Diplomacy zine -- Germany From: Eric_S_Klien@cup.portal.com Date: Tue, 23 May 1989 02:32:41 +0000 Issue #64 of ELECTRONIC PROTOCOL: Spring '07 of the game PANZER (BNC number 1989H) One player goofed, results will be sent by e-mail. Fall '03 of the game MAELSTROM (BNC number 1989AA) RUSSIA BITES THE DUST! AUSTRIA: No units, but was still technically in the game. ENGLAND: A BRE-H, (F ECH-MAO), (F NTS-ECH), F BAR-STP(nc) A NOR SF BAR-STP(nc) FRANCE: (A GAS-MAR), (F WME-MAO), F TUN-NAF, F TYS-TUN, A TUS-H GERMANY: A UKR-MOS, A WAR SA UKR-MOS, A LIV SF ENGLISH BAR-STP(nc) F SWE SA ENGLISH NOR-NOR, F BAL-DEN, (A BUR-MUN), A HOL-H ITALY: (A PIE-MAR), F NAP SF ROM-ROM, F ROM SF NAP-NAP A BUD SA TURKEY BUL-RUM, A TRI SA BUD-BUD, (A TYR-MUN) RUSSIA: (A STP-NOR), A FIN SA STP-NOR, A RUM-GAL, (F SEV-RUM) TURKEY: F EME-ION, F AEG SF EME-ION, F GRE-ALB, A BUL-RUM (A SER SA RUM-BUL) GM Notes on MAELSTROM: ENG: BEL BRE EDI LON LVP NOR STP = 7( 5) ++ FRA: MAR PAR POR SPA TUN = 5( 5) GER: BER DEN HOL KIE MOS MUN SWE WAR = 8( 7) + ITA: BUD NAP ROM TRI VEN VIE = 6( 6) RUS: SEV = 1( 3) -- TUR: ANK BUL CON GRE RUM SER SMY = 7( 5) ++ Russian unit STP was annhilated, Russia must select two more units to disband. The rest is obvious. Press: Okayyyy boys and girls. Heeeeeeeeeeere we go! Fall '03 of the game RED STORM (BNC number 1989AB) (GM is MaryFW@cup.portal.com) Summer 1903 Results for Red Strom --------------------------- Disbands: Austria: A Serbia Retreats: Russia: A Moscow-Sevastopol England: F London-North Sea Press: None. Hmmmmm..... You had all this time and still couldn't come up with some press??? Shame on you! GM Notes: Well. Look who's late this time. Would you believe I had modem trouble and couldn't get online? Needless to say I'm not going to say one word about being late this time. I would just point out that very few of you seemed to notice that I was late! In any case your next orders for the Fall of 1903 are due IN my mailbox by Sunday May 28th at 10:00pm Eastern time. Get them to me on time and I'll be on time with my results. < Mark > Spring '04 of the game PEARL HARBOR (BNC number 1989AV) (GM is Adams@multiflow.com/Steve Adams) NEW PLAYER FOR TURKEY : John Lawitzke - uunet!frith!ipecac!jhl (current Turkey is leaving school for summer vacation) NEW MAIL ADDRESS FOR ITALY : dl2n@andrew.cmu.edu ============================================================================== AUSTRIA : A BUD->TRI, [A VIE SA BUD->TRI], A SER SA BUD->TRI ENGLAND : F NWY->NTH, F SWE->NWY, F ENG->MAO, A FIN->STP, F NTH->ENG, F MAO->WES FRANCE : [F SPA(sc)->MAR], A PIC->BEL, A BUR HOLD, A PAR SA BUR HOLD, A BRE HOLD GERMANY : [A RUH->BUR], [A BEL SA A RUH->BUR], A MUN SA RUH->BUR, [A PIE->MAR], A BER->SIL, A WAR SA BER->SIL, F DEN->BAL ITALY : F ALB->GRE, A VEN->ALB, F ADR CA VEN->ALB, [A BOH->VIE], [A TRI SA BOH->VIE] RUSSIA : A GAL->UKR, A CON->SEV, [F ANK->CON], F BLK CA CON->SEV TURKEY : F SEV->RUM, F AEG->CON, A BUL SF AEG->CON, A SMY SF AEG->CON moves in '[]' failed. ============================================================================== Retreats : TURKEY : A TRI has been dislodged. (may go to TYR or VEN) Retreats are due by Tuesday, May 23, 1989, at 10PM EST. ============================================================================== Unit Locations : AUSTRIA : A Vienna, A Trieste, A Serbia ENGLAND : F North Atlantic, F English Channel, F North Sea, F Norway, A St. Petersburg, F Western Med FRANCE : F Spain(sc), A Brest, A Paris, A Burgandy, A Picardy GERMANY : F Baltic, A Belgium, A Ruhr, A Munich, A Silesia, A Warsaw, A Piedmont ITALY : A Bohemia, A Albania, F Adriatic, F Greece, A ???? RUSSIA : A Ukraine, A Sevastapol, F Ankara, F Black Sea TURKEY : F Constantinople, A Smyrna, A Bulgaria, F Rumania ============================================================================== (notes : Press should be interpreted as follows : ) ( Weekly World News : GM's notes ) ( European Gazette : "Grey Press" ) ( all others : "White or Black Press" ) ============================================================================== _The Weekly World News_ Spring 1904 Edition FRANCE BLOCKADED! RUSSIA AND TURKEY SWAP SUPPLY CENTERS! ITALY GRABS GREECE BUT LEAVES TUNIS WIDE OPEN! AUSTRIA RESURGENT! English navies now blockade France, and are ready to move in. German armies close the noose on land. France is in danger of losing multiple supply centers, and it does not appear that she has any allies who can help her. The disbanding of the Russian northern fleet has left England and Germany free to move on others. They now control 13 centers. Russia and Turkey