No one does commentary like Bill.

Thank you for your contribution to this game. Your photoshops are always welcome. Perhaps you will give me devil horns and a pitchfork next time.

1901 - An Illustrated History (by the Ghost of Diplomacy Past)

CAN'T FIND A BETTER MAN

After being mercilessly and repeatedly betrayed by Tony last game, Damian has returned for a second helping. He dreams in color, he dreams in red...

SUPER BARNARD BROS. SWING SOME PIPE

A successful feint leads the Barnard twins to multiple builds and a tranquil Western flank. As Luigi says at sexual climax, "Yahooooooo!"

Winter 1901

Builds are highlighted in yellow.  A nice touch if I do say so myself.

Austria-Hungary

Army Vienna, Army Trieste

England

Army London

France

Army Paris

Germany

Army Kiel

Italy

Fleet Naples

Russia

Army St. Petersburg

Turkey

Fleet Symrna

Sorry for the delay.  Now we are all on the same page.  I will keep to the 24 hour deadline from this point forward.  Submissions for Spring 1902 are due by midnight Friday Jan. 2nd.

Missing Player...

I have the builds, they are processed, minus Tom.  I feel that we should wait for him, as it has been very snowy in NY the past few days, and he has school and such.  Therefore, we will suspend Diplomacy for 1 week.  I am away for the next few days.  I'll be back Sunday.  I'll process without Tom if he does not respond by the time I return.  Sorry about the delay.  Have a nice Holiday.

Results Fall 1901

The moves...

Austria - Hungary

F Albania -> Greece
A Serbia S F Albania -> Greece
A Budapest S A Ukraine -> Rumania

England

A York to Norway with convoy
F North Sea convoy York to Norway
F English Channel to Belgium

France

F Mid-Atlantic to Spain (NC)

A Paris to Brest

A Burgundy to Belgium

Germany

F Denmark -> Sweden
A Munich -> Burgundy
A Berlin -> Silesia

Italy

A Trieste -> Albania

A Apulia -> Tunisia

F Ionian Sea Convoys A Apulia -> Tunisia

Russia

A Ukraine -> Rumania
F Black Sea S Ukraine -> Rumania
A Warsaw -> Silesia

F Gulf of Bothnia -> Baltic Sea

Turkey

A Bulgaria -> Greece
A Ankara -> Constantinople
F Constantinople -> Agean Sea

The results...

Summary of 1901...

Austria-Hungary commands 5 centers and may build 2 units.

England commands 4 centers and may build 1 unit.

France commands 4 centers and may build 1 unit.

Germany commands 4 centers and may build 1 unit.

Italy commands 4 centers and may build 1 unit.

Russia commands 5 centers and may build 1 unit.

Turkey commands 4 centers and may build 1 unit.

No retreats, winter builds are due by midnight Sunday December 21st.  

Map #1 it is

The results of the poll, map #1 is our winner.  

Reminder, submissions for the fall 1901 are due midnight PST friday.

If they are all in by then, I'll process them early saturday morning.

I have posted a new poll for how to proceed for the holiday and spring 1902.  Should we delay things, or should we continue as usual?

The map

I have received a lot of feedback about the map I used to post the moves.  So I have decided to give everyone 2 options.  They are posted below.  Please vote for which you like the most and I will use the winning map for all future posts.

Map #1

Map #2

Results Spring 1901

Austria - Hungary

F Trieste -> Albania
A Budapest -> Serbia

A Vienna -> Budapest

England

A Liverpool ->York
F Edinburgh -> North Sea
F London -> Enlgish Channel

France

F Brest -> Mid-Atlantic

A Marseilles -> Burgundy

A Paris supports Marseilles -> Burgundy

Germany

A Berlin -> Prussia
F Kiel -> Denmark

A Munich -> Burgundy

Italy

A Rome -> Apulia

F Naples -> Ionian Sea

A Venice -> Trieste

Russia

F Sevastol -> Black Sea
A Moscow -> Ukraine
A Warsaw -> Prussia

F St. Petersburg(sc)** -> Gulf of Bothnia

Turkey

A Constantinople -> Bulgaria
F Ankara -> Constantinople
A Smyrna -> Ankara

**If SC/NC is not included, or is incorrect in future moves, the unit in question will hold.  Fair warning to all.

And the results of all this...

No retreats this round.  Submissions for Fall 1901 are due Friday night, Midnight PST.

Please submit all moves to the diplomacy email Diplomacy@superteacher.us

Waiting on the East

I have received submissions for all countries except Russian and Turkey. And so we will begin to wait. I will begin to look over the current submissions now.

To all those who tried to contact me by email over the past few days, here in Maine we had a nasty ice storm. We had no power for a day or two, and now that we have it back, my email server is down, so I apologize if it appeared I have not been responding to you.

I appeal to the council of most respected world leaders:

Craig and I would like to team up to co-manage the glorious mother country of Russia. We would like all of your approval before we commence full-fledged in our glorious pursuit of European domination.

Deadline slowly approaching

Just a quick reminder that this Friday @ Midnight PST, 3AM EST, is the deadline for spring 1901 submissions.  Please submit promptly to:

Diplomacy@superteacher.us 

Color Schemes:

Used this with Paint, how do people feel?

