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France: Builds 3 units
Italy: Builds 1 unit
Turkey: Removes 1 unit
Message from France to England
Ivy:
Were you privy to Russia's moves? Perhaps you convinced him that I was
going to stab him. I wonder what he will say now? :-) Perhaps this is
where you two wanted to be. Russia did throw away any chance at glory.
I wonder if I should thank you or not. I really did not want to be in
Holland. Can you convoy me to Edinburgh? :-)
--Prince Boar
Message from Italy to England and Russia
Gentlemen,
I am willing to try again. I think (hope) we understand each other's
position better. I take full responsibility for the results of the past
year. It was, and still is, a difficult time for me.
France is at 14. Personally, I don't see where the next four are coming
from.
Personally, for the time being, I would like to keep the southeast corner
(rum,bul,con,smy,ser,sev,ank (assuming I can get it)). That's 7. Warsaw
would be returned to Russia.
I'm not usually much for discussing movement details until seeing
adjustments, but for the sake of time am willing to adjust that policy as
long as we discuss both Turkish possibilities.
I'll start with War-Ukr, Sev-Arm, Rum s Ukr-Gal. I'm sure there are other
options.
Respectively,
Idalia (I will return to being Roberto if and when that last yellow thing is
removed from the board)
Message from England to France
Prince Boar,
>Were you privy to Russia's moves?
Not entirely. The debate between Russia, Italy, and myself was intense
with Russia doing most of the talking.
>Perhaps you convinced him that I was
>going to stab him.
Did you stab him? Was he expecting the snatch of Holland?
>Russia did throw away any chance at glory.
It has been a long time since I felt I had any chance at glory. I don't
think Russia had any chance. What were you offering him? I've only been
trying to lose with honor.
>I wonder if I should thank you or not. I really did not want to be in
>Holland. Can you convoy me to Edinburgh?
There's a nice tower in London where you can have residence.
I am very puzzled by part of your moves. You have benefited enormously by
the conflict between Italy and Turkey. By helping to eliminate Turkey, the
menace at Italy's back, aren't you giving Italy a chance to defend himself
against you?
Ivy
Message from Russia to England
Ivy,
I thought you should know what sort of "ally" we're dealing with here.
Nick.
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> Message from Italy to Russia in 'titleist':
> > Yes, but it's still a JDPR rated game, and a Draw
> > against Roger Yonkoski is still better than a loss.
>
> Any talk of the JDPR or other rating system will fall on deaf ears here.
> I could care less about how good or bad Doug's system rates me (or
> any other rating system for that matter). I don't play the game for
> that purpose.
>
> > If you work with me, do you have a chance to share
> > in a Draw? Yes, you do.
>
> Being blunt, I will only 'set draw' if I have the most units on the board.
> Otherwise, this game will end in a solo victory or my elimination.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
I find it ironic that he pays no attention to Ratings systems, but is
playing
the tournament rules meta-game...
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> > First we have to stop France. Work with me, and we
> > can sort out the endgame together.
>
> I started writing this note before the results came in. Now that I've
read
> the results, I wish I had moved to Silesia. It would also appear that
> Turkey was listening to somebody rather just entering orders. Unless
> France had your permission, it would also appear that you were wrong
> about Holland. Is it too late to stop France? I suppose the answer will
> depend on the next round of ERI negotiations.
>
> Idalia
Message from England to Italy
Idalia,
>I am willing to try again. I think (hope) we understand each other's
>position better. I take full responsibility for the results of the past
>year. It was, and still is, a difficult time for me.
I was stunned by the help you received from France. France has made great
strides as long as Turkey was a viable thorn at your back. By helping to
eliminate Turkey, France permits you to dig in and defend against him.
>France is at 14. Personally, I don't see where the next four are coming
>from.
Belgium, Budapest, Berlin ... it will be tight. He has 5, soon 6, armies
in central Europe. will he be able to coordinate them before we set up a
defense?
>I'll start with War-Ukr, Sev-Arm, Rum s Ukr-Gal. I'm sure there are other
>options.
Yes, I may be lobbying for War->Silesia again. I think it is all going to
happen in central Europe.
The key now is the Russian temperment. He suddenly softened this morning
with an apology plus the move to Kiel. Both must have been very difficult
for him to accept. Let's hope that your success and his relative setback
do not harden him once again. He needs to be confident of getting Warsaw
and StP this year. His pride will probably lead him to demand Sevastopol.
I hope we can postpone an argument over that.
We haven't stopped France yet. Frankly, my hope has increased greatly.
Ivy
[One more thing. I think the Holland move was a bit of a stab. I hope so.