continue their fruitless battle. Turkey made some headway by regaining Constantinople and occupying Rumania. Russia recaptured Sevastapol. But, Italy snuck into Greece, denying Turkey that center. Austrian troops marched gloriously into Trieste, but their victory may be short-lived. Italy has rarranged her troops and is readying a final assault. While it looked like Austria would be the first out, it now appears that it will be a contest between Russia, Austria and France. Italy may be in some danger, as Tunis is undefended, and an English fleet lurks in the Mediterranean. ============================================================================== -Steve (gm) Spring '03 of D-DAY (BNC number 1989AW) (GM is MaryFW@Cup.portal.com) Winter 1902 Results for D-Day --------------------------- First things first: I have 1 correction to make to my last posting. Remember that one? Well, I failed to list Greece as an Italian suppy center. I'm sure we all knew it was anyway. But just for the record, it is. Retreats: Austria: Disband A Budapest Turkey: Disband F Ankara France: A Belgium-Burgundy Builds: Command: England: F London, F Edinburgh Germany: F Kiel Russia: none Turkey: A Constantinople Austria: Disband F Albania Italy: F Rome, F Naples France: none Press: None, well, mostly none. I was sent this as press but it's more of a note. John Murry will be on vacation from 5/26-5/29. I wish him well and look forward to his return. GM Notes: Well. Yes, it's late isn't it. As I've said elsewhere I was having a bit of modem trouble. And as we all know when your modem doesn't work you can't get online. Well, it's here now and you all have until next Sunday May 28th at 10:00pm Eastern time to get me your next orders. Of course I'll take them sooner if you send them. I'm sorry for the delay. < Mark > Fall '01 of NAVARONE (BNC number 1989AX) (GM is Pwoodruf@orion.cf.uci.edu) NAVARONE Orders for FALL 1901 (failed moves in parens) AUSTRIA: (A Tri - Vie), A Ser S *Turkish* A Bul - Rum (NSO) , (F Alb - Gre) ENGLAND: F Nwg - Nor, A Yor - Bel, F Nth C A Yor - Bel FRANCE: F Mid - Por, A Mar - Spa, (A Bur - Mun) GERMANY: (F Den - Swe), A Kie - Hol, (A Ruh - Mun) ITALY: F Ion - Tun, (A Tyr - Mun), (A Ven - Tyr) RUSSIA: (F Bot - Swe), A Ukr S F Rum, (A Gal - Vie), F Rum hold TURKEY: (A Bul - Gre), F Con - Aeg, A Smy - Con Units: AUSTRIA: A Tri, A Ser, F Alb ENGLAND: F Nor, A Bel, F Nth FRANCE: F Por, A Spa, A Bur GERMANY: F Den, A Hol, A Ruh ITALY: F Tun, A Tyr, A Ven RUSSIA: F Bot, A Ukr, A Gal, F Rum TURKEY: A Bul, F Aeg, A Con Supply Centers and Builds/Disbandments (+n/-n) AUSTRIA: Bud, Tri, Vie, Ser (+1) ENGLAND: Edi, Lon, Yor, Bel, Nor (+2) FRANCE: Bre, Par, Mar, Por, Spa (+2) GERMANY: Ber, Kie, Mun, Den, Hol (+2) ITALY: Nap, Rom, Ven, Tun (+1) RUSSIA: Mos, StP, Sev, War, Rum (+1) TURKEY: Ank, Con, Smy, Bul (+1) BUILD orders due Midnight (EST), Tuesday, May 23 *********************************************************************** Press: ****** AUSTRIAN EMPEROR DENIES GULLIBILITY Budapest (AP) - Stricken by rumors of gullibility among the highest ranks of the Austrian government, Emperor Franz Vick held a charged press conference today and angrily denied the charges. "Its perfect silly." he said, "I know exactly what I'm doing, even if others don't. So what if we're surrounded - I planned it that way. It's all part of my little 'plan'. Yeah, that's it." When asked about the furor surrounding the large governmental outlays given to projects such as the building of a hydraulic dam on the Adriatic Sea, Vick's only comment was, "Hey, we all make a few mistakes now and then. I just wanted to make sure the faithful subjects of Trieste weren't flooded if a tidal wave hit the Adriatic." In other news, Vick recently unveiled a new advertising campaign promoting Austria-Hungary as a premier vacation spot. The new campaign touts the beauty of the Austrian countryside, as well as Austria's proximity to many other prime touring countries. Led by the slogan "Austria - It's Great to Visit, but You Wouldn't Want to Stay Here.", the emperor is subsidizing special group hotel rates for tour groups over 500, on the condition the groups leave the country by the close of the season. ******************************* Pete's Points: Loud "sproings" were reported all over Europe (with the surprising ex- ception of Belgium) as armies bounced hither and yon. The dust cleared to show an even distribution of power, with confused situations in southern Germany and the Balkans. Due to a mixup at the central post office, one press dispatch was lost (from Russia, we believe); the