Diplomacy Zine -- Chapter One From: daybell@nunki.usc.edu (Donald Daybell) Date: Wed, 19 Sep 1990 02:46:51 +0000 Issue 181 of ELECTRONIC PROTOCOL ----------- Chapter One ----------- This chapter contains results for the games BLITZKRIEG, GETTYSBURG, and Gunboat game PASSCHENDAELE Fall 1916 and Winter 1916 of game BLITZKRIEG (BNC 1989HL) (GM is dougi@astro.as.utexas.edu/ Doug Ingram) Blitzkrieg -- Fall 1916 Frankly, I have always wondered what the Emergency Broadcast Network would broadcast if we actually had a war. I imagine they'd try to keep it upbeat, so people wouldn't get too depressed: ANNOUNCER: Hi there! You're listening to the Emergency Broadcast Network, so don't touch that dial! It's probably melted anyway, ha ha! Weatherwise, we're expecting afternoon highs of around 6800 degrees, followed by a cooling trend as a cloud consisting of California and Oregon blots out the sun. In the headlines, the President and key members of Congress met in an emergency breakfast this morning, and a flock of huge mutant radioactive mosquitoes has emerged from the Everglades and is flying toward New Orleans at speeds approaching four hundred miles an hour. -- Dave Barry, "You'll Look Radiant" *************** Austria: [A UKR S Rus A MOS] (nso), A WAR S Rus A LIV-PRU, *[A SIL S Rus A LIV-PRU]*, A BOH S Ger A MUN, A TYR S Ger A MUN, F AEG SF ION, [F ION SF NAP-TYS], F ROM SF NAP-TYS, (F NAP-TYS), A VEN S Rus A PIE, A TUS S Rus A PIE, A GAL SA SIL, A VIE SA TYR England: A STP H, A BUR S Ger A MUN, F DEN S Ger A KIE, (F TUN-ION), F GOL SF TYS, F MAR SF GOL, (F TYS SF TUN-ION), F WME SF TYS, F BAL S Ger A PRU, F ECH-MAO, F BAR SA STP, A RUH S Ger A MUN, A BEL SA RUH, F NTS-HEL Germany: A KIE SA MUN, A BER SA PRU-SIL, A MUN SA PRU-SIL, A PRU-SIL Russia: (A MOS-STP), A LIV-PRU, A PIE S Aus A TUS Notes: Orders in () are bounced moves. Orders in [] are failed supports. Orders in ** indicate annihilated units. (nso) indicates no such order was given to be supported. *************** Supply Centers: Total/(Units Owned)/Status Austria: BUD, VIE, TRI, GRE, SER, BUL, CON, 13 (12) + VEN, RUM, ANK, NAP, ROM, WAR England: LON, LVP, EDI, NWY, STP, DEN, BRE, 14 (14) POR, SPA, PAR, TUN, MAR, BEL, SWE France: 0 (0) Germany: KIE, BER, MUN, HOL 4 (4) Italy: 0 (0) Russia: SEV, SMY, MOS 3 (3) Turkey: 0 (0) *************** Unit Positions -- Autumn 1916: Austria: F ION, F AEG, A GAL, A UKR, A TUS, A VEN, A WAR, A VIE, A TYR, F NAP, A BOH, F ROM England: A STP, A BUR, F DEN, F TUN, F GOL, F MAR, F TYS, F WME, F BAL, F MAO, F BAR, A RUH, A BEL, F HEL Germany: A KIE, A SIL, A MUN, A BER Russia: A PIE, A MOS, A PRU *************** GM Notes: The only major action this turn happened in Central Europe, where the Austrian army was annihilated. There were no supply centers which changed hands this year, but Austria gets a build to make up for his lost unit. I suggest all of you begin to seriously consider a draw proposal. If no supply centers change hands next year, I think I might propose one myself. In other news, I'm sorry I got this turn out so late. I had all of the orders by Saturday, but I have been so busy moving into my new home here in Seattle that I had little time to run the turn. Things are settling down here now, though. Let me know if I have made any errors in processing the turn. I will publish Winter results as soon as I have Austria's build. Blitzkrieg -- Winter 1916 BOSTON - Laboratory scientists at a very major scientific university announced today that everything is terribly, terribly dangerous. Dr. Creston I. Posthole, who headed the research project, said scientists got a bunch of rats and just let them lead normal lives -- eating, drinking, sleeping, watching television, making appointments, etc. "They all died within a matter of days," reported Dr. Posthole. "Most of them had cancer. Some of them also had irregular bowel movements." Dr. Posthole said the scientists weren't sure what