Venetian Liberation

In a move that was a huge boost for the morale of Italian people, el Duce Craigish bestowed upon the commander of the Apulian Army the Medal of Opportunism, commending the commander's ability to move into a territory vacated by a foreign oppressor.



The event's celebration involved fireworks, dancing, food, wine, and love making - all of which the scurvy-ridden Austrian sailors watched from the rotting bow of their ship, bobbing up and down listlessly on the Adriatic.

Russia Has Been Granted A Temporary Reprieve

Fall 1909 Results

Once again, there are no retreats this round.  Winter adjustments will be due Monday at midnight.  Moves for Spring 1910 will be due this Friday at midnight.  Send everything to me at william.gerrard@gmail.com.

MOVES:

AUSTRIA

Finland -> Sweden (bounce)

Sevastopol -> Moscow

Romania -> Ukraine

Galicia -> Warsaw

Bohemia -> Silesia

Berlin -> Kiel (bounce)

Munich S Berlin -> Kiel

Tyrolia -> Venice (bounce)

Venice -> Adriatic

Albania -> Greece (bounce)

Serbia S Albania -> Greece

Eastern Med. -> Smyrna (bounce)

ENGLAND

North Sea -> Belgium (bounce)

Liverpool -> York

London S Liverpool -> York

Denmark -> Kiel (bounce)

Baltic S Denmark -> Kiel

St. Petersburg -> Norway (bounce)

FRANCE

English Channel -> Belgium (bounce)

MAO -> Brest (bounce)

Spain -> Marseilles (bounce)

GERMANY

Norway -> Sweden (bounce)

ITALY

Brest Holds

Paris S Brest

Marseilles -> Spain (bounce)

Apulia -> Venice

Piedmont S Apulia -> Venice

Greece S Constantinople -> Bulgaria (support cut)

Ionian S Greece

Aegean -> Smyrna (bounce)

RUSSIA

Civil Disorder.  All units hold.

TURKEY

Black Sea S Bulgaria -> Romania

Bulgaria -> Romania

Constantinople -> SC Bulgaria

WINTER ADJUSTMENTS:

AUSTRIA controls the following supply centers: Vienna, Budapest, Trieste, Serbia, Sevastopol, Warsaw, Moscow, Munich, Berlin, (9 total).  Austria must destroy 3 units.

ENGLAND controls the following supply centers: Liverpool, London, Holland, Belgium, Denmark, Kiel, St. Petersburg (7 total).  England may build 1 unit.

FRANCE controls the following supply centers: Portugal, Spain (2 total).  France must destroy 1 unit.

GERMANY controls the following supply centers: Norway, Sweden (2 total).  Germany may build 1 unit, but cannot because all of his home supply centers are under foreign occupation. 

ITALY controls the following supply centers: Rome, Naples, Venice, Marseilles, Tunis, Brest, Paris, Greece (8 total).  Italy neither builds nor destroys units.

RUSSIA controls the following supply centers: Edinburgh (1 total).  Russia neither builds nor destroys units.

TURKEY controls the following supply centers: Constantinople, Ankara, Smyrna, Bulgaria, Romania (4 total).  Turkey may build 2 units.

Fall 1909 - Moves Still Needed

I still have not received moves from the following countries: RUSSIA.  Midnight Saturday, civil disorder, yadda yadda yadda, you know the drill.

Any last requests?

Above: Tony dismounting from a gymnastics routine in front of a tough crowd. His scores: 3, 2, 1, and BLAM!

(click on the picture for a larger version)

Goodbyes

I know that my game is coming to a swift end as the scourge of the northern seas is now in a position to wipe me from the map. A pity he won't keep me around. It seems he has use for only 1 puppet. So I'd just like to say that I enjoyed playing the game with everyone. Good luck to you all, and may the best man win.

Attached is a picture the German resistance delivered to my bunker in Edinburgh proving that Bill's head is starting to swell to the size of a small planet. A quote from the German who passed on the picture, "If his arrogance isn't checked, I fear his head may explode, killing us all."

Easter is Cancelled.

Yes Bill....it is better this way. Unfortunately, like most of our plans, few turn out completely as we assumed they would. Lets see if the strategic brilliance that landed you in third place holds up. Now the question you get to puzzle over for the next week is this....What does Tom do now?

I declare all cities currently under Austrian control will NOT celebrate easter...as pennance for the trechery what surrounds us.

I caught the cadbury bunny (english) trespassing on my lands. and I decided to mow him down with my car.

