I don't know how many more times I can thank Trout for
doing what he could to turn a two-way draw into a
five-way one, as well as generally manage a
superlative game.

This game never had a midgame. In the east, I was
instantly invaded by A/T. I built in Sev, securing my
border with four units, and left StP wide open and at
England's mercy. Jason in Nwy decided it was worth
keeping Russia alive, and it was all downhill from
there on. Turkey joined me and stabbed Austria. This
allowed me to attack Germany, who had been playing
power broker with England and France. At this point
Turkey stabbed me, rejoining Austria, and the first
German leader quit for the usual pathetic reasons.

The turn that set the stage for the rest of the game
was F05. A/T had the advantage on me, but I managed
to slip one army behind their lines, while
re-establishing my own defense perimeter. In the
meantime, I thoroughly stabbed Mikael in his first
turn as Germany, knocking him out of the game before
he could even consider his options. England could now
focus on finishing off France, and heading toward the
Med.

Turkey was forced to resign and was replaced by Mike,
but nothing ever changed. I saw no reason to switch
allies from England to Turkey, given that I could win
either way, but was already positioned to do so with
England. Jason and I made some critical headway in
the first few turns as I kept Austria and Italy
focused against Turkey. By the time Mike peeled off
Italy, and finally Austria, Jason had just enough
momentum to squeeze us through a crack in the
Mediterranean door. I say a "crack," because I/T did
a terrific job holding us off.

I would say that the key points in this game were
Russia surviving the first year (creating the
beginning of an unbreakable bond with England), and
that Italy took a bit too long to cast its lot with
Turkey.

Jorge





--- dc116 <dc116(at)diplomaticcorp.com> wrote:

Hi All
Id like to chip in and say thanks for the game, my
first in something like 17 years I think. Not my
last that is for sure. It took me awhile to get used
to the usual diplomacy promises and stabs but that
all part of the game. Ive still got a lot to
relearn and learn so once again thanks for the game.
Id also like to give a special thanks to Trout as
without him this game would have happened. If you
could get back to me trout and tell me how the
mapping system works for the ordering Id be tempted
to give GMing a go.

Regards Neil


From: Michael Sims [mailto:mike(at)southwall.com]
Sent: Thursday, 28 February 2008 2:08 AM
To: Jason K; Former Trout; dc116
Cc: Doug Colex; Jorge Saralegui; Neil Smark; Steve
Lytton; Mikael Johansson
Subject: dc116 Vogon's Revenge - Turk EGS


I am so glad this game is over. I came into this
game with high hopes for a thrilling game as I took
over a Turkey with around 7 dots, and was up against
some great players. Little did I know that 10 years
would play out, I would end up on approximately the
same 7 dots, and the game called a draw.

It started off ok, there was some discussion going
on, but ultimately it boiled down very quickly to
England and Russia that wouldnt consider anything
other than their own alliance. Therefore I have to
say there wasnt too much Diplomacy in this one.
Italy and I came to the understanding that if we
flinched at all, wed simply be overrun faster, and
Austria eventually bought in too, that ER were
playing everyone else, and so it became the 3 small
powers defending, waiting, losing ground bit by bit.


I think had Italy and Austria committed to a trio
sooner, while Germany was still alive, we could have
gotten a jump on ER and done something w the game.
But once Mikael / Germany was out, we had no more
forces behind enemy lines and it was over -- the
next 5 years were all kind of a drag.

Therefore Im happy the draw passed, cuz I wasnt
looking forward to another 5 years of slow grinding
moves, nothing changing on the Russian front, and
England gaining slowly in the west. Im also happy
it passed, cuz the only alternative was that England
or Russia would eventually make a solo move, but it
would have taken 10 years to get to a point where
they had 15-16 ish each.

So good game all, especially to England and Russia
for a well deserved draw, Im happy w the survival 
cant complain for enduring such an onslaught. As for
the Trout, another flawless game GMd as usual. See
you all next time,
-mike




From: Jason K [mailto:githraine(at)yahoo.com]
Sent: Wednesday, February 27, 2008 7:36 AM
To: Former Trout; dc116
Cc: Doug Colex; Jason K; Jorge Saralegui; Michael
Sims; Neil Smark; Steve Lytton
Subject: Re: DC116 Vogon's Revenge - Fall 1913 -
Stacked Crooked


I just wanted to thank all for a great (if long)
game.
But especially to my partner Jorge, for sticking
with me for a very strong end, to Mike, who stepped
into a weak turkish position and held the line far
longer then we could have expected (and teaching me
a few things along the way) and Doug, who stuck out
an impossible position for longer then I can credit,
and playing the sides off to perfection to keep his
micro-empire alive. No one earned a survivor credit
more.
And I would like to note, the turning point, from my
perspective was in the first years of the game when
I did not take a vulnerable St Petes when Russia
would have fallen to Austria and Turkey, forming the
alliance that lasted the entire game.
Good Game everyone, see you all on the next board!
Jason