management apologizes. The various news services are urged to emulate AP's Hungarian correspondent. Thanks to everyone for being prompt with your orders: lets keep it up. Votes on two-week turns are tied at 2-2 right now, so the deadline for the next move is Sun May 28, 10pm EST. I will be away next Fri and Sat, so don't count on last-minute message forwarding. Remember, builds are due by Tuesday midnight (Eastern Standard Time). ******************************** Spring '01 of BLITZKRIEG (BNC number not known) (GM is Dougi@astro.as.utexas.edu/Doug Ingram) (GM for Fall and Winter '01 is John_E_Murray@cup.portal.com) Spring moves due Sunday the 28th at 10 PM Eastern time. GM comments: I am also now using a mailing list to directly mail this zine to all players, let me know if you are not getting it directly! I am looking for GMs as well as players, let me know if you would like to be a GM! Here's the answers to last weeks quiz: From yaj@wdl1.fac.ford.com (Jay Luo) England: F Nth-Eng, F Lon S F Nth-Eng France: F Eng C German A Pic-Bre (fails, must retreat), A Bre holds (must retreat) Germany: A Pic-Bre, A Par S A Pic-Bre 1982 edition rules, paragraph XII.6 ambiguously says that "If an army could arrive at its destination either overland or by convoy, one route must be considered and the other disregarded, depending upon intent as shown by the totality of the orders written by the player governing the army." I would interpret this as meaning the German player cannot be screwed by the English and French players in this manner. After all, it is difficult to picture this happening. "Oh, Oberst! These fine British ships will make it easier for you to sack Normandy!" "Danke schoen, Admiral Nelson! You haff saved us a long valk!" -Yaj From ordania-dm@cup.portal.com: E: F Nts succeeds in taking Eng because it has no support. F: the convoy order fails because England takes Eng. Both of the French units are disbanded. G: Both moves succeed and he takes Bre. I believe I pointed this out to you once before. The rule governing this situation is "XII. THE CONVOY ORDER, #6 BOTH A CONVOY ROUTE AND AN OVERLAND ROUTE.". Though the French player would dearly have loved to see Germany take the convoy route (thereby preventing him from Taking BRE), the German player MUST state that he is allowing himself to be convoyed by another power if he has a choice of routes. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Both players are correct. My houserules define "intent" since I find this a little vague, but in this situation the "intent" was obviously to go by land. Taken from Passchendaele #85: QUO VADIS?! A LOOK AT GERMANY IN 1901 By Francois Cuerrier Germany and Austria are often lumped together in the category of "central powers", both occupying the middle ground and both surrounded by four neighbors. The operative connotation is that defense becomes difficult if not impractical without the benefit of a secure rear. But the comparison must end there: whereas the main Austrian preoccupation is with avoidance of an early two-front war, Germany can usually count on the benevolence of its eastern neighbors. A poor Austrian performance will usually be reflected by partition in 1902-1903, while for Germany the serious obstacles will commonly arise in the mid-game, when even 10-center positions end up sandwiched. Normally only France and England are the immediate enemies, but even they wil lmake little headway until at least one of Hel, Ska, or Bal have been secured. Even this outflanking maneuver can be delayed or even halted completely by two German fleets (given Russian assistance or neutrality), but in the end your own doom is no longer in question as under the best of circumstances the coup de grace will come from some eastern power sooner or later. Great potential has been bestowed on the position, for once the west is stablized it becomes relatively easy to barrel armies out of the eastern borders... but success will depend on your ability to break away from the rest of the pack early in the game. Quick, easy access to most of the mapboard is available, but with time suffocation will set in as powerful rivals start tugging away at opposite ends of the empire. German tolerance for long, drawn out games is low - beware of "allies" who keep pace with you: England: its alliance will be most profitable, but also fraught with danger. Together, you can overrun most of France and Russia even against unified opposition, if only because this contest will not exactly be two on two: Russia's resources will in all likelihood be tied up somewhere further