GM : Andy Scott
Starting date : 3rd February 2007
End date : 24th November 2007
Result : German win by player vote

AUSTRIA	Philip Chilvers	Survived
ENGLAND	Endre Buljo	Anarchy
FRANCE	Bruce English	Eliminated
GERMANY	Morten Anstorp	Won
ITALY	Christian Thomsen	Survived
RUSSIA	Richard Hucknall	Survived
TURKEY	Bill Manolopoulos	Anarchy

GM : Andy Scott
There's not a lot left for me to say that hsn't been already said about this game, From a GM's perspective two anarchies is poor. Turkey's particulalyy early on affected the whole game and really sealed Down Richard's part in the game from then on. Whilst it has come to be expected of old sweats like Richard that they try until the end I still think it rates a special mention as I believe it is one of the hardest things to do in the game, to play on when it seems like all hope has gone. Well Done Richard. The second anarchy is still amystery to me! Endre just disappeared, very strange when you consider the position he had got himself into. However that did seal the game as it left more then enough unprotected SC's where only Germany could get to them so the game was effectively over. There were some very nice interactions and diplomatic moments in this game, the fateful attempt by Italt to turn on Austria comes to mind but in the end it was sadly the two anarchies that decided the game. Not that it should take anything from Morten's win, he played well and fought hard, deserving what he got but as even he says winning because of someone else's anarchy is not the way you want to do it. Thank you to all who didn't anarchy and I look forward to meeting you again around Dip2000

Andy

AUSTRIA : Philip Chilvers
"February seems such a long time ago! I started the game with a strong sense of paranoia. Italy, Turkey and Russia all seemed to be friendly towards me - I felt there must be something wrong somewhere! Italy had suggested we worked together and pointed out the mutual benefits, as argued in an article on Austrian/German/Italian co-operation.by Stephen Agar. I decided to agree to this although in the first move I covered Trieste - just in case! I had initially agreed with Richard to have Galicia as a DMZ but due to my mounting paranoia I changed my mind at the last minute and decided to move to Galicia, informing Richard of my plans. He was not happy (!) and I promised I would not do it again - which I didn't. Serbia was my only gain in the first year and I supported Italy into Greece in our campaign to rid Europe of the Turks. Russia and I bounced each other over Galicia and it looked like conflict between us was inevitable. I was desperate to avoid a Russian army in Galicia. In 1902 Turkey NMR'd and I managed to occupy Galicia against Russian opposition. The move of a German army east helped to put pressure on Russia. With Turkey in anarchy, 1903 saw Germany take Warsaw, Italy take Bulgaria and Smyrna and my own forces take Constantinople and Rumania. Austro-Italian co-operation was working well for both of us. Spring 1904 was a crucial moment for me: my fleet was in the Black Sea, I took Sevastopol, Italy and I swapped possessions (I moved into Bulgaria and he took Constantinople) and I moved an army into Tyrolia in defiance of a 3-way DMZ between Germany, Italy and myself. Italy argued against my obvious plan to take Venice - foolishly I did not move on Venice and then Germany and Italy turned on me! In 1905 German armies entered Austria and the Italians took Trieste (woe was me!); I took Con from the Italians in turn. In 1906 I finished off the Turks and took Ankara but lost Con to Italy and Vienna to the Germans. In 1907 I took Con again but lost Sev to the Russians, Budapest to the Germans and Serbia to the Italians. Then Germany turned on Italy and by 1908 Russia, Italy and I united in common defence against England and Germany. England NMR'd but Germany continued to make inroads against Italy. With England's descent into anarchy our only hope of stopping Germany was gone so Richard, Christian and I decided to vote for the solo German win. At the end I take comfort from the thought that I survived my first game of e-mail Diplomacy (on Dip2000) as Austria. Shame I'm in exile but at least its sunny in Greece and Turkey. Well done to everyone who participated, and particularly to Morten. I hope to have the opportunity of playing with you all again, but not necessarily in the same starting positions. Last but by no means least many, many thanks to Andy for GM'ing the game."

