Diplomacy zine -- Chapter Three From: Eric_S_Klien@cup.portal.com Date: Mon, 04 Sep 1989 23:57:16 +0000 Issue #94 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 ------------- Chapter Three ------------- Fall '01 of the game TANNENBURG (BNC number 1989HZ) (GM is Ebrosius@lucy.wellesley.edu/Eric Brosius) Not received due to GM having e-mail problems. Spring '01 of the gunboat game VERDUN (MNC number 1989AZrb32) (GM is Sccs6069@iruccibm.bitnet/Michael O'Regan) Moves in * * failed, or bounced or whatever. And my, my ye did a lot of it. AUSTRIA A(Vie) -> Gal A(Bud) -> Ser *F(Tri) -> Ven* ENGLAND *F(Lon) -> ENG* F(Edi) -> NTH A(Lpl) -> Edi FRANCE *F(Bre) -> ENG* A(Mar) s A(Par) -> Bur A(Par) -> Bur GERMANY A(Ber) -> Kie A(Mun) -> Ruh F(Kie) -> Hol ITALY F(Nap) -> TYS *A(Ven) -> Tri* *A(Rom) -> Ven* RUSSIA *F(Sev) -> BLA* A(Mos) -> Ukr A(War) -> Lvn F(StP(sc)) -> GoB TURKEY *F(Ank) -> BLA* A(Con) -> Bul A(Smy) -> Con UNIT POSITIONS Austria : F(Tri), A(Gal), A(Ser) England : F(Lon), F(NTH), A(Edi) France : F(Bre), A(Bur), A(Mar) Germany : F(Hol), A(Ruh), A(Kie) Italy : F(TYS), A(Ven), A(Rom) Russia : F(Sev), A(Ukr), A(Lvn), F(GoB) Turkey : F(Ank), A(Bul), A(Con) ======================================== Stop the press! Who`s that? Vicki Vale. ======================================== GM -> All : Here`s the deadline summary. Why do ye call it labor day if none of ye work on it ? Bloody Americans !!! :-) Fall 01 moves + press Wed Sept 6th WINTER 01 retreats/builds + press Fri Sept 8th SPRING 02 moves + press ?????????????? ======================================== Austria to Italy: Austria's move into Venice should not be considered hostile. Our fleet went there to insure the security of Trieste. If you vacated Venice and my fleet actually entered there, I will retreat from Venice in the fall. If our forces bounced in Venice, then I only hope that we have not placed too large an imposition on Italy. ======================================== Austria to Russia: Our movement to Galicia should not be considered hostile. We went there to insure the security of our northern border. If the army actually entered Galicia then I can assure you we will, under no circumstances, move to Warsaw or any other Russian province. If our forces bounced in Galicia, then I hope that Austria hasn't upset Russia's plans too much. ======================================== London, England (UPI) Through her Press Minister, the Queen today strongly expressed her anger at what appears to be agents within, or possibly outside, the British government stating official policy of her government. She issued the following statement, "While our relationship with our French neighbors has been precarious in the past, I assure the French people that England has no hostile intentions toward them. My military ministers tell me that our attempt to control the English channel is for the purpose of safeguarding the Island. This act should not be interpreted as one of hostile intent toward France." In addition, the Prime Minister wishes to make the following formal announcement, "In return for allowing England to control the English channel, we make the following offers to France. First, we will not invade any part of the French home land for 2 years, as long as France treats England similarly. Furthermore, we are willing to use our naval assets to aid the French in gaining territory in northern Europe. Clearly, we must together deny Germany the luxury of controlling central Europe and must unite to prevent such a situation. Finally, we will not attempt to land any English soldier on the Continent's soil, unless the French request an expeditionary force to aid the destruction of Germany." There was no comment from the Prime Minister's office regarding England's position toward Russia, although many suspect that at least non-aggression will be maintained. -- End -- ======================================== Berlin Times, April 7, 1901 Berlin: The Kaiser announced that in order to prevent hostile forces from occupying Germany, the army and navy have been ordered to move. The 1st German Fleet in Kiel has secured Holland. The 1st Division of the Army has moved into the port of Kiel to prevent enemies from gaining a foothold in Germany. The 2nd Division of the German Army has moved into the Ruhr valley to ensure that "the industry that makes Germany so great is protected from invaders" ======================================== Italy -> all: Intelligence reports have reached Mr. Roberti about treachery from the A/H forces. "Our borders will be protected", he said in a nationally televised news conference today. "Further treachery was uncovered against the Czar as well. This lack of respect for treaties cannot go unnoticed." Mr. Roberti, the now very powerful Foreign Minister of Italy is said to be using his diplomatic powers to crush the so-called A/H empire by joining forces with the Czar as well as the Great Sultan of Turkey. ======================================== Italy -> France: You