south, and its northern forces are often too far flung to coordinate effectively. Indeed, you should be very open to English offers in this direction, because this is your most distinct diplomatic advantage: if France cannot be trusted, then at least you will be able to outbid her for English favour. Yet the English alliance is a curse in disguise. In supporting English claims to Scandinavia, you will make no friends in Saint- Petersburg, though in the aftermath they are hardly in a position to retaliate and a few years later should even thank you for not taking Warsaw as well. Still, English preponderance in the area is undersible because it opens up your flank, if nothing else. Of bigger concern will be the inevitable restrictions that the English will attempt to place on the size of the German fleet as final price for the cherished alliance. This demand is very difficult to sidestep, although any request for cooperation against Russia should be met by the build of a second fleet as "security" against the unpredicatble reactions of a presumably hostile Russian fleet. Still, in the long run it will not be possible to continue building fleets, meaning that in the end naval supremacy will have to be conceded. Your only opportunity will come if, all of a sudden, you find yourself with two builds, bringing your naval arsenal to four. A competant England will always outpace your own growth, however, as StP/Swe are easier targets than say, Warasw; and the French coastal centers are more vulnerable than your own share of the spoils because of the difficult Bur/Pic line. Do not expect to do too well into the mid-game, because you will increasingly become a tempting target as the French/Russian threats are gradually reduced, and then eliminated. England may continue its expansion into the Mediterranean, but in order to get anywhere in the Balkans you will still have to literally turn your back. France: quite possibly a better long term ally, if only because of the absence of any restrictions on your fleet. Still, such an alliance is hard to set up: The best the French will usually volunteer is a "free for all" on the English centers, Nwy/Edi. You should commit the French to a support in 1902, perhaps in return for support into Lon in 1903. If necessary, blurt out that you are not interested in distracting English attention only so he can pick up some easy centers, and that if he is interested in removing England as his only inevitable mid- game stab risk, some cooperation is in order. While France seems assured of both Lpl/Lon, you are likely to run amock of Russian competition over the distant Edi/Nwy. Generally you will have the upper hand as few Russias can afford a second northern fleet as early as 1902; nevertheless, they can easily act as the spoiler, and contingency plans should be made accordingly. Belgium is probably the sorest point, as both of you have equal claim and ambition over that neutral. Your diplomacy should be aggressive: at the very least, Belgium should be yours until the conquest of England. French expansion will be quicker as a result of the alliance, and some compensation is deserved in return. Remember that as Germany you cannot permit even your allies to outpace your growth. Possibly the most common source of distrust after the Ven/Tri border, paradoxically, is possible that neither of you will have tipped his hand against England, and a "stab" of sorts can occur if one of you reneges on his naval commitments, leaving the former "ally" holding the bag vis-a-vis a furious England. As Germany, at least, the scales are tipped in your favour for you can always point to Russia for an excuse (but don't be surprised if the argument doesn't wash); France will be hard pressed to explain F Bre. Obviously no article can rationalize choices/breaches of trust: rely on your own instincts. Russia: Historically German realtions with this neighbour have been dictated by convenience, and in the game very little is changed. The only occasion where active Russian involvement might be welcomed is in the event of a hostile EF alliance, though in this case he will have no good reason to take some of the beating for you and will tend to mind his own business. Otherwise Russia is mostly a nusiance that must be temporarily accomodated, a latent threat to be dealt with later. This is not too hard to do, for he is in no position to spare the units required for a campaign against you. Your diplomacy should ensure that he never does. Your immediate concern is to weaken your opponent. As soon as Russia gets past six centers, she gains