|
|
Germany: Builds 1 unit
Italy: Builds 1 unit
Russia: Removes 1 unit
Turkey: Builds 1 unit
Message from Russia to Austria
Ralassa,
>And thereafter? Would the Polish people prefer Russian rule to Austrian?
Well, Warsaw is a Russian Home Centre, but it
would be foolish of me to cripple you when you are
holding the line against the Hun. Hopefully, we
can arrange for you to take Ber or Mun, which would
compensate you for the eventual loss of Warsaw.
>Could I suggest the bold Mos-Stp-Nwy for 1903
That is a possibility under consideration.
>Austria is already stretched thin, with an ally who will soon stab from the
>west.
If you don't trust Italy, then FAIR is hardly
practical, don't you think?
>A retreat to Silesia, a Russian debuild of the Galicia
>army, and War-Pru and Mos-StP in the spring would
>change the strategic situation considerably
Disbanding RA Gal would be a mistake. It would
invite Boh-Gal, and A Gal is needed to support your
Army in Sil as you move War-Pru, in any event.
>Does this course hold any attraction for the Czar?
It matches up with my thoughts in most respects,
but I see that the Judge outage has rendered this
letter moot.
Czar Nicholas II.
Message from France to Russia
Czar Nicholas:
Well, Austria retreated to Vienna. I am dissapointed,
but I expect that you are content.
What are you planning to disband? I am guessing that it
is the fleet in the GoB. It has no offensive
possibilities and really cannot stop the inevitable. I
guess it could safe St. Petes for a year, but that costs
you flexibility in your options in the south. Perhaps it
is best to focus there. I expect that you are
negotiating with Austria and Turkey (as well as Italy).
Obviously one of A or T must go in order to resolve the
south more quickly. I do not care which as long as it is
quickly done.
I do wish that you would put some pressure on England for
me. Because the longer that I last, the better off you
will be. This gives you time to eliminate one of A or T.
I hope that you will consider moving Mos to St. Petes.
This may save St. Petes because if Germany dislodges you,
you simply retreat to Norway. I would be your friend for
life if you caused England to disband a unit. I could
then hold on for a couple more years. Something that
would be in your best interest. Sure, you have some
risks around your homeland, but if you choose your ally
in the south wisely, and wait to reveal that in the fall,
you will be in great shape!
-- Prince Boar
Message from Master to all
usin@thekleimans.com said:
>This is supposed to be a press game; is it unreasonable to wait until
>the judge delivers the mail before sending the order?
Not at all -- the Judge outage occurred a bit after I sent the
reminder. Retreat moves don't usually take much negotiation and
(looking forward in my Inbox) I see that the retreat is already
in. Didn't mean to sound snippy! :-)
Thanks,
Doug
Message [from Russia] to all
>Broadcast message from masseyd@btv.ibm.com as Master:
>
>Retreat moves don't usually take much negotiation
*Engage RANT Mode*
One of my pet peeves with Joel Furr is his use
of StrictWait. Negotiating with Powers to influence
where they retreat to, or convincing them to disband
and rebuild rather than retreat is, in my opinion, an
under-used, but very effective tactic. (I interpret
the rulebook's restriction on negotiation during
Retreats/Adjustments as being an artifical limit
imposed to keep a F2F game from lasting three days,
rather than game "feature", so I see no reason to
impose it in a PBeM game.)
*EndRANT*
As an example for the Observers who are hoping
to learn something from 'titleist', consider Austria's
Retreat of Army Galicia this phase.
>The Austrian Army in Galicia can retreat to Ukraine
>or Vienna or Silesia.
France might lobby in favor of Silesia to distract
Germany. Italy, as part of AI vs. RT, might suggest
that Austria retreat to Ukraine to maintain pressure
on RT. Russia, of course, would suggest Vienna, to
improve his chances of retaking Warsaw. Strategy
articles routinely reccomend writing to everyone
every turn, and, in my opinion, influencing a retreat,
build, or disband is every bit as important as
influencing the Movement phase.
Message from Russia to France
Prince Boar,
>Well, Austria retreated to Vienna. I am disappointed,
>but I expect that you are content.
Actually, for FAIR to work, Gal-Sil was rather
important. We're going to have to improvise, now.