Color Scheme

Oh, and if you don't like the color scheme, then post something different, and I'll use that for the future.  Just beware, I'm limited to paint, so if you use another program to generate a masterpiece, I won't be able to duplicate it.  Otherwise, we'll stick with this drab version I've created.

A decision has been made

Well, the results are in, and they are a 50/50 split for simply replacing Chris, or doing a redraw (minus Chris).  It turns out that Chris has been quite ill for the past several days and his focus has not been on all things diplomacy, but rather a quick road to recovery.  Since our votes were a split, I have decided that Owen's vote will act as the tie breaker, since he is the reason we are able to move on.  And so Owen's vote was for a redraw.  Although I wanted to play this game out, I feel that it is in our best interests to start anew and not put Owen at a severe disadvantage.

And since I have so much time on my hands, I have done the redraw, and it is as follows

1 - Josh - Italy

2 - Leo - France

3 - Matt - Austria-Hungary

4 - Owen - Russia

5 - Tom - Turkey

6 - Damian - England

7 - Tony - Germany

8 - Bill

9 - Craig

The offer still stands for those not selected to team up with a player.

Since we are at a mid week, I will set the deadline for move submission for Midnight PST (3AM for all us east coasters) on Friday Dec. 12.  For the first year, we will not declare civil disorder, but after then, the 24 hour grace period will go into effect.  Moves submitted after that deadline will not be accepted, and the country will go into civil disorder, unless arrangements are made with me prior to surpassing the grace period.

If moves are submitted prior to the deadline, I will process them sooner.

At this point I believe everyone knows everyone's email addresses, but if you are looking to communicate with me, please use amartin@mail.une.edu.  I will not be looking at my hotmail address on a regular basis since it is full of spam.  A good game to all, and to Bill and Craig, hope you get a draw next game.

Maps of the Dogs of War

I found these wonderful satirical maps of Europe circa WWI and though you all would appreciate the ravenous and cutthroat nature of the cartography. Enjoy.

Happy Thanksgiving

Well, it appears Chris has gone AWOL for good. I still haven't heard from him. I hope nothing serious has happened. In either case, he's out and due for replacement. Damian raises a good point. We're not even one move in and already we have an issue. My first instinct was to replace Chris with someone outside the original draw. (Tony pointed out to me that Matt and Bill already have a vested interest in the game.) So Owen was my first choice. I think he'd be willing to join in.

But...at the risk of bringing in another player who might be forced (due to a variety of other commitments) to not submit moves regularly, Damian's Suggestion is well taken.

It shuffles in ACTIVE players

It gives Matt and Bill another chance of having a country to call their own.

I don't have to Be Italy anymore..I hope.

So I put it to you in the form of a poll. Please vote by wednesday and post any arguments of comments you have.

1. I want Owen to fill in for Chris and take the roll of Austria Hungary (moves are due ON Friday December 5th)

2. I want a drawing between Owen, Bill, Matt and any other not yet aforementioned candidate to fill in for Chris (Moves due ON Friday December 5th)

3. We should throw everyone's name in the hat and redraw again. (Moves are due next Wednesday December 10th - to allow for negotiations and to give tony time to redraw players)

4. We declare Chris to be in civil disorder and move on with the game.

Please let me know your thoughts. His is related to me so feel free to blame me for his absence. Photoshop jobs encouraged.

-Tom

WTF!!

At this point we should just start a new game, all this waiting is pretty stupid.

Civil Disorder Should not be an Option

The entire game will be adversley effected if we allow Austria-Hungary to go into civil disorder on turn number 1... and I say that as someone who stands to benefit from it!

If Chris doesn't want to play then we should assign the country to someone else, who wanted a country but didn't get one.

I volunteer to sever ties with my brother and take over the reigns of power in Austria Hungary.

MB

already sent the info

I'm not sure what Chris is up to, I'll call him again. I've already sent an email explaining the procedure (Sunday) and called to explain last Friday. I'll see if I can get him to submit at some point today. I don't know what the issue is. A Deadline of Friday is fine and after that civil disorder rules apply. I'll let him know.

Moving on with the Spring of 1901

It appears our last player is taking their time getting their moves submitted.  I believe it is important we don't leave him behind for the first turn.  That being said, I also think that a deadline of midnight Friday EST for his submission of moves is reasonable.  I have contacted Tom in hopes that he can communicate with our player and get them moving.

I will accept Chris' moves via Tom, if that will get them submitted sooner.

I will begin reviewing what I have now, so when I receive his submissions, I can post the results that much quicker.

This is taking a really long time . . .

I know it's the first turn . . . but there has got to be some limit on how long we will wait. Can we please set a deadline at which Civil Disorder will be declared?

Waiting, Waiting, Waiting...

We wait on one country, Austria-Hungary, to submit, then I will being processing the spring of 1901.

Rules/Colors

Midnight PST sounds fine for a deadline.  Remember, for the first year we will wait for everyone to get their moves in before proceeding.  Since next week is a holiday week, we can postpone submission deadline to the following week, Friday Dec 5th.  But if all moves are submitted, I will process them.  After 1901, we will impose the 24 hour rule.  After we wait 24 hours, your units will all hold.  If anything will prevent you from submitting, please contact me, and we will delay the processing.  But if you do not contact me, we move on without you.

I typically won't process until mid afternoon/ early evening the following day.  

I'll do my best to change colors of either Russia or England

Addendum to the Rules

Josh Brings up a good point that Craig was either too lazy or stupid to bring up before. I would say that 2AM east coast and 12am PST works fine for me.

