Well, there we have it. As this was my first game on DC, my realistic objective was a survival at least, and hopefully a draw: the solo is a most pleasant surprise, though truth be told I benefitted from a lot of luck on the way.
My game started with offers of alliance from both Luis (France) and Maslow (Russia). I went with both - I don't think Maslow was ever really aware of the strength of my alliance with France in the early game, and I was able to use this for some good misdirection. At the beginning I was happy to follow Maslow's plan to attack Germany, since it suited me quite well and I'd heard nothing from Germany.
As Maslow pointed out, by about 1904 I was starting to get jumpy about Russian influence, and Turkey's support of him into Rumania was the final straw: I figured that if he had sold that as beneficial to
Turkey's long term interests then he was a smooth operator. If there really was no intrigue between Turkey and Russia at this point then that was just bad luck for Russia. Either way, I stabbed Russia and took St Petersburg.
Following this, I had a brief cooperation with Rich (Germany) but I don't think he ever trusted me, and my elaborate collaborative plans came to naught. Seeing the writing on the wall for Germany I got the knife out again and pushed through his territory. Still in strong alliance with France, I turned east to put the pressure on Russia: at some point here I leaked information about Russian intentions to Germany - this turned out to be a very clever Russian ruse that resulted in Germany's elimination. I hadn't intended that to happen, but that's diplomacy for you.
For a little while both France and I pushed eastward together, but I detected communications were becoming a little cagey.
Then things really got mixed up by the regime change in Turkey: Nick forced my hand by proposing an EF draw. It was either accept the draw or stab France, about a couple of turns earlier than I would have wanted to. I had a marginal positional advantage over France, and one never knows when you'll next be in a position that even looks at a solo, so I stabbed. This was not a quick or easy decision for me since I had been in alliance with Luis since the very first act of the game, but the temptation of the possible solo was too much.
At this point it looked sensible to try and get Russia back on board, and fortunately for me Maslow was most magnanimous. Together we were able to whittle down France, and once I had control of the seas around my home islands it was always going to either end in a solo for me or bog down into a stalemate. With a little bit of care I was able to grind towards 16 supply centres (despite the
loss of Sevastapol to Turkey), and some poor coordination of orders between France and Turkey allowed me an opening and the win. One could say this game was a classic case of Perfidious Albion.
Thanks everyone for playing what has been a most intriguing game with some wild ups and downs! Thanks also to Dorian for GMing!
Best regards to all,
Ross.
------------------------
"Field_Marshal_Vague"
Ross Galloway
rgall.dip(at)btinternet.com
------------------------
--- On
Fri, 5/8/11, Alex Maslow <blueraider0(at)gmail.com> wrote:
From: Alex Maslow <blueraider0(at)gmail.com>
Subject: Re: DC368 Autumn 1910 game End
To: "Dorian Love" <dlove(at)roedeanschool.co.za>
Cc: "Blueraider0(at)gmail.com" <Blueraider0(at)gmail.com>, "hf_rainer(at)hotmail.com" <hf_rainer(at)hotmail.com>, "gonzlena(at)gmail.com" <gonzlena(at)gmail.com>, "rgall.dip(at)btinternet.com" <rgall.dip(at)btinternet.com>, "jeffcole854(at)gmail.com" <jeffcole854(at)gmail.com>, "Nadrojtayl(at)hotmail.com" <Nadrojtayl(at)hotmail.com>, "RICH3520(at)AOL.COM" <RICH3520(at)aol.com>, "dc368(at)diplomaticcorp.com" <dc368(at)diplomaticcorp.com>, "nick.s.powell(at)gmail.com" <nick.s.powell(at)gmail.com>
Date: Friday, 5 August, 2011, 21:39
Folks,
This
was an exciting game, with an end I didn't see coming until recently. I admit to being properly handled by Ross around 1904. Before then, everyone seemed pretty keen on attacking Germany. It worked pretty well. Then Ross began to be suspicious about my ability to control everybody, and then Dave (old Turkey) did something in Rumania that put Ross over the edge, and he stabbed for Sweden. Then I seriously botched the next move or two and lost StP and Livonia, and then my fate was sealed. The worst part is, I really have no idea what Turkey did that proved my influence - I was as surprised as Ross was by the move. But I guess he thought I was lying.
Working with Italy seemed to work, but he was overpowered and I couldn't help him. Luis rarely responded to my e-mails, and new Turkey seemed to like to help, but didn't offer me anything I wanted. Meanwhile, I was trying to convince Ross Luis was about to attack him, but alas, I was bluffing and he called it.
