The 2000 Vermont Group Full-Press TournamentThird-RoundGame titleist

Results Press Austria England France Germany Italy Russia Turkey
 
    Spring 1901 Movement    
    Fall 1901 Movement    
    Winter 1901 Adjustment    
    Spring 1902 Movement    
    Fall 1902 Movement    
    Fall 1902 Retreat    
    Winter 1902 Adjustment    
    Spring 1903 Movement    
    Spring 1903 Retreat    
    Fall 1903 Movement    
    Fall 1903 Retreat    
    Winter 1903 Adjustment    
    Spring 1904 Movement    
    Spring 1904 Retreat    
    Fall 1904 Movement    
    Fall 1904 Retreat    
    Winter 1904 Adjustment    
    Spring 1905 Movement    
    Spring 1905 Retreat    
    Fall 1905 Movement    
    Winter 1905 Adjustment    
    Spring 1906 Movement    
    Spring 1906 Retreat    
    Fall 1906 Movement    
    Fall 1906 Retreat    
    Winter 1906 Adjustment    
    Spring 1907 Movement    
    Spring 1907 Retreat    
    Fall 1907 Movement    
    Winter 1907 Adjustment    
    Spring 1908 Movement    
    Fall 1908 Movement    
    Winter 1908 Adjustment    
    Spring 1909 Movement    
    Spring 1909 Retreat    
    Fall 1909 Movement    
    Winter 1909 Adjustment    
    Spring 1910 Movement    
    Spring 1910 Retreat    
    Fall 1910 Movement    
    Winter 1910 Adjustment    
    Spring 1911 Movement    
    Fall 1911 Movement    
    Fall 1911 Retreat    
    Winter 1911 Adjustment    
Spring 1912 Movement
    Spring 1912 Retreat    
    Fall 1912 Movement    
    Winter 1912 Adjustment    
    Spring 1913 Movement    
    Fall 1913 Movement    
    Fall 1913 Retreat    
    Winter 1913 Adjustment    
    Spring 1914 Movement    
    Fall 1914 Movement    
    Winter 1914 Adjustment    
    Spring 1915 Movement    

Map Spring 1912 Movement



Message from England to Russia

Nick,

Predicted moves for Italy:
BlackSea->Armenia
Constantinople->Black Sea
Sil/Gal attack Warsaw
Serbia? perhaps ->Trieste

I've got to get used to these new conditions. You may wish to suggest my
moves. I do want to stay similar to you in size.

Ivy



Message from France to England and Russia

Sorry for my silence today. I was in meetings most the day. I am not
used to this many messages. I can usually deal with the one or two
quite easily. I still have to thoroughly read some of them.

--Prince Boar



Message from France to Russia

Nick:

Italy was frustrated that I removed the fleet in Bulgaria.

I am thinking that he may go for Vienna, hence we should bounce there.
Otherwise I think that you will be focussing on shoring up your
defenses. We can discuss how many Italian units to remove in the fall.
I will position myself to be flexible. In the North I will act to keep
you and England honest. So we may have a split relationship between the
North (at war) and South (cooperating). :-)

--Xavier



Message from France to all

My adjustment is in, without wait. Any eoy statements by
me will be written this weekend, whether the adjustments
adjudicate before then or not. If Russia wants to let
the adjustments go forward, the next deadline will not
change. It is of course his option. I can pretty much
adjust my map now.

>Cool. I need something to use to potty-train my new
>puppy.
:-)
Now stop that! People look at me strange when I burst
out in laughter at work :-) Only send humor in the
evenings. My wife already knows that I am strange. She
things this game is strange :-)

--France



Message from France to England, Italy, and Russia

>Broadcast message from France in 'titleist':

>My adjustment is in, without wait. Any eoy statements by
>me will be written this weekend, whether the adjustments

Just so you know, I wrote this message this morning.
My ISP was sitting on several messages that are now
coming through, some for the second time?

>>Cool. I need something to use to potty-train my new
>>puppy.
>:-)
>Now stop that!
I assumed that Roberto meant this in good humor.
I was laughing at the unexpectedness of the comment
not at any negative comments on the Nick's broadcasts
Please do not send the Okhrana Guards after me!!! :-)

(See I remember some of these broadcasts :-)
I even had to surf the to figure out what they were,
although I am still not 100% clear. Isn't this a wonderful
game? I learned about Russian Secret Service types
and who Ivy Wingo was!)