the study proves, but they feel the government ought to do something about it. -- Dave Barry, "Caution: Government at Work" *************** Austria: Build F TRI *************** Supply Centers: Total/(Units Owned)/Status Austria: BUD, VIE, TRI, GRE, SER, BUL, CON, 13 (13) VEN, RUM, ANK, NAP, ROM, WAR England: LON, LVP, EDI, NWY, STP, DEN, BRE, 14 (14) POR, SPA, PAR, TUN, MAR, BEL, SWE France: 0 (0) Germany: KIE, BER, MUN, HOL 4 (4) Italy: 0 (0) Russia: SEV, SMY, MOS 3 (3) Turkey: 0 (0) *************** Unit Positions -- Autumn 1916: Austria: F ION, F AEG, A GAL, A UKR, A TUS, A VEN, A WAR, A VIE, A TYR, F NAP, A BOH, F ROM, F TRI England: A STP, A BUR, F DEN, F TUN, F GOL, F MAR, F TYS, F WME, F BAL, F MAO, F BAR, A RUH, A BEL, F HEL Germany: A KIE, A SIL, A MUN, A BER Russia: A PIE, A MOS, A PRU *************** GM Notes: Ok, I'll set the deadline to be Monday the 17th at noon for the Spring of 1917. I'll start pestering everyone if I don't have all of the orders in by then. Game Summary of Blitzkrieg (EP9) GM = Doug Ingram 1901 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Place Player Aus 5 4 5 7 6 6 7 8 9 9 9 10 11 13 13 13 Stewart Winter Eng 5 6 6 8 10 12 12 10 12 14 14 14 13 14 14 14 Kurt Schroeder Fra 5 5 3* 1 1st elm. Frank Poduska Ger 5 6 8 8 8 8 8 11 9 8 8 8 8 5 4 4 Tom Goodwin Ita 4 4 5 5 5 4 3 1 2nd elm. Edward Fischer Rus 5 5 3 2 3 2 2 2 2 1 2 2 2 2 3 3 Eric Klien Tur 4 4 4 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 3rd elm. Peter Woodruff Mahler Index: 02 08 22 39 48 58 60 66 71 79 79 83 82 89 89 89 * - Frank Poduska stepped in to finish for Mark Wardell before the Fall 1903 set of moves. Note: The Mahler Index (read #'s as percentages) is an index which gives a rough estimate of the percentage of the game completed. It is figured according to the formula given below, and it is supposedly a good figure which shows how "advanced" the game is toward a single-player victory (since it doesn't take alliances into account). Variance = Sum of SC's held squared - (Total SC's held squared / 7) Std.Dev. = Square root (Variance / 7) Mahler Index = (Std.Dev. - 0.35) / 0.06 Status: Current turn is Spring 1917 with turns due Mon, Sep. 17, at noon. Fall 1911 of Game GETTYSBURG (BNC 1989HN) (GM'ed by george%cs.cornell.edu@usc.edu (George R. Boyce)) I received no negative votes so the 6-way draw passes. In reality, France/Germany have the superior position and 17 centers.... Game: Gettysburg BNC: 1989HN Season: Fall 1911 Summer 1911 results Germany A Mos retreats to Livonia... Fall 1911 results Austria no orders received, all units hold... A Warsaw Hold A Bohemia Hold A Galicia Hold A Ukraina Hold F Adriatic Sea Hold Russia A Mos sup Austrian A War A Sev sup A Mos Orders for France, Gettysburg Game, Fall 1911 (set 001): A Lon-Bel [F MAO-WME] Fails F Por S F IRI-MAO A Bre H F Mar-GOL F Spa S F Mar-GOL; [F IRI-MAO] Fails A Gas-Mar A Bur S A Gas-Mar Italy [F North Africa supports *turkey* Western Med hold] Fails, not so ordered [F Gulf of Lyons support *turkey* Western Med hold] Fails, not so ordered, retreats to Tuscany or Tyrrhenian [A Piedmont -> Marseilles] Fails [A Tyrolia - Munich] Fails Germany A Run - Mun A KIe S A Ruh - Mun F E.Ch C FRA A Lon - Bel A Ber S A Sil A Pru S A SIl [A Sil S ITA A Tyr - Boh] Fails, not so ordered A St.P S A Lvn [A Lvn S RUS A Mos - War] Fails, not so ordered F Bal.S Hold Turkey F Aegean Sea Holds F Ionian Sea Holds [F Western Mediterranean - Spain(sc)] Fails A Holds F11 Supply Centers: AUSTRIA : +1 [6] (Vienna, Trieste, Budapest, Serbia, Greece, +Warsaw) ENGLAND : +0 [0] FRANCE : +0 [9] (Paris, Brest, Marsailles, Spain, Portugal Liverpool, London, Belgium, Edinburgh) GERMANY : -1 [8] (Kiel, Berlin, Denmark, Holland, Munich, Sweden, Norway, St. Petersburg, -Moscow) ITALY : +0 [4] (Venice, Rome, Naples, Tunis) RUSSIA : +0 [2] (Sevastapol, -Warsaw, +Moscow) TURKEY : +0 [5] (Smyrna, Constantinople, Bulgaria, Ankara, Rumania) Final