Yes, and me.

Deep down, you know it's better this way.

Results Spring 1909

(Corrected map: Italy's Marseilles unit is a fleet, not an army.  My mistake.)

Amazingly, there are no retreats this round.  Fall 1909 moves will be due next Friday at midnight to me at william.gerrard@gmail.com. 

MOVES:

AUSTRIA

Moscow -> Sevastopol

Rumania S Moscow -> Sevastopol

St. Petersburg -> Finland

Serbia S Trieste -> Albania

Trieste -> Albania

Ionian -> Eastern Med.

Budapest -> Galicia

Vienna -> Bohemia

Tyrolia S Venice

Venice Holds

Munich -> Burgandy (bounce)

Berlin Holds

ENGLAND

Norway -> St. Petersburg

Denmark -> Baltic

Kiel -> Denmark

Wales -> London

Liverpool -> York (bounce)

Belgium -> North Sea

FRANCE

MAO -> Brest (bounce)

Spain -> Marsailles (bounce)

North Sea -> English Channel

GERMANY

Sweden -> Norway

ITALY

Paris -> Burgandy (bounce)

Brest Holds

Marseilles -> Spain (bounce)

Apulia -> Venice (bounce)

Piedmont S Apulia -> Venice

Naples -> Ionian Sea

Greece S Naples -> Ionian Sea

Bulgaria -> Aegean Sea

RUSSIA

Edinburgh -> York (bounce)

TURKEY

Armenia -> Bulgaria

Black Sea C Armenia -> Bulgaria

Constantinople S Armenia -> Bulgaria

Winter Adjustment Phase, 1908

RETREATS:

AUSTRIA retreats Bulgaria to Romania.

FRANCE retreats Brest off the board.

ITALY retreats Spain to Marsailles.

BUILDS / DESTROYED UNITS:

AUSTRIA builds A-Vienna and A-Budapest.

ENGLAND builds A-Liverpool.

ITALY builds F-Naples.

RUSSIA destroys F-Norwegian Sea.

Moves are due Friday at midnight.   Send them to me at william.gerrard@gmail.com

So be it, Tony

Don't worry, Willie.  Help is on the way.

Russia Final Resting Place

Its time to retire into my bunker in Edinburgh, or as I like to call it, the New Republic of Russia. I'm glad I'll get to die on this Isle. Its a good place to make a last stand. And while some are celebrating that I have been whittled down to 1 unit, I remain in good spirits. You see, we will all get to watch as Tom tears Bill a 3rd asshole (since I already gave him his second earlier in the game) on his way to gathering his last 6 centers. If we're all lucky, Bill will do a photoshop picture of that for us, I can't wait. Enjoy the rest of your game. When Tom wins and its over, let me know. Hopefully it doesn't last another 6 months. In the meantime, I'll be in my bunker with my cyanide pills close by, just in case I get the urge.

I love what you've done with the place Craig. The sunsets over the canals are wonderful. Unfortunately, like a dave matthews tour bus crossing a drawbridge, my naval unit couldn't hold onto it's waste while entering the harbor....I'm confident the smell will dissipate with time. Enjoying your vacation in Apullia? my unit in the Ionian can launch a fireworks display for them later.

Welcome to Sunny Bulgaria!

The sun is out, it's 64 degrees in the Mediterranean Sun....of course that's the weather on the SOUTH COAST of Bulgaria, where the Italians are in no position to aid in future attacks against the Austrian Army.

The East coast is a different matter. Unspoiled by Craig or Owen's units, it appears the fearless twosome have worked themselves into an unwinnable stalemate. enjoy your time there, This picture makes it look pretty from a distance, but rest assured, I'll give you an even warmer welcome should you manage to pull you collective foot out of your collective asses.

Bwhahahahahahhaha

At Last

Above:  A still from the upcoming film, "Tony's Choice."  Tony (left) is forced to choose between his last two remaining units.  One shall live, and one shall die.

Above:  France's Denmark army decides to go for a swim.  Note - The photo is as I found it; I did not add the cross.  But I think it adds some nice symbolic resonance to France's predicament.  Don't you?

After 2 years of torment at the hands of Russia and France - aided in no small part by my own catastrophic strategic blunders - it's nice finally to be getting some payback.

Results Fall 1908

Tom was busy again this week so I processed for him.  Send winter adjustments to me.  Retreats will be due Tuesday at midnight; builds/destroyed units will be due Wednesday at midnight.  Please let me know if I made any mistakes.