Message from Russia to England, France, and Italy

> Message from France to England, Italy and Russia in 'titleist':

> Please do not send the Okhrana Guards after me!!! :-)
>
> (See I remember some of these broadcasts :-)
> I even had to surf the to figure out what they were,
> although I am still not 100% clear. Isn't this a wonderful
> game? I learned about Russian Secret Service types
> and who Ivy Wingo was!)

The Okhrana were indeed the Russian Imperial Secret Police,
(the predessors of the KGB). They had an extensive operation
in Paris, oddly enough. 8-) Virtually all of the revolutionary
groups and labor organizing groups in Russia were thouroughly
infiltrated by the Okhana, and there is speculation that Stalin
worked for them for a time. (The things you learn on the web.) 8-)

Russia.



Message from France to Russia

Nick:

I will probably send in orders some time today. I wanted to know what
you would like me to do with Tyrolia. I am thinking that you would want
me to bounce with you in Vienna. This defends it from Italy. My
alternative is to support Munich to hold. Let me know.

You obviously need to defend Sevastopol and Warsaw. I need not know
your plan. You may choose something other than the obvious one.

Is England demanding Holland or Belgium since you will make gains in the
south?

The rest of the day I will be busy trying to root your spies out of
Paris!

--Xavier



Message from Russia to France

> Message from France to Russia in 'titleist':

> I wanted to know what you would like me to do with Tyrolia.

I don't know.

> You obviously need to defend Sevastopol and Warsaw.

I don't know.

> Is England demanding Holland or Belgium since you will make gains in the
> south?

Not yet. ER discussions of 1912 haven't started, yet.

> The rest of the day I will be busy trying to root your spies out of
> Paris!

Good Luck. 8-)

Nick.



Message from France to all

1911 Symposium on Philosophy, Europe and
Everything.
- by Prince Xavier Boar

[Hello this is Ken L., your guest moderator for this
year. Last year's Symposium was canceled due to some
crisis in the castle. Something about some dogs getting
sick? It is hard to get a clear story out of the Prince
on that one. At any rate, I enjoyed studying the battles
that have occurred so far. I bet I could write a program
to simulate and control these fleets and armies. Matter
of fact, I think that I will! I have been meaning to
learn C anyway. I will ponder that while you listen to
the Prince's State of the Union Address.]

My dear French people. The Dauphin and I continue to
hold the status quo, keeping alive the prosperity of
France. We have once again repelled the English invaders
from Picardy, although they continue to attack it. Rumor
has it that Ivy lost the keys to the Royal Bathroom in
Picardy. He is hopping around on one foot desperately
trying to get it back. If anyone finds it, please let me
know.

[I believe that he means to melt it down, reform it into
a different shape and send it to England, just to torture
poor Ivy. What a "lowe" blow!]

The Dauphin and I pledge to end the wars soon. It will
of course depend on the cooperation of our neighbors. We
hope to enlighten them on the need for peace. We also
missed our opportunity last year to say goodbye to Ali
Baba, may he rest peace. I ask for a moment of silence
for our departed friend.

[Brings a tear to your eye, doesn't it? Speaking of
crying, it is time to endure the Prince's lecture on
Philosophy. I wonder if I could write a program that
would simulate me sitting here listening? Maybe I need
to include an option for no press in my code? At least
there is a limerik at the end of the speech!]

Philosophy

In honor of our dear friend Ivy, today's lesson is on the
philosophy of George Berkeley, a fellow Englishman. He
asserted that matter or substance of things around us is
an assumption. An alternative assumption is that God
places in our minds all the perceptions that we
experience. Why is the assumption of matter more
reasonable than the assumption of God? To put this in a
proper context, does the fleet in the Mid-Atlantic Ocean
really exits or maybe it we only perceive that it exists
in our minds. I submit that there is not really a little
plastic blue anchor floating in the ocean. It is not
real. Therefore Ivy need not worry about it and can move
his fleets away.

Berkeley believed that things must be perceived to exist,
but they always exist because God is the eternal
perceiver. His arguments disturbed many and they believe
his doctrines false, but they found them unanswerable.
In 1847 a reward of 500 pounds was offered to anyone who
could refute them. It has never been claimed. Perhaps
one of you will take up the challenge?

