Diplomacy No press Game 01 LURKER THREAD [NO PLAYERS]

[regoarrarr]

Thoughts from Austria

Well I've been a bit slack, but a quick summary of what I've been up to in Austria-land. Russia took Budapest last fall, which was annoying as I ended up with 0 builds. He gave it right back this spring though (which admittedly, he had little choice), so I suppose I can write it off as a loan, but it made things more difficult on the Italy front sadly. As a result, I'm a bit stretched this turn, and I can't cover EVERY territory whilst still holding Budapest and taking a shot at Turkey. So I'm going to have to take a chance or two - which is fine because my plan going into this game was to take a few risks since I'm Austria. So go ahead and take a guess at what I'll play if you'd like.

Last turn in the spring, I took a shot at Constantinople, but I ordered Aeg-Con with Bulgaria support. The upside was I was protected from Russia ordering Rum-Bul... However the downside is that Bulgaria support was cuttable by Turkey in the Black Sea, so Turkey went ahead and did that. Now France has wondered into the Ionian, which makes things tricky because that touches Greece (though I'm assuming he'll use that fleet to take Naples, it's still worth nothing).

Germany is getting squeezed pretty badly right now, and Russia is doing fine, but he's going to go -1 this turn unless he manages to swipe a German center or something. France is probably in the best position if he can manage to keep England on board, as he may take 3/4 Italian centers (which would make me unhappy), and I can't do much about it because Russia decided to get cute last year. England is being England and is in a strong position as well. The west in general is crazy right now, and I'm fine with that. I'm just trying to get big as fast as possible, but I'll certainly have some degree of difficult doing so given France's annoyingness and the awkward Russian co-existence I have going on right now. I think my rooting interest right now is for Germany to keep surving and for England to stab France soon.

My last update was the ridiculous "letters from Austria" thing which was meant as a joke. It took a little more time than normal, but it was fun to write... But I obviously can't get feedback (or if I get it, I can't see it) given that I can't see the thread, so if that was a worthwhile "feature" that I should repeat again, tell Regoarrar to let me know and I'll do it again.

[Mardoc]

so if that was a worthwhile "feature" that I should repeat again, tell Regoarrar to let me know and I'll do it again.

I liked it very much. It was an amusing way to discuss the situation. It also resulted in a well-organized analysis.

Regorarr, consider yourself told .

[regoarrarr]

I liked it very much. It was an amusing way to discuss the situation. It also resulted in a well-organized analysis.

Regorarr, consider yourself told .

Noted and passed along

[regoarrarr]

Okay we're back after a slight delay

Movement results for Fall of 1904. (rbnopress01.015)

Austria: Army Bulgaria -> Constantinople.
Austria: Army Trieste SUPPORT Army Venice.
Austria: Fleet Aegean Sea SUPPORT Army Bulgaria -> Constantinople.
Austria: Army Venice HOLD.
Austria: Army Serbia -> Greece.
Austria: Army Budapest HOLD.

England: Army Denmark -> Kiel. (*bounce*)
England: Fleet Sweden -> Denmark. (*bounce*)
England: Fleet Belgium SUPPORT Fleet North Sea -> Holland.
England: Fleet Norway -> Sweden. (*bounce*)
England: Fleet North Sea -> Holland. (*bounce*)
England: Fleet English Channel SUPPORT Fleet Belgium. (*cut*)

France: Army Burgundy -> Munich. (*bounce*)
France: Army Piedmont -> Tuscany.
France: Fleet Tyrrhenian Sea SUPPORT Fleet Ionian Sea -> Naples.
France: Fleet Ionian Sea -> Naples.
France: Army Paris -> Brest.
France: Army Marseilles -> Burgundy. (*bounce*)

Germany: Army Ruhr SUPPORT Fleet Holland.
Germany: Fleet Holland HOLD.
Germany: Army Kiel -> Munich. (*bounce*)
Germany: Fleet Picardy -> English Channel. (*bounce*)

Italy: Army Tyrolia -> Venice. (*bounce*)
Italy: Army Rome SUPPORT Army Tyrolia -> Venice.

Russia: Army Ukraine -> Rumania.
Russia: Army Rumania -> Bulgaria.
Russia: Fleet Black Sea SUPPORT Army Rumania -> Bulgaria.
Russia: Fleet Baltic Sea SUPPORT German Army Kiel -> Denmark. (*void*)
Russia: Army St Petersburg -> Norway. (*bounce*)
Russia: Fleet Sevastopol SUPPORT Army Ukraine -> Rumania.
Russia: Army Moscow -> St Petersburg. (*bounce*)

Turkey: Army Ankara -> Smyrna.
Turkey: Fleet Constantinople -> Bulgaria (south coast). (*bounce, dislodged*)


The following units were dislodged:

The Turkish Fleet in Constantinople can retreat to Ankara.

[regoarrarr]

Some thoughts

Austria: Nice moves - may be in trouble now that France has seized Naples - he's not likely to get any more centers from Italy, especially given that he had to keep Trieste occupied so can't build another fleet. Plus, he has to worry about Russia

England: Put himself in good position - he stayed even in Germany but picked up Sweden so he'll build, which will put him in great position to make further gains

France: Also has a build, but needs to worry about that English fleet in Eng.