positions... AUSTRIA : A - Warsaw, Galicia, Ukrania, Bohemia; F - Adriatic; +build ENGLAND : eliminated FRANCE : A - Belgium, Brest, Burgandy, Marseilles; F - MAO, Irish Sea, Portugal, Spain(sc), Gulf of Lyon GERMANY : A - Munich Kiel, Berlin, Silesia, Prussia, Livonia, St. P. F - Baltic Sea, English/German Channel; -disband ITALY : A - Piedmont, Tyrolia; F - Tyrrhenian, N. Africa RUSSIA : A - Moscow, Sevestopol TURKEY : A - Constantinople; F - Aegean, Ionian, W. Med. Game Summary: 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 Player Austria 3 5 6 6 7 7 6 5 5 5 5 6 Joel Patterson/Trevor Green (s06) England 3 4 3 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Frank Poduska/Mike Garcia (s03) France 3 5 5 6 8 8 7 9 9 9 9 9 Richard Lucock Germany 3 6 6 5 3 4 5 7 7 8 9 8 Eugene Schwartzman Italy 3 4 4 5 5 5 6 4 4 4 4 4 Doug Johnson Russia 4 6 7 7 8 8 7 5 4 3 2 2 David Shook/John Litvin (f07) Turkey 3 4 3 3 2 2 3 4 5 5 5 5 Benjamin Goldsmith GM: Steve Adams/George Boyce (w02) George Spring 1904 of game PASSCHENDAELE, MNC unknown GM is daybell@usc.edu/Donald Daybell Spring 1904 of PASSCHENDAELE AUSTRIA ENGLAND F BUL(sc) S Turkish F Con F LON S F Nth A Gal-WAR F NWG S F Nth A War-LIV F (NTH S RUS F Nwy-Ska) A Vie-GAL A (RUM S F Bul) A BUD S A Rum A Ser S A Rum ITALY TURKEY F ([WME]-Spa) F CON S F Smy F (GRE S AH F Bul-Aeg)(nso) F SMY S F Con A (PIE-Mar) F Lyo-SPA(sc) A (TUN-Mun) (GM: Thus begins the tour of unreachable supply centers!!!!) FRANCE GERMANY F MAO S F Spa(sc)-Wes A BEL H A Gas-BUR A HOL H F Mar-LYO A Bur-MUN A Bre-GAS F DEN S F Ska-Nth F Spa(sc)-WES F (SKA-Nth) F HEL S F Ska-Nth RUSSIA A ANK H F BLA S A Ukr-Rum A (UKR-Rum) A SEV S A Ukr-Rum F NWY S F Swe F SWE S F Nwy Orders in parentheses failed Units in brackets must retreat (nso)=not so ordered (otm)=ordered to move (nsu)=no such unit Retreats Italy: F Western Med to Tyrrhenian, North Africa, or OTB Unit Positions Austria : A Liv Gal War Rum Ser Bud F Bul(sc) England : F Nrg Nth Lon Italy : A Mar Tun F Gre Spa(sc) ??? Turkey : F Con Smy France : A Gas Bur F Lyo Mao Wes Germany : A Mun Hol Bel F Den Ska Hel Russia : A Ank Sev Rum F Bla Swe Nwy Centers Austria : Vie, Bud, Tri, Ser, Bul, Rum, War England : Edi, Lon, Lpl Italy : Rom. Nap, Ven, Tun, Gre Turkey : Con, Smy France : Par, Bre, Por, Spa, Mar Germany : Kie, Ber, Mun, Hol, Den, Bel Russia : Mos, Sev, St.P, Nwy, Swe, Ank _________________________________________________________________________ *********** DAILY DIRK ****************** _________________________________________________________________________ GM-WORLD: We have a Germany/Italy/Austria draw proposal. Vote on it!!! A-I: I don't know what to say. I am in a slightly different situation that I expected to be and once again I can't move to the Aegean as somebody will probably take Bulgaria and there is a strong possibility that I wouldn't be able to take it back. The Russians have already shown their willingness to convoy that army from Ankara somewhere and if I were him I'd try to convoy it this time to Bulgaria to either get the center or to at least make me protect it by leaving my fleet there. If the Turks should get into the Aegean please simply support my fleet in Bulgaria next turn. I should be able to take Moscow this year and either Sevastopol or St. Petersburg next year. I see that you and the French have a real deadlock right now and that you could probably use your Greecian fleet on the French frontier. If you decide that you'd like to pull your fleet out of Greece and use it against the French just let me know and I will do my best to protect Greece without taking it from you until you tell me that it is okay. I probably won't be moving into the Aegean Sea for a couple of years yet as I have to keep the pressure on the Russians. I wish I could help you take some of Turkey as you could really use the builds. Let me know what I can do to help. Also, see what