I started the blitz with the grand plan to blitz England with France's help, and hopefully get Russia to at least bounce England in Norway, making it a simple, quick conquest. After the fall of England, France would sweep into the med while I rolled East, and eventually we would have a two way GF draw, or maybe I could even earn the solo. That was the great plan. The issue was France would barely talk to me, much less commit to any such alliance. If fact, it became clear he was out to get me. In the process of negotiations, I found I enjoyed chatting with England, and I proposed my second great plan, Work with England Vs France. However, England was far more concerned about Russia, and was unwilling to intervene on the continent. So that was strike two.

Meanwhile, I'd hit it off with Russia. We knew each other from a previous Haven Variant. In that game we were enemies, and I tried to get him to betray his allies then, and he wouldn't do it, so I pegged him as a good potential ally for this game. I also favorable contact with Austria, so the three of us formed the GAR alliance. Austria and I had the general dmz, so mainly we just watched each other's back, while Russia worked with both us us in the north and south.

As a side note here, I initially had good discussions with Italy, but at the crucial moment Italy went east to help Turkey instead of moving west to help vs france. So I essentially felt it was Me vs E/F with my only possible salvation being Russia.

As the game moved on, and Russia kept growing while I was locked in mortal combat with France, I feared Russia would stab, but I didn't really have any other option than to trust him. I had the proverbial tiger by the tail, and I had to hold on for dear life. Eventually, though, I began to grow, and by that point the game was pretty well done.

I got some flak from a couple players about "settling" for the 3 way. For me, I'm just tickled to have survived. As a German with antagonistic French and aloof English, I wasn't sure I'd pull through. I think only Russia really had the opportunity to solo this one. I figure he was afraid Austria and I would team up and defeat him. Or maybe he was just that much of a team player. I feel like I did the best I could with the hand dealt to me, and I'm proud to "settle" for the 3 way.

It was a good game, and a textbook example of a GAR alliance. Thanks to Austria and Russia for the Alliance. it was a very very smooth alliance. We never had any major dispute. Sometimes we discussed various possibilities for orders, but it was never heated or strained (at least as far as I know!). Good game guys!

I'd mentioned enjoyed my talks with England and Italy, and essentially, they and I just had different goals. I barely talked with Turkey, but I knew he was a high-ranked player, so seeing him eliminated early was a load off my mind. I wasn't sure until the very end that he wouldn't find a way to break the alliance.

Thanks to our GM for a great game. As a blitz GM I know how much time this can take. You did well!

John