Ronald Knox's limerick captures the essence of his
philosophy:
There was a young man who said, "God
must think it exceedingly odd
if he find that this tree
continues to be
when there no one about in the Quad"

Dear sir,
Your astonishment's odd
I am always about in the Quad
and that is why the tree
will continue to be
Since observed by
yours faithfully,
God

[Wow, heavy stuff. They should name several cities and
perhaps a University or two after this guy.]
[This is Ken L. signing off.]



Message [from Russia] to all

> I enjoyed studying the battles that have occurred so far.
> I bet I could write a program to simulate and control
> these fleets and armies.

You'd need quite a random number generator to simulate
the "control" of THESE Fleets and Armies...



Message from Russia to France

> In honor of our dear friend Ivy, today's lesson is on the
> philosophy of George Berkeley, a fellow Englishman.

*chuckle* Rasputin very nearly referred to Berkeley in
his response to your 1909 Philosophy lecture, but opted
to use the Eastern Philosophies he has been exposed to,
instead. We'll have to see if he has a response for dear
George.

Nick.



Message from France to all

>You'd need quite a random number generator to simulate
>the "control" of THESE Fleets and Armies...
Strong words from an anonymous coward!

Oh wait, I cannot reveal my last name, that makes
me an anonymous coward as well!

Nevermind then,
Ken L.

Nick wrote:
>We'll have to see if he has a response for dear
>George.
If he can refute Berkeley's claims, then Ivy
owes Rasputin 500 pounds!

--Prince Boar



Message from France to all

Someone pointed out to me that there was a Ken L in this game. Ooops.

I was referring to Ken Lowe, the writer of the Judge code. I put a
subtle hint in the message "lowe" blow. I keep forgetting the names of
all the players in the game. If I had remembered that there was a Ken
in the game, I would have used someone else.

I apologize if anyone was confused.

France



Message from France to Master, England, Italy, and Russia

My wife just got some very bad news about her family. I rather not get
into the details, but I do not want to tie up the phone and do not feel
it appropriate that I should be spending time on diplomacy. I will be
able to get my orders in on Monday, but I will not write or check e-mail
until then.

France



Message from England to Russia

Nick,

Do you think France's message implied that he would communicate a little on
Monday?

I have to admit that I feel adrift at this point. All my logic circuits
tell me that the game is over, but I believe that you are much more
optimistic.

What is your goal?

Do you think there is a remote chance of any ending other than a quick
French victory?

Are there any moves that you would like me to make?

What about those moves that you wanted at the last minute a few days ago?

Most cordially,
Ivy



Message from Russia to England

Ivy,

> Do you think France's message implied that he would communicate a little
on
> Monday?

I will almost certainly ask for an extension until Tuesday, unless France
and I
both have a light work day on Monday.

> I have to admit that I feel adrift at this point. All my logic circuits
> tell me that the game is over, but I believe that you are much more
> optimistic. What is your goal?

Realistically, I don't think I can do better than an EFR three-way draw. I
suspect that you and I played together in the semi-finals, and I know that
I played with France in the first round, and he and I became friendly in
that
game. He seems to have lost the will to win here, due to a variety of
real-life
issues, and just wants the game to end. I realize that could be a deception
on his part, but it doesn't scan like a sucker-play to me; he seems
genuinely
disheartened.

> Do you think there is a remote chance of any ending other than a quick
> French victory?

I'm going to play as though Italy will be actively throwing Centers to
France,
and France will be taking them. He needs to take and hold four Centers,
without losing any to win, though, and he only has four Units to do it with,
so I believe that even if he tries, I think I stand a fair chance of
stopping him.

> Are there any moves that you would like me to make?
> What about those moves that you wanted at the last minute a few days ago?

They're certainly good as a default set, but I haven't really looked at
1912, yet.

In Friendship,
and Alliance,

Nick.