betcha! ======================================== Italy -> Turkey: The diverse peoples of the Balkans cry out for you to stop the progress of the A/H forces in the area. ======================================== GM comments: I definitely could use some more scribes, let me know how many pages you would like to type in and I'll send them to you. (This is real important, my wrist is a mess!) If anyone would like to GM the remaining turns of a twenty player Diplomacy game, let me know. The game is now down to 7 players and you would start GMing September 27th. I could also use additional archivers for this zine. An archiver keeps copies of all issues published. An archiver may decide to specialize in certain chapters. (Just let me know which ones.) I am now ready to place our first display ad in a magazine. (PAPER MAYHEM). If anyone would like to donate money for this ad, send dough to Eric Klien, 1 Sinai Circle B10, Chelmsford, MA 01824. The more people we can tell about our games the better! (Note that this and my other zine are non profit -- all money donated will only go towards ads not towards the expensive of running the zines.) Someone mentioned that it may be possible to run the same classified ad in all University papers at once, does anyone know anything about this? Taken from Diplomacy World #44: SPLITTING THE RUSSIA ATTACK By Peter Mateunas The Russian's white block appears in your hand for the Diplomacy game, and now that sinking feeling of paranoia sets in during initial negotiations. You don't know who to trust and feel as if all knives are pointed at Moscow. Early Russian diplomacy indicates a tentative alliance with Turkey for game's length, or at least until Austria is eliminated. Austria is suggesting an alliance with Italy against Turkey, and would like Russian support. Meanwhile Italy claims Austria and Turkey are planning to split Russia up the middle. England declines negotiations. France offers to split Germany between Russia, England, and herself. Germany claims she has an alliance with France against England, and wants Russia to join. Meanwhile, Italy claims England and Germany are going to divide France and want Italian support. For further confusion Austria is convinced the west has a tripple alliance and is encouraging Russia to attack Germany as well as Turkey. Well, here is a Russian opening you might try: Fleet St. Petersburg south coast-Gulf of Bothnia, Army Moscow-St. Petersburg, Army Warsaw-Ukraine, and Fleet Sevastapol-Black Sea. Lets examine this opening in terms of the west first. It is probably to Russia's advantage to keep the west in turmoil as long as possible. If France or Germany are eliminated she will become the center of attention for at least one of the remaining two. Eliminating England is usually desirable for Russia. Therefore, the first half of this essay will center around forming a Franco-German alliance against England. At the end of the spring 1901 turn, Russia should have some indication as to whether there is a triple alliance or not. Two such indicators would be, both German armies going toward Russia, or one German army going south to Tyrolia while one French army travels east against Italy. Other indicators can and will occur. If there is a western triple, Russia is in a good position for a slugfest in Scandinavia. Warn the east and try to rally them, move army Ukraine back to Warsaw, and use your diplomatic skills to end the western alliance. If there is no triple alliance, then one of the three conditions below should exist. First, France and Germany are united against England. Use your diplomatic skill to maintain it. Encourage Italy to go south. Germany should allow Russia to take Sweden. If you want a fleet in St. Petersburgh north coast in 1902; then attack Finland with army St. Petersburg. Otherwise attack Norway and possibly deny it to the English. If you attack Norway look to build a fleet in St. Petersburg north coast in 1903 as it is essential in taking Norway and having a secure northern border. Second, England is united with France or Germany. If Germany is the English ally, Russia's hands will be full taking Sweden. Build fleet St. Petersburg north coast if Rumania is taken, and send the southern army west towards Berlin. Consider putting the fleet from the Gulf of Bothnia in the Baltic. This may be enough to convince the Germans to switch alliances. If he is stubborn and refuses, consider eliminating Germany with French or Italian help. France should be able to hold its own with Russia pressuring Norway and Germany. Good diplomatic relations with Austria and Turkey will be needed if you go west, as the fleet in the Black Sea theater is extremely vulnerable. If Germany is the victim, concentrate on Norway. Encourage Italy to go west with army Venice, just as it should go north if France is the victim. With Russian and Italian aid, the Germans should be able to withstand the Anglo-French alliance. If this is the situation it will take longer to convince the French to join the