The colors, the colors

This game can we (Tony) change either Russia or Englands color as they are the same and last game got confusing to look at when both countries were tied up in the north. I don't mind if it's Russia that gets the change in color.

When are moves due?

Time is a factor since I'm in the Pacific Time Zone. My request would be Midnight PST.

-Josh

Josh's email

JBarnard@gmail.com

Chris's email

Chris, the archduke of Austria has his email posted as:

Chris.Mullane@gmail.com

Tick Tock, Tick Tock

The deadline for submission of moves is fast approaching.  Two weeks have flown by.  Any parties feeling that they are ready can submit by midnight Friday.  There will be a great deal of flexibility for this first round.  I will not proceed without everyone, but that will change.  After the first year, there will be a 24 hour grace period for all required submissions.  Unless I am otherwise contacted, I will move on without you.  So with these ground rules laid out, please submit your moves in a timely fashion to

Diplomacy@superteacher.us

Lets have a good clean game.  And I look forward to playing with all of you.

I'm with Stupid <--> I'm with Stupid

I'll be playing sideshow to my brother in Turkey.

Emails

Just so everyone knows everyone's email, I'm going to attempt to post them all, or at least all the emails I have.

France - Tony - amartin@mail.une.edu

England - Craig - CRubens@gmail.com

Germany - Leo - llandrey@gmail.com & Bill - William.Gerrard@gmail.com

Italy - Tom - TMullane@superteacher.us

Russia - Damian - GillbergDM@aol.com

Turkey - Josh - ???(Josh, if you can post your email, that would be helpful, or if anyone else knows it please post it)

Austria-Hungary - Chris - ???(Chris or Tom, if you could post your email, that would be helpful)

Ach du liebe Zeit!

That's right. We teamed up. With our combined pretentiousness, there is nothing we cannot affect to know.

Looking for a buddy? (Personal Ad)

According to our original post, and Tony mentioned it in his as well, people not picked can partner up. As Italy for the second game in a row, this could be a lot more fun with someone else to work with. Also, I would be willing to take a back seat for much of december and the early game, considering I have to construct an entire set for " A Christmas Carol" and put on the show in the first week of that month. Followed by the break down and clean-up.

So, door's open boys, make me a pitch and Italy's heart could be yours.

I enjoy semolina flour, Renaissance artwork, Papal authority not based in France, random convoys into people's territory when they least expect it, and daisies. Send me an email, let me know if you're looking for a spot and I'm happy to work together.

Note: any alliance with a country owned by Bill will be unaccepatable. Unless Bill winds up being my partner in which case I will launch an attack against myself.

TMullane@superteacher.us

France

If you want to contact France, my email is hstony13@hotmail.com.  

BETRAYAL

I see that I've been excluded from this game.  Well played, gentlemen: well palyed.

Emailen, bitte?/Emails, please?

Können wir alle noch einmal unsere Emailaddresse als einen Anschlag am Blog machen? Vielleicht will ich diesem Chris einen Email schicken, aber wie kann ich das machen, wenn ich keine Emailaddresse von Chris haben?

Vielen Dank,

Otto von Bevorwundung

-----

Could we all post our email addresses once again to the blog? Say I want to email this Chris fellow - how could I do that, if I don't have his email address?

Thanks!

Otto von Bevorwundung

(p.s. in case you haven't realized it yet, the most intolerable pedantry is going to be on display from my portion of the board. That's what happens when chance makes me Germany!)

1901 - Starting Positions

1901 - Starting Positions

STARTING POSITIONS:

AUSTRIA-HUNGARY (Chris)

A-Budapest

A-Vienna

F-Trieste

ENGLAND (Craig)

A-Liverpool

F-Edinburgh

F-London

FRANCE (Tony)

A-Marseilles

A-Paris

F-Brest

GERMANY (Leo)

A-Berlin

A-Munich

F-Kiel

ITALY (Tom)

A-Rome

A-Venice

F-Naples

RUSSIA (Damian)

A-Moscow

A-Warsaw

F-Sevastopol

F-St. Petersburg SC

TURKEY (Josh)

A-Constantinople

A-Smyrna

F-Ankara

The Draw

Here is how it all played out.

1 - Leo - Germany

2 - Damian - Russia

3 - Craig - England

4 - Tom - Italy

5 - Chris - Austria-Hungary

6 - Josh - Turkey

7 - Tony - France

8 - Mike

9 - Matt

10 - Bill

Those who did not get drawn can choose to team up with any player they would like.  If family members would like to team up, (Matt and Josh, Mike and myself) or old friend/enemies (Bill and Leo, Bill and Craig, etc) please let the group know of your union so we can give you all the rights that solo players have.

The first set of moves will be due 2 fridays from now, Nov 21.  We will take a break, if necessary, for the week of Thanksgiving.  I'll try to keep things moving as quickly as possible.  I will post the emails of all those playing shortly.  So happy hunting to all.

