ar@duke.UUCP (Andrew L. Reibman) (07/09/85)
Commentary on the "Grams" Diplomacy Game - Fall and Winter 1901
TURN: Fall 1901
ENGLAND:
A Yor -> Bel (FAILS)
F Nth C A Yor -> Bel
F Nrg -> Nwy
ENGLAND:
Builds F Edi
England is foiled by unexpected Franco-German cooperation.
With the strong Russian northern opening perhaps the army should
have gone to Norway? The Russian builds hold the answer
- an Anglo-Russian Alliance against Germany. The British
build in Edi avoids further angering the French.
FRANCE:
F Mid -> Por
A Gas -> Spa
A Bur -> Bel
FRANCE:
Builds A Par, A Mar, F Bre
France trades Munich for Belgium and makes a friend
out of an enemy. France maintains a flexible position and
can now move against any one of her
neighbors - England seems the most likely target.
RUSSIA:
A Liv -> Swe
F GoB C A Liv -> Swe
F Bla -> Bul (FAILS)
A Ukr -> Rum
Builds: A War, A Sev
Russia moves in strength to Scandanavia. Russia and Austria
seem to have an understanding - Turkey should fall easily
if the alliance holds together. The build in Warsaw (rather
than St. Pete (nc) shows hostility towards Germany and
friendship with England.
TURKEY:
A Con -> Bul (FAILS)
F Ank -> Con (FAILS)
A Smy -> Ank (FAILS)
No Builds:
Starting the season in the hole, Turkey (an alternate, perhaps?)
fails to make diplomatic headway. Turkey's weak position
might have been used to adavntage, offering to
become either Austria or Russia's junior partner.
ITALY:
A Apu -> Tun
A Ven Holds
F Ion C A Apu -> Tun
Builds: F Nap
Italy stays aloof. Austro-Italo trust could be greater
but they are not at war either. The Lepanto could be in the offing
but with such a weak Turkey will Italy get anything more than
a wing? The two on two war in the North preserves the balance
of power. The lack of Russo-Turkish cooperation also
favors both Italy and Austria.
AUSTRIA:
F Alb -> Gre
A Ser S F Alb -> Gre
A Tri S A Ser
Builds A Vie, A Bud
Austria plays pro-Russian with a distrust of Italian intentions.
It should be noted that the apparent Austro-Russian alliance
was not strong enough to give Russia Bulgaria (either
that or the Austrians expected Italian treachery).
GERMANY:
A Mun Holds
A Kie -> Den
F Hol S FR A Bur -> Bel
Builds: F Kie, A Ber
Germany buys the French off. With Russian armies in
Warsaw and Sweden the threat to Germany may come from the East.
Germany is an excellent position for a joint attack on England
with France - they hold an effective advantage of four fleets
to two - the royal navy could be swept from the seas.
OVERALL:
Except for Russia in the North, the game develops along fairly classical lines.
France and Russia both emerge from 1901 with strong positions.
Diplomatically, Germany is the big success, having effectively realigned France.
England and Turkey will both have to work diplomatically
to stay in the game. Austria and Italy hinder each other with mistrust.
Andrew Reibman
!{allegra,ihnp4}!duke!ar