the ability for a limited war on a second front - if not against England, then against you. Since you will be helpless in guiding her choice of opponent, it is best to prevent matters from getting this far in the first place. The easiest way, no doubt, is by propping up Austria, the natural bulwark to Russian expansionism. You can achieve this by threatening to bounce over Sweden if any attack on Austria is made in 1901. After this your involvement should be limited to encouraging attacks on Russia, possibly even an AT alliance, thought too strong of a southern power block will cause you problems down the road as well. If your main alliance is with England, you may be asked to bounce Russia out REGARDLESS of its southern policy. This is fair game, for Russia does not have the means to retaliate with much credibility, and in any event at five centers usually makes too good of a target for AT to pass up. If your main alliance is with France, then perhaps some of your own armies will be available for an eastern campaign as early as 1902. The opportunity to compensate for French gains in Lpl/Lon should not be passed up, and in the right circumstances a demilitarization agreement of the French border will free the units you need to create LEBENSRAUM. ((What ever that means.)) Italy: Certainly the most critical player to your own welfare, he amazingly is vastly underused. He must be persuaded to move west. Any other Italian policy will undermine your own goals somewhat. Arguably your very first letter should go to Italy. In it, you should mention that Russia may back off any contemplated action against Austria for fear of losing Sweden. This alone will make any Italian think twice, introducing an element of doubt regarding the realiablitity of his only natural ally - and if he passes the letter along, it will reinforce Russia's impression that you mean business. Your second argument should be that you are prepared to move A Mun- Tyr in F01 if Italian intentions appear hostile, ensuring that any sneak attack on Munich will fail, and causing the classical F01 A Tyr SA Ven-Tri to fail (if A Ven SA Tyr-Tri, then you slip in and AG can kick Italy our in 1902). All of a sudden the attack on Austria becomes less attractive, except possibly for the normally unsuccessful A Ven-Tri. From this there's only a small step to persuading Italy to go west. Turkey is the only other target, and lately has been an unpopular one at that - for good reason, because Smyrna is the lone likely gain. France, on the other hand, offers Spa/Mar/Por. Since your letter is so anti-French in tone, Italy may reasonably assume that he has at least one ally. Austria will usually be only too pleased to offer guarantees of neutrality as may be required. Your initiative is really two-fold: leave AT free to weaken Russia, and get Italy to bog down the French. There's nothing like a small Italian expedition to take the fun out of French gains against England, enabling you to become the dominant partner in the alliance. And if France is the enemy, then you WANT England and Italy to compete for the coastal centers. Even if your diplomacy in this respect fails, do not despair: a strong Italy can still come in handly later on against either a former French or English ally... Austria/Turkey: In the early stages of the game, you may want to encourage an AT alliance against Russia, but not to the point that they will trust each other so implicitly to the point of leaving their common border undefended. It is amazing how many Austrias do this, only to be gobbled up by Turkey later on. Once they've divided up the Russian centers, it is of course desirable that they go at one another's throat until you reach the position from which you can tip toe in and decide the outcome of their war...to your own advantage. An early AT attack on Italy is bad news, removing this useful ally while at the same time turning them into the dominant power block of the game. Taken from the David Letterman May 12, 1989 show: TOP TEN PANAMANIAN TOURIST SLOGANS 10) Lead pipe fever -- catch it! 9) Our swaggering pock-marked dictator has free balloons for the kids. 8) You can sell your home movies to the nightly news. 7) Small low-flying unmarked planes leave every hour. 6) If professional wrestling were a country... 5) Boy--that ayatollah is nuts, isn't he? 4) Over 3 billion beaten! 3) Don't like our new president-elect? Then punch him in the face! 2) What--like nobody was ever killed at Disney World? 1) The opposite of civilization. I am enjoying moderating this zine, keep that mail coming! Eric Klien Up