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Mosquitofish ENDGAME STATEMENTS
GM : Ally Bain
GM : Ally Bain Going back to this game, you can recall I keep stats & the Openings & the Endings is shown so the following is a link to the intro for the stats & within that you'll see links to the respective areas; www.alb-gsb.com/diplomacy/stats/stats.htm Well done Graeme (BTW my son's first name is Graeme, typical Scottish spelling) but equally to you all. See you on the boards, Ally
AUSTRIA : Ben Drake Austrian Emporer-in-Exile Ben Somewhere in a Tyrolian Forest ---------- Thanks again Ally. Looking forward to Admiral IV! Ben
ENGLAND : Greg Longley I would ofcourse like to congratulate the Turks for their Grand Slam. I look forward to fighting with you all in a future game. Greg Longley
GERMANY : Dennis Clarke I won my last Gunboat game - Aspen - and so I started Mosquitofish thinking I had this whole Gunboat thing figured out. Alliances are impossible in Gunboat so don't even try to make one, and don't expect your opponents to either. Just rotate your attacks among your neighbors, trying to keep each of them about the same size and at war with each other, whittling away at their borderlands while you grow in strength. This was a foolproof, battle-tested strategy that would ensure Germany would contend for dominance of the continent. But a funny thing happened on the way to the conquest of Europe. An alliance did form, a very good one, between Turkey and Russia. So strong was this alliance that Russia felt comfortable leaving his entire southern front completely unguarded from about 1905 onward. To the Turk's credit he waited until 1910 to sink the knife in, using the intervening seasons to wipe out Austria and Italy and gain control of the Med. When the stab came in 1910 it was pretty much all over but the shoutin', and Turkey sewed up the victory a handful of seasons later. Germany ended up at game end with a survival, with one hapless army in Berlin surrounded by a hoard of Russians. Fact is I warred with Russia from the very start of the game, a war I never intended to get into and one that really started by accident - I moved F(Den)-Swe in A01 intending to bounce Russia out of Swe, but somehow I ended up with my navy in Swe, and for the next ten seasons Germany and Russia wasted a lot of resources scrapping over the Scandinavian territories. France and England, meanwhile, were scrapping among themselves, and as a result Germany was actually able to grow to a pretty strong position by mid-game, despite my dumb war with Russia. Autumn 1906 was a turning point season for Germany and perhaps for the game. I was at 7, France at 6 and England still with only its home 3. Russia and Turkey were clearly Juggernauting and Russia had started to push forces westward to attack Germany. I could see how exposed Russia was in the south and I figured there was no way Turkey could resist the temptation to stab Russia and steal a couple of quick centers off him. That would put a hurt on Russia and cause him to redeploy away from Germany to protect himself against Turkey, which would take the pressure off my eastern front and allow me to attack elsewhere. So I decided to take a chance and move north and west to try to overwhelm England. But I got it dead wrong. Turkey didn't stab, and the Juggernaut stayed strong and Russia continued to grow and roll into Germany. I tried to reverse field and protect myself against the Juggernaut but it was too late. I lost one center in 1907 and three more in 1908, and pretty much just wandered around Eastern Europe for the remainder of the game while Russia and a pissed-off England took over my homeland. So congratulations to the ferocious and merciless Turk, and thanks again to Ally and my six unnamed opponents. Dennis Clarke
RUSSIA : Daniel Oppenheimer As Russia, I sought to begin the game with a clear sign of friendship in the South to Turkey, as a Juggernaut alliance tends to benefit Russia in the long run and is often remarkably unstoppable given the gunboat nature of the game. I thus opened in an aggressive stance in the North and a bit weakly in the South. This may have played out differently but for my A01 NMR. With a looming 5 center Austria, Turkey wisely chose to work with me to neutralize the Archduke: a dangerous gamble on his part given the NMR, but one that obviously paid off. I also was able to hold the line in the North for a bit given the German engagement in war with France and a relatively non-committal England. In Autumn of 1903, I guessed luckily and swooped into Berlin gaining a crucial third army to deploy to my desperately lacking forces facing Austria. This army and Turkey's growth helped nab Rumania in the next fall, and then slowly pushed back the Austria holdings. Germany continued to be my biggest threat in the North, having acquired all of