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Message from France to England
Ivy:
I told you a short while ago that I felt that there was a
very good chance that you would decide how this game
would end. I still feel that is likely. However, I
still plan to go forward under the assumption that this
game will come down to a FIR senario. If you do
something to change that, then I will adjust as
necessary. I did promise the French people that I would
not get betrayed by you again, so I will be cautious :-)
I know that you expect this by your statements in your
letter.
You did not comment on the Steelers. At least they are
still in first place. The Bears won a miracle game and
maintained their lead on the Packers. Then again, the
Packers also eeked out a victory. They play this week.
I
am predicting that the Bears lucky streak comes to an
end! :-)
--Prince Boar
Message from England to France
Prince Boar,
>However, I
>still plan to go forward under the assumption that this
>game will come down to a FIR senario. If you do
>something to change that, then I will adjust as
>necessary.
Of course.
>You did not comment on the Steelers.
Painful. They dominated, but lost.
Ivy
Message from England to Russia
Nick,
There wasn't a lot of hope for me in your last message. I'll just make
some moves and pray. [You will make some moves and prey, I suppose.]
Ivy
Message from Russia to England
Ivy,
>There wasn't a lot of hope for me in your last message.
I'm sorry to hear that. Given the hole in my lines
from Berlin through Silesia, I don't feel I can
afford to attack France this year, particularly
when we need to lock down the English and Turkish
ends of the stalemate line. This does not mean
that I'm going to take Nwy and StP, and support
France into Bel as France desires, though.
>I'll just make some moves and pray. [You will make some moves and prey, I
>suppose.]
I need you to stop France from winning by taking
English Centers, just as you need me to stop him
in the East. Our five Fleets can protect you,
however, so yes, I might take a Center or two
from you to generate builds and create the eastern
side of the stalemate line. This has the additional
advantage of making France think that I'm trying
to eliminate you, but I'd have to be a moron to
actually make that attempt.
Your Friend,
and Ally,
Nick.
Message from England to Russia
Hi Nick,
That was a very strange message, or maybe my logic circuits are just
misfiring. You indicated that you would not be taking StP or Norway from
me, and then you said that you might take a center or two from me to
generate builds. Can you clarify?
Ivy
Message from Russia to England
Ivy,
>That was a very strange message,
Sorry, was a bit rushed.
>Can you clarify?
I'm hoping that you'll order ECh S Bel-Pic to bounce
France's move to Pic, and that France will support
Hol-Bel, "forcing" you to retreat to Nth. That's
one Center. Depending on how things work in the
East, I MAY take StP for two, but I will NOT take
StP AND Nwy, as France suggested. If we bounce Den
and Kie off each other in the Spring, and France
moves Mun-Tyl, we might also try Den-Swe, Kie-Mun
in the Fall, which would reduce your losses and
slow France's growth.
Nick.
Message from England to Russia
Nick,
> >Can you clarify?
>
>I'm hoping that you'll order ECh S Bel-Pic to bounce
>France's move to Pic, and that ... (etc)
OK, my moves are in. Given the current uneasiness that exists, you will
forgive me for not saying whether or not I am following your exact wishes
"to the t." [To the tee? To the tea? What is the expression anyway?]
Ivy
Message from Russia to England
Ivy,
>Given the current uneasiness that exists, you will
>forgive me for not saying whether or not I am following your exact wishes
Your orders are yours to make. I believe that we
share a common goal, stopping the French Solo, and
I think my approach is the best chance that we have
to do that. If you think you have a better idea,
please tell me about it. You said that your goal
was to stop France, and that you were willing to
sacrifice Centers to me to do that, so I don't
understand why my suggesting that course has made
you uneasy.
Nick.
Message from England to Russia
Nick,
>You said that your goal was to stop France, and that you were willing to
>sacrifice Centers to me to do that, so I don't understand why my
>suggesting that course has made you uneasy.
I believe I offered you equality with me. Right now you have 6 centers and
I have 7. You admit that you are contemplating taking as many as two
more. That would give you 8 to my 5. That's not my idea of equality.
Also, it seems like the following is occurring. You agree to stop France,
but then make aggressive moves against me. Afterwards, you apologize.
What a world of difference between this situation and the trust between
France and me when we stopped Italy. I gave France Belgium and voluntarily
reduced my strength. He didn't have to steal it and then apologize
afterwards. Then he trusted me by permitting Paris and Brest to remain
undefended when I was adjacent to them. I didn't touch Paris and Brest,
because the critical goal was to stop Italy.