MOVES:

AUSTRIA

Serbia S Bulgaria

Bulgaria Holds (unit dislodged, must retreat)

Moscow -> Sevastopol (bounce)

St. Petersburg S Norway

Silesia -> Berlin

Munich S Silesia -> Berlin

Adriatic -> Venice

Trieste S Adriatic -> Venice

Tyrolia S Adriatic -> Venice

Albania -> Ionian Sea

ENGLAND

Kiel -> Denmark

Holland -> Kiel

Wales -> London (bounce)

Belgium -> North Sea (bounce)

Norway Holds

FRANCE

Portugal -> Spain

MAO S Portugal -> Spain

Brest -> Paris (unit dislodged, must retreat)

North Sea -> London (bounce)

Denmark -> Kiel (unit dislodged and forced to retreat off board)

GERMANY

Sweden S Kiel -> Denmark

ITALY

Greece -> Bulgaria

Ionian -> Greece

Venice -> Apulia

Piedmont -> Venice (bounce)

Spain Holds (unit dislodged, must retreat)

Gascony -> Brest

Paris S Gascony -> Brest

RUSSIA

Norwegian Sea -> Norway (bounce)

Edinburgh -> Norwegian Sea (bounce)

TURKEY

Armenia -> Sevastopol (bounce)

Black Sea S Greece -> Bulgaria

Constantinople S Greece -> Bulgaria

RETREATS:

AUSTRIA must retreat Bulgaria.

FRANCE must retreat Brest.  Denmark was forced to retreat off the board.

ITALY must retreat Spain.

BUILDS:

AUSTRIA controls the following supply centers: Vienna, Budapest, Trieste, Serbia, Romania, Sevastopol, Warsaw, Moscow, Munich, Berlin, St. Petersburg, Venice (12 total).  Austria may build 2 units.

ENGLAND controls the following supply centers: Liverpool, Holland, Belgium, Norway, Denmark, Kiel (6 total).  England may build 1 unit.

FRANCE controls the following supply centers: London, Portugal, Spain (3 total).  France must destroy 1 unit.

GERMANY controls the following supply centers: Sweden (1 total).  Germany neither destroys nor builds units.

ITALY controls the following supply centers: Rome, Naples, Marsailles, Tunis, Brest, Paris, Greece, Bulgaria (8 total).  Italy may build 1 unit.

RUSSIA controls the following supply centers: Edinburgh (1 total).  Russia must destroy 1 unit.

TURKEY controls the following supply centers: Constantinople, Ankara, Smyrna.  Turkey neither destroys nor builds units.

Moves Missing

I have not recieved moves from the following countries. They must be in by 9pm tonight or they will be in civil disorder!

England, Germany

That is all.

P.S. - I like the new map, since Owen is brown...like a turd crawling up my ass.

Retreats 1908

FRANCE retreats Brest to Gascony.

IMPORTANT REMINDER:  I am NOT processing moves this week.   Do NOT send your moves to me.  Tom is resuming his duties this week.

Knats, Knats, all of you

To Quote the Matrix, "Craig Rubens is a disease....a cancer of this planet....he is a disease, and I am the cure." I have let his propaganda go unchecked for far too long, and now it is time to set down some cold realities of my own.

Craig and I, at this point, are the two people who stand a chance of winning this game. Despite my blustering bravado, defeat is a real possibily. And so I post the following excerpt from my friend Craig's recent phonecall to me.

Me - "Why are you attacking me? I have done nothing to provoke this malice?"

Craig -"I eat children"

Me - "What does that have to do with anything, your personal habits have no relevance to this fight?"

Craig - "Austrian children are the most flavorful, and the rivers of your cities will run red with the blood of the innocent"

Me - "what is wrong with you? this is just a game"

Craig - "a game that will end with a veritable thanksgiving feast of babies...in front of me....which I will eat."

Me - "You're worse then Hillary"

Craig - "bwhahahahahahahhahahahahahaa"

Me - I am clearly the wronged party here

Craig (heard crunching small birds with a hammer over the phone) whatever, Owen does whatever I want, like a stupid puppet who always comes in second.

Me - Owen would never listen to you!

Craig - they'll all listen to me! all of them! I am the puppet master!

hangs up

Lets be perfectly clear.....to fight me now is to fight destiny. And as we know, destiny may be sidetracked, destiny may be delayed, but destiny will not be denied. My destiny (not craigs)

Owen's pathetic betrayal will be met with malice and destruction. The nation of turkey will be(mercifully for it's residents) burned to it's foundations, and owen will be dragged through the streets of vienna by a donkey cart.