I wrote to the French in press, please! A-G: As I said to the Italians, let me know if there is anything that I can do to help you out. Although, I suspect that by beating on the Russians I am helping out considerably. I suspect that the Russians will be in pretty meager shape with year and a half. If there is anything that you can do help speed this process along, please feel free... A-E: What I said before still holds. You could still profit handsomely by hitting the Russians in the North. As you can see, I am more than likely going to take Moscow this year and one of the other two remaining Russian home centers next year. Tactically, this does not leave the Russians as a very strong ally. A-F: Despite what you think, it would be very bad tactics for me start moving on the Italians as they buffer me from you just as I buffer them from the Russians and as the Germans buffer both of us from the English. If any one of the three of us should give in to temptation and attack any of the other three then we would all certainly die (including the one who initiated the attack!) A-T: I hope that your not going to believe what the Russians said about trying pull out of Ankara. The move he made is the classic "I tried to get out but was prevented from doing so by other units on the board. There is nothing that I could do about it." Basically, he's not willing to vacate and GIVE the center back to you unless he gets something else. While this is not unreasonable, how long do you think it will take for the Russians to take something of mine? A-R: DIPLOMATIC CHANNELS CLOSED!!! (Picard out! :-) England->Germany: Sorry that I am upsetting you so much. Look, this is only a game. Please don't firebomb my house. Besides, it's protected by my Winchester rifle. Let's not let this situation escalate. We are starting to look a lot like the Iraq-US conflict. Except in our case, the hostilities have broken out into open warfare. Wish I could do a better job than I have been, but I can't under the circumstances. My hat's off to you. You are playing Germany well - so much so that I may give the Kaiser a try in a game in the future. I am still new to this game - I have only played Russia once, Turkey once, and this is the third time I've had England. But this is the first time England has been really over a barrel and it is the first time that I've given desperation tactics a try. From the looks of things, I don't think it's going to work. But you can't say that I didn't try. Anyway, let me take this moment, while I still have some life in me, to apologize for my nasty tactics. I didn't mean for it to be personal, I am just trying to save my dots from German occupation. Anyway, keep sailing toward me. I'll try to be a little better behaved as you come to visit the Isles. I'm not quite ready to roll out the red carpet for you as you arrive in port, but it's becoming clearer that I can't do much about it anyway. If you want to discuss any alternative strategies, I'm open for suggestions. But for now it looks like your strategy is to take dot #1, #2 and #3. There is one compelling advantage to such a strategy: It shuts me up! Re: Your comment for me to get a life. Thanks I have one. Get a vasectomy! England->Russia: Well...Shucks. You took Norway a turn earlier than I expected but that's OK. I understand. Austria is causing you to get dots wherever you can, so the Darwin theory of Diplomacy takes over - the natural instinct to survive. And since I'm not the fittest, that's to be expected. There was a little confusion over the Norway retreat. I didn't want to retreat to the Bar, so I disbanded and rebuilt in Lon instead. I hope that you will not ping the Norwegian fleet. My moves will be F Nwg S F Nth H, F Lon S F Nth H, F Nth H from now until Germany breaks out. He's headed to France, and when he gets a build I expect another fleet to appear and then it's going to get even tougher for me. I