cad@cbosgd.UUCP (Chuck A DeGaul) (11/26/85)
Well, the Crawford, nee Peak, Diplomacy game has ended in a three-way draw prior to the Spring 1914 move. England finished with 15 centers, Russia 14 and Italy 5. At one point England had victory in sight, but was denied the win by a sturdy Italian-Russian alliance of necessity. I played Russia. Here is a Russian synopsis of the game. 1901 - I wasn't in the game yet, as I was to take over a floundering Russian position in the following year. Turkey opened with moves to the Black Sea and Armenia, while Russia moved to Rumania. Austria, England and France made mostly conventional moves, while Italy put its Armies into the Piedmont-Venice defensive position. Only Germany made a curious move, forsaking any chance at Denmark. In the Fall, Russia went into civil disorder, losing Sevastopol to the Turks. Germany seized Holland and Belgium, surrendering Denmark to England who also took Norway. Italy's move to Piedmont bluffed France back to cover Marseilles, so Paris only took Portugal. Serbia and Greece went to Austria, Tunis to Italy with Bulgaria and Rumania going to Turkey and the disordered Russia. England built fleets, Germany and Austria armies, France and army and Italy a fleet. Turkey, with the disordered Russia beckoning, built two fleets! 1902 - I took over Russia's sad position and negotiated desperately with all neighbors looking for help. England and Germany advanced menacingly on me from the north, though Turkey's odd build gave me a leg to stand on in the south and we agreed to swap Rumania for Sevastopol. Austria threatened to join in the Russian carve-up, but Germany headed east and west hoping to take Warsaw and threaten Brest. England saw a chance for a stab and agreed to turn away from the impending destruction of northern Russia to thrust a dagger into the over-extended Germans. I decided to throw my lot in with the English and went back on my agreement with Turkey to surrender Rumania. In the Fall, England took Holland and Sweden, Austria took Venice with French help, France occupied Spain and I retained Rumania. I had the English retreat my northern fleet so that I could disband it, allowing two builds of much needed armies. Austria built another army, England one of each, France a fleet. Germany disbanded an army on Warsaw's door, while Turkey, ever naval- minded despite my machinations, disbanded an army. 1903 - The full nature of my cooperation with England and my manipulation of Turkey became clear as I orchestrated a three-power attack on Turkey while pretending to wish to aid the hapless Ottoman. England looked to roll over the split-up German forces and France faced a British threat in the channel, perhaps guessing her next target. Austria moved down the boot of Italy, threatening a relationship I had hoped to use, and it took all of mine and Italy's skills to talk Austria into accepting a bigger piece of the Turkish pie instead of the Roman feast he was preparing. Had Turkey fallen to me, and Italy to him, a great naval void would have been open that could only have benefited the western powers. I sought to keep one of those healthy. The end of the year saw a Russian army in Berlin, with Londons blessings, British forces in Kiel, French in Belgium and an Austrian unit in Bulgaria. I built a fleet in Sevastopol as per my arrangement with England, while France built a second Mediterranean fleet fueling my fears of a naval vacuum. Austria and England built armies, while Turkey disposed of her last army, and German lost all but a Munich garrison. England stood at 8, Austria 7, France 6, Russia 6, Italy 3, Turkey 3 and Germany 1. (Note about England: Russia had basically put herself in England's hands in 1902 and 1903, and the English chose to honor her promises. Russia survived because she selected to trust the one other player in the game who could be counted on. Lucky? Perhaps. But I was able to understand, from the tone, seriousness, and completeness of England's negotiations that she was the country to take a chance on. I sought to nurture that trust, expand on it, and live up to it myself, until events forced me to break it. Even then, I delayed to the point where it was obvious to all what had to be done, and came as no surprise to the British.) 1904 - The year dawned with Russia determined to crush Turkey, preserve Italy and make sure I wasn't next on England's dinner menu. I knew I would have to turn over Berlin to its rightful owners and so concentrated on seizing at least one Turkish center. At the critical moment, however, Austria decided that I was a threat and withheld promised support, grinding my attack to a halt. I would lose a piece, and radically alter my strategy. Meanwhile, France and Austria raced for the last German center, while Britain prepared a Parisian stew. Austria got Munich and built an army. England took Belgium and Berlin and built one each. France lost her over-extended Ruhr army, while I scrapped my Armenian based fleet and Germany expired. 