I want Russia to be wholly dependent on an alliance with us.]
Message from England to Russia
Nick,
I understand my moves. I understand your moves. I even understand Italy's
moves, although we failed to persuade him to do otherwise.
However, can you explain France to me? What was the deal with Holland?
Was anything like that expected?
Nor can I understand what France did in the southeast. By helping Italy
destroy Turkey, he gives Italy a chance to turn and defend himself against
France. Surely, France knew that Italy's singleminded strategy for years
has been to sieze the corner for himself. With a functioning Turkey at
Italy's back France has been constantly able to take advantage of Italy.
Is he throwing away that advantage?
As for your own prospects, you can still have StP. Apparently you can get
Warsaw as well. The tactical position with respect to stopping a French
solo seems to have improved. The diplomatic position may have opened up as
well. Your apology, coupled with the Italian takeover in Constantinople is
probably improving Roberto's temperment.
In the midst of the furious exchange between you and me and Italy before
the move, Italy sent me a short, buy nice, note thanking me for my efforts
at coalition building. He thanked me, but did not yield to my suggestions.
Nevertheless I think we have a better chance this turn.
First things first. What is the situation between you and France.
[I thought of recommending Belgium->Holland last turn to make our forces
more compact, but didn't bother with the idea. I regret it now.]
Ivy
Message from England to Russia
Nick,
Our electrons probably crossed in e-land.
>> Being blunt, I will only 'set draw' if I have the most units on the board.
>> Otherwise, this game will end in a solo victory or my elimination.
I can respect this attitutide, but I don't know if it is genuine. Italy
has made rigid, uncompromising statements before. Heck, if we can stop
France, maybe we can grant Italy his wish and eliminate him.
>> I started writing this note before the results came in. Now that I've
>> read the results, I wish I had moved to Silesia.
I find this statement hopeful. Italy may become more reasonabl now that
his position is improving. Sometimes players are most irascible when they
believe that they have little chance.
Let's sleep on this, Nick.
Ivy
Message from France to England
Ivy:
>Was he expecting the snatch of Holland?
Nick was supposed to bounce me from Holland (from Kiel).
He probably should have done it from Belgium. An
oversight he said.
I guess that I should have grabbed Belgium and/or Kiel as
you threatened that I might. But I am most disappointed
by something else that I did not have the guts to do. It
was low risk, but I was in a risk adverse mode.
As for Italy. Yes, I knew that when Italy eliminated
Turkey that he would turn to face me. I always told Nick
that. Originally I preferred Italy over Turkey because I
could prevent Italy from building, by holding his home
centers. I never intended to let things get this far.
But one thing led to another ... It was a combination of
his attack on Russia, Turkey not doubly supporting
Constantinople as I hoped, and the fact that I realized
that I could not really hold my southern centers if I did
turn on Italy. I had to get more resources down south.
I should have done that rather than support Russia in the
North. I realized that too late.
Right now the game's ending is in your hands. I cannot
win because I cannot take the southern centers that I
need to win. So you get to decide whether this game will
end in a three way draw or a four way draw. Russia could
easily be eliminated, with you taking 3 of his centers.
I would actually take Belgium but you would take Holland.
It would be up to Italy to take Warsaw and end the end
game.
As for what Nick was trying to achieve. I believe that
he hoped that if he could bottle me up in the North and
get Italy to turn to fight me in the South, that he would
have been part of an FIR draw. Or perhaps he had greater
aspirations like a solo. We will have to read his EOY
statements to find out.
--Prince Boar
Message from France to all
I have an experiment all day today and will have little
time for diplomacy. I will most likely respond to any
mail tonight.
Have a great day.
France
Message from England to France
Nick,
> ... Turkey not doubly supporting Constantinople as I hoped ...
This suggests that you are not in contact with Turkey. In spite of
attempts to reach him, I have not heard from Turkey since he sent us that
joint message urging the two of us to continue eastward. Immediately after
that we turned on each other. 8-) Then silence from Ali.
>Right now the game's ending is in your hands.
I wish.
>Russia could
>easily be eliminated, with you taking 3 of his centers.
>I would actually take Belgium but you would take Holland.
> It would be up to Italy to take Warsaw and end the end
>game.
You are still a serious threat with 14 centers, and more are available. I
expect to remain dedicated to Russia and Italy in order to prevent the
solo. Any possibility of a 3-way (probably with you as the official
champion) should wait until your prospects for a solo are reduced.
Ivy
Message from England to Italy and Russia
France now suggests that his winning chances are gone and that I might like
to participate in the elimination of Russia and accept a 3-way with him and
Italy.