When he did that, I remembered I had enjoyed working with him earlier in the game, and that being the lesser power in an alliance isn't all that awful - as long as the person is respectful towards you. Better than going it alone. Plus, who else would work with me? Ross wanted my help for the solo, and no one else needed me. I sent e-mails to everyone else a few times and was shocked to hear............ nothing.
I hate helping people win solos - the whole idea is that it is, well, a solo. But with no one else to plot with........ I'd rather stay alive with a survival.
The move to Vienna wasn't really a stab - Ross told me and I agreed to it to end the game. I only wish I'd stayed with my original Ser to Rum w/ Bud support plan, not self bounce in Tri to prevent a sneaky unit from Ven. Oh well.
Good game to all, and congrats to Ross, you're a gentleman and a scholar,
-Maslow
On Fri, Aug 5, 2011 at 2:42 AM, Dorian Love <dlove(at)roedeanschool.co.za> wrote:
England: F Western Mediterranean - North Africa
Russia: A Serbia - Albania
England wins with 18 Supply Centres! Thanks for playing everybody, and Congratulations, Ross!!
Please post EOGs!
Ownership:
England: Belgium, Berlin, Brest, Denmark, Edinburgh, Holland,
Kiel, Liverpool, London, Marseilles, Moscow, Munich,
Norway, Paris, St Petersburg, Sweden, Vienna, Warsaw.
France: Portugal, Spain, Tunis.
Russia: Budapest, Trieste.
Turkey: Ankara, Bulgaria, Constantinople, Greece, Naples,
Rome, Rumania, Serbia, Sevastopol, Smyrna, Venice.
Adjustments:
Austria: Supp 0 Unit 0 Build 0
England: Supp 18 Unit 16 Build 2
France: Supp 3 Unit 3 Build 0
Germany: Supp 0 Unit 0 Build 0
Italy: Supp 0 Unit 0 Build 0
Russia: Supp 2 Unit 2 Build 0
Turkey: Supp 11 Unit 11 Build 0
Dorian Love
ICT Teacher
Roedean School (SA)
Tel: +27 (011) 647-3200
Fax: + 27 (086) 589-0231
From: Dorian Love
Sent: Friday, August 05, 2011 7:20 AM
To: Dorian Love; 'Blueraider0(at)gmail.com'; 'hf_rainer(at)hotmail.com'; 'gonzlena(at)gmail.com'; 'rgall.dip(at)btinternet.com'; 'jeffcole854(at)gmail.com'; 'Nadrojtayl(at)hotmail.com'; 'RICH3520(at)AOL.COM'; 'dc368(at)diplomaticcorp.com'; 'nick.s.powell(at)gmail.com'
Subject: RE: DC368 Fall 1910
Russian A Serbia can retreat to Albania or OTB.
English F Western Mediterranean can retreat to North Africa or OTB.
Retreats due Friday 5 August 2011 24:00 GMT
England:
A Bohemia Supports A Galicia - Vienna
F Brest Supports A Paris - Gascony
A Burgundy Supports A Gascony - Marseilles
F English Channel Hold
A Galicia - Vienna
A Gascony - Marseilles
F Irish Sea Hold
A London Hold
F Mid-Atlantic Ocean - Spain(sc) (*Fails*)
A Moscow - Sevastopol (*Fails*)
A Munich - Tyrolia (*Fails*)
F North Sea Hold
A Paris - Gascony
A Tyrolia - Piedmont (*Fails*)
A Ukraine - Rumania (*Fails*)
F Western Mediterranean - Gulf of Lyon (*Dislodged*)
France:
A Marseilles Supports F Spain(sc) (*Disbanded*)
A Piedmont Supports A Marseilles (*Cut*)
F Portugal Supports F Spain(sc)
F Spain(sc) Supports A Marseilles (*Cut*)
Russia:
A Budapest - Trieste (*Bounce*)
A Serbia - Trieste (*Dislodged*)
Turkey:
F Aegean Sea - Ionian Sea
A Armenia Supports A Sevastopol
F Black Sea Supports A Sevastopol
A Bulgaria Supports A Greece - Serbia
A Greece - Serbia
F Gulf of Lyon Supports A Marseilles (*Cut*)
A Rumania Supports A Greece - Serbia (*Cut*)
A Sevastopol Supports A Rumania (*Cut*)
F Tunis - Western Mediterranean
F Tyrrhenian Sea Supports F Tunis - Western Mediterranean
A Venice Supports A Piedmont - Tyrolia (*Void*)
Dorian Love
ICT Teacher
Roedean School (SA)
Tel: +27 (011) 647-3200
Fax: + 27 (086) 589-0231
From: Dorian Love
Sent: Thursday, August 04, 2011 8:55 AM
To: Dorian Love; 'Blueraider0(at)gmail.com'; 'hf_rainer(at)hotmail.com'; 'gonzlena(at)gmail.com'; 'rgall.dip(at)btinternet.com'; 'jeffcole854(at)gmail.com'; 'Nadrojtayl(at)hotmail.com'; 'RICH3520(at)AOL.COM'; 'dc368(at)diplomaticcorp.com'; 'nick.s.powell(at)gmail.com'
Subject: RE: DC368 Fall 1910
I have been asked to delay adjudication of the Fall because of Internet and work issues. Orders are thus due midnight GMT tonight!