I knew that later, France himself may become a danger, but I had to assume
that strong, selfless players would step in and to stop France (or anyone
else who would dare to run away with the game). I don't see that happening.
France has played a spectacular game. There appears to be no one else in
his league in "titleist."
Ivy
Message from Russia to England
Ivy,
> >You said that your goal was to stop France, and that you were >willing to
>sacrifice Centers to me to do that,
>I believe I offered you equality with me.
Center count is meaningless is France has 18 or more.
You've lost whether you have 16 Centers, or 0.
>Right now you have 6 centers and I have 7. You admit that you are
>contemplating taking as many as two more. That would give you 8 to my 5.
So? If I use those 8 to establish a defensive line
from Sev to Kiel, we stand a good chance of stopping
the French solo.
>You agree to stop France, but then make aggressive moves against me.
>Afterwards, you apologize.
>What a world of difference between this situation and the trust between
>France and me when we stopped Italy.
And very little difference between you agreeing to
let Germany live at one Center and then attacking
Den and Swe, except that I apologized.
>He didn't have to steal it and then apologize
>afterwards.
I see. You taking Den and building two Armies was not
a stab, but my taking Hol, and build one Army is.
>because the critical goal was to stop Italy.
And now the even more critical goal is to stop France.
To do that, you need four Fleets and I need a bunch of
Armies. Could we put your Armies on the western end
of the line? Sure, but doing so would make France
push full force for the Solo, rather than moving
slowly to give me a chance to get into second place.
I need the time that the deception provides to try to
lock down the southeast corner.
>France has played a spectacular game. There appears to be no one else in
>his league in "titleist."
He has played well, but there are three or four others
in his league, even if they haven't played up to their
JDPRs. Besides, the fact that he has played well is
no reason to concede the game to him at this point.
Nick.
Message from Italy to England
Ivy,
You have grown unusually quiet. Have you no words of wisdom for me? No
rumors of where you've told people my units will be moving? After all, I
base all of my moves on these rumors so as not to tarnish your reputation.
Without them, I'm at a loss as to what to order.
Idalia
Message from England to Italy
My word! An unsolicited letter from Idalia! When has this last happened?
>You have grown unusually quiet. Have you no words of wisdom for me?
Actually none.
>No rumors of where you've told people my units will be moving?
Perhaps in my current state (wounded, bleeding, weary) my memory is
affected, but I can't remember creating, receiving, or passing on rumors
about your troop movements. Have I actually done this?
>Without them, I'm at a loss as to what to order.
Oh, I assure you, it is I who is at a loss. In more ways than one.
Most cordially,
Ivy
Message from England to Russia
Nick,
I apologize for my last letter. I reread it and I don't like the tone. I
am capable of better.
[We still disagree severely over the best course of action, and I now
believe that I am incapable of persuading you to change your mind. I know
that my mind cannot be changed. Sooo ... I expect you to disappoint me
again this turn.]
Ivy
Message from Russia to England
>Message from England to Russia in 'titleist':
>
>[We still disagree severely over the best course of action, and I now
>believe that I am incapable of persuading you to change your mind. I know
>that my mind cannot be changed.
What course of action do you propose, and in what ways
is it superior to mine? If you're so convinced that
your plan is better, argue your points, defend your
position, and persuade me that you are right. I've
stated my position as the best that I can see, but I
miss things all the time, and I can be reasoned with.
If we really fight right now, we both lose. I'd prefer
to avoid that fate, if at all possible.
Nick.
Message from England to Russia
Nick,
>defend your position, and persuade me that you are right.
I am almost 100% that this is futile, but, with some trepidation, I will
say a little. Just a little. I trust that, if I am wholly honest, that
this will not affect any out-of-game friendship that is arising as a result
of sharing a common 2-year experience.
You tell me that you will cooperate with France another year and will be
taking one or two of my supply centers so that you will have armies to
defend against France in the east.
>Russia: 2 unusable builds pending.
You can't even build additional armies beyond those two. You can't even
build them.
I believe this is a gross insult to my intelligence. [That's what I
believe, no matter what your intention was.]
You want to stop France? Defend Belgium. Move to Silesia. Move Kiel to
Berlin. Let me slide Denmark down to Kiel. Then we go after Munich in the
fall. We can easily make sure in the fall that you get your two unused builds.
With honesty,
Ivy
In friendship,
xxxxx
Message from Russia to England
Ivy, My Friend,
Thank you for your considered response.
> I am almost 100% that this is futile, but, with some trepidation, I will
> say a little.
I think that even if we fail to reach an agreement, the effort to establish
a deeper level of communication and understanding is worthwhile. Next
year one of us could change our minds.
