I don't usually do EoG's. You all might prefer I don't, given the length of this one! I'm posting without proofreading, because even I don't want to read all this:
King of Gunboat
End-of-game summary:
Spring 1901 -- I draw France, sweet! I do well with France – at least, I think I do. Not going to bother sifting through games to verify if that’s real or imagined. I opt for a standard French opening. Neither England’s aggressive move to EC, nor Germany’s attempt to bounce from (or sneak into) Burgundy are particularly alarming on their own, but in combination it’s definitely a concern. I could be facing a combined threat from the get go. Glad to see Austria’s move on Venice, as it decreases probability of Italy looking my way. It would have been nice to see Russia move towards Germany, to take some of the immediate potential pressure off of me. The east looks like it could be a typical quagmire.
Autumn 1901 – Well that went perfectly. I was likely to either keep Brest or take Belgium. The bounce at Belgium held England to one build and kept Germany out of Burgundy. Germany and I are clearly going to have a problem. Very glad to see him bounce Russia from Sweden, though, as it increases the probability of Russia engaging with him on his eastern front, something I’m hoping to see develop. England’s build in Edinburgh is a welcome development, and so are Turkey’s fleet builds, which all but guarantee that Italy will give me plenty of space as well as increasing the chances that Russia will feel safe enough to let Germany know how he feels about the Sweden bounce. The German fleet build adds even more probability of conflict with Russia. Things were potentially bad for me after Spring, but now I’m in great shape.
Spring 1902 – No surprises, except maybe that Russia did not focus more on the fairly clear threat from Germany. Nonetheless, he left himself in good position to stave off the attack. England continues to move away from me, and with the collective moves around Belgium there is now opportunity for English-German conflict to develop. I’ve got solid defensive position, and good options for launching an attack.
Autumn 1902 – I considered taking England’s implied offer of peace, but I was unlikely to have the same opportunity to get positional advantage, and an advance on Germany would be a long slog. I was pleased to see my fleets slip in while Norwegian moved further away. As a nice bonus, Germany simultaneously moves against England, which means he has now pissed off his three primary neighbors and greatly reduced any chance that I’ll be fighting a united Germany/England. Elsewhere, Austria is done for, Italy’s botched convoy keeps his army from coming into range as a potential threat (though I still feel comfortable that he’s focused on Austria/Turkey, not me), and the Juggernaut has solidified. A strong Russia is poised to keep England and Germany from concentrating their attention on me. I start thinking about long-term possibilities – a 3-way draw with Russia and Turkey rises to the top of potential non-solo outcomes for me. I’m glad that I did not take Belgium and get a build, because at this point we’re all still balanced in terms of centers, if not positional advantage, and I’m able to stay under the radar for the time being.
Spring 1903 – Germany looks wonderfully dizzy, all this back-and-forth between France and Russia. While Russia *still* does not move towards Germany, just the threat was enough to get Germany moving strong in his direction – and away from me. Even with Germany’s signal to North Sea, I’ve got some time and space to press the attack on England. I guessed correctly and put myself in position to take a center or two. The continued Juggernaut ensures that my southern flank will remain safe for a while, though I have to start thinking about getting a fleet or two down there to either boost Italy’s defense or vulture a center when he collapses and establish a defense to hold Turkey. Barring a devastating stab by Russia, I know I’m not going to be making any significant progress east through the Mediterranean. Turkey already has a significant fleet advantage over me. I’ll have to hope that Italy can withstand the advance.
Autumn 1903 – Gascony moves to safeguard Portugal and Spain, a just-in-case option that ended up being necessary – until England’s disband. I could have ended up with Belgium, Liverpool, both, or neither, and I could have lost Brest. I end up in control of all of them – best-case scenario! (Brest-case scenario?) Germany/Russia and Italy/Turkey are fully engaged, and while I get two builds, we remain pretty well balanced overall so I won’t be facing any suddenly-coordinated effort to stop me. I’ve got good options. A fleet in Brest is necessary to deal with England in MAO and NAO, at this point he’s desperate and unpredictable and could wreak havoc behind my lines. With the other build, I could use an army and begin chipping away at Germany, or I could build another fleet in preparation for action in the south. Germany’s not a threat at this point, and still might be tough to crack, and he has room to retreat from Russia to focus all units on me. The choice seems clear: Focus on eliminating England and building improved position to work against Germany and/or Italy – while trying to give them both the impression that I’m an ally, or at least not an immediate threat. I want them both dealing with the Juggernaut while I work quietly in the background. Neither Russia nor Turkey has good reason or position to stab the other, so nothing else is going to slow them at this stage.
