Hi all,

Firstly a thanks for a great game and my first win . I'm sure we will meet again sooner rather than later. This is my first end of game report so please tell me if I'm doing everything wrong (because I probably am).

My game began, after sorting out which e-mail address should be used, and whether to call myself "Kaiser" with a predictable but steadfast Austria-Germany-Italy alliance. As is often my way, I was won over by the first of the 119 e-mails I received during the game. Although Chris (Austria) and I had to threaten Kevin (Italy) into it, they trusted each other (to my relief) and got off to a good start.
I had also made an alliance with Jordan, (France) against Jerry (England) which got off to a slow start, as his move to BUR worried me.
As far as negotiations with Mike (Russia) went, I merely promised him SWE if he didn't attack Chris. I guessed he wouldn't go through with the deal (correctly) and neither did I. Presumably we both thought the same thing here.

Anyway, by the end of 1901 things weren't looking good for the central 3. Luckily for us, Russia dropped out here (after building). I had already rather naively committed to attack him however, and if either Austria or France had taken a fancy to MUN it would have been theirs.
The war against England had also turned into a guessing game, with his fleets in HEL and SKA and mine in DEN and NtS.
Again I was lucky to out-guess him and end up with NWY (originally just a safety move).
England still looked secure however. I rushed towards Russia mis-ordering in LVN (was it that long ago?) and by the end of 1903 he was out.

I basically got 4 free centres from this, with minimal effort. Very helpful indeed.

I then planned to attack England, but then changed my mind after seeing France's spring moves. He was looking very dangerous with those armies in BEL BUR and MAR. I made a deal with England and with Italy set against him.

I suddenly found myself at 11 centres, without really knowing how I'd done it. Nevertheless, we slowly rolled on in France while my Northern fleets positioned themselves for my final push.

While Chris toiled on against Turkey, with Kevin taking the hits, I grew and grew. As our GM pointed out, I would always gain the centres, while the ones who needed them were left without. If it weren't for the game long battle between Turkey and Austria I might have been turned upon by my allies, but luckily not so.

So by 1905 I was in a dominant position in the West, although a Franco-English alliance might have put a stop to it, I always tried to make it worth their while not to, while they were allied.
So while Austria and turkey swapped centres, I saw the 18 I needed.

In 1906, England, and while I planned to attack in the spring of 1907, I decided not to, when my ally Austria requested I move into TRL and SIL. I was confused, but took this chance, mis-ordering GAL to set myself up for the perfect fall (season that is). I took 6 centres, and that was that. I had gone from confused and with armies in BOH and BUR, and a seemingly invincible R-T alliance, to 11 centres in 1905.
I think I have to thank Russia's drop-out for my fortune. He may have well won otherwise. Apart from that, I think that my pleas for an alliance with Austria, Italy, France, England (and unsuccessfully Turkey, although I tried to supply him with Austria's moves each turn, I got no replies) must have been more convincing that I thought.
I don't think I'll be so lucky, or so trusted next time, or get away with attacking every single other player on the board at some point or another.

Thanks again

James

PS Sorry about SEV Chris, I forgot to change my orders.