> I trust that, if I am wholly honest, that this will not affect any
> out-of-game friendship that is arising as a result of sharing a
> common 2-year experience.
No, it won't even negatively affect any effort I might make next year to
search for a way to stop France.
> You tell me that you will cooperate with France another year and will be
> taking one or two of my supply centers so that you will have armies to
> defend against France in the east.
>
> >Russia: 2 unusable builds pending.
>
> You can't even build additional armies beyond those two. You can't even
> build them. I believe this is a gross insult to my intelligence
Fair enough. This year I should take Sev or StP. I would prefer to take
Sev, since we need Fleets to defend Turkey, and Italy refused to keep
F Gre, and disband A Ukr. Italy wants Sev, however, so it's uncertain
that I will be able to take it. If I cannot, then I will most likely take
StP
instead. In any event, I will leave Mos and War open, so that I can
build my two pending builds. Let's assume for a moment that I take
three Centers this year, (Bel, Mun, and Sev/StP). I can see no reason
why I would be unable to vacate my Home Centers and build those three
in 1910, bringing me to nine Units, and perhaps eleven Centers if I take
my other Home Center, and a Center in Turkey. This would leave me
able to defend against any attack France might launch, and push forward
into Turkey to lock down the southeast corner of the stalemate line..
> You want to stop France? Defend Belgium. Move to Silesia. Move Kiel to
> Berlin. Let me slide Denmark down to Kiel. Then we go after Munich in
the
> fall. We can easily make sure in the fall that you get your two unused
builds.
Ok, let's assume we do this. France sees my defense of Bel, and my move
to Sil, and knows that I've sided with you. He defends Mun in the Fall, and
you take Kie from me. Let's further assume that I take Sev, so I build two,
and have no pending builds, you build one, and France builds two or three.
Then what? I have to defend Ber and War against French attacks and have
no free Units to work in the South to stop France, while you have two or
three free Units that might decide to accept France's support into Ber, or
defend StP and pick up Swe. I'd have no chance to grow beyond six Units,
and would face constant threats from your extra Units as France defends
MAO, and offers you a smaller draw if you take me out. Since you're
defending the English stalemate line, I can't eliminate you, but the reverse
is
not true. The best I can hope is to throw the game to France before I'm
eliminated, and I'd rather draw.
You need four Centers to stalemate France in the North, I need thirteen to
hold the South, or help from Italy or the silent Turk. There's no way for
me
to get to thirteen if I attack France this year, but by taking one or two of
your extra Centers, and encouraging France to move slowly, I may be able
to. I'd like to see this game end in an EFR three-way because it's the best
I can reasonably hope for at this point, and I think we are clearly the
three
most deserving. Does that make any sense to you?
Nick.
Message from England to Russia
Nick,
> ... Does that make any sense to you?
No, but it brought a broad smile to my face. Rufus T. Firefly couldn't
have said it any better.
Ivy
Message from Russia to England
Ivy,
> > ... Does that make any sense to you?
>
> No, but it brought a broad smile to my face.
> Rufus T. Firefly couldn't have said it any better.
*chuckle* Well, that's the first time my negotiating style has been
compared to that of Groucho Marx, but... hmmm, I'm not sure
how to respond. I'm not insisting on a 17-13-4 FRE three-way,
but I think I do need to maximize my growth in the next two or
three years, if I'm going to keep France from taking Turkey and
the game. It seems to me that this requires the appearance of
conflict between us without actually risking your defense of the
stalemate line. If we attack France now, how will I be able to
spare the Units to lock down the Turkish corner?
Nick.
Message from France to England
Ivy:
>>However, I
>>still plan to go forward under the assumption that this
>>game will come down to a FIR senario. If you do
>>something to change that, then I will adjust as
>>necessary.
>Of course.
Thanks for understanding. I should be able to
help/protect him near Germany. Unfortunately for him,
and perhaps fortunately for you, I cannot do anything
about Scandinavia and Russia. But I am not telling you
anything that you do not already know.
So do the Steelers play the Packers this year? I know
that GB played Bal and will play Jax. We could make a
small bet on it, say Denmark and Munich? :-) :-) Or
maybe some Cheese and Chocolate. (Sorry, Hersheys was
the best I could come up with as something PA.)
