Hey everyone:
I don't know if I'm the first person to get my statement put together or
if everyone else didn't send me theirs but here we go turn by turn. In
brief.
1901 Spring: I established pretty good relations with most of the board.
Due to the format of emailing I probably didn't write as much as I
should or to everyone namely Turkey and Austria were a little left out
in the Germany press. England proposed an attack to crack the french
snail, while France and I seemed to be on amiable terms with a bounce in
Belgium arranged. I was fairly blunt with Russia about my views on
Sweden and the trade a wanted. England proceeded to make a considered
effort to talk me into bouncing Sweden.
Peace on all fronts and lots of cheerful neighbours.
Based on the attitude of the players and conversations I had the plan
was open fairly neutral then stage a F/G alliance against England.
Fall 01: So everything had gone swimmingly. England, Russia and France
all did what they had talk to me about. With Italy being the one shake
up with an expected move to Tyr. One that put me on edge. But Italy
sent me some nice reassuring press, about Tyr. It was nice but didn't
earn back much trust.
I was liking Russia a fair bit and both France and England had me on
edge. England had proved the more trustworthy and I favoured him over
France. 1902 attack on France planned by England, however he
orchestrates French support to Bel. Which makes me wonder at what
exactly the French intend. Suspecting a F/E alliance I cool to my
initial idea of siding with France.
A message from France confirms the suspicion after he broke our bounce
agreement in Bel, he was stabbing me and planned to go all out against
me. I hastily officially accept the English deal, and make up my mind to
go through with the attack on France. England pushes for an attack on
Sweden and we worked out a plan to force the snail from its shell taking
Pic and Bur in the spring. I actually warn France that England will stab
him. We agree on a build set lots of Armies for me and England stabs
France with a double fleet build.
I send press to France warning him in vague terms that England wasn't
being honest with either of us and had proposed to both sides an attack
plan. I didn't trust someone who liked those tactics and would have
preferred to work with France. However he was blunt about things and
told me that he was staying the course.
I stick with my deal with Russia things remain pleasant there.
Builds: Go as planned, I get to gloat to France who figures out that I'm
in on the act. Me and England begin our attack on France. France having
used up his last chance with me ends up in hot water as the
Pic/Iri/EC/Bur attack begins. Me and Russia discuss were I'm moving I
agree to move West in the spring to ease his concerns.
1902 Spring+Fall: Everything goes according to plan within France and
gains are being made rapidly position wise we hope to crack France in
the next two years. Austria CD's and I begin to fear rapid, R/T growth.
We discuss that if Russia attacks Norway which we plan to support that
the next year we will go for Sweden. So obviously my relationship with
Russia is starting to cool off.
I end up deciding against moving to Boh as originally planned after
Russia explains his intense dislike of the move.

1903 spring and fall: Russia is left with a diplomatic mess after
attacking England as me and England didn't attack him. Russia promises
to leave the north alone, and we leave on okay terms. However I end up
agreeing to attack Sweden. As England is rightfully mad at Russia. I do
however tell Russia how he could hold off the attack. He decides to
ignore my advice, and warns me that if I take Sweden He'll retreat to
Baltic and Gal will move north.
However my course is set. I've given what I can, in fact all I was
willing to give.
The net results I end up In Sweden, as I warned Russia. If only that
daft fool would listen to me, and I end up in Gascony. England lands in
Brest and things are going well for us across the board. We're hoping
that Italy/Austria can hold out long enough to give us time to get to
the Med.
Russia proposes an attack on England with me, and at the same time
proposes and attack on Me to England. This plan backfires when me and
England forward the messages to one another and have a good laugh.
Contact with England other then that had been pretty piddly but the two
of us tried to stay in touch. Neither of us wanted to stab at this point
but not talking wasn't helping much. We work out plans to try and help
Italy, and attack Russia in the North.
In the Fall It's obviously pretty clear were the board is laying
alliance wise two strong alliances clashing. I get into Mars and we have
effectively ended France. Couple more turns and he should be gone,
additionally me and England begin talking about a trade of Sweden for
Belgium. Something that ends up being discussed for much of the game.
1904 S+F: Post builds France has it Rough, me and England are set to
Press West, Builts leave me in good shape to deal with Russia, and
England is in a similar position. We are generally less then pleased
with Italy/Austria and how they aren't helping much. France is being
uncooperative in regards to Tyrr which we agree to leave him alive it if
puts it under our control. Me and England agree to a Risky push easy. As
we try and hit Russia hard and capture that side of the board. Austrian
negotiations begin and I convince Austria he's better off on my side in
terms of hunting for a survive as Ven is pretty easy to hold. Course
that didn't go as planned. Post everything Spring like. Munich is in
Serious danger. France is still be an irritant, but otherwise things are
going according to plan. France decides to not take my offer of a
surviving in exchange for helping me.
Another forwarded email from Russia about attacking me as we plan how to
set up our losses this turn so that me and England can reclaim as much
as we can in the fall.
1905: In a complete surprise we have France NMR, which means the only
loss in Munich which we are in good shape to retake. Plan here puts us
in a lovely position to reclaim Munich and Get all my units were we
need. The game is going quite well. But press from all sides has slowed
down a lot.
Of course we lost Italy which means a tough fight ahead in the med,
though we can take StP this year.
E/G agree to trade Bel and Mars.
All move go according to plan, we've got StP, Munich and we're heading
south as fast as we can.
We try and blast through the Med and see what can be done there. Really
at this point the game was pretty uneventful. My moves consisted mostly
of holding my position.
Fall Isn't much different still in good shape. But no real good path to
proceed. The draw is proposed. I jump on it as the game has started to
slow down a lot, and communicates between me and England were breaking
down. As he wanted to focus on other games and my new semester was
keeping me busier.
And that is how my last choice alliance ended up being the strong mid
game alliance it did.
I'd like to thank you all for an exciting game, and hope that perhaps we
play again sometime.
I look forward to seeing your perspectives on this game.
-Eric