Hi All,

First off, great job Christine for GMing us through this very fun game. Thanks for the hard work and making it happen. Much appreciated.

In general I am happy with a 3-way for Round 2 despite the fact that I was a marked man from Round 1. But it was a long road to get there.

John did a good job of stabbing me when he did - that was certainly the best play he could have made. Well done. I had debated whether to do the same to him that turn or the next and decided that if I wait one turn and if John didn't stab me then there would be a good chance I could go for the solo. If I did stab him at that point a good united effort by Italy and France could have easily held me back - just like France and I ultimately did to John. So that's why I decided to wait one more turn. But knowing what I know now about Italy's cautious play and France's NMRs and back-and-forth play late in the game, I should have stabbed then. Hindsight being what it is, I think that was my big mistake.

But because Italy's stab of me was so overwhelming it allowed France and I to get together with an anti-Italian partnership.


Nick (Turkey) seemed like a good player and communicator, but there was really nothing he could do since the IAR alliance attacked him from the get-go. Italy and I did work well together to beat back Austria after he made his double-stab, and we leveraged Nick's desparation to make it happen. Again, not much Nick could do otherwise but without that cooperation I don't think we would have fought Austria back so quickly or even at all. Of course once Nick's help wasn't needed anymore... but what else could he have done?

I also thought Austria should have stabbed only one of us (R or I), but given where things were diplomatically I understand why he did. He was very close to pulling it off. Fighting him back while Germany and England were also against me was a high point in the game... for me . That was really tense.

At one point in the early game I tried to put together an RFT alliance that would have had a great jump on all the other powers - this was when IAR was in full force. Nick responded positively and I was all for it. Unfortunately France was non-responseive and we never had a chance to coordinate effectively. I would encounter France's non-responsiveness much later in the end game.

It seemed to me that in the early game all three Western powers were having a hard time communicating and coordiating even in the face of a united IAR. I never figured out what the issue was there, but that allowed the IAR to be the early powerhouse team to beat. And as a result, my early stabs of both England and Germany turned into long term gains. If I recall Germany imploded with some game frustration that really helped the IAR move even faster.

Anyway... to the end game. Ug. Long and drawn out, but I don't blame you John. France and I should have squared that one away much sooner, but communication, NMRs and distracted play by France made it last much longer than it should have. But... all that said, France finally pulled it together and all's well that ends well.

From my perspective, Italy's self-professed cautious play cost him the solo. He never did take advantage of France's poor play in the late mid-game/early end game.... My two cents. But I did enjoy working with you John... when we were working together... so long ago.

And, all that said about France, I did appreciate the late end-game focus and was happy to split the draw with both he and Italy. So really, good games both.

Hope to see you all again across the board some day.

Dan (Russia)


P.S. On a random note, to John's comment on Italy... I love playing Italy! I understand the track record and it certainly is true from a tactical sense, but it's a fun country and not as bad as everyone thinks... because everyone thinks they are so bad... if you know what I mean. Italy stands second only to Englad at this point in the Winter Blitz for country performance.


From: John R <untitled36(at)yahoo.com>
To: Christine <dawench2(at)yahoo.com>; 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>
Sent: Monday, July 27, 2009 8:51:29 AM
Subject: DC245 ITALY EOG

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


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