Message from Russia to Master and Observer

Russian EoY for 1911:

Well, 1911 was a rough year, but I still
managed to gain a Center, and build two Units.
France was becoming more disillusioned with my
attempts to balance FR vs. EIR, and destroyed
my Army in Munich in the Spring, as Italy went
ballistic over my moving to Ukr, instead of Gal.
France appears to have lost the will to win
as a result of a number of real-life factors.
I, obviously, can't afford to trust that feeling
when France is at 14 Centers, but his agreeing to
disband F Bul, rather than retreating to Gre, and
the fact that he didn't betray my double-dealing
to Italy, suggests that this may be the case.
If France does go for the solo, I believe that
I should be able to stop him short, and my tempo
advantage over him in Austria, Turkey, and the
Balkans should allow me to keep him from soloing.
After the Spring moves, Italy demanded that
I move Ukr-Gal, Vie S Ser-Tri, or "the game is
over. Period." I don't appreciate being
threatened, especially when it's a, 'do as I say,
or I'll throw the game!', type of threat, but I
stopped, and looked at the situation, and decided
that even if Italy tried to throw the game, I
stood a good chance of stopping them, so I chose
to support France to Rum. Now, we'll see how it
plays out.

Nick.



Message from France to Russia

Nick:

Here are my current orders:
alb -> ser s by rum
smy -> con s by aeg
mar -> pie
bur s mun
par s pic
spa&wes s mao
tryolia???

I am just waiting on knowing what you want with Tyrolia.
There are a couple options. Bounce in the Vienna is the
safest, but there are better ones (like tri->vie,
tyr->tri followed by tri-> bud or vie -> bud in the
fall). Let me know what you want.

--Xavier



Message from France to Master, England, Italy, and Russia

I am available and have default orders in. I am
bascially waiting to decide on one unit.

--Prince Boar



Message from Russia to France

Xavier,

>Here are my current orders:
>alb -> ser s by rum
>smy -> con s by aeg
>mar -> pie
>bur s mun
>par s pic
>spa&wes s mao
>tryolia???


Any word from Italy? What do you think of Tyl-Vie,
Alb S Tri-Ser, Rum S Mos-Sev? I would prefer, for
obvious reasons, that I take Italian Centers where
possible.

Nick.



Message from Russia to England

Ivy,

Bel-Hol, ECh C Lon-Bel, Kie-Ruh, Ber Hold, followed
by Ber S Ruh-Mun, Bel-Bur, Hol-Kie seems like it
should give you Munich this Fall. What do you think?

Nick.



Message from England to Russia

Nick,

>Bel-Hol, ECh C Lon-Bel, Kie-Ruh, Ber Hold, followed
>by Ber S Ruh-Mun, Bel-Bur, Hol-Kie seems like it
>should give you Munich this Fall. What do you think?


What I think is that nothing you or I do matters. Everything is in the
Prince's hands. If he wants a win, he has an easy win.

The moves that you suggest are very similar to what I was thinking of. I
will make some respectable moves and watch, bemused, to see if France walks
to victory. It is possible, I suppose, that he made promises to you in
such sincerity that he might keep them.

Ivy



Message from Russia to England

Ivy,

> >Bel-Hol, ECh C Lon-Bel, Kie-Ruh, Ber Hold, followed
> >by Ber S Ruh-Mun, Bel-Bur, Hol-Kie seems like it
> >should give you Munich this Fall. What do you think?


>What I think is that nothing you or I do matters. Everything is in the
>Prince's hands. If he wants
>a win, he has an easy win.

I don't see that. He needs four Centers to win, and
he only has five Units in the Southeast corner. If
we take Munich, he'd have to hold a new Center with
every one of those Units this Fall, and not lose any,
to win. That's not going to be possible.

>I will make some respectable moves and watch,
>bemused, to see if France walks to victory.

No! I did not agree to stab Italy because I trusted
France completely. I agreed to do it because I felt
that even if he tried for the Solo, we could stop
him short of it. To do that, though, we need to
work together, and coordinate our moves. Please,
work with me here.
I've asked France to support Mos-Sev, and I'm
thinking StP-Lvn, Ukr S War-Gal. Have you heard
from Italy? Would you be willing to order Ber-Sil,
to cut Sil S Gal-War?


Nick.



Message from England to Russia

Nick,

>I don't see that. He needs four Centers to win, and
>he only has five Units in the Southeast corner.

For starters he can walk into Bulgaria, Constantinople and Ankara this year.

> If we take Munich, he'd have to hold a new Center with
>every one of those Units this Fall, and not lose any,
>to win.