Spring 1904 – Russia attacks Turkey! Beautiful. Now I’m seeing increased chances for a solo. Germany has potential to add two units with Norway and either St. Pete or Warsaw. He may play himself into draw contention, and be an important factor in limiting Russia’s growth should he be effective against Turkey – which seems unlikely. Turkey’s going to lose Ankara, but he’s in good shape to withstand the stab. Either way, I’m glad to see things so destabilized. Of course, Germany could now become a bigger problem for me as well, and based on his play so far I have to expect anything. If I trusted him just a bit more, I would really try to signal good intentions here…but I just can’t trust him, can I? I decide to take a risk….
Autumn 1904 -- ….and it works beautifully! Expecting Holland and Munich to bounce in Ruhr again, I figured I’d try to pull the army out of Holland while I slipped in from Belgium. [When I first started playing Diplomacy here, the first time I saw someone pull this move off, it was GOD. So I have to say I enjoy that it was GOD I pulled this off against.] If I had failed, I would have been facing a pissed-off Germany with two new units, and no builds myself. It wouldn’t have been dire, but not ideal. I still have a pissed-off Germany and a tenuous grip on Holland and Belgium. I decided I had to move West Med and Gascony toward the German theatre to prepare for the fight I was starting, so my build was to keep a presence near the Italy/Turkey front. England is almost an afterthought by now, I know I can just keep safely chasing units around UK to maintain overall number of centers and eventually take him out. I also don’t want anyone deciding that I’m growing into too big a threat and building opposition, so I consider the remaining English centers in the bag while keeping my actual total lower for now. I wish Russia was in better shape to handle Turkey and Germany. Now it’s looking like Turkey and Germany (despite my attack) as the likeliest draw partners, but I’m very much focused on the win.
Spring 1905 – My goals here were to reassure Italy, gain better position against Germany, and maybe have an opportunity to pick off another English center. Check, check, and check. Lots of possibilities around Norway, Denmark, Holland, Burgundy….next turn could be crucial. Germany offers reconciliation with Russia and moves to defend. I wish Russia was in position to carve up Germany with me, but his failed stab of Turkey has him in trouble and he’s got to accept peace with Germany. Even so, it looks like things in the east will continue to be messy, with Turkey dealing with Russia, Italy’s improved position, and even the ghost of Austria adding a wildcard to the mix. I look to handle Germany, finish England, and make my move.
Autumn 1905 – An expected trade of Norway for Holland. I’m in good shape – no chance for Germany to break through anywhere along our lines, my fleets filling in behind to work in England, and a continued mess in the east. Only Turkey gets a build, and he can’t use it. Russia’s on the way out, but he’ll still keep Turkey occupied and maybe buy Italy enough time to play a greater role. Barring an NMR of course, but there won’t be any NMRs in this game, right? Right?!?
Spring 1906 – Ohhh, Russia. Well, OK, there’s not much you could’ve done there anyway, except maybe keep that army out of Rumania, and there’s a silver lining to that because now Turkey’s got issues in Trieste that a Serbian army could have helped with. Austria coming back from the dead? Closer to home, I’m just holding ground and maneuvering to dig England out of his hole. This is going to take awhile. I decide I’ll lose Norway to take Edinburgh, knowing I can retreat to Skag and keep strong position against Germany….
Autumn 1906 – Except I don’t, because suddenly NMRs are in style. While Germany’s NMR helped me for sure, it ended up helping him too because my focus had to shift from going for the solo to making sure someone would be able to help me stop Turkey from winning, and that was going to be Germany. Turkey benefitted greatly from the other NMRs. Russia might have taken Rumania, Italy/Austria might have controlled Vienna and Trieste, and Italy surely would have kept Naples. Instead, Turkey is now the leader and my solo chances are evaporating. Can we stop with the missed turns already? And hell no, I’m not going to accept a premature and too-big draw because of NMRs at this stage of a game that had been generally played very well by most. If the offenders go into CD, I’d consider drawing with the remaining 3 or 4.
Spring 1907 – Hey, everybody’s back! Thanks for playing, fellas.
I have to be careful here. I expect I’ll need Germany to help me stop Turkey, but there’s a lot of game to be played before we get there, and I’m not giving up my quest to win it. At any rate, I know that Germany won’t refrain from attacking/aggressively defending, and with no means of talking things over I can only hope he’s paying as close attention to Turkey as I am. I may have to just do what I can to just keep him in place, being prepared to take centers if the right opportunity presents itself and if conditions change due to more NMRs. At the moment, though, Russia can hold Rumania and Turkey’s losing Naples. My window is not closing just yet, and Holland’s there for the taking. Time to finally move fleets to the Italian theatre.
Autumn 1907 – Damn, I hoped Vienna would remain Austrian for another turn, and Russia would get a build. My chances trending downward again – Germany adds a fleet, as does Italy, who I’m at risk of irritating here. I have to hope the years of good relations plus the reasonable possibility that my intentions are helpful add up to keeping his focus on Turkey. Not a big deal either way, I don’t intend for him to be there at the end.