As seen from this picture, I am a benevolent ruler, and once I finish my conquest of Europe, there will be room for all of you with me at the top (except for Owen and Craig who will regretably need to be killed to pave the way for progress)

Moves are due this Saturday evening. I am busy these coming weeks as the play gets closer, so my tolerance for lateness or forgetfulness is decidedly low...especially since 11 freshmen just failed an open notebook test they had a week to prepare for and to which I gave them the answer key.

-Ruler of Austro-Russistan

I will study the rules more, I will study the rules more...

Thank you Bill, for your kind explanation and accurate illustration of Damian explaining the results of our moves. I will sit in the corner with my hat on for the rest of the game.

Delicious History

History has never been so delicious.

Is the issue settled, then?

Above:  Damian (right) informing Tony (left) that their attack had failed.

Results Explained

The movement of Edinburgh is contingent upon the outcome of the North Sea-Norway battle (i.e., North Sea would have to wind up vacant after all is said and done to allow Edinburgh to move in).  So let's leave Edinburgh aside for a moment.  You say in your post, "Norway has no unit supporting itself, only one supporting a move to the NS.  Therefore the strength of the attack is 2 to 1, and Norway would be dislodged."  The problem with that argument is that the same exact statements can be made about France's North Sea unit, so I could with the same justification ask why North Sea wouldn't be dislodged:  "North Sea has no unit supporting itself [Edinburgh -> North Sea is NOT a support of North Sea, it is the independent movement of a single unit], only one supporting a move to Norway.  Therefore the strength of the attack [on North Sea] is 2 to 1, and North Sea would be dislodged."  So you see, the movement is exactly the same on both sides: North Sea and Norway are attempting to trade places with each other, and both units have the same amount of uncut (pardon the phrase) support.  Norway bounces back to Norway and North Sea bounces back to North Sea, so Edinburgh must bounce back to Edinburgh.  I've included the diagram above to clarify the symmetry (and thus mutual negation) of the attacks.

Incorrect Results?

I am just a novice at this game, but could someone explain the results of Norway (England) and the attack from the North Sea (France). The moves in question are:

England:
Norway -> NS
Belgium supports Norway -> NS
----------------------------------
France:
NS -> Norway
Russia:
NWS supports NS -> Norway
Edinburgh -> NS
----------------------------------

Wouldn't the Norway unit be dislodged? Norway has no unit supporting itself, only one supporting a move to the NS. Therefore the strength of the attack is 2 to 1, and Norway would be dislodged. Following that logic, if Norway is dislodge, and NS moves to Norway, Edinburgh would move into the NS. Whatever the case, please leave me a good explanation of why which outcome was correct. I thought I had a firm understanding of this game. Maybe I don't.

Spring 1908 Results

MOVES:

AUSTRIA

Livonia -> St. Petersburg

Moscow S Livonia -> St. Petersburg

Bulgaria S Greece (support cut)

Greece S Bulgaria (support cut, unit dislodged)

Trieste -> Albania 

Adriatic S Trieste -> Albania

Vienna -> Trieste

Tyrolia S Vienna -> Trieste

Galicia -> Silesia

Bohemia -> Munich

ENGLAND

Norway -> North Sea (bounce)

Belgium S Norway -> North Sea 

Berlin -> Kiel

Holland S Berlin -> Kiel

Liverpool -> Wales

FRANCE

Portgual -> Spain (bounce)

Paris -> Brest 

MAO S Paris -> Brest

Kiel -> Denmark

North Sea -> Norway (bounce)

GERMANY

Civil Disorder, all units hold

ITALY

Burgandy -> Paris

Brest S Burgandy -> Paris (support cut)

Spain Holds

Aegean -> Greece 

Ionian S Aegean -> Greece

Venice Holds

Piedmont S Venice

RUSSIA

Norwegian Sea S North Sea -> Norway

Edinburgh -> North Sea (bounce)

TURKEY

Ankara -> Black Sea

Constantinople -> Bulgaria (bounce)

Smyrna -> Armenia

RETREATS:

AUSTRIA:  Greece was forced to retreat to Serbia.

ITALY: Brest must retreat to either Picardy or Gascony.

Italy's retreat must be submitted by Monday at midnight; hopefully it will be posted sooner than that.