I expect it to be impossible to take Munich. France will be ordering
Munich supp Burgundy->Ruhr & Paris->Burgundy. If he gets there, we can
forget Munich forever. I think I have to try to bounce him in Ruhr.

>No! I did not agree to stab Italy because I trusted
>France completely.

I'm a bit incredulous here. How could you stab Italy last year without
guarantees from France, when it would have been completely safe to do it
later when France was weaker?

> To do that, though, we need to
>work together, and coordinate our moves. Please,
>work with me here.

It took amazing courage to write that.

>I've asked France to support Mos-Sev, and I'm
>thinking StP-Lvn, Ukr S War-Gal. Have you heard
>from Italy?

Yes, he is doing everything in his power to help France. Consider their
moves to be coordinated until proven otherwise.

> Would you be willing to order Ber-Sil,
>to cut Sil S Gal-War?

Only if you are willing to give up Ruhr and all hope of taking
Munich. Isn't Berlin->Munich needed to cut support for Burgundy->Ruhr?

Ivy



Message from Russia to England

Ivy,

>he can walk into Bulgaria, Constantinople and Ankara

Yes, but 16 or 17 does him no good.

>I expect it to be impossible to take Munich. France will be ordering Munich
>supp Burgundy->Ruhr & Paris->Burgundy.

He says he's ordering Bur S Mun, Tyl- my choice of
Vie or Tri to help eliminate Italy.

> >No! I did not agree to stab Italy because I trusted
> >France completely.

>I'm a bit incredulous here. How could you stab
>Italy last year without guarantees from France, when it would have been
>completely safe to do it
>later when France was weaker?

I did receive guarantees from France, and he disbanded
F Bul at my request. I did not, however, blindly
assume that France would not take Italian Centers as
they were offered to him. He may not, in which case
our job is simple, but I agreed to the stab because
I felt that we could stop him, if we had to. To me,
Diplomacy is as much about psychology as it is about
tactics, and both Italy and France were approaching
the point of being unwilling to work with me, in my
view, so I felt I had to stab Italy last Fall, while
I could still influence French moves in the Med.

> > To do that, though, we need to work together, > and coordinate our
>moves. Please,
> > work with me here.

>It took amazing courage to write that.

I am a cheeky bastard, aren't I? ;^} Honestly,
though, I don't think I've ever offered you bad
advice, and we do need to work together, if
France does try for the Solo.

> >Would you be willing to order Ber-Sil,
> >to cut Sil S Gal-War?

>Only if you are willing to give up Ruhr and all hope of taking Munich.
>Isn't Berlin->Munich
>needed to cut support for Burgundy->Ruhr?

It seems unlikely that France would lie to me about
his moves at this point. We've been in constant
communication since 1901, and formed a bond during
the early years when he was under pressure from you
and Germany, and I was under pressure from Austria
and Germany. He really seems to have lost the will
to win, though, and just wants the game to end.
Could this be an elaborate deception on his part?
I suppose so, but given that he could have leaked
my press to him to you and Italy years ago, and
gotten one or both of you to stab me, it just
doesn't seem conceivable. Tapping Sil will give
me Gal, and a supported attack on Bud, should that
prove necessary, so I think it makes sense. Also,
Italy will have to disband several Units this year,
so I should be able to move to Sil and perhaps Boh,
next year and that will let us take Mun if we fail
this year.

Nick.



Message from France to Russia

Nick:

Your plan seems to exchange Serbia for Budapest or
Trieste. I do not see how that moves towards Italian
elimination. Can you show me what the fall moves might
be, assuming that Italy ends up in Budapest? I am
keeping an open mind, let's talk it through. But, I do
prefer plans that require little cooperation between our
units, thereby reducing the risk of betrayal on both
sides.

Sorry for the shortness of my notes. I am downspirited
of late. My notes will probably be utilitarian for a
while. I wanted you to know it had nothing to do with
you.

--Xavier



Message from England to Russia

Nick,

>He says he's ordering Bur S Mun, Tyl- my choice of
>Vie or Tri to help eliminate Italy.

Very well, I will cut Silesia.