GERMANY : Morten Anstorp
First of all I want to thank Andy for being an excellent game master! When starting the game I quickly decided that my best option would be to launch – together with England – a swift attack on France. I also realised that Russia would be my greatest challenge. Russia definitively wanted a hand in the future of Scandinavia (and Europe for that matter), and would not sit idle in a corner. Fortunately Russia's extensive diplomacy and somewhat demanding attitude could be turned against him with arguments such as "we have to stand up against the big threat from the East". So, my basic game plan became to commit the armies necessary to overrun France in the West, while at an early stage also send troops to the East in order to tip the balance of power in favour of an Italy-Austria alliance that could fight Russia-Turkey to the ground. On the drawing board this would give me time to finish off France, and leave me well-positioned to take part in the final scramble for Russian centres. But things does seldom turn out the way you plan them… Turkey's anarchy enabled Italy and Austria to take control of the Balkans before England and I had finished in the West. After the fall 1903 moves I was seriously concerned that Austria and Italy would cut a deal with Russia (letting him keep Mos and Stp), and together wipe England and Germany off the map. When Austria and Italy in 1904 instead decided to consolidate their positions I knew that my chances for taking part in a draw had increased dramatically. More importantly Austria's move to Tyr could be used to drive a wedged between Austria and Italy. My analysis was that Italy would not take the risk of entering the Mid Game alone, and England had – at this point – little to gain from a war with Italy. Thus, I offered England and Italy to be part of a 3-way-draw where England would fight in the North and Italy in the South – leaving me to make up the central front. I think this agreement suited the short-time interests of all parties. I was of course concerned about my unprotected rear, but the triple alliance enabled me to win some time by arguing the necessity of not stabbing Germany. I made it know to England that an attack on Germany would result in me teaming up with Austria. Thus, England would risk a 3-way-draw for a 4-way-draw. My plan was to continue the triple alliance until I had entrenched myself sufficiently in the East + secured my home base, and then choose either England or Italy as my running-mate in a final push for a 2-way-draw. In the end I decided that it suited my interests best to ally with England. But my hand was also forced by England's move against Italy in the Spring 1907 (which I knew nothing about). I therefore had to improvise a stab on Italy in the Fall 1907. From 1908 it was certain that Italy, Austria and Russia could not withstand the English-German offensive. I got rather annoyed when England failed to turn in his orders in the Fall 1908 – depriving us of 3 centres and strategic positions. When I understood that England would go into permanent anarchy in the Spring 1909, I moved my troops so that they could pick up his open centres. The rest you all know. It must say that it is rather unsatisfying to win because of England's anarchy. I was looking forward to rolling up Italy and Austria's defences in the East, while at the same time considering my opportunities for a "real" solo win. It is a cruel world J Thanks to everyone for making the game challenging and enjoyable!

RUSSIA : Richard Hucknall
There's not a lot you can do as Russia when by S1903 Austria, Germany, and England are all against you, Turkey has dropped out, and Italy says he would like to help but can't risk his alliance with Austria. That was the situation I found myself in.

There was an early alliance between Austria and Italy, and although Christian as Italy kept telling me that I was his real long-term ally, he refused to help me defend against Austria's attack until Turkey had been dealt with. Consequently I had little alternative but to prop up Turkey. Austria attacked me with lots of gusto but little success, but then Turkey NMRd in S1902 and went into anarchy the following season, making Austria's job that much easier

In the north I was confronted with an attack by Germany, assisted by England. I tried to play the ethical card with Germany (you sir are a bounder, a cad, and a liar), but it didn't work and perhaps even worked against me as Germany came at me with even more force. Around this time I hatched a plan with France to support into his fleet into Nwy so that we could create an F/R enclave in the north and hopefully hold out until England and Germany came to blows. The plan worked admirably, but then Bruce disbanded F(Nwy) preferring to retain units in his over-run homeland. Needless to say, France was then eliminated very quickly.

From then on it was just a case of hanging on tenaciously with my few and ever-decreasing forces in the hope that something might turn up.

Autumn 1907 arrived together with a proposal of a 2-way E/G draw. I suggested to Christian and Philip that we actually make England and Germany work to gain the 17-17 2-way draw rather than merely agreeing to the proposal, in the hope that they might come to blows as they neared the end with possible chances of a solo appearing. My lone unit in Sev was now quite important in defending the access to what had earlier been the Turkish homeland, and Germany would need to break through here to achieve a 2-way draw.

Then in Autumn 1908 England NMRd giving Germany a huge advantage. I emailed Endre asking him to join with myself, Austria and Italy to prevent a German solo, and if not then to proxy to me. There was no reply and England went into anarchy in Spring 1909. So there was no way that Germany could be stopped, and I, along with the others, accepted the inevitability of a German solo.

Overall it was a frustrating game for me not helped by the two drop-outs, and I suppose that I am satisfied to have survived to the end, and with just one unit from Autumn 1905 to Autumn 1909.

Congratulations to Morten on his victory, thanks to Christian and Philip for coming good in the end, and thanks also to Bruce despite his foul-up in Scandinavia. Finally special thanks to Andy for his usual smooth running of the game.