Hi All,

First as always, many thanks to Stephen for GMing. Great job.

Great playing all around. I had a excellent time in both rounds. From my perspective I really liked round 1 and the gunboat. A varient and/or gunboat in round 1 would be my recommendation for the future.

Good to hear Mike's perspective in regard to the thought process behind a potential GAF. That was what I was truly afraid of once Mike and Clark turned on Jorge. As always a bit of luck accompanied my success. Here's how the stars aligned for me...

1) From the top I looked to jump on Russia. As it turned out pretty much everyone else had the same thought. If Nigs had any success anywhere else he might have been able to repel me.

2) French incursion into the Med and the clear Western Triple helped make allies of Austria and Italy rather than what I might otherwise expect as the Turk and the IAT formed to set up a stalemate line against the EGF. I had intended to keep it in hopes that the EGF would crumble, and even if it didn't that would still mean a share in the DCI. But at this point things couldn't be going much better.

3) Then... out with Lee in with Garry. This was really a HUGE turning point for me, since I had offered - and was ready to deliver to Lee - Rum or Bul to cement our relationship. That was really part of our AIT deal. He would then send his armies up the middle. With Garry in, the IAT was already up and running. So, why mention such a small matter to Garry?

4) When Garry jumped out of the AIT it really upset the apple cart. Not only bad news for the AIT, but he also supported Germany against my support of Russia. I figured this might be the end of me if Austria and Germany are coordinationg and my only other ally Mikeal was being eaten up. But the even bigger problem was that I was a marked man as a round 1 winner. But as it turned out Garry's move led quickly to the FGT.

5) Both stabs of Garry came with the same idea propegated by Jorge that the AET could out slug the FG. Leting him drive the negotiations made my involvement more plausible. But...I must say I agreed with this AET thought but with recent Austrian complications and my fears of an AGF (sooner or later) I had to get Garry out of the game ASAP before any French or German help could arrive. (Pretty much for all the reasons given by Mike in his EOG). It was during these years that the tournament aspect of the game really made it interesting. However, I was quite close to joining an AET, especially the first time around. But sometimes short term gains really do trump long term promises (unlike when the Red Sox traded Jeff Bagwell for Larry Anderson... sigh). I really did want to see what the AET could do against Germany as Clark was pretty exposed to the east and south. But giving back Bud seemed like I would be opening the door to the AFG, expecially with Garry now coordinating with Mike... yikes!

At one point I looked at the possibility of going for a solo but didn't see enough dots out there for me with French control of Italy. I suspected the caliber of players was too hight to let that happen.

I also I really wanted to see a German unit walk into Paris with all the French manpower out to sea. That would have been fun to watch. But the FG was too strong.

Anyway, great playing. Hope to see you all across the board again sometime. Maybe in the Winter Blitz.

Dan Dz.