Ranking is rank

All,

I may be in the minority on this one, but I'm going to cast my vote against the implementation of any kind of long-term ranking system.  Three reasons: First, not everyone plays every game, so the players who play more games will be over-represented in the tally.  Second, in the event of a draw, points are divided equally and there is thus no recognition of obvious differences in skill level exhibited during play.  (For example, if I had agreed to a draw when Tony first offered it last game, I, though in possession of only two supply centers and having played erratically, would have garnered the same number of points as Tony and Leo, who obviously played a better game.)  Last, and superseding the first two, a ranking system would distract from what should be the ultimate purpose of this game, which is to keep in touch with old friends and have fun -- and occasionally to launch vicious attacks on each others' intelligence and honor.  Honestly, I don't think we need to keep track electronically of how many times we succeed or fuck up.  We already do that in our heads.

Unless, of course, we all agree to chip in to buy a prostitute for the first person to reach 1,000 points -- in which case, I'd like to point out that according to Ranking System #2, I have 20 points and Tony has 5.

-- Bill

P.S.  Did I mention that ranking is lame?

Ranking system...

In a short while Tony will post the draw and the new assignments. Let's just say I'm less than pleased with mine, but hey, whatever.

We had discussed a system for giving points based on performance. While we only play about 2 games a year at the pace we go, it looks like, after a full year, this is something that will keep going for a while. And It's a fun little diversion during the week. Anyhow, I will post a poll on the following options, please vote for one.

1. No ranking system. ( I lose often and don't feel like having it broadcast.)

2. A Ranking system that awards 20 points for a solo victory or divides those 20 points equally in the event of a draw. Should a solo victory occur, survivors will get one point for each center they have left divided by 2.

3. A Ranking system that awards 100 points for 1st place, 80 for second, 60 for third, 40 for fourth, and no points for5, 6 or 7th place. When the game ends in a solo victory the above applies. Your ranking is determined by a combination of #1 your order of elimination and #2 the number of centers you have when the game ends. Players without centers cannot have a ranking or share of any points awarded. When it ends in a draw, all points are divided equally (out of 100 total)

4. Another suggestion not listed here, but I DO favor a ranking system moving forward.

Still on the fence

Hey fellas. After much deliberation in my head, I am still on the fence in regards to throwing my hat into the ring. I have been incredibly busy, and wouldn't want to hold up the party by neglecting my diplomatic duties. However, if there is a need for one more spot, I am totally in. I had a great time playing with you guys last year, and would love to engage in global domination once again. I have kept up with the last round, and applaud Tom, Leo and Tony on a hard-fought battle towards a 3-way tie. I also applaud all of you for your various hysterical picture posts. Fight on, and hopefully I'll rejoin the fracas soon!

The Craigish Returns

Following my dismal performance last round, I'd like the chance to redeem myself, and pointedly never trust Leo again.

I await your orders.

Craig.

Let's get it on.

"Someone had blundered, their lot was not to make reply, theirs was but to do and die, into the valley of death rode the 600." - Charge of the Light Brigade

It appears we have interest in starting a new game within the month. to gauge interest, if you haven't already posted, do so in the next week. I'll send out an alert on facebook. SO far, Bill, Tony, Damian, Matt and Myself have posted.

Lets do this.

Game new

I generally have no life so I will play again.

new game

I'd be interested in a new game whenever.  I could be the processor this round.  Tom and Bill have each taken a turn.  That way the chore of keeping things moving doesn't have to fall on them again.  Would everyone else be interested in starting sooner rather than later?  Also, is Craig still in, or should we look for a replacement?

New Game?

Will we be playing another game?  I'm up for it.

An asshole until the end

I guess he wouldn't be Bill if he didn't throw another jab.  At least he spared humiliation via photoshop.  But let me also be an asshole and try to get in the last word, which I sure Mr. Gerrard will not allow.  You died this round, I didn't.  So in that way, we are even.  I was overjoyed to hear of your birthday surprise from Tom.  I'm sure it was what you were wishing for when you blew out the candles on your cake.

Yes, let the rivalry continue.  Can you ever trust me?  Could I ever trust you?  The answer of course is no.  Is it my fault, probably.  I'm just an opportunist that likes to stab Columbia grads in the back.  So look out next game Bill.  I give you my pledge and to all those who will join us in a follow up game, that I'm coming for you, even at the peril of my own country.  Oh, won't you be my neighbor?  

Bill Gerrard, I'll see you in hell yet.  

It's a draw!

So the game ends, not with a bang, but a whimper.

Bill: 1

Tony: .25

Let the rivalry continue!

R.I.P.

Spring 1908 - Results

No retreats this round.  Moves for Fall 1908 will be due by midnight Friday -- unless the surviving players agree to a draw, in which case each player should submit some kind of "I agree to end this game in a draw" email to diplomacy@superteacher.us

MOVES:

AUSTRIA-HUNGARY

Vienna S Tyrolia (unit destroyed)

ENGLAND

Livonia S Warsaw

St. Petersburg S Moscow

Finland Holds

Sweden -> Skagerrak

North Sea Holds

Irish Sea Holds

Portugal S Spain SC

Spain SC S Western Med.

Western Med. Holds

GERMANY

MAO S Western Med.