> > > To do that, though, we need to work together, > and coordinate our
> >moves. Please,
> > > work with me here.
>
> >It took amazing courage to write that.
>
>I am a cheeky bastard, aren't I? ;^} Honestly,
>though, I don't think I've ever offered you bad
>advice,

Agreed. However, I believe that you did something truly foolish all on
your own last time. 8-)

My moves are in.

Good ol' Ivy



Message from Russia to France

Xavier,

>Your plan seems to exchange Serbia for Budapest or
>Trieste. I do not see how that moves towards Italian
>elimination.

I gain Sev and Ser, while defending War, and we should
be able to keep him out of Tri in the Fall. Given
Pie-Ven, though, I'm not sure that really matters that
much. You should be able to take Con and/or Bul with
your Fleets, and force Italy to disband three.

>I prefer plans that require little cooperation between
>our units, thereby reducing the risk of betrayal on both sides.

I'm unclear on just how I could betray you, and I think
I'd already be eliminated if you wanted to betray me. ;-)
Has Italy told you how he plans to move?

Your Friend,
and Ally,

Nick.



Message from Russia to England

Ivy,

>Very well, I will cut Silesia.

Thank you.

>I believe that you did something truly foolish all on your own last time.
>8-)

I grant you it was a risk, but my sense is that
France has lost the will to win, and that Italy
was not the least bit interested in being the
smallest member of a four-way draw. Additionally,
once the French Solo threat was removed, you would
have had the freedom to expand your own power-base
at my expense as I worked to eliminate Italy, and
I was concerned that you might try to go from 10
to 13 to 18 Centers. A strong France makes that
option much less attractive for you.

With Respect,

Nick.



Message from Master to Russia

I don't remember if I mentioned this the first time: When you "press
to O", it's recorded in the game history. The other players don't see
it, but they can pull a history of the game and see it that way.

Now this might be a clever diplomatic ploy of yours, but I'd hate for
you to be giving away game secrets because you didn't realize the
Judge handled things that way.

Doug



Message from Russia to Master

>Message from Master to Russia in 'titleist':

>I don't remember if I mentioned this the first time: When you "press
>to O", it's recorded in the game history. The other players don't see
>it, but they can pull a history of the game and see it that way.

>Now this might be a clever diplomatic ploy of yours, but I'd hate for
>you to be giving away game secrets because you didn't realize the
>Judge handled things that way.

Yes, I was aware of that "feature" of the code, but
since I've played a fairly honest game, and haven't
discussed future plans in any detail, I didn't figure
it would come back to haunt me. Italy seemed to take
offense at something I wrote in 1907 or so, and took
Warsaw the next year, though even after reviewing my
press to him and the Observers, I can't figure out
what it was. That's why I went to the separate EoYs
at that time, since I had to play both sides against
each other for a while. Now that I've declared my
true intentions, again, I figured I could go back
to sharing my thoughts with 'vgfp_titleist'. Thanks
for the heads-up, though.

Eric.



Message from Russia to all

"St. Petersburg Pravda"

"Capital Liberated!"

by: Alix Hesse-Darmstadt January 12, 1912

The Russian Imperial Seat was finally liberated this
Fall, after six long years of foreign occupation.
The night was filled with cheers and songs as
thousands of people filled the streets to welcome
the Czar and Tsarina back to their city.
Czar Nicholas and the Tsarina Alexandria conducted
their now traditional Christmas Council in the Grand
Library of the Winter Palace. Finance Minister Witte
urged the Czar to celebrate this victory by pushing
ahead with plans to extend the railroad Trans-Siberian
Railway, so as to not squander the excess production
capacity Russia is currently enjoying.
Union Steward V. I. Lenin urged Czar Nicholas to
concentrate his efforts on restoring the docks and
shipyards at Kronstadt and upgrading those at
Murmansk, while laying plans to restore operations
in Sevastopol as soon as possible. Not surprisingly,
Naval Commander-in-Chief, General-Admiral Genrikh
Tsyvinsky, hardily endorsed this idea.
In a reversal of his prediction from last year, which
he denied ever making, Rasputin proclaimed that with
the assistance of our loyal French allies, (the ones
he claimed would be swept away last year), the Italians
and English would be nothing more than folk-tales used
the frighten children at this time next year. Pyotr
Rachkovsky, head of the Okhrana's Foreign Bureau,
reported the French efforts to undermine the Bureau's
operation in Paris were being successfully redirected,
chiefly by engaging the French Counter-intelligence
Corps in attempts to disprove George Berkeley's
theory about the nature of reality.



