Diplomacy zine -- Chapter Three

From: Eric_S_Klien@cup.portal.com

Date: Thu, 12 Oct 1989 00:39:01 +0000

Issue #105 of ELECTRONIC PROTOCOL:

Chapter One contains:

D-DAY, NAVARONE, BLITZKRIEG, OPERATION OVERLORD, GETTYSBURG, and HMS HOOD

And is published by Daybell@aludra.usc.edu/Donald Daybell

Chapter Two contains:

DRAGONSLAYER, DOUGHBOY, BISMARK, COLD WAR, JACAL, and TRENCHFOOT

And is published by Tedward@cs.cornell.edu/Ted Fischer

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Chapter Three
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Spring '03 of the game TANNENBURG (BNC number 1989HZ)
(GM is ebrosius@lucy.wellesley.edu/Eric Brosius)

Not Received, although it was sent out to players.  I have a great
connection with Eric!

Autumn and Winter '01 of the gunboat game VERDUN (MNC number 1989AZrb32)
(GM is sccs6069@iruccibm.bitnet/Michael O'Regan)

Not Received.

Spring '15 of the 1914 variant ENTENTE (MNC number not known)
(GM is matt@oddjob.uchicago.edu/Matt Crawford)

Due October 13th.

Fall '02 of the Blind variant MULHOUSE (MNC number not known)
(GM is barry@freezer.it.udel.edu/Barry T. Fausnaugh)

Not due yet.

Summer '01 of the game DAWN PATROL (BNC number not known)
(GM is sinhaa@mcmaster.ca/Anand Sinha)

Nothing happened.

Spring '01 of the game BUSHIDO (BNC number not known)
(GM is ronin@cory.berkeley.edu/Sam Parazette)

I know the game is now organized, don't have the Spring '01 deadline
yet.

Spring '01 of the game HUGO (BNC number not known)
(GM is willis@trwind.ind.trw.com/Willis Marti)

Due Oct 15th.

Spring '01 of the gunboat game ?? (MNC number not known)
(GM is sccs6016@iruccibm.bitnet/Gearoid Casey)

I don't even have a game name at this stage.

GM comments:

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     Transmitted via scribe code name Video Dienstag/CS107124@YUSOL.BITNET
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Taken from Hoosier Archives #38:

The Reverse Lepanto -- Who Said It Couldn't Be Done?

By Len Lakofka

Poor Austria gets its rear end kicked in another game!  Everyone sighs
and says, "Poor soul; too bad he didn't get a good country!"  Be he did!  The
effective coalition that is furiously dismissed by pedant and prophet alike is
the Austro-Turkish alliance.  "It has no vigor or possibility" is the usual
canard.  Yet every workable tandem can be achieved if Italy can be abated for
one year.
     Austria:  A Vie-Gal, A Bud-Ser, F Trie-Alb; Turkey:  F Ank-Con, A Con-Bul,
Smy-Arm?!  This seems almost standard for S01 save for a Smy-Arm.  The move,
coupled with a shift to Galicia, keeps Russia at bay.  He may take Rumania but
he can't be aggressive because the fall moves will be:  A Vie-Tyo or A Gal-Rum
A Ser/S/A Gal-Rum, F Alb-Ion!  A Bul-Gre, F Con-Bul(ac)!?, A Arm-Sev or Ank
depending on choice.
     What a strange combination, I hear you cry.  But look at it carefully.
Russia has likely not gained Rumania or lost Sevastopol.  Austria gets one or
two builds, Turkey gets one at least, possibly two.  If Austria and Turkey
each get TWO, the alliance will blast Russia AND Italy to HELL and back by
building F Smy and F Ank!? for Turkey and A Bud & F Tri?! for Austria.
     In S02, Austria convoys Turkish A Gre-Apu!! while attacking Venice with
support from Tyrolia.  In short, it becomes such a devastating opening for the
two powers that the West must turn its head quickly or be lost.
     If Italy supports Venice in place and its fleets try to stop Ionian by
dislodgement F Ionian to the Tyrrhenian! Austria can vary the opening and stab
for Tyrrhenian at once or go to Adriatic and cover Trieste with A Budapest.
Playability and "mix" are given to the side with the interior lines.

Taken from The Watergate Vol. 1 Issue 8:

The Austro-Turkish Alliance

By Gil Neiger

Of all the alliances usually discussed, the Austro-Turkish is one of the
most neglected.  Despite this fact, this alliance comes close to being
unbeatable after a few years of growth.
     The key to this alliance is an equal sharing of the Balkans without a
fight, an area which would normally take up several units from both sides.
After that the two go after Russia, then Italy, and then the West.  After a
few years the alliance will be in strong defensive position, and be able to
push back all but the strongest alliances.
     On the first turn Turkey moves against Russia (Fleet Ankara to the Black
Sea, Army Smyrna to Armenia, and Army Constantinople to Bulgaria) while
Austria moves Army Vienna to Budapest and Army Budapest to Serbia, holding
Trieste.  Even if Turkey didn't get into the Black Sea, things are still
okay, but if Russia's in Galicia, the alliance is threatened.  Austria should
do her best to convince Russia of her good intentions and try to get Russia to
move Army Galicia to Rumania, which Russia might want to do anyway. In Fall
1901, Austria moves Army Budapest to Rumania supported by Armies Serbia and
Bulgaria.  In Spring or Fall, Turkey takes Greece.  Now the alliance gets
moving.
     Sevastopol should fall in 1902, since Russia only got one build and may
be troubled by England or Germany also.  In a few years Russia should be
carved up with Austria getting Warsaw and Turkey getting Sevastopol, Moscow,
and maybe even St. Petersburg.  Simultaneously, or shortly after, they hit
Italy with Turkey getting Naples and Tunis, Austria getting Venice, and Rome
being debatable.  Then Austria hits Germany while Turkey goes after France.
     Of course, this isn't to say that the combinations can't be stopped; a
good deal depends on what happens in the West.  If France and Germany hit
England, and leave Russia alone, the Turks and Austrians may find themselves
stopped rather early.
     HOW TO STOP IT:  The problem with stopping the Austro-Turkish alliance is
that it is best stopped if detected before the first moves.  If Russia moves
into Galicia and suspects the Austro-Turkish alliance (there are a number of
tell-tale signs), he should move into Budapest, which will be unprotected.  Of
course, Austria can then build Army Vienna and kick the Russians out, but not
if Russia moves Army Budapest to Trieste with Italian support.  Also, in
Spring 1902, Italy would move Fleet Ionian Sea to the Adriatic and Fleet Naples
to the Ionian Sea.  Italy could then support herself to Trieste, which the
Russians would move out of with Galicia's support, and convoy Army Tunis to
Albania.
     An interesting move for the Austrian might be to move Fleet Trieste to
Albania in the first year, to throw the Russian off, and move it back in the
Fall.  The problem is that Austria might get too greedy and try for Greece and
three builds.
     More than most alliances, this one requires a lot of trust.  For the
first few years, Turkey will be in a good position to attack Austria, and
Austria won't be too happy with Turkey getting most of the early spoils.  But
after a few years the alliance should become practically stab-proof, as all
good alliances should be.

Remember that the more that you guys type in, the more articles that I can
print!

I am enjoying moderating this zine, keep that mail coming!

Eric Klien