Deadline Passed - Moves Still Needed

The following countries have yet to submit moves: GERMANY.  Civil disorder will be declared in any country that does not submit moves by Saturday night.  Fair warning.

Moves Due Tonight at Midnight

Just reminding everyone that I'm processing once again this week and that moves are due tonight at midnight.  I have already emailed my moves to the Sultan for safekeeping.

Winter Adjustment Phase

AUSTRIA builds F-Trieste and A-Vienna

ENGLAND builds F-Liverpool

GERMANY destroys F-Gulf of Bothnia.

ITALY destroys F-Tunisia.

RUSSIA destroys F-St. Petersburg.

TURKEY builds F-Ankara

Thanks everyone for sending me the info.  Spring 1908 moves are due (to me, once again) at midnight Friday.

Destroyed units info still needed

I still have not received destroyed units from: GERMANY ... which is surprising, considering that, historically speaking, Germany is very good at destroying things.

If I have not received this information by midnight tomorrow, I will defer to the judgment of the Archduke, who is, even as we speak, plotting your doom.

Retreats Fall 1907

FRANCE retreated his Belgium army off the board.

Builds and destroyed units are due midnight Monday.

Results Fall 1907 - Retreat and Builds Needed

First things first:  It came to my attention while tabulating the supply centers that when Tom posted the builds from last year, he neglected to draw on the map his army in Galicia.  (See below: the Galicia unit appears on the February 10th map, but inexplicably disappears by the February 13th map.)  One can only imagine the missed opportunities for mayhem.  "For of all sad words of tongue and pen, / The saddest are these, "It might have been!"

I worked very slowly and carefully, but this is the first time I've done this, so please let me know via email if I made any errors.

I'm on processing duty once again this week, so send all retreats/builds/moves to me at william.gerrard@gmail.com.  France's retreat is due by midnight Sunday.  Winter builds are due by midnight Monday.  Spring 1908 (where does the time go?) moves are due midnight Friday.  If I get everyones' retreats/builds earlier, I'll post them earlier.

MOVES:

AUSTRIA

Bulgaria S Greece

Greece S Bulgaria (cut)

Trieste -> Adriatic Sea

Vienna -> Bohemia

Tyrolia -> Venice (bounce)

Livonia -> St. Petersburg (bounce)

Moscow S Livonia -> St. Petersburg

ENGLAND

English Channel -> Belgium

Holland S English Channel -> Belgium

Norway -> Norwegian Sea (bounce)

Berlin Holds

FRANCE

York -> North Sea

Portugal -> Spain (bounce)

North Africa -> MAO

Burgandy -> Paris

Belgium -> Holland (bounce)

Munich -> Kiel

GERMANY

Gulf of Bothnia S St. Petersburg

No move submitted for Sweden, unit holds

ITALY

Aegean Sea -> Greece (bounce)

Ionian Sea S Aegean Sea -> Greece

Western Med. -> Tunis

Spain Holds

Gascony -> Brest

Marseilles -> Burgandy

Venice Holds

Piedmonte S Venice

RUSSIA

Edinburgh S York -> North Sea

Norwegian Sea S York -> North Sea (cut)

No move submitted for St. Petersburg, unit holds

Finland -> Sweden (no such unit exists)

TURKEY

N Constantinople  -> Aegean Sea (bounce)

Smyrna Holds

RETREATS: (due by midnight Sunday)

France must retreat Belgium to either Picardy or Ruhr.

BUILDS: (due by midnight Monday)

AUSTRIA controls the following centers: Vienna, Budapest, Trieste, Serbia, Rumania, Bulgaria, Sevastapol, Warsaw, Moscow, Greece (10 total).   Austria may build 2 units.

ENGLAND controls the following centers: Liverpool, Holland, Belgium, Norway, Denmark, Berlin (6 total).  England may build 2 units, but is only capable of building 1 unit as 2 of his supply centers are currently under foreign occupation.  Xenophobia is running high.

FRANCE controls the following centers: Paris, London, Munich, Portugal, Kiel (5 total).  France must destroy 1 unit.

GERMANY controls the following centers: Sweden (1 total).  Germany must destroy 1 unit.

ITALY controls the following centers: Rome, Venice, Naples, Spain, Marsailles, Tunis, Brest (7 total).  Italy must destroy 1 unit.

RUSSIA controls the following centers: Edinburgh, St. Petersburg (2 total).  Russia must destroy 1 unit.

TURKEY controls the following centers: Constantinople, Ankara, Smyrna (3 total).  Turkey may build 1 unit.