--Prince Boar
Message from Russia to all
"Moscow Izvestia"
January 15, 1909
This country, ravaged by war, economic stagnation, and the unfilled promises
of allies, seems to have finally turned the corner toward prosperity and
security. The riots and unrest which plagued this city during the Turkish
occupation have dissipated in the euphoria of repatriation by Mother Russia
and the report of the raising of the 3rd Guards Army in Warsaw. Rumors have
spread like wild-fire that both Sevastopol and St. Petersburg will be
liberated next year.
Rumors of covert operations have surfaced and there are reports of national
flags appearing in abundance both here in Moscow, and in enemy occupied
cities. Flyers supporting the Czar and warning the heathen Turks and English
of their impending doom are also widespread. When asked by reporters of his
plans for the next year, the Czar merely smiled and murmured, "Corporate
mergers and union solidarity". He declined to make any further comment;
leaving many to wonder about the unspoken possibilities that may lay within
this phrase.
Supplies and arms are arriving on a daily basis. Hospitals, many of which
have been visited by the Tsarina, are reporting that injured soldiers are
anxious to return to their duties, even against the advice of medical
personnel. One young lad told this reporter that he would prefer the risk of
dying in battle to the disgrace of lying safe in a hospital bed while his
comrades fought to restore our nation. Churches are keeping their doors
open around the clock, special masses are being held and many parishioners
keep a constant vigil, praying for victory against those allies who have
betrayed the confidence of this nation.
The Bolsheviks, of course, continue their doom-saying, warning that France
too will turn on Russia, or else will come to so dominate the continent that
Czar Nicholas will end up as no more than Chamberlain for the Dauphin. The
spectre of Napoleon's attempt to conquer Europe does indeed loom large, but
the general population seems more focused on the immediate prospects for
economic improvement.
Message from France to England
Ivy:
I checked the schedule and the Packers played Bal and
will play Cle, Jax, and Ten. No Steelers!
So consider yourself lucky my man! :-) ;-)
--Prince Boar
Message from England to France
>I checked the schedule and the Packers played Bal and
>will play Cle, Jax, and Ten. No Steelers!
The schedule is arranged so that strong teams from one division are lined
up against strong teams from a different division. It never quite works as
planned. Green Bay was supposed to be playing two strong teams from the
AFC Central (Jax & Ten) and one weak team (Cle). Jax & Ten are busts this
year while Cleveland is competitive.
Ivy
Message from Russia to England
Ivy,
F.Y.I. I will not be taking StP this year.
Nick.
Message from France to England
>I checked the schedule and the Packers played Bal and
>will play Cle, Jax, and Ten. No Steelers!
I guess that they will just have to meet in the Superbowl!
If that be the case, the Steelers would have had
a great year, runner up in the Superbowl. :-)
--Prince Boar
England: Fleet Belgium SUPPORT Fleet English Channel → North Sea (*cut, dislodged*)
England: Army Denmark → Kiel (*bounce*)
England: Army Edinburgh → Norwegian Sea → Norway
England: Fleet English Channel → North Sea
England: Army London → Yorkshire
England: Fleet North Atlantic Ocean HOLD
England: Fleet Norwegian Sea CONVOY Army Edinburgh → Norway
France: Fleet Aegean Sea SUPPORT Italian Fleet Smyrna → Constantinople
France: Fleet Brest SUPPORT Fleet Western Mediterranean → Mid-Atlantic Ocean
France: Army Burgundy SUPPORT Army Paris → Picardy
France: Fleet Ionian Sea → Greece
France: Fleet Marseilles → Spain (south coast)
France: Army Munich HOLD
France: Army Paris → Picardy
France: Army Ruhr SUPPORT Russian Fleet Holland → Belgium
France: Army Trieste HOLD
France: Fleet Venice → Adriatic Sea
France: Fleet Western Mediterranean → Mid-Atlantic Ocean
Italy: Army Bulgaria SUPPORT Fleet Smyrna → Constantinople
Italy: Army Galicia → Warsaw
Italy: Army Rumania SUPPORT Russian Army Moscow → Sevastopol (*void*)
Italy: Army Serbia SUPPORT Army Bulgaria
Italy: Fleet Smyrna → Constantinople (*bounce*)
Italy: Fleet Syria → Smyrna (*bounce*)
Italy: Army Ukraine SUPPORT Army Galicia → Warsaw (*dislodged*)
Russia: Fleet Holland → Belgium
Russia: Army Kiel SUPPORT French Army Munich (*cut*)
Russia: Army Moscow SUPPORT Army Warsaw → Ukraine
Russia: Army Warsaw → Ukraine
Turkey: Army Ankara SUPPORT Army Constantinople
Turkey: Fleet Black Sea SUPPORT Army Constantinople
Turkey: Army Constantinople HOLD
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