Marseilles Holds

Gascony S Marseilles

Munich S Bohemia

Bohemia S Munich

Silesia -> Galicia

Warsaw S Silesia -> Galicia

Moscow Holds

Holland Holds

Kiel -> Denmark

ITALY

Budapest -> S Tyrolia -> Vienna

Tyrolia -> Vienna

Piedmont -> Tyrolia (bounce)

Trieste -> Tyrolia (bounce)

Tunisia S North Africa

Tyrhennian Sea S Gulf of Lyon

Gulf of Lyon Holds

Aegean Sea -> Constantinople

Bulgaria EC S Aegean Sea -> Constantinople

RUSSIA

Stevastopol Holds

Romania Holds

Black Sea Holds

1907 - Winter Adjustment

ENGLAND destroys A-Norway

GERMANY builds F-Kiel

Wanted Dead or Alive

Gentleman of Europe,

Yes, I have balls. Big gigantic squirrel nuts. But that is not the issue here. The issue is that we have a terrorist among us. And because we have become divided by our arguments over who should control Europe, we have left this terrorist hang around for far too long. This devious man is hiding out in a cave somewhere in Vienna, training new recruits to undermine the stability of our great continent. I think it is time to take decisive action. We must find him, and capture or kill him. The national security of our continent is at stake here. So whether you bleed English, Italian, Russian, or German blood, it is for the safety of all our peoples, that I ask you all to come together and eliminate this great threat. With his demise, there will be peace and unity, and the end of a hard fought game. And so with that, I grant all of you your terrorist hunting permits. The person to bag Osama Bill Laden, gets a beer and brat on me.

Tom brings us love ... LET'S GET HIM!!!

ABOVE:  The Austrian delegation to the Reasoned and Civil Debating Society, clearing their throats.  Center-left: Bill Gerrard with his trusty "logic stick":  "What do you mean "rancorous discourse," you slimy, scum-sucking bastard?!"

In all seriousness, Tom is right, of course.  In my previous post, I attempted to strike a defiant tone of "no surrender" in the face of Tony's provocative "Do I really have to waste time defeating you people?" post; I thought this would be a valid response to his proposal and in keeping with the spirit of this game.  I certainly never intended to do anything more than irk our resident English fop, but it looks like my tone was more vicious than what I honestly intended.  Leo has already received my apologies.

The truth is, this was an eventful and interesting game, and I enjoyed (almost) every minute of it.  I think it deserves to be played out to its natural conclusion.

Spawforth:  The option is still yours.  Take it, if you dare.

A little dose of reality

I've become a little bothered by the excessively rancorous nature of the discourse in this forum. Let's remember why we play this game, for fun. I hope no one has been personally insulted by any of the dumb or insulting, slanderous things I post here, they're all in jest. I'm all for a speedy end to the game which has evolved to a dead and stale chess game, but let's not let the inaction and seeming inevitability to the ending of the script lead us to snipe too much at each other. We all get frustrated at the outcomes now and then, but it's no reason to get angry with each other for real.

Can't the three men in the above historic summit at Yalta just get along? (In real life though, not in the game, in the game you weasels are all dead.)

We're missing an option...

Last time I checked this game revolved around a pretty simple goal: TAKE OVER EUROPE.

When I look at the current map, I see one country with a decided disadvantage in attempting to complete that goal.  The country I'm referring to is, of course GERMANY.  He's sandwhiched right between two countries with huge naval advantages and no backsides to defend.  His mutilation would bring giggling joy to the masses so I would make this appeal:

Leo, get off your high horse/ass and invade continental Europe.  This winter, you basically avoided your chance to land a few armies in the soft underbelly of the German empire and win this game; don't make the same mistake again.  His vulnerability to you cannot be overstated and,  frankly, I believe the game morally requires you to make an attempt to murder your once ally: he's blocking your progress.

From the grave,

Sultan Barnard

Options, options, options

I'll just through this out there but if everyone wants to let me win I can be ok with that so that's my say in this matter.

Oh, Please

Gentlemen,

I have just had the pleasure of reading Bill's open letter to me, and I thought a response was in order.

First, a few explanatory statements are needed. As Bill has rightly realized, Tony shedding centers to me was never an option - Tony put the question on the table, and let me 'decide' which of us should win, and it was my 'decision' to yield, since the possibility of a breakthrough the other way around was certain. Was this 'choice' that Tony gave me a false choice? Certainly. Has Bill told me anything I did not already know? Not at all. (Think about that for a second).

I made the decision not to betray Tony - the real decision - anyway, in no small part because it seemed the best way to end this game to my satisfaction so another could start, in which I shall surely get what's coming to me, if I am included.

Secondly, Tony posted his note "Must we do this... really?" of his own volition and without prior consultation with me. You have no proof but my word on this, but I aspire to no dual-kingship. If things continue as they are going now, I shall be just as much a loser - if a voluntary one - as Bill, a point to which I shall return.

Third, I have no problem going through with the mechanical destruction of my forces. The prospect is neither appealing nor unappealing, but it is a choice that I have made.

This is my question: why should I help you all, when the only man sticking his neck out to extend a rather insulting olive branch is the same man who did exactly what I'm doing now only a few months ago? In essence, I am just following his precedent. As I am giving up all hope for victory, so too did he. Maybe I should be reprimanded for my choice, but not by Bill.

But Bill's selective memory is worthy of Rovian praise. Why should I allow that I should "start playing the game like a human being" when the man accusing me of irrationality depicted himself as the Giving Tree heroically shedding Greece and Trieste when he made the same sacrifice? Bill was a font of all things good and sunny, and now I'm a "supine body" hardly blocking the end zone. I could still opt to humiliate myself by going through with this, just as you, Bill, have already humiliated yourself. Or is the scorn dripping from your prose the sound of your own regret? Maybe the same is true with me.

