A&E 090205 / DC240: After the stab of Spain in the spring, I thought we were surely finished with major dramatic moves this year, but in fact that was just the prelude to an even more eventful fall season. The biggest news is the sudden elimination of Sweden, who was stabbed by his previously stalwart Danish ally in combination with his long-time Russian foe. Kurt, you played well, but just couldn't quite manage to get the needed breakthrough against Russia, and that lack of expansion meant that time started working against you. Hopefully our paths will cross again soon.
Sweden's death means that Denmark gains two supply centers this year, and Tsar Nathan gains a vital SC to offset the loss of Kiev to the Polish-Saxons. It will be interesting to see how the alliances in the north shake out with this new scenario.
Moving to the other corner of the board, Iberia fell shockingly fast, with all 3 Spanish SCs taken by a different power in one year (surely a first!). Then again, it is pretty rare that Spain will convoy an Austrian army into Barcelona. Isaac has managed to salvage the situation to a large degree by acquiring some beachfront property on the Gulf of Lyon.
With some of the "original 2 SC" powers dislocated from their starting home SCs, now is a good time remind everybody of which SCs are the "third home SCs" for those players. On the map, a home SC (one that can be built in) is always marked by a circular SC marker, and a non-home SC (cannot build) is always marked by a square SC marker.
Denmark: Mecklenburg
Poland-Saxony: Konigsberg (now under Prussian control)
Spain: Marseille
Turkey: Tunis
The retreat deadline is basically ASAP, I'll adjudicate over the weekend when I receive them. Orders are needed from Austria and Spain. The deadline for Winter 1766 is Mon Apr 13th, and those will not be impacted by the retreats (unless retreats are OTB). The deadline for Spring 1767 is Thu Apr 16th.
The late player was Nathan of Russia, a fact that he acknowledges in his press. Nathan is on vacation in Chile - wish I was there! Speaking of press, we have 3 submissions this week, including our first observer press (always welcome!).
PRESS #1 (RUSSIAN)
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Russian Press: Dateline: Moscow: Czar Nathan of Russia has gone missing! Somehow his attempt to sail around to visit the various capitals of Europe from St. Petersburg ran awry with Russian knowledge of the seas, and he was last seen outside of the port of Valpariso seeking to find directions to Madrid. Who knows when he will be seen again.
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PRESS #2 (Anonymous Observer)
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Observer to Great Britain: Let me be among the first to admit that I’m one of those who is chuckling, saying “same ole Frank”. I guess I shouldn't save you a lounge chair too quickly here on the beach of Tahiti. Speaking of '70s songs, just make sure your naval power doesn't go the way of the Edmund Fitzgerald.
Observer to Denmark-Norway: Dave, I'm really pulling for you to continue a successful coastal crawl along the Baltic.
Observer to Poland & Saxony: Matt, I've really enjoyed your press clippings. Please keep them up. I hope you can somehow consolidate your units to get them into a mutually supportive position.
Observer to Austria: Jorge, you opened the game with skill and strength. But now you've encountered the real Austrian quandry. How you get beyond that 8-10 center plateau in the middle of the board and everyone screaming "early leader!" It's a riddle that few have solved.
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Press #3 (British)
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Press:
AP London: haha....all of a sudden, France became a real fighting ground. This should be fun! Now go, or I shall taunt you a second time.
England to Turkey: Robert, you were abnormally quiet this season. I was too of course, but with the hours I've been putting in at work, that's sadly been more of the norm. I hope you aren't buying into the "must stop England" rhetoric.
England to Denmark: David, I'm assuming the pressure you're getting to attack me must be getting fierce. Know that I will not be comfortable until we're of equal size and strength. (I would postulate that you wouldn't be comfortable until that time either) ; )
England to Anonymous: You're doing a bang up job of deflecting the threat.
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Fall Adjudications
Austrian A Baw - Dre
Austrian A Boh S A Baw - Dre
Austrian A Bur - Baw
Austrian A Tus - Brc
Austrian A Ven - Vie
Austrian F Bos - Adr *Bounce* *Dislodged*
Austrian F Tws H
British A Ane - Bur
British A Han S F Ber
British A Hew S A Dre - Baw *Cut*
British F Eng S A Par - Bre
British F Mid - Por
British F Pic S A Par - Bre
British F Upr S A Hew
Danish A Lap - Sto
Danish F Bal - Gbo
Danish F Ber H
French A Dre - Baw *Bounce* *Dislodged* *Disbanded*
French A Par - Bre
French A Por - Mad
Neutral A Bav S A Bur - Baw
Neutral A Cri H
Neutral A Pap H
Neutral F Cou S F Bal - Gbo
Polish A Bud S A Wla - Bos
Polish A Kie H
Prussian A Lit S A Pos - Kon
Prussian A Lus - Hew *Bounce*
Prussian A Pos - Kon
Russian A Kar - Abo
Russian A Nov S A Kar - Abo
Russian F Stp - Gbo *Bounce*
Spanish A Bre - Pic *Bounce* *Dislodged*
Spanish F Gly C A Tus - Brc
Spanish F Mar - Sav
Spanish F Tys - Tus
Swedish A Abo H *Dislodged*
Swedish F Gbo - Cou *Bounce* *Dislodged*
Turkish A Mor H
Turkish A Wla - Bos
Turkish F Adr S A Wla - Bos
Turkish F Con S F Adr
Turkish F Ion - Wes
Retreat Possibilities
Austrian F Bos can retreat to Dal or disband
French A Dre is destroyed (no valid retreats)
Spanish A Bre can retreat to Gas or disband
Swedish A Abo can retreat to Lap or disband
Swedish F Gbo can retreat to Kar, Lap, Liv or disband
Position Power Abb 1765 1766 Change SCs changing possession
1 Austria A 7 8 +1 +Brc, +Dre, -Sav, -Tus, +Tws
2 Britain B 7 8 +1 +Por
3 Denmark D 3 5 +2 +Ber, +Sto
4 Turkey T 5 5 0
5 France F 3 3 0 -Dre, +Mad
6 Prussia P 3 3 0 -Ber, +Kon
7 Russia R 3 3 0 +Abo, -Kie
8 Spain S 4 3 -1 -Brc, -Mad, -Por, +Sav, +Tus
9 Poland X 2 2 0 +Kie, -Kon
10 Sweden W 2 0 -2 -Abo, -Sto |
