I take all the blame for making this the most boring endgame ever! My plan was to hold out until dc247 finished to see what final score I needed to get to assure myself 3rd place overall. Sorry about making that so tedious...

Anyway, as to the EOG, I *hate* being italy. I guess most people do, but I remember thinking before the country assignments, "As long as I'm not italy, I should be okay." And then, as luck would have it, I draw the green peice. In addition, my pre-country selcetion strategy was using the threat of the 2 tourney leaders to set up alliance structures in my favor. But when the countries were assigned, England and Russia were the two power players, the two countries I could exert no influence on. Foiled again, and knowing that Italy must work fast or be cursed to be underpowered forever, I forged a 3-way alliance with Austria and Russia. This let me make gains in greece and turkey. As soon as turkey was contained, the three of us set off to conquest the west. But before we got very far, Austria planted a knife into both former allies at once. Russia and I rallied our forces and ousted the traitor, and poised ourselves to head west again. At this point, though, I faced a strong France in the south, while Russia only had a crippled england in the north. I knew if I didn't act fast Russia would sweep the board and get 18 while france and I kept butting heads futilely. So I stabbed Russia. France and russia set aside their emnity and worked against me, but I knew I could gain the stalemate line first. I hoped to be able to nab a few centers somewhere, but the F-R alliance set up their line before I could achieve that goal.

The game was fairly well played by all parties, and while I still question the wisdom of Austria's double stab, I understand that he feared (probably rightly so) that russia and I would collapse on him eventually. Dan (Russia) is a player I hold in the highest regard and we worked very well together. I regret stabbing him, but I still feel that was my only option to avoid letting him solo.

Thanks for playing, everyone, and thanks for Gming, Christine!

John





From: Christine <dawench2(at)yahoo.com>
To: blitz(at)diplomaticcorp.com; mike <mike(at)fuzzylogicllc.net>; bridgejunky(at)ymail.com; ddz999cat23(at)yahoo.com; GMA2 <dawench2(at)lycos.com>; nicksaywell(at)vip.hr; ordewin(at)aol.com; phantomas13(at)orange.fr; t2 <briankingfox(at)hotmail.com>; untitled36(at)yahoo.com
Sent: Monday, July 27, 2009 8:15:47 AM
Subject: dc245 Game Over

The game is deadlocked with 2 countries demonstrating the ability, and desire, to hold an unbreakable stalemate line. After at least two years of No Substantial Change, notification of the players 2 seasons prior, and notification to the TD I am invoking the No Substantial Change rule from DC House Rules and calling this game over as a DIAS.

Thank you all for playing. Considering the fast pace of the game and no extension allowed for emergencies or vacations, we got through this with very few NMRs. I enjoyed hosting this game and hope that most of you will send EOGs with your insights on the game.

Christine

End Map:

http://www.geocities.com/dawench2/24518Spring.gif


Orders and Results:

France:
A Berlin Supports A Silesia
A Burgundy Supports A Munich
F English Channel Supports F Mid-Atlantic Ocean
A Gascony Supports A Marseilles
F Irish Sea Supports F Mid-Atlantic Ocean
A Marseilles Supports A Spain (*Cut*)
F Mid-Atlantic Ocean Supports A Spain (*Cut*)
A Munich Supports A Silesia (*Cut*)
F Portugal Supports A Spain
A Spain Supports A Marseilles

Italy:
F Armenia - Sevastopol (*Fails*)
F Black Sea Supports F Armenia - Sevastopol (*Fails*)
A Bohemia Supports A Tyrolia - Munich
A Budapest Supports A Galicia
A Galicia Hold
F Gulf of Lyon Supports F Piedmont - Marseilles
F North Africa Supports F Western Mediterranean - Mid-Atlantic Ocean
F Piedmont - Marseilles (*Fails*)
A Rumania Supports A Galicia
A Sevastopol - Moscow (*Fails*)
A Tyrolia - Munich (*Fails*)
F Tyrrhenian Sea - Western Mediterranean (*Fails*)
A Venice - Tyrolia (*Fails*)
A Vienna Supports A Bohemia
F Western Mediterranean - Mid-Atlantic Ocean (*Fails*)

Russia:
F Denmark Hold
F Liverpool Supports F North Atlantic Ocean
A Moscow Supports A Ukraine (*Cut*)
F North Atlantic Ocean Supports F Mid-Atlantic Ocean
F North Sea Hold
A Prussia Supports A Silesia
A Silesia Supports A Munich
A Ukraine Hold
A Warsaw Supports A Ukraine


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A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan executed next week.
Gen. George S Patton