be even if they do.
Fredd
Message from England to Italy
Roberto,
I do take your messages seriously and I have looked at the position again.
I can't conclude that a 4-center England immediately needs to attack a
6-center France to save a 9-center Italy from hardship.
You may wish to create a crisis; it may even be the smartest thing to do in
your situation, but that crisis is not here yet. If and when it does
occur, I think I will be better prepared to attack France than I am at
this instant. I expect to get a couple of German centers fairly quickly.
Ivy
England: Fleet English Channel CONVOY Army Picardy → Holland
England: Fleet North Sea CONVOY Army Picardy → Holland
England: Fleet Norway → St Petersburg (north coast)
England: Army Picardy → English Channel → North Sea → Holland
France: Army Belgium SUPPORT English Army Picardy → Holland
France: Army Burgundy → Munich (*bounce*)
France: Fleet Marseilles → Gulf of Lyon
France: Fleet Mid-Atlantic Ocean → North Africa
France: Fleet Spain (south coast) → Western Mediterranean
France: Fleet Western Mediterranean → Tunis
Germany: Fleet Denmark → North Sea (*bounce*)
Germany: Army Holland SUPPORT French Army Belgium (*cut, dislodged*)
Germany: Army Livonia → Prussia
Germany: Army Munich → Silesia
Germany: Fleet St Petersburg (south coast) → Gulf of Bothnia
Germany: Army Tyrolia → Munich (*bounce*)
Italy: Fleet Aegean Sea → Constantinople (*bounce*)
Italy: Fleet Apulia → Ionian Sea
Italy: Army Budapest → Galicia (*bounce*)
Italy: Fleet Greece → Bulgaria (south coast) (*bounce*)
Italy: Army Serbia SUPPORT Fleet Greece → Bulgaria (south coast)
Italy: Army Trieste → Vienna
Italy: Fleet Tyrrhenian Sea → Rome
Italy: Army Venice → Tyrolia (*bounce*)
Italy: Army Vienna → Bohemia
Russia: Army Moscow → Livonia
Russia: Fleet Sweden → Denmark (*bounce*)
Russia: Army Warsaw SUPPORT Army Moscow → Livonia
Turkey: Fleet Black Sea SUPPORT Army Bulgaria
Turkey: Army Bulgaria SUPPORT Army Sevastopol → Rumania (*cut*)
Turkey: Army Constantinople SUPPORT Army Bulgaria (*cut*)
Turkey: Army Galicia SUPPORT Army Sevastopol → Rumania (*cut*)
Turkey: Army Sevastopol → Rumania
Turkey: Fleet Smyrna → Aegean Sea (*bounce*)
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