will leave you alone and harbor no ill feelings over your Norway move. I was a little disappointed by it, especially since I still feel like we are headed for a G/I/A draw, but in the end it may have been the best move for both of us. I will leave Norway and the rest of Scandinavia alone. As you can see, I am not a threat to you and have long since vacated Finland and the Barents, and now Norway. I ask that you please not aid Germany in getting into the North Sea and beyond. I can hold him here until he gets another fleet or moves around to the channel. I would really like to see you move against the Skaggerak and Denmark fleets, but this is up to you. I can't really participate in the attack now, but if you do move F Nry-Ska with support from Swe, I promise to leave Norway alone as you embark on this endeavor. I don't need any dots. I have enough to survive. The real threat is still the G/I/A team. I doubt that Germany would let you hold onto many dots once he gets out to the Isles. He will soon become the Atlantic naval power, which means he'll have the power to not only wipe me out, but to also take Scandinavia and Iberia as well. Anyway, that's the way I see it, and I hope that the other four countries can join together and do something about it. We are all weak though, and we can't afford to fight each other. The G/I/A team are the ones profitting from it all. This is a fairly interesting situation on the board, and I wonder if it can be stopped. I kind of doubt it. England->France: I wish I could help, but my hands are tied. I got out of the channel to remove that sore spot. I think we are all doomed. I was a little shocked to be attacked by Russia, but I decided against seeking revenge. It would have only helped the three in the center. So much for the three way alliance idea. I didn't mean for the proposal to have this effect. I feel largely responsible for the trouble that is now coming your way. Perhaps you should have helped tear me apart instead. Hard to tell. Anyway, I appreciate the fact that you didn't, and will try to help if I can. Things are looking kind of bleak though. England->Austria: I don't wish to aid you in your attack on Russia. Interesting idea but it meets your objectives more than it does mine. I want to survive, not help kill anyone (exception: Germany :-). I could have really helped you, but it doesn't look like you are going to attack Germany, so I have nothing to gain - except another enemy, and I still consider Russia a friend even if he did take Norway. Maybe I am stupid. Time will tell. England->Turkey: Hi. Keep hanging in there. There's blood in the water and the sharks are circling, but perhaps we'll both live a bit longer. England->Italy: I haven't had much press to you in this game. I didn't mean to leave you out, I was just a little preoccupied with my shouting match. Anyway, just wanted to touch base, especially since you are getting a little closer to me :-) Germany -> Russia: You took it:) I was worried that you wouldn't attack. Again, apologies for the earlier trouble. If I made didn't make it into the North Sea (which shouldn't be the case if you supported me) please support me the next turn. If I _did_ make it, please support F Hel-Nth (it may not move there of course, I can't always tell England what I do). Regarding your southern front: I have a non-agression pact which I am not willing to break with Austria, but as Austria has made suggestions to my enemy and romped though my territory I feel I am allowed to give you a bit of advice. Consider your moves _very_ carefully; you are at the point in the game where a wrong move or even guess will irrecoverably doom you. You're not likely to capture Rumania; he has the force that he can easily defend it against any assult. The Black Sea will be safe (even uncutable) for a while, and Sevestopol is fine as long as Moscow holds. Your weak link is Moscow. You need to keep