If Bill wants to respond that circumstances were different (citing France) when he gave over all his centers, I do not admit that it was a "stroke of luck" by which France fell, since there was nothing Craig could do when Tom, Tony and I systematically betrayed him. I talked about this with Tom, back before the Phillies game, and he and I both agreed that Bill had come to the wrong conclusion.

With an open mind, I see no reason to entertain betraying Tony, given Bill's hypocrisy on this very issue. The insults, graphic or otherwise, do not bother me, but to be called out of keeping with the game's spirit by a man guilty of the same theoretical crime does not entice me. To call Bill's idea of persuasive rhetoric patronizing and hypocritical hardly does it justice. I understand that part of his motivation was to respond to some of the more ludicrous ideas in Tony's post, and he (incorrectly, but reasonably) inferred that I was of the same opinion.  Tony was trying to be a good friend to me, and I don't fault him for trying. Still, I'll be a loser, but in losing I'll have actually handed over a victory trophy, an achievement Bill's self-sacrifice was unable to pull off. I hope you all enjoy watching the Leo Show unfold over the coming weeks. Feel free to send me your emails and phone calls, I'm happy to see how the show fares in ratings and reviews.

Leo

A final, open plea to the humanity of my good friend Leo; Plus, Tony wins this game's "Balls Award"

Dear Leo,

Well, here we are.  And where is that, you ask?   Exactly where Tony knew we would be all along.

I have to admit, it was a brilliant strategy on Tony's part -- always and only for his solo victory.  You once might have thought that you were Tony's co-equal partner in this game, but I hope by now you can see that this was never the case.  By now we all know the story:  Early on, Tony and you conceived an incorruptible alliance, an alliance which would at the very least ensure your shared domination of the map, and which would also very likely lead to a clean solo victory for one of you (a victory which the winner would magnanimously share in spirit with the less fortunate partner).  But is that the whole truth, and nothing but?  I think not.

For, you see, from the beginning, the possibility of a clean English victory was slim to nil.  (What do I mean by a "clean" victory?  I mean a victory that wouldn't require a player with 9 or 10 units -- i.e., a player who has as good a chance of winning this game as anyone else, a chance which should mean something to him -- to retreat, mechanically and voluntarily, from his supply centers; in other words, a victory that is truly in the spirit of this game.)  By agreeing only to build fleets for the first few years, you all but forfeited any chance you had of winning cleanly.  With France out of the way quickly -- a stroke of luck, you must admit -- and no enemy in the north, Tony was free to push all of his forces into the south and east.  It was always much, much more likely that Tony rather than you would win this game outright.  But there was also always the possibility that the other players would gang up in time to stop the juggernaut, and, after some unfortunate stops and starts, gang up we did.  Now we are in a classic stalemate.  But Tony has -- has always had, I suspect -- a Plan B.

The notion that "one" of you might eventually have to sacrifice himself for the technical victory of the "other" was a sham from the very beginning.  Given the current distribution of forces --the only possible distribution, as it happens, given your agreement only to build fleets and only to convoy armies to Russia -- there is only one safe play for victory, and that is Tony's.  For, you see, Tony's units, unlike yours, are almost all directly on the front lines.  Tony stands between us and you.  If Tony had to start shedding units, it wouldn't take too long before an opening would occur for us to advance.  The two of you might still be able to pull it off, but there would be a huge risk involved, and zero room for error.  You, on the other hand, can shed almost all of your units before it would have any effect on the Anglo-German wall.  (Think about that for a second.)  You were, from the very beginning, the one who was going to take the fall.

But there's more.  Tony has to know that there is no chance in hell that all of the players left in this game would agree to a draw -- and agree we all must.  (Hence the "Balls Award.")  Furthermore, no winner is declared in that instance.  (And there is no such thing as a "dual-kingship" in this game; this is merely the chimerical idea which Tony used to convince you to go along with his strategy.)  From the rulebook:  "OBJECT OF THE GAME:  As soon as one Great Power controls 18 supply centers, it's considered to have gained control of Europe.  The player representing that Great Power is the winner.  However, players can end the game by agreement before a winner is determined.  In this case, all players who still have pieces on the game board share equally in a draw" (emphasis mine).  Tony's gentlemanly call for a premature end of this game is a ruse.

Perhaps you're thinking at this point, why not call Tony's bluff and agree to a draw, thus ending the game without a winner?  (After all, Tom controls just as many supply centers as Tony, and more supply centers than you do, so why would you, but not Tom, have a share in victory?)  Why, in other words, give Tony what he wants?  The answer is simple: I will have no difficulty in accepting a solo victory from Tony, as Tony will have earned it: first by conceiving a brilliant strategy to secure half of the necessary supply centers, then by convincing you to renounce your opportunity to win the game for nothing in return -- to allow him to walk right over your supine body to the end-zone.  What I will not accept is being forced to call someone a winner, even a co-winner, who has not proven that he has any interest in winning.

So there will be no recognition of a "combined victory."  And there will be no premature halt to this game.  If you truly have opted to humiliate yourself by pointlessly handing Tony a solo victory, then I'm afraid you're actually going to have to go through with it.  We're going to watch you do it, and you're going to have to watch yourself do it.  But if that prospect sounds unappealing to you, then you still have the chance to win.  Tom, Damian and I will support you.  You have our email addresses.  For once in this game, talk to us with an open mind.  We will respect that you have finally decided to play this game like a human being.