Message from France to Russia

Nick:

Sorry for my silence today. I had extreme problems getting to my e-mail
from work. The server must have been having problems. It seems better
from home. Luckily I went home early (just to do Dip with you of course
:-)

I do not know what Italy is doing. I think that is just as good a
chance that he will concentrate his efforts on me as on you. He really
does not write me much, and not since last week.

Go ahead and order Tri to Serbia as a default order. I do not have time
to ponder the details and will probably just go with your plan. Mos to
Sev is a given.

What are you doing with Belgium? Are you giving England some centers in
the North? Any chance of a two way would require that you end up with
as many centers as possible. But he will probably not go for that.
Then again, maybe he really does not care much anymore? They two-way is
probably unlikely as I stated. I see no reason to deny any of ERF a
piece of the draw.

--Xavier



Message [from Italy] to Master, England, France, Italy, and Russia

Recently, gunboat was breached in this game. For fairness, if you are
interested in the details, send a non-grey press message to the remaining
four players in the game. I will respond with the details. If you are not
interested, simply press your delete key now.

Doug, I think all press relating to this issue can be permanently removed
from the record of titleist for publication purposes.

a power



Message from Master to all

usin@thekleimans.com said:
>Recently, gunboat was breached in this game. For fairness, if you are
>interested in the details, send a non-grey press message to the
>remaining four players in the game. I will respond with the details.
>If you are not interested, simply press your delete key now.

An alternative is to simply switch to non-anonymous. Four "yes" votes
is all it would take to make that change. Please respond by press to
m for that one.

Doug

PS: Are there any players who don't know some/all the other identities
by this point in the game? Some by mistake, some by logical reasoning,
etc. . .



Message from France to Master, England, Italy, and Russia

>An alternative is to simply switch to non-anonymous.
It is probably best.

>Are there any players who don't know some
I know two.

France



Message from Italy to Master, England, Italy, and Russia

>
> >Are there any players who don't know some
>

I do not know who any of the other players are.

Italy



Message from England to all

>An alternative is to simply switch to non-anonymous.

It doesn't matter to me, one way or another.

> Are there any players who don't know some/all the other identities
>by this point in the game?

I think I know who France is. If I am correct, he is a total stranger to
me whom I have never played before. I have no idea about any others,
except I think Russia and I played in a previous game.

Ivy



Message from Russia to Master

yes



Message from Russia to Master, England, France, and Italy

> >Are there any players who don't know some

I know two, counting me.

Russia



Message from France to England, Italy, and Russia

One simple way to settle the entire gunboat issue is to set draw. I am
doing so now.

--Prince Boar



Message from Russia to France

I just got home from Scouts, and have to help my son with his homework,
but wanted to answer your earlier letter. Ivy feels that you are going to
try
for the solo, and has asked me to not discuss our northern moves with you.
I hope you understand.

In Haste,

Nick.



Message from France to England, Italy, and Russia

I have cleared my draw so it is not so rushed. We can take care of that
in the fall if necessary.

I just did not want you to think that some game was being played when it
did not pass.

Sorry for the mess

--Prince Boar



Message from France to Russia

Nick:

I understand. I did not expect you to tell me much to anything. I said
a couple days ago that we would likely have a split relationship. I
have to make a decision on what to do in the North now. A, B, or C? I
can flip a coin, er two coins?

We can talk about the 4-way draw next turn. I thought it best to talk
to you privately before I officially took a stand. There simply will
not be enough time tonight. I need some sleep.

I hope that you enjoyed cub scouts. My daughter is a brownie. My sons
are not yet old enough for cub scouts, the youngest could be a 'tiger
scout' I suppose? I think that is the age for Kindergartners? Perhaps
next year.

--Xavier



Message from France to Russia

Nick:

We did settle on our moves in the south? Alb s Tri to Ser, Rum s Mos to
Sev? I want to confirm.

Also, I am going to set draw, giving you an out if you are afraid that I
might be going for the solo. I will wait a bit to hear back from you.

--Xavier



Message from Russia to France

> Message from France to Russia in 'titleist':
>
> We can talk about the 4-way draw next turn. I thought it best to talk
> to you privately before I officially took a stand. There simply will
> not be enough time tonight. I need some sleep.