him out of Ukrain or Livonia to hold it. You might want to move Ank to Arm to hold Sev when Mos falls, or, better yet do a Ank-Sev-Mos-Liv shift if possible. Whatever; just think about all his and your possible moves. There is no right answer, but some are better than others. Sorry if I sound patronizing; I'm not meaning to. I just feel your not giving the game enough thought (after the turn you supported Finland). Germany -> England: You were a _little_ more reasonable last time and I was pretty harsh so I figured I ought to tone it down a bit this season. I'm still not sure I understand this "treacherous German" stuff -- treachery generally implies real betrayal and backstabbing. It's like calling Apollo 13 treacherous because it aborted its mission. (Ok, the analogy needs work.) In any case, he believes me now. I am not "playing France, Russia and England off each one another" -- I'm at war with you and at peace with them. No, I don't have a total alliance with them either, but not everything is black and white. I hope I'm not taking things too seriously; in fact, I thought you were. I'm puzzled when you say you are merely trying to survive -- the goal of the game is to win (or at least draw). If you're just passing time, it doesn't matter how long you last; start a new game when you're dead. You might want to consider signing up soon. Yes, it was meant that way. Unfortunately, I think I've already invested to much effort into this war to make peace now. Germany -> Italy: No news here. Again, sorry, no can do. You know what it's like to have all your resoures invested in fighting an arch-enemy. Besides (as you might remember) I'm a peace-loving nation:) My giving him an extra fleet was meant as a move against England, (and to protect me) not you. I had no idea he'd build it in Marseille. Germany -> Austria: What kind of odds will you give me on England going out before Turkey? Sorry about the advise, but I sense that the world in which I spend years getting nothing from England while you waltz almost unopposed into Warsaw is unfair. Germany -> France: I'm out. You're welcome. What's next? I -> A I expect Russia to have made an all out attack on Rumania (w/ his repetitive Ank -> Rum move). Most probably this attack failed and/or you are inpossession of Moscow. Surely we hope you are in the Aegean otherwise we are going to made fun of by the GM once again... (I think he holds a grudge versus me) If you decided not to move to the Aegean this turn then don't worry about it... hopefully you will have ensured your making another gain from Russia pockets. After this year though I think I won't be able to partake of the division of Turkey since I expect France to be all over me and Germany to boldly go back to Munich. Assuming the German weenering his way back to Munich I expect to need my F Gre to hold off the French, around Fall05. OR you might consider a fleet of your own (assuming you get a build this turn) to help me out by supporting Tunis someday... IF Germany starts attacking some of them French THEN we should see there demise very soon. My F Gre will be able to help versus the Turks still, and maybe even another will be able to join the fray. Suggestions: IF you are in the Aegean then I would suggest you attack Con from Aegean w/ A Bul supporting. I will either try to move the Aeg after you or move around to EMe. Note... you won't be able to take Con w/out something breaking F Smy support (and certainly the Russian won't do it). IF you have abondoned the idea of moving to the Aegean for easier gains elsewhere (namely Mos,Sev) THEN this is kule. I might try to move to the Aeg myself in the Fall depending on what Germany does. IF Germany has not attacked France THEN I would suggest you consider building a fleet. Unless you have some phenominal luck, as in Russia supporting you into Con in the Fall then I think you we will need the extra fleet to finish of Turkey