No thanks. His winning chances are not gone, and the three of us have work
to do.
Sure, elimination of Russia might be discussable down the road. Or
England, or Italy, or even France. Not now. First I wish to see France
brought back from the cusp of victory. Way back. If we think the job is
done and renew the fight amongst ourselves, we only give France a second
chance.
If the three of us are going to argue, let's argue over the best strategy
to finish France's victory chances beyond doubt. Let's argue over how many
units he has to lose or surrender before we celebrate.
I am still motivated by France's reference to "my victory" [i.e., France's
victory] some time back. That was a bit premature.
Ivy
Message from Russia to England and Italy
>Message from Italy to England and Russia in 'titleist':
>France is at 14. I don't see where the next four are coming from.
Bel, Kie, Ber, Bud, Ser, Bul, Con/Smy (with Turkish
help). Will it be easy for him? No. Are his
tactics as good as diploming? Let's hope not. 8-)
Is it possible? Certainly. I do not see Prince
Boar setting draw any time soon, even if he is in
the lead.
>I would like to keep the southeast corner
>(rum,bul,con,smy,ser,sev,ank (assuming I can get it)). That's 7. Warsaw
>would be returned to Russia.
Serbia cannot be held, and I'm not sure that Rum
and Bul can hold without Fleets in EMed and Aeg.
I will take Warsaw back, though, thanks. 8-)
Nick.
Message from Russia to England
Ivy,
>I understand my moves. I understand your moves. I even understand Italy's
>moves,
The only question is, how soon will he try to
eliminate me, or try to convince you and France
to eliminate me?
>What was the deal with Holland?
>Was anything like that expected?
We were supposed to bounce Kie and Ruh in Hol. I
figured that letting him move to Hol broke up his
line, opening Ruh for Kie-Ruh, While exposing A Hol
to destruction and Mun to capture. It would have
been much more effective with War-Sil, though. I
knew France would be taking two from Italy, and
that he would not be able to build in Bre, and
that I would build at most one, so it seemed like
a reasonable sacrifice.
>Nor can I understand what France did in the southeast. Is he throwing away
>that advantage?
That puzzled me as well, but perhaps he feels he can
manipulate Italy, while Turkey's silence gives him no
options.
>As for your own prospects, you can still have StP. Apparently you can get
>Warsaw as well.
I'll believe it when I see it.
>What is the situation between you and France.
He's greatly offended that I didn't trust him, and
finds it amusing that my lack of trust cost me Kie
and Hol.
>[I thought of recommending Belgium->Holland I regret it now.]
F Hol would have been pretty useless, though.
Nick.
Message from Russia to England
Ivy,
> >>I will only 'set draw' if I have the most units on the board.
> >>Otherwise, this game will end in a solo victory or my elimination.
>
>I can respect this attitude, but I don't know if it is genuine.
It seems odd for someone who claims to place no value
on rating systems to meta-game the tournament rules
this way, though. Especially when it's extremely
unlikely that he'll ever be able to build. In a
follow-up letter he also threatened to throw the game
to France if he was threatened with elimination. It
amounts to saying he'll throw the game to France, no
matter what. If we assume he doesn't mean it, why
tell me this, then. It amounts to a declaration that
he won't let me into the draw, the way I read it.
Nick.
Message from England to Russia
Nick,
>It seems odd for someone who claims to place no value
>on rating systems to meta-game the tournament rules
>this way, though.
I would ignore all such remarks and concentrate on the moves at hand. If
we draw him into a debate about long-range matters, he may be more
difficult to deal with.
I haven't had time to think of overall tactics, but one easy sequence of
moves has occurred to me. Nwy->Swe->Den provides support for Kiel while
leaving Sweden in your hands. Assuming that you take StP this year, I will
destroy my homeland army.
Ivy
Message from Russia to England
Ivy,
>I would ignore all such remarks and concentrate on the moves at hand.
He who focuses on the safety of his next step, is
likely to wander from the path, and fail to reach
his destination.
>Nwy->Swe->Den provides support for Kiel while
>leaving Sweden in your hands.
My first inclination would be Nth C Nwy-Hol, but
I haven't really looked at the possibilities, yet.
Nick.
Message from France to all
Sorry, I thought that I had 23 hours, which should have
been tonight sometime? Oh well, my orders are in.
France
France: BUILD Army Marseilles
France: BUILD Army Paris
France: WAIVE
Italy: WAIVE
Turkey: REMOVE Army Ankara
Centers
England: 7
France: 14
Italy: 8
Russia: 4
Turkey: 1
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