1905 - The destruction of my fleet sent signals of my intentions to all capitals. I was able, however, to calm my English allies and stonewall the now suspicious Austrians. Vienna was bombarded with accusations by me that my offensive against Turkey had been derailed by their treachery, and that future actions against Turkey would depend on a greater level of support from Austria. I hoped that by appearing angry, loud and demanding, I would make Austria wary, but not convinced I meant them harm. To Italy and Turkey, though I talked another tune. "Little countries of the world unite", I cried. We hatched plans for the three of us to crave up the untrustworthy Austrians (who by now had managed to anger France over Munich, Italy over Venice, Turkey over Bulgaria and support of me, and Russia by screwing up my attack on Turkey). But something went wrong. Tactical errors robbed us of our initial chances, as we occupied Bulgaria, then lost it again, with the only positive result was a Russian army firmly in place in Galacia. Mostly my fault, I'm afraid, but it did serve to make our efforts appear bumbling and fated to fail. Elsewhere only the occupation of Burgundy by the British stood out, but as a harbinger of the future it seemed very large. No one built, except Russia to replace an army destroyed in Bulgaria. 1906 - In many cases, a setback like the one the Turkey/Italy/Russia axis suffered in 1905 would have shattered the alliance. Each of us was facing the possibility of destruction, and the temptation to make a deal with Austria against our partners was great. I don't doubt that Constantinople and Rome were sorely tested in this regard. However, by strong negotiating, Russia continued on unbending and 1906 brought a sudden change. Russia drove a hard, false, bargain with Austria to again attempt an attack on Turkey, and although we left the actually final disposition of Turkish centers to later agreements, we did agree to withdraw the threatening army from Galacia. Austria bit, hook, line and sinker. The Spring saw us force our way into Budapest while Italy reclaimed Venice. Elsewhere, Britain slipped into Paris and the French teetered on the brink. In the Fall, Turkey stormed Greece, Russia took Bulgaria and traded Serbia for Budapest. As a bonus, a Russian army slipped into Vienna. In a shockingly short span of time, Austria crumbled from 8 units to 2, as England stormed Munich to put the final nails in the coffin. The French rebounded with a clever ploy and held Paris, and slipped into Tunis, probably with Italian permission, to gain a sorely needed build. Russia built 3 armies and France, England and Turkey each built an army, all at Austria's expense. 1907 - The year started with England clearly in the drivers seat with 11 units, but perhaps for the first time sensing that Russia would eventually threaten as we now had 7 with two more Austria centers to take. France had six units but was clearly under pressure. Turkey had 4 and Italy 3. The small countries alliance was quickly shattered as Russia moved rapidly against Turkey. Italy and Russia divided the remaining Austrian centers and England began to put strong pressure on France. Attacking Turkey was an action that deeply disturbed me. Turkey, though treacherous early in the game, had come to be a staunch partner, and one deserving of better. But, Russia had begun to feel the pressure of the rapid rise of England and needed centers badly. An attack against England was impossible given the totally demilitarized nature of our mutual borders. Italy was promising to act in support of France, which seemed to only way to slow the British juggernaut. It was either attack Turkey or stagnate. Russia chose the former, though not without a twinge a guilt. To set up the attack, Russia honored her agreement with the Turk to turn over Bulgaria. Meanwhile, Russia armies surrounded Greece and slipped into Armenia. Ankara fell but Turkey held Bulgaria yielding us no immediate gain, although Russia used its extra Austrian build to put another fleet into the Black Sea theater. Elsewhere, England stormed Paris and put a fleet into the Mediterranean, blackening the picture in the West. Turkey seized Tunis gaining them a needed build, but they chose to build a fleet, hoping, I suspect, to dissuade us by negotiation. Perhaps hints of ours tipped their hand -- and sealed their fate. France lost a fleet and an army, Italy built a fleet as did England. 1908 - Two powers crumbled beneath the weight of heavy assaults. Greece, Bulgaria and Constantinople fell to Russia who cast aside Turkey's last pleas for a truce. England stormed Brest and Marseilles and occupied Tyrolia, raising great fear in the Italian camp, which was the purpose, no doubt. At this stage, England and Russia were still on the best of terms, although cracks were beginning to show. A treaty negotiated the year before demilitarized even more of formerly German and Austrian territory, but left a strange and probably deliberate loop-hole in Tyrolia, through which the British moved. At year end, Russia built two armies and a fleet, but continue to honor the ban on building in St. Petersburg, much to France's dismay. I very much wanted to build there, to give England another front to consider, but felt it would tip England off to my plan. Score: England 14, Russia 12, Italy 4, Turkey 2 and France 2. 