If not:  You've got nine supply centers; Tony needs eight more.  Tony's victory would leave you with one unit; and with one unit, you will have no more reason to call yourself a winner than I currently have.

Your friend (in victory and in self-inflicted defeat),

Bill

Must we do this...really?

Gentleman,

The game is drawing to its exciting (not really) conclusion.  As you can all clearly see, Leo and I control 18 center between us, the required number to win the game.  Since we have reached a stalemate line, attempting to push further south is a fruitless endeavor.  Instead, we are beginning a slow transfer of power.  Now all that remains is for one of us to occupy all 18 centers.  So I ask you, Bill, Damian, and Tom, must we really waste the next 5 - 10 weeks with our slow movements and your frivolous attempts to break through a stalemate line?  Or would you rather declare this game over, and give Leo and myself a combined victory?  The choice is yours.  I only ask that if you do decide to waste all of our time and continue this game until the end, then we have our moves due twice weekly.  That way, we can get this game over with, and we can begin the next one that much sooner.  Shall we put it to the vote? 

I'm in favor of ending things now and giving myself and Leo the combined victory.

If everyone votes to continue, I'm in favor of increasing the frequency of move submission.

1907 - An Illustrated History (Plus a Vision of Things to Come)

THE ANGLO-GERMAN INVASION HITS A SECOND BRICK WALL...

... FORCING LEO TO SACRIFICE HIS SUPPLY CENTERS TO TONY ...

... THUS ALLOWING THE DYNAMIC DUO TO PLAY OUT THE SICK MARTYRDOM FANTASY THEY CONCOCTED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE GAME.

All that hard work for nothing, eh, Leo? No "aristeia?" No "time?" Is this really how you're going to go out? Like a Trojan dog?

Dinner is served

Happy Early Thanksgiving Tony...eat quickly, I'd hate to see your meal spoiled by rowdy Italians barging in.

Fall 1907 - Results

No retreats this round.  Winter adjustments will be due by midnight Sunday.   Moves for Spring 1908 will be due by midnight Friday.

MOVES:

AUSTRIA-HUNGARY

Vienna S Venice -> Tyrolia

ENGLAND

St. Petersburg -> Finland

Moscow -> St. Petersburg

Livonia S Warsaw -> Moscow

Norway Holds

Gulf of Bothnia -> Sweden

North Sea Holds

English Channel -> Irish Sea

Portugal S Spain SC

Spain SC S Western Med.

Western Med. Holds

GERMANY

MAO S Western Med.

Gascony S Marseilles

Marseilles Holds

Kiel -> Holland

Munich S Bohemia -> Tyrolia

Bohemia -> Tyrolia (bounce)

Silesia -> Bohemia (bounce)

Galicia -> Warsaw

Warsaw -> Moscow

ITALY

Gulf of Lyon Holds

Piedmont S Venice -> Tyrolia

Venice -> Tyrolia

Trieste S Venice -> Tyrolia

Budapest S Vienna

Tyrhennian Sea S Gulf of Lyon

Tunisia S North Africa

North Africa Holds

Constantinople -> Bulgaria EC

Bulgaria SC -> Aegean Sea

RUSSIA

Stevastopol Holds

Black Sea S Stevastopol

Romania Holds

WINTER ADJUSTMENTS:

AUSTRIA-HUNGARY controls the following supply centers:  Constantinople, Vienna (2 total).  Austria-Hungary may build 1 unit, but cannot since all of his home supply centers are either under foreign occupation or occupied by one of his own units.

ENGLAND controls the following supply centers:  Liverpool, Edinburgh, London, Norway, Belgium, Portugal, Sweden, Spain, St. Petersburg (9 total).  England must destroy 1 unit.

GERMANY controls the following supply centers:  Berlin, Munich, Kiel, Holland, Denmark, Paris, Brest, Warsaw, Marseilles, Moscow (10 total).  Germany may build 1 unit.

ITALY controls the following supply centers:  Rome, Venice, Naples, Tunisia, Smyrna, Trieste, Greece, Bulgaria, Serbia, Budapest (10 total).  Italy neither builds nor destroys units.

RUSSIA controls the following supply centers:  Stevastopol, Romania, Ankara (3 total).  Russia neither builds nor destroys units.

Fall 1907 - Countdown

All countries have submitted moves.  Stay tuned for the results.

A Tribute to Tony and Leo

A poor likeness to be sure, but I tried. I'm an idea man, Bill's the real artist. But none of those skills have translated into victory in this game.

Spring 1907 - Results

No retreats this round.  Moves for Fall 1907 will be due this Friday by midnight.

MOVES:

AUSTRIA-HUNGARY

Tyrolia -> Vienna

ENGLAND

Moscow -> Stevastopol (bounce)

St. Petersburg -> Livonia

Norway -> St. Petersburg

Finland -> Gulf of Bothnia

London -> Norway

North Sea C London -> Norway

English Channel Holds

Portugal S Spain (sc)

Spain (sc) S Western Med.

Western Med. Holds "emphatically"

GERMANY

Gascony S Marseilles

Marseilles Holds

MAO S Western Med.