>What are you planning to disband? I am guessing that it is the fleet in
>the GoB. It has no offensive
>possibilities and really cannot stop the inevitable.
It will be one of the Fleets, obviously, and
while F GoB cannot keep Germany from taking StP, it
will keep him from taking it this year, and that may
be an important enough reason to keep it.
>I guess it could safe St. Petes for a year, but that costs you flexibility
>in your options in the south. Perhaps it is best to focus there. I expect
>that you
>are negotiating with Austria and Turkey (as well as
>Italy). Obviously, one of A or T must go in order to
>resolve the south more quickly. I do not care which
>as long as it is quickly done.
Austria has been consistently uncooperative
since F1901M, while Turkey has come around quite nicely.
I do not see myself changing allies at this point.
Indeed, in many ways FIRT works better than FAIR, since
it eliminates the need to push East while simultaneously
holding off Germany. If you could sound out Italy
regarding his feelings regarding FIRT, I would appreciate
it, but be warned, he's nearly as smooth as Ivy is.
>I do wish that you would put some pressure on England
I wish that I could.
>I hope that you will consider moving Mos to St. Petes.
It is under consideration, but I would prefer to
retake War, and build A StP, if at all possible.
>This may save St. Petes because if Germany dislodges you, you simply
>retreat to Norway.
Do you really think that Germany would mind my
costing England a Center? He could always claim that
he expected me to retreat south. Ivy might be upset,
but I doubt that he would break the EG alliance over it.
>if you choose your ally in the south wisely, and wait
>to reveal that in the fall, you will be in great shape!
I expect that the Juggernaut will continue pave
the road toward Vienna. If Italy joins us, we should
make good progress, if not then I'm likely to fall under
German pressure.
Cordially,
Czar Nicholas II.
Message from Italy to Russia and Turkey
Gentlemen,
I've received advice from Russia to build fleet Naples and from Turkey to
build army Venice. These are two opposing views and I'd prefer we all agree
on the best approach for my unit. I had previously suggested to Turkey
fleet in Rome since it's headed to the TYS anyway. If there wasn't an
immediate threat from the English armada in MAO by end of '03, I'd probably
go ahead and build the army, but since I have to convoy out of Turkey thus
tying up the Ionean fleet, I think it best I send a new fleet west.
Comments?
Life is Beautiful,
Roberto
Message from Turkey to Italy and Russia
Gentlemen,
I concur with both of you, a Turkish army and an Italian fleet seem to be
called for. As for Rome or Naples, I suppose it doesn't matter as long as
it isn't sent in my direction. I have entered my order for A Con.
Must run, more later.
Ali Baba
Message from Russia to Italy and Turkey
Gentlemen,
I suppose that F Rome would give a slight extra
measure of security to Ali, over F Naples, but I don't
see F Nap as being effectively anti-Turkish in any
event, and F Rome would tip-off England that Roberto
is headed West. I'm figuring to disband F Sev, but
if there is a tactical reason to keep it rather than
F GoB, please let me know.
In Alliance,
Nick.
Message from France to Russia
Czar Nicholas:
I understand that F Bot can prevent the loss of St. Petes
for one year. But the Fleet in Sev can take Rumania
(with Turkish grace) or help Turkey and you take a
different Austria center. In the end I think that your
power base will be in the south. You would be better
served having your forces together.
But the choice is yours. A difficult one to make. I am
sure that the Dauphin will be facing such a choice soon.
-- Prince Boar
Message from Russia to France
Prince Boar,
>I understand that F Bot can prevent the loss of St. Petes
>for one year. But the Fleet in Sev can take Rumania
>(with Turkish grace) or help Turkey and you take a
>different Austria center. In the end I think that your
>power base will be in the south. You would be better
>served having your forces together.
My suspicion is that if I disband F GoB, Germany
will order Bal-Lvn (or Bal C Ber-Lvn), Swe-Fin and
take StP in the Fall. Moving Mos-Stp this Spring
MIGHT stop that, but I am doubtful, and doing so would
allow War-Mos. Leaving F GoB as a blocking force
should keep Germany from positioning to take this
Spring since he desires my cooperation against Austria,
and England doesn't want Germany to build this year.
Taking Rum and Nwy while losing Mos and StP does me no
good, I'm afraid.
Nick.