Scandinavia and Holland, but his previous fight with England and France thankfully left him too vulnerable to pursue an attack on me. I then chose to follow a two-pronged attack against Austria and Germany, realizing that if either continued to prosper, I could never grow unless I turned on my ally Turkey, a nation that is a veritable fortress to assault in the best of conditions. With the aid of Turkey, the attacks went splendidly and Austria was eliminated despite a valiant defense. I continued to add Northern fleets knowing that I would need them in the immediate conquest of Germany and the eventual assault on Britain. So Turkey and I seemed poised to conquer the map. Of course, I long had a nagging fear that he would turn on me in the most inopportune of moments, but I desperately needed my Austrian garrison armies for the final push against Germany. I also could not think of a valid reason to keep the armies defending my Turkish border without possibly eliciting the very attack I feared! So I went blindly onward, hoping that I could shore up the North against Germany and England before the Sultan stabbed. Alas! He timed it perfectly, and from there it was all but inevitable. Congratulations to the Turks, the victory was well earned, and I enjoyed our alliance whilst it was together. A couple of things went just wrong enough that I had no chance to hold the line against you, and you pushed every advantage successfully. Well done. To France, my other ally against the Turks in the endgame, I wonder what could have been without your late NMR. Your reduction of the British by one more fleet and a more successful Mediterranean positioning may have saved the game from a Turkish solo. But I too was guilty of an NMR, so I am hardly one to criticize. To Austria and Germany and England: Good defenses. I found the Austrian nut a tough one to crack initially, and certainly needed the overwhelming numerical superiority of the Juggernaut to make the push successful. Germany and I certainly had an entertaining series of moves in the Scandinavian campaign, and the little sneak move into Warsaw helped seal my doom. And to England, you almost held out unto the end despite my greater numbers, never letting me acquire quite enough to hold back Turkey. The witches have helped each other once again! Thanks finally to Ally for GM'ing. It was a long and fun game to play through and I thank everyone involved. Sincerely, Daniel Oppenheimer
TURKEY : Graeme Murphy Mosquitofish was my first gunboat game. It started a few weeks before a second game, ‘Random’. Random finished some weeks ago and in less glorious fashion but to me the games were intrinsically linked, as lessons being learnt the hard way in Random were being put to profitable use in Mosquitofish. I enjoyed both games however and although standard Dip will remain my staple fayre I will certainly be dipping into Gunboat again in the future. 1901 Mosquitofish started with me foundering as to what to do and how to handle the negotiations when you couldn’t negotiate. Looking back on my orders for Spring ’01 I obviously decided that negotiation is best done by using a big stick approach with my armies ploughing into Bulgaria and Armenia whilst my fleet clashed with the Russians in the Black Sea. I rapidly reviewed these orders when I noticed that Russia had gone north, Italy was signalling friendship with Austria by standing in Venice and Austria had actually gone one better by supporting the Italians in their stinky canals. I sensed I needed to quickly change my approach and direction before the Austro-Italians swamped me in true Lepanto style. I decided to take a risk and pull away from attacking the Russians by moving the fleet to Constantinople and the Armenian army back to Ankara. I also decided that it would be to my advantage to prevent anyone walking into Greece and was extremely surprised when, what had been intended as a defensive measure, gave me the province and left Bulgaria alarmingly empty. This was partly due to two disappointing but pro-Turkish NMRs by Russia and Italy. 1902 I email Ally with my Spring 1902 orders ‘So I try to persuade Russia I am interested in the Juggernaut only for him to NMR. Austria tries to get Italy into an alliance only for a similar NMR. I dread to think what will happen if I send friendly signals to Vienna. So I won’t...’ I have built a new fleet in Smyrna and now thrust fleets into the Aegean and Eastern Med while moving the Ankara army to Constantinople to apply pressure to Bulgaria in the Autumn. Meanwhile the army in Greece doesn’t stay idle and thrusts up into Serbia, again in a stalling operation that should force Austria to devote two pieces to its capture. This succeeds but Austria is signalling friendly things to Austria and in the Autumn I email Ally ‘Austro-Italian alliance forming it would seem. I might need to bale out my Russian chums.’ This reflects the fact that Austria has Rumania and Galicia whilst Germany has fleets in Denmark and Sweden. Russia is still on 4 SCs but thankfully hasn’t been able to risk a move out of Sevastopol to the Black Sea precisely because of the Austrian pressure. Italy has convoyed to Tunis so I simply look to secure Bulgaria in the Autumn. In the end I am successful with this and a third fleet is built in Constantinople but Austria and Italy have both built this turn. 1903 1903 sees me coming to the aid of Russia as I provide assistance to a move to Rumania and take the Black Sea in order to double that assistance in the Autumn. Unfortunately by the time the Autumn came around Bulgaria was needed elsewhere (a ‘defensive’ attempt on Serbia) and my moves were as much about hanging on to what I had when faced with the Austro-Italians as it was with helping the Tsar. As it turns out my decision was the correct one as I held back the reddy-green tide. Russia wasn’t too upset though as the Tsars fleet cheekily moved into Berlin allowing a build in Moscow. 1904 The Spring of 1904 saw me repeat my previous set of orders but imagine my surprise when instead of a stalemate I find myself in Serbia and Austria in Rumania. Bulgaria is once again embarrassingly empty of troops and it is all because Russia and Italy have once again NMR’d in tune with each other. I send a frustrated email to Ally with my orders ‘Damn those Russian and Italian NMRs. I nearly sent in a set of alternative orders at about quarter to five tonight in an attempt to break the deadlock. I’d still be in Serbia but I’d also be in the Ionian too with a destroyed Italian fleet to boot. Damn and blast it !!! Big question is ‘will one of these two anarchy ?’ second big question is ‘why do Italy and Russia both NMR at the same time ?’ This is the second time this has happened. These orders will probably need changing before deadline day as I might have a swipe at Rumania instead of going for position in Albania. Then again a retreat to Bulgaria is a safety option that needs to be considered. I think these are very provisional provisional orders.’ As it turns out the orders were very provisional. In fact they were crap and a second set are sent some days after which see me bug out of Serbia and a return to the same position I held back in 1903 with the major difference that the Russian fleet has at last taken Rumania, destroying the Austrian army in the process. The interesting and important thing this year however was the appearance of the French in the Med with fleets in the Gulf of Lyon and an army moving into Piedmont. 1905 My orders recognise my opportunity and I email Ally ‘Italy should be worried about France now so time to take a small risk. If it fails and Italy takes Greece then I’ll just have to destroy the Italians next turn but that Italian army in Tunis should really be heading home at the moment.’ My assessment proves correct as Italy convoys back home and I take Serbia. Suddenly the game is starting to open up for me. With my Autumn orders I comment ‘Phew, Italy saw the French threat. There is a temptation to take Sev off Russia which I’ll resist for now. I’ll concentrate on getting the new build on the board I think and hit Russia later when Italy and Austria have been weakened further.’ This sensing of opportunities in the north and recognising the need to stick with Russia was to become something of a theme of my orders over the next few years but for now it was important for us both to work together. By the end of 1905 I had gained Serbia permanently and Italy had started the rocky road to Anarchy with another NMR. I could hear the thoughts of the seething Austro-Hungarian emperor coming through the ether. 1906 Rather than taking advantage of my purple ally I now provided increased support in an effort to get Russia into Budapest. Russia had other priorities and the Tsars war with Germany saw his armies unmask Warsaw in favour of a strange move to Bohemia and Silesia. I was baffled but had other concerns, with Italy going into anarchy and France taking advantage by taking Venice but then, surprisingly, vacating the Med with her fleets in order to take on the English. This was great as I had finally broken out into the Ionian Sea. As we moved to the Autumn I emailed Ally ‘Oh the temptation to stab Russia, especially after his moves last turn. However, I must resist the temptation to stick the knife in to Rumania and Sevastopol, however nice three builds would be. I have enough options in the med and the Adriatic without uniting Austria and Russia against me. Resist... You must resist....’ The year finished with me in Naples and Austria inexplicably resisting the temptation of Warsaw as Russia refused to defend it in order to make a futile attempt on Munich. The French NMR surprised me, especially as it prevented them building what would have been an annoying fleet in Marseille. I added an important army in Constantinople and I was starting to seriously sense that a solo might be on. 1907 I email Ally more orders and once again comment on my Russian ally ‘I have absolutely no idea what Russia is trying to achieve in Germany. Surely he should have realised that his only real hopes of gains lay in knocking Austria out of the war. I’ll continue to resist the temptation to stab the life out of him as he is doing more good for me messing about in the north than he would being taken over by Germany or being actively allied to Austria.’ My orders however focus on the south as I look to set up an eventual convoy to Italy whilst securing Rome and Tunis. In the Autumn I email ally; ‘Should be able to sneak up to 9 centres this turn. Russia will build but I am assuming that it will be either in Warsaw or St P so I don’t need to stab just yet. The French move into Italy has done a superb job of distracting Austrian attention and with England threatening Iberia things look good.‘ Things go almost to plan but my seizure of Tunis prevents the convoy to Italy taking place. Russia at last takes an interest in Austria and seizes Vienna whilst at the same time as he picks up Sweden from the Germans. This puts Russia on 7 and me on 9 and as Ally points out ‘The Juggernaut is in gear’ 1908 1908 and I have options open to me as I point out to Ally in my orders ‘Still got the opportunity for that stab on Russia. Still resisting as it should still be there should these moves fail. I need to get an army into Italy asap. Question is, do I sling the fleets west or do I use them to convoy or to break a possible deadlock around Trieste ?’ I decide to sling some fleets west to draw the intention of France who is once again paying attention to the Med with armies in Marseille and Apulia and a fleet on the South Coast of Spain. The End of the year sees a further fleet join the fray and enter the western Med. This French pressure makes any stab of Russia a non-starter for now and with a German collapse seeing 3 disbands and two Russian builds I am actually starting to worry about being stalemated by France in the south whilst Russia sweeps to victory in the north. 1909 I decide that I must secure my Italian gains whilst protecting Tunis if possible. I email Ally ‘Might end up swapping Tunis for Venice or even losing an SC temporarily depending on what the Germans and Russians do.’ I get a fleet into the Adriatic and one into the Ionian but I am outnumbered by a line of three French fleets and three French armies but Venice should be mine and that’ll cost the French. More hopeful is the fact that France is almost denuded of forces and those English moves were not exactly friendly. Sure enough, in the Autumn, the English stab rides to my rescue as their fleets move into the Mid Atlantic and Belgium. 1910 Both Russia and I have added another SC apiece with me building another army in Constantinople and Russia kindly building a fleet in St Petersburg (nc) and as far away from me as possible. Russia is almost denuded of forces on my northern border and Sevastopol has been open for some time with Rumania only protected by a fleet and the nearest army in Vienna. Russia’s opportunities for 1910 are however causing me grave concern and I express that to Ally in my Spring orders ‘Just keeping an eye on the Russian opportunities in the north. Didn’t want to stab until I’d broken French resistance in the south but I don’t want three Russian builds on the board this turn either.’ I am seriously considering that an Autumn stab is a must but I continue to support Russia in Rumania (pointless apart from the diplomatic message it sends) whilst I try to encourage the Russians to move out of position by supporting a move to Tyrolia. This works fantastically well although Russia is also getting twitchy as he moves his fleet back to Sevastopol. Over in the West England is in Portugal and the Russians are in the Channel with a free shot at Brest or London. Russia has already picked up three SCs this turn and with England seemingly throwing SCs his way and Kiel looking undefendable I need to strike like it or not. My comments to Ally in my Autumn orders are lengthy ‘I think the Russian player is a good player but that he has realised too late what he has sown. With England ceding him SCs willy-nilly and doing his best to destroy Franco-German defences from the rear Russia has realised that I am about to strike. The only surprise really is that he got greedy last turn and went for the SCs rather than covering more than Sevastopol. There is no way that I can allow him to pick up a full 4 new units as there would only be one result from there. Sooooo… Rumania and Budapest this turn and hope that the German unit behind the lines picks up Warsaw.