Spring 1908 – Just hang in there, England, I’ll get to you eventually. I can’t tell if Italy’s second NMR helps, hurts, or makes any difference. I hope – if he returns – that my lack of move on Tunis or Tyrrhenian, plus the lost cause of Venice, equal keeping his focus on Turkey despite my presence and Turkey’s support holds. Russia’s pretty much done as a hindrance for Turkey.
Autumn 1908 –Italy’s on his way out, and might be an irritant for me while he’s at it. Russia’s hanging tough, but Turkey’s clearly increasing in strength and position. It’s getting close to time to disentangle myself with Germany, no easy task given my continued attacks to this point. How pragmatic and aware is he? I’ll be finding out….
Spring 1909 -- … but I really want to win this, and I’m willing to go all the way to the edge to keep the chance alive. I’ll keep the pressure on Germany, but it’s time to finally eliminate England, and I’ll need another fleet at least to plug up the Med. Sorry to be forceful Italy, but I want to make sure we keep Turkey from advancing to Tyrrhenian. I’ll take the risk that you’ll suicide into me. Aaaaaannnnnd another NMR anyway. Glad I moved as I did. Hey wait – Turkey with an NMR too?!? This is getting ridiculous. I don’t want to have to draw with remaining players over a CD to the leading player so late in the game, and if I win I don’t want it stained by so many NMRs.
Autumn 1909 – Can’t rely on Italy showing up, and don’t know what he’ll do if he does. Time to pry him out. Even with the builds, an honest assessment leaves me knowing that I’ll lose a race to 18 with Turkey. I’ve got to build in Brest to cover EC. I can afford to lose centers to Germany – in fact, it might become advantageous to do so – but I don’t want him slipping a fleet behind my lines.
Spring 1910 – I begin preparations for the final stage, which I recognize now will be me, Germany, and Turkey drawing – if everyone does what they should. Goodbye England, sorry to leave you hanging there for so long. Now, how to disentangle from Germany. I don’t want him taking too much from me too soon, but he’ll need builds to hold off Turkey, who is still fighting with Russia but I expect will be launching armies at Germany within a year or two. I consider Norway gone, but try to keep Holland and Belgium under my control for the time being. Italy helps by keeping Turkey out of Tyrrhenian, and gets no thanks from me as I move to potentially take a center or at least keep Turkey from doing so.
Autumn 1910 – I look to reduce the potential losses among Norway/Holland/Belgium by going for Kiel, a very messy way of disengaging with Germany, who only presses the attack, understandably. Fortunately I get a build. Got to be really careful here. Turkey is inching closer and Germany is further away from defending.
Spring 1911 – Time to be clearer to Germany and start putting up some walls. I know I have the units to prevent Germany from doing too much damage if he continues to attack, and I also know he needs at least a center of mine, maybe two, to both stop Turkey and feel more secure with me. I’m not winning this game, and that needs to become obvious to Germany. I move to establish strong defensive position, get another fleet down south, and get Germany a build while keeping him on his side of the line. Turkey starts the rush.
Autumn 1911 – I hope Germany reads and accepts my signals. Ooops. Not quite yet. I expected he would take two from me – three makes me very nervous, especially with Turkey taking a fourth in Rome. I worry that I’ve played it too close to the wire, that Germany is going to just keep rushing me and allow Turkey to win. I can only hope my moves this turn – combined with my disbands, which should make things obvious – finally make things clear and we can wrap this game up right. No more room for error.
Spring 1912 – I’ve got to take Tunis, knowing that Turkey has Warsaw and possible St. Pete. I’m surprised that Turkey allows me to take it, and very relieved, because I know I can hold it and keep him where he is. Now it’s up to Germany to do his part. I’m a little nervous about the move to North Sea, but his other moves are encouraging.
Autumn 1912 – All that’s left for me to do is keep adding to my wall, and watching to see that Germany does what he must. Protecting Belgium instead of rushing to seal things off in the east is concerning.
Spring 1913 – That’s better.
Autumn 1913 – Now I can breathe a sigh of relief, we've got it. Turkey, recognizing the same, leaves St. Pete for Germany, facilitating the draw…
Spring 1914 -- ….except Germany doesn't take it. This might be the luckiest 700
Russia earns, and not entirely undeserved given the role he played in disrupting Turkey just long enough…
….still, I have a bit of the cold-blooded bastard in me, my draw vote is removed.
Autumn 1914 – And there it is. Great game, worthy of the high entry fee. Wish there weren’t so many NMRs….and I wish I had a dollar for every time I've said that.
King of Gunboat
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