1909 - The big break. Russia sprang her "surprise" on England, marching on Germany, threatening Scandanavia and finishing off the Turkish home- land. Considering how unsurprised England was, Russia would have been much better off to build in St. Petersburg in 1908, as there was nothing really to tip off. England convoyed two armies to the Low Countries in the Spring and much of the teeth of my attack went away. Then in the Fall, Italy and I squabbled over German spoils, and I was forced to take Berlin instead of getting Italian support for Munich. This weakened our future possibilities. England overran Iberia, but spared a French fleet she that it could operate against Italy ahead of the main Royal Navy. That renegade French fleet was to cause more than its share of headaches and nearly win England the game. It clearly demonstrated the impact a one piece force can have on the game. The year ended with Russians in Berlin, Italians in Tunis again, and the English in Spain. I built a fleet in St. Petersburg on the south coast where it would aid my German advance. Italy built a fleet, and England an army. Turkey was reduced to nothing and France was reduced to a single fleet operating by the grace of England. England and I both stood at 14 units, Italy 5 and France 1. 1910 - In Germany and Scandanavia, a tactical war of attrition ensued. England brought up overwhelming fleet strength and secured Norway and Sweden (destroying an army of mine) and began to threaten St. Petersburg. Russia dug in in Germany and attempted, with little hope, to take Munich. The focus shifted to the Mediterranean where the French snuck into Rome as England brought three fleets in to harry the Italians. To aid the Italians, I handed over Greece to them, as they could better use the forces at the front while I shifted units out of Turkey. The year ended without builds. England 14, Russia 13, Italy 5, France 2 (but with no home centers). 1911 - England turned up the pressure where it could, in the north. St. Petersburg came under attack and fell, although Russia continued to hold fast in Germany. France was displaced from Rome, but Russia, worried about Italy collapsing and giving England the win, secured Trieste as a bargaining chip and to prevent the loss of a unit. At this stage I was contemplating a massive attack on Italy to put me over the top before England could react, but later analysis should that this would actually be foolhardy as Italy would turn against me, giving England the win. In hindsight, then, taking Trieste at this stage was bad. It robbed Italy of some opportunities to push England back from Tunis. England built a fleet and an army (replacing an army destroyed in Tyrolia) giving her 15 to my 13, Italy's 5 and France's 1. 1912 - My seizing of Trieste came home to haunt me as Italy could not hold Tunis against the English/French forces. We were able to destroy the French fleet, but counting Portugal (which England was now free to occupy) London stood at 17 units with pressure on Berlin mounting. Italy and I planned and planned and planned to not make any mistakes. Still, England slipped a piece into Bohemia and it looked like the Berlin defense would eventually crumble. Where England had nearly settled for a draw the year before, she now refused the offer and wanted to play the string out. Italian pressure on Tunis and the western Mediterranean was intense, and prevented England from slipping back to grab Portugal, so at the end of the year England stood at 16, Russia at 13 and Italy at 4, with England still having Portugal in her pocket. 1913 - The destabilizing English army in Bohemia opened up possibilities for Russia as well as dangers. A series of bold moves in the Spring blew the once static German front wide open. Suddenly, Russia forces held Munich and Berlin, and a lone Russian fleet threatened Kiel, Denmark and Sweden. England had the Bohemia unit (now surrounded by Russian armies) an army in Livonia and a fleet in Prussia. The situation was unsettling to say the least. In the Fall, Italy finally guessed a 50-50 attack right and retook Tunis. Russia held Berlin and Munich and destroyed the exposed English army in Bohemia. The Russia Baltic fleet was likewise blown to bits and the German front looked stable again, except England's chances to win were severely hampered. At year end England held 15 centers, Russia 14 and Italy 5. After some serious study of the situation, England apparently decided the the current position now favored Russia, and agreed to a three-way draw. In all it was an excellent game. David Rubin, playing England, was quite masterful, although he took far to long to crush France and may have slipped up in 1913 to blow his chance to win. Larry Bickfurt playing first Germany, and then later replacing the Italian player, proved a steady and shrewd player when he had no choices left, but his early handling of Germany was strategicly flawed. Several people played Turkey and I am still at a loss to understand their devotion to naval strength in the face of land threats. Several people played France, but Tim Schroeder conducted a spirited defense that bought me enough time to polish off Turkey. I regret not being able to save him, for his gallant fight was a shame to waste. Bob Warren played Austria, and though he was tactically excellent, his erratic diplomacy eventually turned all his neighbors against him. Finally, our two moderators were both superb. Dave Peak and Matt Crawford deserve a hearty round of applause from all of us for the great effort they put into the game. Dave had to leave the net in mid-game, but Matt's fine work guided us steadily onward. Oh yes. I thought I played a brilliant game strategically, taking a doomed Russia on to a very strong finish. Yes, there were several glaring tactical blunders, but my strategic position was such that I could afford an occasional slip-up. I think my propaganda was the most humorous, too. Ready for more, ---> Chuck A DeGaul <---