A short EOG, but not much I can comment on from this one.
As Austria in this game, let me say that as this was my first time
playing Austria, let it be my last. I do not like playing kickball when
I'm the ball.
From my point of view, this game turned into some bizarre dance with
Italy, trading home centers, chasing out armies, but with neither of us
having any way to get ahead. Perhaps it is my inexperience as Austria,
but I was surprised that Italy was always (somehow) able to guess my
choice of move and thwart it. First turn, I had telegraphed it to both
Ben and Maslow (Not knowing at the time that France and Italy were
aligned), if I didn't flat out say it was what I was thinking. After
that, I didn't talk to France for several years, figuring that anything
I passed on would help inform Italy's actions. Turkey offered me
command of a couple of his armies near my SCs, which worked well enough
for driving out the Italian invader, but even with that, I couldn't find
a good way to gain ground.
I do have to give credit to Ben, in that he had ample opportunity to
stab me and didn't before the end. It's also funny, because France tried
to get me to turn on him by telling me in advance that Turkey was going
to do it. After about 6 years as the three-center wonder (I wonder how
in the hell I still have - and only have - my three home centers), I
couldn't bring myself to care much about the stab. Sometimes games like
this can get to a point where it's so frustrating you really just don't
want to play. Sorry Maslow, your desire for me to get fired up about
the stab came probably one or two turns too late. At this point, I just
wanted it ended.
I need to offer my congratulations to France as well for a well played
game.
---
Justin
--
Certainly the game is rigged. Don???t let that stop you; if you don???t
bet, you can???t win.