Dorian Love
ICT Teacher
Roedean School (SA)
Tel: +27 (011) 647-3200
Fax: + 27 (086) 589-0231
From: Dorian Love
Sent: Thursday, July 28, 2011 10:43 AM
To: Dorian Love; 'Blueraider0(at)gmail.com'; 'hf_rainer(at)hotmail.com'; 'gonzlena(at)gmail.com'; 'rgall.dip(at)btinternet.com'; 'jeffcole854(at)gmail.com'; 'Nadrojtayl(at)hotmail.com'; 'RICH3520(at)AOL.COM'; 'dc368(at)diplomaticcorp.com'; 'nick.s.powell(at)gmail.com'
Subject: RE: DC368 Summer 1910
France: A Gascony ??? Marseilles, F Mid-Atlantic Ocean - Portugal
Turkey: A Serbia - Bulgaria
Fall 1910 due Tuesday 2 August 24:00 GMT
Dorian Love
ICT Teacher
Roedean School (SA)
Tel: +27 (011) 647-3200
Fax: + 27 (086) 589-0231
From: Dorian Love
Sent: Wednesday, July 27, 2011 7:43 AM
To: Dorian Love; 'Blueraider0(at)gmail.com'; 'hf_rainer(at)hotmail.com'; 'gonzlena(at)gmail.com'; 'rgall.dip(at)btinternet.com'; 'jeffcole854(at)gmail.com'; 'Nadrojtayl(at)hotmail.com'; 'RICH3520(at)AOL.COM'; 'dc368(at)diplomaticcorp.com'; 'nick.s.powell(at)gmail.com'
Subject: DC368 Spring 1910
The Vote for English Solo fails, a DIAS has been proposed instead. Please vote with the Fall.
French A Gascony can retreat to Marseilles or OTB.
French F Mid-Atlantic Ocean can retreat to Portugal or North Africa or OTB.
Turkish A Serbia can retreat to Bulgaria or Albania or OTB.
Summer 1910 due Wednesday 27 July 24:00 GMT
England:
A Bohemia - Tyrolia (*Bounce*)
F Brest Supports A Burgundy - Gascony
A Burgundy - Gascony
F English Channel Supports F North Atlantic Ocean - Mid-Atlantic Ocean
A Galicia Supports A Budapest
F Irish Sea Supports F North Atlantic Ocean - Mid-Atlantic Ocean
A Kiel - Munich
A London Hold
A Moscow Supports A Ukraine
F North Atlantic Ocean - Mid-Atlantic Ocean
F North Africa - Western Mediterranean
F North Sea Hold
A Paris Supports A Burgundy - Gascony
A Picardy - Burgundy
A Tyrolia - Piedmont (*Fails*)
A Ukraine Supports A Galicia (*Cut*)
France:
A Gascony Supports A Marseilles - Burgundy (*Dislodged*)
A Marseilles - Piedmont
F Mid-Atlantic Ocean Supports A Gascony (*Dislodged*)
F Spain(sc) Supports A Gascony (*Fails*)
Russia:
A Budapest Supports A Trieste - Serbia
A Trieste - Serbia
Turkey:
A Armenia - Sevastopol (*Fails*)
F Black Sea Supports A Rumania
A Bulgaria - Greece
F Constantinople - Aegean Sea
F Gulf of Lyon Supports A Marseilles - Piedmont
F Ionian Sea - Tunis
A Rumania Supports A Sevastopol - Ukraine
A Serbia - Trieste (*Dislodged*)
A Sevastopol - Ukraine (*Fails*)
F Tyrrhenian Sea Supports F Spain(sc) - Western Mediterranean (*Void*)
A Venice - Tyrolia (*Bounce*)
Dorian Love
ICT Teacher
Roedean School (SA)
Tel: +27 (011) 647-3200
Fax: + 27 (086) 589-0231
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--
"It's like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger they were. and sometimes you didn't want to know the end because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But in the end, it's only a passing thing. The shadow, even the darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you - That meant something. Even if you were too small to understand why. But I think, Mr. Frodo, I do understand. I know now. Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back only they didn't. They kept going because they were holding onto something."
"What are we holding onto, Sam?"
"That there's some good in this world, Mr. Frodo. And it's worth fighting for."
