TT's Italy - Be friends with me and enjoy our fabulous bunga bunga parties!

[Twinkletoes89]

As a reward - enjoy my initial Grand Plan which is already garnering pretty strong support from those I need.

Operation Austrian Crush

I have floated the idea of a speedy Austrian rush with Russia & Turkey and it seems both feasible and mutually attractive.

Basically I move my armies to TYR & VEN respectively along with my fleet into ION.

Russia moves its WAR army to GAL

Suddenly all 3 of Austria's home centres are under threat while one of his units is out trying to take one of the free Balkans SCs.

With Turkey inevitably moving its armies to BUL & CON, Austria is also under threat for its recently claimed SC (either SER or RUM)

Austria therefore likely loses 2 SCs in the Winter including one of its home SCs and ends up crippled before the West can react too much.

It resolves our 'triangle' quickly and gives me some much needed extra SCs. It would then put pressure on the western powers to war to prevent falling behind us.

I'm optimistic!

[Twinkletoes89]

OK - time for bastard moment number 1!

I have spoken with Sciz and he has agreed to let me into Tyrolia on the first turn on the proviso nothing moves into Venice. He has given me a 100% guarantee not to move his fleet into Venice for me to do that.

Now obviously I'm going to break this because of the Austria killing plan, but also because I don't trust him not to go into Venice with his fleet.

I know that breaking it means he's an enemy for the rest of the game, but I have to take a risky punt to make profit and this is what I have chosen to do! Got to be cut throat!

[Nakor]

Don't think about "enemies for the rest of the game". Alliance can and will shift in Diplomacy far more then in other games.

[scooter]

I agree with Nakor. It's certainly always possible to work with someone who you've stabbed in the game already... You just have to keep in mind that if you leave them an opening, they'll think long and hard about getting revenge....

[Twinkletoes89]

I appreciate what you guys say, but this is a noobs game.

I think there may be too big a grudge for breaking an agreement on T1, pushing him towards (hopefully) a 3 way gang bang aimed at an early execution.

I am wary that putting all my chip in so early may cause my own downfall, but without proper risk there is not proper reward. Depriving him of at least 1 home SC before the first round of builds will make things considerably easier that taking him later.

[Maniac Marshall]

I'd like to throw in with Nakor and scooter and say that they are right about the way the game SHOULD be played. It's definitely the way it's most fun. I almost made the same comment as Nakor last night, but didn't for whatever reason (probably because I've commented a lot in general the last few days).

The game is best played by people who don't hold grudges from past turns/games, and are only trying to do whats best for their country, with revenge only factoring in when all else is relatively equal, or their situation is hopeless. Unfortunately, not everyone can/will play like that.

I'm not sure if it being a noob game makes a difference, but I will grant you that I'd be very wary of trusting anyone who stabbed me on the first couple of turns unless I had a good reason to believe them -- either their suggested plan was clearly in their best interest, or they had since done a few things to suggest they were worthy of trust, or if trusting them was my ONLY hope.

[Twinkletoes89]

Of course its the right way to be played, I am just hoping that this game ends up that way.

The Austrian Plan looks more and more promising at the moment (though of course they could all be playing me)

Jowy has committed himself, as has Gaspar. Commodore will likely support me into Tyr for bounce protection, whilst he is also willing to talk to sciz and tell him of 'strained relations' and his fear of me moving into Tyr.

I am pretty much all in at this point.

[Twinkletoes89]

Another Lurker Question:

If Germany asks Austria to support him into Tyrolia, but actually holds in Munich - does the Austria unit stay in Vienna or will it move to Tyrolia & bounce me?

[Lewwyn]

Austria unit will stay put. A supporting unit doesn't move.

[Twinkletoes89]

Cheers!