Sevastopol and possibly Vienna in 1911 and hope that France and Germany work with me to put down the Anglo-Russian alliance that I bet Russia wishes he didn’t have (not that he knew about it anyway). I hope that Russia goes for Brest and England hangs on to Portugal as that should see me clear for sailing into the Atlantic.’ Things go better than planned with Vienna, Budapest and Rumania falling to me and Warsaw to the Germans. Russia did take London rather than Brest but you can’t have everything can you ? 1911 The previous year was a successful one but I had lot to debate with myself and I expressed them to Ally with my orders ‘Well last turn went quite well but lots of things to consider this turn. How bright is England at spotting the danger ? Will he continue to nibble at the others ? How threatened is France by England ? Will he look to defend himself or is he good enough to try for a stalemate line ? How offensively minded is he ? What about Russia ? Will he risk his northern possessions to throw himself south ? Will England continue to throw SCs his way with this in mind ? These are provisional orders and will probably be changed before the adjudication. As you can see, lots to consider.’ I start to develop a plan and position myself for its execution. I email more orders to Ally ‘Decided to hedge on the side of caution with regards to those French fleets. If they move back to protect Spain then nothing is lost but the risk to Italy and the Ionian of getting my guesses wrong could have been quite damaging. Depending what Germany does this turn I should get one SC this year and have a crack at two. I’ll probably lose Vienna in the Spring and regain it in the Autumn. The situation with Russia will be quite interesting as its possible the Tsar will take a couple of English centres and may even get a build depending on whether England elects to fight back in an effort to get a survival.’ I relinquish Vienna temporarily only to retake it and Sevastopol in the Autumn. More importantly I move into the Ukraine and prepare myself for the final acts of the drama. Over in the West Russia is demolishing England whilst France has NMRd. Russia has outbuilt me this turn but has had to place armies on St P and Moscow. These will need to support themselves to survive and I know that if I leave them alone then Russian gains elsewhere will be meaningless. 1912 Things are going well and I continue with my plan. I email Ally ‘The intention is to keep the pressure on both France and Russia. Not too worried about potential Russian gains elsewhere as I am hoping to force Russia to support his two pieces on his home SCs so that he cannot reap the benefits of any gains. Sending a signal to Germany this turn that I am happy to see him survive the game. Budapest may change hands temporarily again this turn. If it does it’ll be a fatal mistake by Russia as he’ll have the army destroyed in the Autumn and will never rebuild it.’ This is indeed what happens as the Russians fall into a Turkish ring of steel. The Germans complicate things however by vacating Warsaw. In the West things are under control with four Turkish fleets facing just two French ones whilst the French armies are required for the defence of Marseille. My Autumn orders include the following comments for Ally ‘Going to plan so far… Intention this turn is to press on towards Munich and hopefully destroy the Russian army in Bohemia. I’ll keep the pressure up on the Russian home centres and if he falls for the Warsaw bait he’ll lose Moscow. Either way he won’t build. Don’t care whether Russia keeps Budapest or is forced to retreat to Vienna as that army is in a pocket and will die and not be replaced. I am hoping that France may try a self bounce with his fleets and give me a chance to slip into the MAO.’ I revise these orders a few days later with the notes to Ally ‘Change of plan across the board. Not sure what France will think with that Russian fleet in the Channel. Does he go for Brest or take Belgium ? Will France take the risk ? Will France go for Portugal ? Over in the East I have decided to leave Warsaw alone unless forced to retreat there. If Russia tries for it he loses Moscow and it stays German anyway. In the meantime I’m going to kill the army in Budapest and again hopefully destroy it…’ Again things go as expected and more importantly I get a fleet out into the Mid Atlantic. 1913 I can see the end in sight and in my now customary comments to Ally try to explain my strategy ‘Well that move went really well. I love the fact that Russia has 4 builds in the bag and can’t build. Going to apply pressure to the areas around Munich more as a diversion. Russia really needs to move Kiel to the Baltic and get the Danish army down. It makes me laugh that he’s protecting Berlin from Germany and yet the loss of Berlin costs him nothing. The blow will fall against Iberia, Warsaw and Moscow this year. Hopefully I’ll have at least two of them by the start of 1914.’ By the end of the Spring turn the plan is already ahead of schedule. Spain and Warsaw have fallen and Germany has taken Berlin as Russia acts too late to bring the Danish army into play. More importantly I have three vs two on Moscow and my fleet in the Mid-Atlantic retreats to the North Atlantic and has unopposed sailing into Liverpool. My final set of orders is accompanied by a final set of comments ‘No time for sentiment. I did consider attacking Munich with Tyrolia, or Moscow with Warsaw, and allowing Germany to live but… Should finish on 19 SCs.’ This is indeed what happened and I had my first gunboat solo. I’d like to repeat my thanks to Ally for his GM’ing and wish him an enjoyable break away from Dip...Just don’t stay away too long. To the other players I’d like to also express my thanks for sticking at it to the end. I’d love to know who you all were and I’d especially like to see how the game went from the perspective of my much abused Russian ally. Many thanks chaps (or chapesses) and sorry Mr Tsar.
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