It turns out this game was quite enjoyable to play. I entered hoping to win but knowing the odds of that were slim. From the start both England and France reached out to me to provide a context which I appreciated. They both seemed to possess a religious devotion to Heath that I found in the end to be odd. For me, outside of the position that Heath had won on the board, I could care less about any plans or promises he may have made with anyone on the board. I found it odd that England wrote diatribe after diatribe on the overarching plan that may have existed between England, Italy and Austria. I was always under the correct assumption that Italy and England had nothing in common and wouldn't have anything in common for multiple seasons given the distance between them.
I started off hoping to maintain a peace with Austria. I typically try to make nice with my immediate neighbors but after Austria continued to insist on me taking on France while he risked nothing in the process I decided I would go for the stab and try for Trieste if only to send the message that I don't suffer fools gladly. I underscored this point in my thread entitled, "Theatre of the Absurd: A Triste Over Trieste."
With that I realized I was on my own with little to no friends on the board. I also knew that Munich was a curse at this stage in the game and that there was no way I could have held on to it for long. I was right about that. It turns out Heath's position on the board was tenuous at best. I only really had two options, stab Austria or take on a very strong France who had done nothing to provoke me up to that point.
I decided I would do anything and everything in my power to rid the board of Austria and no matter what thwart England's plan for a split victory with France (I assumed early on this was the plan and was right).
I have to say that in over 25 years of playing diplomacy I have never seen such a strong alliance between France and England than in this game. Hats off to both Rob and Reuben for maintaining such a steady balance of powers. It was truly remarkable that it lasted as long as it did.
I tried everything under the sun to break up that bromance and nothing seemed to work. It was only in the last couple of seasons that I put up some decent arguments for Reuben to consider. I don't know if I convinced him to go for the solo or not but I certainly tried.
Once I tried for the Austrian stab I figured I might be playing for survival and under the watchful eye of France and so play the vassal I did until the final season.
Reuben had asked me to assist him into Smyrna. I had a hunch he was making his move for the solo at that point. He also asked that I move the fleet in the Adriatic to the Ionian. Fat chance of that happening. I banked on his lust for the solo keeping him on Trieste instead of trying to bounce me in Venice and risk losing Trieste. It payed off. I survived and did so on my own without cow towing to France in the end. It's always fun when a stab turns out to be a reverse stab, especially in the last move of the game.
I take great delight in the fact that I outlasted 3 other countries including Austria and that I played some small role in thwarting England from gaining any points in this test match.
For a brief moment I thought there was a chance to seek out survival from Turkey. I thought maybe he would work with me to fend off the inevitable. There was talk of going down together but fighting the whole while. After a brief reflection on his track record of inactivity and passivity throughout the game and his often used line about "this weekend was busy and I didn't have time to get to orders," I realized that was going nowhere fast. The man seemed content on going nowhere and doing essentially nothing in order not to risk irritating anyone.
I think the most infuriating aspect of the game was watching Russia hand over St. Pete to England. To Rob's credit, he succeeded in getting more than a few countries to drink the UK Koolaide. By my estimation Germany, Russia, Turkey and of course Austria were all under his spell at one point or another. Most of his work was accomplished through diplomacy. It was rare when he had to match wits with anyone on the board through fighting. That's rare and again, a sign of a good diplomat.
The same may be said of Reuben. Reuben is as sly a fox as you will find in diplomacy and plays with the patience of Job. He deserved the win and like Rob accomplished most of his territorial gains via diplomacy.
Hats off to the man on a well played solo victory and to Rob on a very close 2nd place.
If I have one regret it was not reaching out to Germany sooner. Not that I could have altered his fate but he was the one player who was willing to work with me and not try and sell me the Brooklyn Bridge. For that I was always respectful of his play.
Thanks to all for the chance to play and thanks to our GM for his committment to the tournament!
See you next time!
DAG HAMMARSJKOLD
I started off hoping to maintain a peace with Austria. I typically try to make nice with my immediate neighbors but after Austria continued to insist on me taking on France while he risked nothing in the process I decided I would go for the stab and try for Trieste if only to send the message that I don't suffer fools gladly. I underscored this point in my thread entitled, "Theatre of the Absurd: A Triste Over Trieste."
With that I realized I was on my own with little to no friends on the board. I also knew that Munich was a curse at this stage in the game and that there was no way I could have held on to it for long. I was right about that. It turns out Heath's position on the board was tenuous at best. I only really had two options, stab Austria or take on a very strong France who had done nothing to provoke me up to that point.
I decided I would do anything and everything in my power to rid the board of Austria and no matter what thwart England's plan for a split victory with France (I assumed early on this was the plan and was right).
I have to say that in over 25 years of playing diplomacy I have never seen such a strong alliance between France and England than in this game. Hats off to both Rob and Reuben for maintaining such a steady balance of powers. It was truly remarkable that it lasted as long as it did.
I tried everything under the sun to break up that bromance and nothing seemed to work. It was only in the last couple of seasons that I put up some decent arguments for Reuben to consider. I don't know if I convinced him to go for the solo or not but I certainly tried.
Once I tried for the Austrian stab I figured I might be playing for survival and under the watchful eye of France and so play the vassal I did until the final season.
Reuben had asked me to assist him into Smyrna. I had a hunch he was making his move for the solo at that point. He also asked that I move the fleet in the Adriatic to the Ionian. Fat chance of that happening. I banked on his lust for the solo keeping him on Trieste instead of trying to bounce me in Venice and risk losing Trieste. It payed off. I survived and did so on my own without cow towing to France in the end. It's always fun when a stab turns out to be a reverse stab, especially in the last move of the game.
I take great delight in the fact that I outlasted 3 other countries including Austria and that I played some small role in thwarting England from gaining any points in this test match.
For a brief moment I thought there was a chance to seek out survival from Turkey. I thought maybe he would work with me to fend off the inevitable. There was talk of going down together but fighting the whole while. After a brief reflection on his track record of inactivity and passivity throughout the game and his often used line about "this weekend was busy and I didn't have time to get to orders," I realized that was going nowhere fast. The man seemed content on going nowhere and doing essentially nothing in order not to risk irritating anyone.
I think the most infuriating aspect of the game was watching Russia hand over St. Pete to England. To Rob's credit, he succeeded in getting more than a few countries to drink the UK Koolaide. By my estimation Germany, Russia, Turkey and of course Austria were all under his spell at one point or another. Most of his work was accomplished through diplomacy. It was rare when he had to match wits with anyone on the board through fighting. That's rare and again, a sign of a good diplomat.
The same may be said of Reuben. Reuben is as sly a fox as you will find in diplomacy and plays with the patience of Job. He deserved the win and like Rob accomplished most of his territorial gains via diplomacy.
Hats off to the man on a well played solo victory and to Rob on a very close 2nd place.
If I have one regret it was not reaching out to Germany sooner. Not that I could have altered his fate but he was the one player who was willing to work with me and not try and sell me the Brooklyn Bridge. For that I was always respectful of his play.
Thanks to all for the chance to play and thanks to our GM for his committment to the tournament!
See you next time!
DAG HAMMARSJKOLD