Germany: Stayed even but is in an untenable position. At least he got an offer of support from Russia

Italy: On the ropes and should be eliminated next year

Russia: Not sure about Bal S Kie-Den. I think Bal-Ber would have been better so as to stay even. Now he's got to disband, and his moves have signaled to England that he's not a friend

Turkey: Also in trouble. His only saving grace may be that Russia and Austria have to fight over who gets his land

[regoarrarr]

Thoughts from England

England’s 1904 Thoughts

I get one build this year. Looking at it, I think it’s pretty clear that I need one last fleet; I really wish F Bel was A Bel for future use, but my existing fleets are stuck doing stuff and can’t be convoyers right now; once F Nth is available, then I can do stuff. A fleet build is necessarily going to F Edi, as that theoretically leaves Nth and Nwg as possible targets. We’ll see what I end up doing, as it depends on what Russia disbands.

Germany’s survived OK so far, not losing any more ground b/c I willingly swapped Bel for Hol.

Russia needs every unit he can get against Austria, or else he’s going to crumble very, very, very fast. So that leaves disbanding F Bal as the most likely outcome. Since I have to worry about France fairly soon, leaving Germany out to die isn’t the end of the world for him IMO, but we’ll see. F Bal is causing me all sorts of problems, so I’ll be glad to see it go.

France/Germany: He chose the safe route against Italy, instead of the crazy gamble of Pie S Rom – Ven, Tys – Rome, Ion – Nap. That would’ve cost Austria a center, and Pie S Italian Ven + Rom H bottlenecks Austria as long as Adr can be kept empty, and that would make Austria’s life difficult. But the safe move still nets him Rom + Nap, which is probably most of the goal. A Par is the only available build, and that means Pic is going to get crunched in S05 by Bre S Par - Pic. Germany knows this, and is therefore essentially forced to order Hol S Pic – Bel, Ruh S Pic – Bel, and Pic – Bel. France has tried to stay out of my way, and me out of his, but neither of us have actively tried to ASSIST the other player. So Bur S Bel is quite unlikely. I also don’t think that France has any interest in, say, kicking me out of Belgium…yet. If he does, then all of a sudden Eng – Mao puts a ton of pressure on him in the west, and he’s not ready to deal with that yet.

Italy: Toast. Not surprising, he’s had a poor opening and France moved against him pretty effectively. Turkey: Similar story, and while Smy – Arm isn’t a weak line in general, I think Smy – Arm is a mistake in a NoPress game, as it means Austria KNOWS that he doesn’t have to worry about you, and that makes his life too easy; Russia is instantly your sworn enemy, so you don’t want to have to face AR together against you. And if Austria doesn’t want to help crunch Russia, which he may not…then you’re just dead.

Austria: Oh boy. With Turkey bleeding demised, he’s got to go somewhere. West into France/grabbing Rom/Nap isn’t really possible with just ONE fleet on the board, and that one’s busy. So, in 1905, where is he going? I think east…but if Italy keeps A Tyr around, he’s got to worry about all sorts of interesting moves from Italy for 1905.

Currently, I think France is in the best position, mostly because I can’t afford to move against him right now. What I need to happen to be able to move against France:


1) Stability against Russia. Getting F StP and NO RUSSIAN FLEET around = enough. Really, that means I become impregnable from the east with just 1 or 2 units floating around there, while the rest surround Ber/Kie/etc. and then try to head farther west.

2) France keeps his existing fleets east. Austria, however, lacks the naval power to really force that state of affairs...unless France pushes for Venice. PLEASE push for Venice, France!!! That gives me all the time I need to lock down Germany and get my boats back west to start to strangle France.

[regoarrarr]

Retreat results for Fall of 1904. (rbnopress01.016)

Turkey: Fleet Constantinople DISBAND.

Ownership of supply centers:

Austria: Budapest, Constantinople, Greece, Serbia, Trieste, Venice, Vienna.
England: Belgium, Denmark, Edinburgh, Liverpool, London, Norway, Sweden.
France: Brest, Marseilles, Naples, Paris, Portugal, Spain, Tunis.
Germany: Berlin, Holland, Kiel, Munich.
Italy: Rome.
Russia: Bulgaria, Moscow, Rumania, Sevastopol, St Petersburg, Warsaw.
Turkey: Ankara, Smyrna.

Austria: 7 Supply centers, 6 Units: Builds 1 unit.
England: 7 Supply centers, 6 Units: Builds 1 unit.
France: 7 Supply centers, 6 Units: Builds 1 unit.
Germany: 4 Supply centers, 4 Units: Builds 0 units.
Italy: 1 Supply center, 2 Units: Removes 1 unit.
Russia: 6 Supply centers, 7 Units: Removes 1 unit.
Turkey: 2 Supply centers, 1 Unit: Builds 1 unit.

[regoarrarr]

Thoughts from Russia

I'm not sure if Austria is really pissed with me or if we're on our
way to a mutually beneficial alliance. I guess we'll see.

[regoarrarr]

Thoughts from england

England is at a NoPress crossroads. If F Bal is disbanded, I think I push south with Swe - Bal in S05, and Nwy - STP to keep too many Russians from being able to harass me.
If not...well, I think it'd then be time to finish off Russia with F Edi swinging north through Nwg and Bar, and I use everyone I've got nearby to knock out StP and that gorram fleet

[

[regoarrarr]

Adjustment results for Winter of 1904. (rbnopress01.017)

Austria: Builds an army in Vienna.
England: Builds a fleet in Edinburgh.
France: Builds an army in Paris.
Italy: Removes the army in Rome.
Russia: Removes the army in Bulgaria.
Turkey: Builds an army in Ankara.