Germans. Be prepared to shift strategies as the alliances switch. You want to obtain the Franco-German alliance by making the continental powers realize it is useless to ally with England because Russia will ally with the victim. Remember to encourage Italy to stay on your side as it is more effective in creating the Franco-German alliance. The third possiblity is all three may be fighting one another with no alliance. Fine, let them. Attack Norway after securing Sweden, and work on a negotiated peace between France and Germany. Try to obtain Sweden with fleet Gulf of Bothnia and Norway with fleet St. Petersburg north coast; which would be built with the Swedish dot. Upon taking Norway, build a second fleet in St. Petersburg north coast. This fleet is essential in taking the Barents Sea, and holding Scandinavia. It will also be the spearhead into the Norwegian Sea. Also, work on shifting fleet Sweden to Skagerrak, and army Finland to Sweden. The east is another matter. I would only recommend this opening if you think Italy is pulling your leg. If you think he is telling the truth, do something else. It will leave you in a better position to handle the Austro-Turkish alliance. Such is not likely, but does occasionally occur. Fleet Sevastapol-Black Sea is good for two reasons. If allied with Turkey, it lulls Austria's suspicions. If Russia is allied with Austria, it keeps Turkey off the water. So long as they are not allied against you, tell them both Russia is their ally and get an assurance of Rumania. Hopefully Rumania can be taken with army Ukraine should no one threaten Warsaw. It is better to have the army in Rumania because it gives Russia more choice in attacking the Balkans. The fleet only allows an attack or support on Bulgaria. If Austria went to Galicia, then army Ukraine back to Warsaw, and fleet Sevastapol to Rumania. The same is true for the fall 1901 move, if there is German aggression toward central Russia. With any luck Russia will get two builds, Rumania and Sweden, and have it sorted out as to who is who in the zoo. Then you can plan the eastern strategy more concretely. The split Russian attack is unique and some might even argue dangerous due to the dual fronts. The opening is primarily anti- English. The thrust of the attack pressures primarily England, and allows Russia to pressure Germany as necessary. With both the fleet and army in Scandinavia it gives Russia a more defensively secure north in case of heavy English aggression, with good possibilities of counter-attack. The east is slower developing. If Russian diplomacy is successful she will get Rumain. By taking Rumania in fall 1901, Russia has given herself time to sort out the alliances and forestalled the final decision of who she's supporting until spring 1902. Russia is weak defensively in the east should she come under early assault. If Russia receives only one build at the end of 1901, and wants a more secure southern postrue, put it in Warsaw if in alliance with Turkey. If allied with Austria, then Moscow is probably the best place for it, unless Sevastapol is open. If Russia faces an Anglo-German alliance then she will need a fleet in St. Petersburg north coast or an army in Warsaw to maintain parity. The underlying principle is to tag along as a minor ally in both the east and west, and pick up the peripheral supply centers. As a general rule, gains in the south should build units for the south; while gains in Scandinavia should be for fleets in St. Petersburg north coast. By keeping the number of fleets small on each front, Russia is less likely to be considered a threat by eastern or western allies. She should not have to worry about a stab until on the shores of England, or having divided up an eastern power with an ally. The two or three units in both north and south help prevent an early effective stab. Russia may need to ally with Austria to gain Italian support in the west. It is difficult to convince the Italian to divide Austria between Turkey and Russia, as it usually leaves Italy in a poor position. The Turkish alliance is easiest to justify when a Franco-German alliance appears early. In this case Russia is not in need of Italian help in the west. Encourage Italy to go south against Turkey. This will slow down Turkish expansion and allow Russia to gain the lions shares of the supply centers. If you ally with Austria, Turkey is in trouble, but Russian gains are minimal. If you ally with Turkey it will slow their expansion and with a little luck Russia will gain the bulk of Austria. There are three keys to Russian success in this opening. First will be taking Sweden as early as possible, thus allowing a swift northern alliance advance with the building of a fleet in St. Petersburg north coast. Second, creating a Franco-German alliance against England. Finally, getting Rumania in 1901 so Russia can build a unit in the south for security against any possible aggression. I am enjoying moderating this zine, keep that mail coming! Eric Klien Up