I Set Draw for a time after you did last Fall, but England and Italy did not
come on board fast enough. Since then Italy's behavior has been such,
that I do not feel he deserves it, anymore, so I will not set draw again
until he has been eliminated. You're welcome to take any stand you'd like,
but my position will not change (unless you get to 17 Centers, and it's a
choice between a 4-way and a loss. ;-)

> I hope that you enjoyed cub scouts. My daughter is a brownie. My sons
> are not yet old enough for cub scouts, the youngest could be a 'tiger
> scout' I suppose? I think that is the age for Kindergartners? Perhaps
> next year.

Tigers are 1st Graders; "Alexi" is a Wolf Scout (2nd Grade), now, and he
enjoys it a lot, but he doesn't seem to want to do all of the things you
need
to do to get the badges and whatnot. I'm like, well, he's only 7, but all
the
outings and fundraisers and uniforms cost money, so a part of me feels that
he ought to take it more seriously than he does. I guess I have to "lead"
him a bit more than I have been. (More than you wanted to know, I'm
sure. 8-)

Nick.



Message from Russia to France

> Message from France to Russia in 'titleist':
>
> We did settle on our moves in the south? Alb s Tri to Ser, Rum s Mos to
> Sev? I want to confirm.

Check.

> Also, I am going to set draw, giving you an out if you are afraid that I
> might be going for the solo. I will wait a bit to hear back from you.

I won't set draw, but you can, if you'd like. I actually think that,
assuming
you don't closely coordinate with Italy, but just take the Centers he leaves
open, I would stand a fair chance of stopping you short of a Solo. (Given
the choice, I'd rathern not find out if I'm right, though... 8-)

Nick.



Message from France to Russia

Nick:

>More than you wanted to know, I'm
>sure. 8-)
Actually, as I may be living it soon, I was quite interested. Thanks
for sharing.

Please confirm the orders for Alb/Rum. I hate to waste them.

I did set draw, but the way, in case it matters. Feel free to do what
you think best.

--Xavier



Message from France to Russia

>Check.
thanks.

I am off to be now. Good luck in the south. In the North, well I wish
you well in that England does not toast you, otherwise, bad luck :-)

--Xavier


Map Spring 1912 Movement

England: Army Berlin → Silesia (*bounce*)
England: Fleet English Channel CONVOY Army London → Belgium
England: Fleet Irish Sea SUPPORT Fleet English Channel
England: Army Kiel → Ruhr
England: Army London → English Channel → Belgium
England: Fleet North Atlantic Ocean HOLD
England: Fleet North Sea SUPPORT Army London → Belgium

France: Fleet Aegean Sea SUPPORT Fleet Smyrna → Constantinople
France: Army Albania → Serbia
France: Fleet Brest SUPPORT Army Paris → Picardy
France: Army Burgundy SUPPORT Army Munich
France: Army Marseilles → Piedmont
France: Fleet Mid-Atlantic Ocean → English Channel (*bounce*)
France: Army Munich SUPPORT Italian Army Silesia (*void*)
France: Army Paris → Picardy (*bounce*)
France: Army Picardy → Belgium (*bounce*)
France: Army Rumania SUPPORT Army Albania → Serbia
France: Fleet Smyrna → Constantinople
France: Fleet Spain (south coast) SUPPORT Fleet Western Mediterranean → Mid-Atlantic Ocean
France: Army Tyrolia → Vienna (*bounce*)
France: Fleet Western Mediterranean → Mid-Atlantic Ocean (*bounce*)

Italy: Fleet Black Sea → Sevastopol (*bounce*)
Italy: Fleet Constantinople → Aegean Sea (*bounce, dislodged*)
Italy: Army Galicia → Vienna (*bounce, dislodged*)
Italy: Army Serbia → Rumania (*bounce, dislodged*)
Italy: Army Silesia → Berlin (*bounce*)

Russia: Fleet Belgium → Holland
Russia: Army Moscow → Sevastopol (*bounce*)
Russia: Army St Petersburg → Livonia
Russia: Army Trieste → Serbia (*bounce*)
Russia: Army Ukraine SUPPORT Army Warsaw → Galicia
Russia: Army Warsaw → Galicia