Ukraine -> Galicia

Bohemia S Ukraine -> Galicia

Warsaw S Ukraine -> Galicia

Silesia S Bohemia

Munich -> Tyrolia (bounce)

Kiel -> Munich (bounce)

ITALY

Aegean Sea -> Constantinople

Bulgaria S Aegean Sea -> Constantinople

Serbia -> Trieste

Vienna -> Budapest

Venice -> Tyrolia (bounce)

Army Group FT -> Marseilles (bounce)

Gulf of Lyon S Army Group FT -> Marseilles

Tyrhennian Sea S Gulf of Lyon

Tunisia S North Africa

North Africa Holds

RUSSIA

Galicia -> Ukraine (unit destroyed)

Stevastopol S Galicia -> Ukraine (support cut)

Romania S Galicia -> Ukraine

Ankara -> Black Sea

Spring 1907 - Countdown

All countries have submitted moves.  The results will be posted this afternoon.

UPDATE:  Sorry, it's been a busy day.  I'll try to have the results up by tomorrow morning.

1906 - Winter Adjustment

AUSTRIA-HUNGARY destroys F-Constantinople

ENGLAND builds A-London

ITALY builds A-Venice

RUSSIA builds A-Stevastopol

TURKEY destroys F-Armenia

Whats the deal?

Is this game going to get a move on soon or something else...

R.I.P.

Also, allow me at last to pay my respects to another fallen nation:

Fall 1906 - Results

No retreats this round.  Winter adjustments will be due by Tuesday at midnight.

MOVES:

AUSTRIA-HUNGARY

Tyrolia -> Bohemia (bounce)

Constantinople S Black Sea -> Ankara

ENGLAND

Norway -> St. Petersburg

Finland S Norway -> St. Petersburg

London -> Norway

North Sea C London -> Norway

English Channel Holds

Livonia -> Moscow

Portugal S Spain SC

Spain SC S Western Med.

Western Med. Holds "triumphantly"

GERMANY

MAO S Western Med.

Marseilles Holds

Gascony S Marseilles

Ukraine -> Stevastopol (bounce)

Warsaw S Livonia -> Moscow

Silesia S Munich -> Bohemia

Munich -> Bohemia

Burgundy -> Munich

Kiel S Burgundy -> Munich

ITALY

Vienna S Budapest -> Galicia

Trieste -> Serbia

Bulgaria Holds

Aegean Holds

Army Group FT "curses the handsome 70's porn star it was created to kill and moves to Marseilles" (bounce)

Tyrhennian Sea S Gulf of Lyon

Tunisia S North Africa

North Africa Holds

Gulf of Lyon S Army Group FT -> Marseilles

RUSSIA

Black Sea -> Ankara

Budapest -> Galicia

Moscow -> Stevastopol (unit destroyed)

Romania S Moscow -> Stevastopol

TURKEY

Armenia S Ukraine -> Stevastopol

My software still won't let me export the orders map.

WINTER ADJUSTMENTS:

AUSTRIA-HUNGARY controls the following supply centers: Constantinople (1 total).  Austria-Hungary must destroy 1 unit.

ENGLAND controls the following supply centers: Liverpool, Edinburgh, London, Norway, Belgium, Portugal, Sweden, Spain, St. Petersburg, Moscow (10 total).  England may build 1 unit.

GERMANY controls the following supply centers: Berlin, Munich, Kiel, Holland, Denmark, Paris, Brest, Warsaw, Marseilles (9 total).  Germany neither builds nor destroys units.

ITALY controls the following supply centers: Rome, Venice, Naples, Tunisia, Smyrna, Trieste, Greece, Bulgaria, Vienna, Serbia (10 total).  Italy may build 1 unit.

RUSSIA controls the following supply centers: Stevastopol, Romania, Budapest, Ankara (4 total).  Russia may build 1 unit.

TURKEY does not control any supply centers.  Turkey must destroy his last remaining unit.

Choose Your Own Adventure

If one of the following two scenarios does not occur by the end of this game ...

... I will lose all respect for the strategic abilities of our would-be conquerors.

Onward to Victory!

-This picture was taken as Tom tried to lead his Italian armies over the Alps in Switzerland.  It wasn't too long after the photo op that he understood why it is deemed impassible and returned home to eat pizza, drink wine, and cry himself to sleep over his many failures on the western front.-

Victory is upon us.  The armies and navies of England and Germany have a firm grasp of the north with more than enough centers for one of us to win out right.  Italy and its crumbling allies control the south.  Will they be able to hold back the hordes of black and blue armies that are coming their way?  Only time will tell.  But I do know there will not be a stalemate.  And I do know that Tom Mullane shall have no part in a victory in this game.  And so I say onward to victory in whatever manner it presents itself.

Finally, a short piece to all those I have stabbed in the back.  I must say, the list is long.  To Craig, I thank you for helping to pull England and I together.  To Bill, I thank you for making the first big power play and making yourself the target of aggression while Leo and I got to grow bigger and bigger.  To Tom, I thank you for working with Bill until his death.  You made it so easy not to stab my ally in the back, and without you, none of what we accomplished could have been possible.  Finally, to Damian, I thank you for being the most honest player in the game.  When you make a deal, you keep it.  I'm only sorry I couldn't be as honest with you.  But hey, we'll both get to see Bill dead.  And isn't that all we both ever wanted.  So in the end, I just wanted to say no hard feelings to those I've boned this round.  I'm sure karma will catch up with me for the next game.