and hold off France. IF Germany is moving versus France THEN go for the armies since I should be able to free one up. I -> G Assuming you haven't taken Picardy/and or Paris I think I will just change all your pieces to Light Green. I -> E Good move that disband/rebuild. You should attack France with it. I -> F I offer you a chance to surrender and become my puppet. I -> R Just give him back Ankara if you are serious. Pay you dues and maybe he will be your pal. I -> T I almost saddened that I am assisting your enemy. Though most of my saddness is from the fact that I don't see any immediate/easy gain coming my way. I -> GM Quit pickin on me and I will let your unit survive in <<CENSORED BY GM!!!>>. 8) Turkey --> A-H: I'll be trying to get Ankara back. After I get Ankara back, how can I help you? France -> England: Unfortunately, looks like Italy is back knocking on the door again. This time, though, I think I'll send him back even more empty-handed than last time. If Russia stops with Norway, you should still be OK. My fleets are obviously still busy in the south, so it's unlikely I'll be able to help in the next few seasons. France -> Germany: Thanks for following through with my plan -- I think it's given me the boost I needed to make some real headway in the south. I think that right now that's more important than bashing England (I know you'd disagree, but you don't have the Italians foaming at the mouth at the gates, just like I don't have the English). If the Russians continue to provide some help, you'll get through OK. If not, things should be easing up in the south for me, giving me more options for the future. Whatever happens, I consider I owe you one, for giving me a bit of help with nothing obvious in it for you. Again, I apologize for the move back to Burgundy. My orders this turn ran the risk of losing Marseilles (again!), so I needed to position myself to get it back. I agree in principle with demilitarizing the border; just remember Burgundy is a strategic province in my war with Italy (since I keep risking Marseilles; kind of like you need to occupy Belgium on my border so long as you're at war with England). At any rate, thanks to your help in gaining me another fleet, the line in the south will start moving forward, and Marseilles will become safe without my army in Burgundy; then I can comply with an empty border. Why should you put up with my little war in the south? Right now you have a stable quiet border with France; if the Italians got through, who knows what plans they'd have? France -> Italy: Why????? France -> Austria-Hungary: Well, I know you have a vested interest in keeping Italy at war with me, since that keeps him off your back, but do you really expect anyone to believe that French/Italian rapproachment would really spell doom for Germany and Austria and Italy? I think you're over-rating my military! The real question is "What's Italy gaining from a war it can't win?" France -> Turkey & Russia: Austria seems to have become vocally anti- French, and seems mainly responsible for egging on the Italians. I guess that means I can offer you moral support without worrying about offending him. Turkey: Well hopefully you've moved into the Aegean and put yourself in a position to take Bulgaria back. Italy: You're going nowhere while Austria gets stronger...hmmm :) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Don Daybell daybell@usc.edu GM, Passchendaele ___________________________________________________________________________ If you are interested in joining the fun here on Electronic Protocol, send mail to Eric_S_Klien@cup.portal.com including your name, address, phone, e-mail address, and COUNTRY PREFERENCE LIST. He will add you to the waiting list and get you into a game as soon as possible. In closing, if anyone notices any errors, please let me know. my address is as follows: Donald "Dice Freak" Daybell daybell@usc.edu Up