Obi-Wan: "These aren't the droids you're looking for"
Stormtrooper: "These arent the droids we're looking for"
Obi-Wan: "He can go about his business"
Stormtrooper: "You can go about your business"
Obi-Wan: "Move along"
Stormtrooper: "Move along, move along"

And so we have it folks, David pulls out the Jedi mind control, and France and Italy wave him on thru to a massive 20-sc solo victory, gaining 6 sc in one turn!

Quite possibly one of the fastest wins of all time, this game ends in a solo in only 5 years!

Congratulations to David, for his first win in his first game in dc. I hope to see you all in another soon! If any of you are interested in GM'ing, be sure to inquire... it's a lot of fun, especially when you get down to a committed group.

EGS (End-Game-Statements) are encouraged from all, especially given the odd turn of events in this final year... looking at it from a birds-eye-view, it seems as tho France and Italy could have stopped Russia here... Italy could have bounced 3 of the gains, and France could have supported Mun and taken Kiel for another 2, keeping Russia to only 15. Wouldn't that lead to a 3-way draw? No telling... but those last couple centers are always the hardest to get!

So do share your thoughts... and see you all next time!
Enjoy,
-mike

**************************************************

RETREATS:
2 units retreated randomly to Spain and Tyrolia since they dont affect the game.

France:
A Burgundy - Munich (*Fails*)
F Edinburgh Hold
F Gulf of Lyon Supports F North Africa - Western Med (*Dislodged*)
A Holland Supports A Ruhr
F Marseilles Supports F Gulf of Lyon (*Cut*)
F North Africa - Western Mediterranean (*Bounce*)
F North Sea - Norway (*Bounce*)
A Picardy - Belgium
A Ruhr Supports A Burgundy - Munich (*Cut*)

Germany:
A Finland Hold

Italy:
F Aegean Sea - Ionian Sea (*Fails*)
F Ionian Sea - Tunis (*Fails*)
A Munich Supports A Kiel (*Dislodged*)
A Piedmont - Marseilles (*Fails*)
A Rome Hold
F Tunis - Western Mediterranean (*Bounce*)
F Tuscany - Gulf of Lyon
F Tyrrhenian Sea Supports F Tuscany - Gulf of Lyon
A Venice - Piedmont (*Fails*)

Russia:
A Berlin - Munich
F Bulgaria(sc) - Greece
F Constantinople - Smyrna
F Denmark Supports A Kiel (*Ordered to Move*)
F Gulf of Bothnia - Sweden (*Fails*)
A Kiel - Ruhr (*Fails*)
A Prussia Supports A Silesia
A Rumania - Serbia
A Silesia Supports A Berlin - Munich
A St Petersburg - Finland (*Fails*)
F Sweden - Norway (*Bounce*)
A Tyrolia - Trieste