Message from Austria to Russia
> Disbanding RA Gal would be a mistake. It would
> invite Boh-Gal, and A Gal is needed to support your
> Army in Sil as you move War-Pru, in any event.
I fear disbanding the northern fleet would only postone the
problem, as it would encourage Bal-Lvn, Swe-Bot, taking StP.
Since disbanding Mos before you're comfortable working with
the Archduke seems out of the question, that leaves the
southern fleet.
As part of a cooperative effort, Warsaw can suppport
Gal-Sil, and/or Vienna can support Gal-Boh. In fact, with
both Tyr and Vie supporting Gal-Boh, and War attempting Sil,
we would almost certainly destroy the Boh army in the
spring. I'm not sure how beneficial Russia would consider
that course, however.
Ralassa, for Austria-Hungary, by the grace of Archduke Ferdinand
Message from Russia to Master
Russian EoY: 1902
I began 1902 with only my original four Centers, and
now have ended it with three. Not an auspicious beginning
to 'titleist', but at least I don't have to worry about the Early
Leader Syndrome. 8-) I am finally glimpsing a light at the
end of the tunnel, but it remains to be seen whether that light
is the first flickering glimmers of hope for Russia and the
EEU's rebirth, or the headlamp of an oncoming German train.
England and Italy are clearly the Powers to watch in
'titleist'. I suspect that Roger Yonkoski is England, and
that Italy is Allen Schweinsberg or Ken Lofgren. England
faked out France, and Italy convinced Turkey to attack
Russia and build an Army in 1901, and then took Smyrna
via a Lepanto without any problem at all.
I spent F1901B trying to convince AI to run the Lepanto
against Turkey, and let me join in, and trying to convince
Turkey that he was in serious trouble if he didn't build
F Smy, but Italy out-talked me, and both Austria and Turkey
built anti-Russian (A Vie, A Bud, and A Ank). Once builds
came through, I renewed my efforts to reinvigorate AIR vs. T,
but it soon became clear that Austria was not interested in
working with me, and that he wasn't even interested in
discussing the possibility. Italy, however, continued to
listen to me, and seemed to agree with my strategic view. I
contacted Turkey and offered to support Ank-Bla-Rum
because Ank-Arm would have crushed me, and I desperately
needed an ally. As I was offering Turkey incentives to ally
with me against Austria, I was simultaneously encouraging
Italy to attack Turkey to keep the Turk from considering an
attack on Sev in the Fall. This, fortunately, worked out as
planned.
In the North I tried to get EG to let me into Sweden, but
decided that I had to Convoy A Fin - Lvn to have any hope
of holding War/Mos against the Austrian attack I was
expecting. England claims that my suggesting that I would
need Swe and Den to keep both Units in the North pushed
him to ally with Germany, but this strikes me as being as
disingenuous as Austria's claim that my refusal to immediately
commit to moving Sev-Rum forced him to order Vie-Gal,
Ser S Bul-Rum.
In the Fall, I came up with a set of orders that got Turkey a
build to slow the AI attack, and defended War/Mos from
three of four likely sets of Austria's orders, but naturally,
Austria chose the fourth set, costing me Warsaw. I did,
however, force Austria to retreat from Galicia, so I'll be
able to retake War in '03.
Questions for 1903. Will Italy betray Austria and join FIRT
to battle AGE? Will Germany shift south to deal with the AI
threat and give England time to gain position on France, or
will he come after StP and War this year? Should I risk going
for two builds, or should I settle for the safe one?
Czar Nicholas II.
Message from Russia to Austria and Italy
Ralassa, and Roberto,
> As part of a cooperative effort, Warsaw can suppport
> Gal-Sil, and/or Vienna can support Gal-Boh. In fact, with
> both Tyr and Vie supporting Gal-Boh, and War attempting Sil,
> we would almost certainly destroy the Boh army in the spring.
I would favor Gal S War-Sil, Tyl S Vie-Boh. If you want to
work with me you really need to move out of my Home Centre,
and toward our common enemy.
Czar Nicholas II.
Germany: BUILD Army Berlin
Italy: BUILD Fleet Naples
Russia: REMOVE Fleet Sevastopol
Turkey: BUILD Army Constantinople
Centers
Austria: 5
England: 5
France: 5
Germany: 6
Italy: 5
Russia: 3
Turkey: 5
|