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BRONZE CORYDORAS END-GAME STATEMENTS
GM:
Ally Bain [EGS]
Started: 1st July 2002
Finished: 3th December 2002 (Autumn 1912)
Result: Italy win
| Country | Player | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Result | | Austria | Kerop Kouyoumdjian | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Eliminated | | England | Matthias Mller | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | Survived | | France | Brian Frew | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | Survived | | Germany | Jason De Boer | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 6 | Survived | | Italy | Sean Timoney | 4 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 18 | Won | | Russia | Simon Berry | 7 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | Survived | | Turkey | Carl Brewer | 4 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Eliminated |
ENGLAND (Matthias Mller) Hmm whats To say about this Corydas? Did I throw the game to Italy? Probabaly yes, although I prefer the notion that Germany did.
Generally can be said about the game that I choose the wrong partner from the start, but thats one of the pitfalls of gunboat. I always prefer to start gunboat aggressive and see what developes, but this time I chose the wrong enemy. While there seemed to be an agreement between me and Germany to take out France, the methods we choose where clearly inferior to the french defense. I was under the impression, that it would have been clear that Germany should support me into Brest, but he always choose to but it head against it instead. That Russia was at his backdoor quite from the start obviously didn't help.
But from this start I was always under the impression, that germany was somewhat unreliable, something that was not helped by his refusal to move against Italy, but rather bother France in PAris, even after I had make it clear, that I was not supporting him there anymore, so he could not expect any gains. Not to mention the fact, that a breakdown of france would have meant Italy
conquering Spain, something which at this stage of the game was clearly a game winner for him.
France on the other hand was a quite easier partner, completely understanding my reasons for retreating from his doors and working together from there on quite perfectly until I decided that I would give the game away.
Why I did throw it away? Well I think we had quite secured the stalemate line, and I was just trying to find a scheme of changing and counterchanging Sweden or Norway, to exchange Germanys Fleets into armies, when he decided to force NTH. Since I did not understand at all why he would do so, I probably paniced. The only reasons I could come up with, was that he was either not trusting me or trying to force me out of the draw. Well I think after giving him support throughout all of the game, and even giving up London to france just to secure the Draw, I saw no point for the first.
So I was assuming the second. And since I did not see any chance of holding STP and fighting of Germany at the same time I decided for the latter. And the pitfalls of gunboat disallowed a making up in time.
As all that is left to me is giving my congratulations to Italy for a superb game and to pity France who played also very good but was not able to reap his just reward.
Oh and what I forgot, thanks for hosting our game.
Ciao
Kulko alias MatthiasReturn to Top
FRANCE (Brian Frew) I started with a quiet opening to see what was going on (the Gascony one with an expectation of a bounce in Bur). This was a mistake. England took the channel and I got into Bur - so I was obviously going to get trouble from both of my neighbours from the start.
That is what duely transpired. However France is difficult to take out even if England and Germany are co-operating and in a Gunboat situation the defence can string things out even longer. This proved to be to my advantage as neither of them could land a killer punch.
While all this was going on Italy was carving up everyone in the east and making great strides.
England got into trouble with Germany and Russia and decided that the best option was to make overtures to me about stalling the rampant Italians in the western Med. I accepted the offer and set out to seal the Med.
Surely everyone would now just get together and keep out the Wops?
There was only one problem. Germany just didn't seem to be able to see the light. Instead of setting up a solid front against the Italians, which would have been easy at this point, he started nibbling away at the Russians and English who he needed as allies.
I was always going to be able to stop the Italians gaining a centre in France or Iberia and even managed the odd pop at Tunis, but eventually the English fleet started supporting the Italians. Presumably this was in retaliation for the German actions since he had acted very sensibly up until then.
The Germans played so badly that he even ended up with Italy having a 50/50 pop at either Ber or Mun. Fortunately they got it wrong.
Ah well. Surely now he would see that he had to get two units into position to defend the 18th centre - StP. Not a bit of it. The Italians were allowed to slam into Russia and take their 18th centre virtually by invite.
Well done Italy.
Germany should go and get some basic tactical lessons - including learning to count to 18 for a start!
All the best
BrianReturn to Top
GERMANY (Jason De Boer) Guys,
Having read the EGS and being in the middle of writing my own, I feel compelled to agree with all of you. I thought I needed one more unit to establish the stalemate line and consequently attacked England hoping to build another unit in Ber, push onto Pru and form the stalemate line in StP. As this was only my second gunboat game I hope you'll all forgive my tactical naiveity. I played very stupidly towards the end, especially forcing NTH and not noticing the Italian build up until it was all too late - perhaps a consequence of having three exams in three consecutive weekends while at the same time being forced to hold down a 5 to 9 (yes, 16 hours) a day job. Oh well...I have downloaded an article on Stalemate Lines and when I get the chnace to read it I'll hopefully be better equipped.
Sorry to England, France and the other survivors to whom my tactical ineptiude cost at least a share of the draw. Hope to see you around the board again soon.
JasonReturn to Top
ITALY (Sean Timoney) Italy was fortunate in her choice of enemies and until the game was well advanced was lucky to have one at a time. Austria went out first, initially benefiting Turkey, but with the lion's share falling to Italy in A1903. Luckily for Italy, Russia was cheesed off with Turkey's attack on Sevastopol in A1903. As Russia counter-attacked, Italy skirted Russian territory, with the exception of Budapest which was directly in the way, until 1907. By then, with Turkey under control, it was time to turn the heat on Russia. Thus far, a megalomaniac's dream come true.
But real trouble was brewing in the west in the form of a lonely displaced English fleet. In A1904 England inexplicably kept it there, leaving its home waters completely undefended. With France moving in on England, the English fleet did not appear to be a threat but simply offered a good excuse for Italy to move west without alarming France too much. On the principal of having one enemy at a time, the first priority for the Italian fleets was to reduce Turkey, so the West Med was put on the long finger. In S1905 England offered an olive branch to England and, despite France moving into London, persisted with its support for France. That changed things in the West Med drastically as France moved to block it with a tempo that Italy tried to match. Italy might have succeeded only that England and France seemed to open a telepathic ( or, perish the thought, more conventional) channel of communication. Witness S1907 and A1908! Psychic researchers in universities and gypsy encampments throughout Italy got a massive boost in funding as a result! I still don't understand why England turned on France eventually, although it had no effect on play.
The Italian strategy from an early stage was to go for an armistice line running from Portugal to Sevastopol. As the west got bunged up, that shifted to a target from Marseilles running to Moscow. St Petersburg is very hard to take with a land force from the south and ultimately impossible to hold against northern fleets and armies. As Marseilles began to look doubtful, it appeared to be necessary to get either Munich or Berlin as the 18th s.c. Italy would have taken Berlin in S1910 but on second thoughts that Germany would never leave Berlin completely open to attack, orders were changed to attack Munich instead. Germany got his build in Berlin and the middle of the board was freezing up too. Italian luck had finally run out. Or had it? Italy made a final push for St Petersburg while making stabs at trying to destabilise the rapidly freezing stalemate in the west and the centre. With a stalemate virtually guaranteed, Italy put forward an Italian win as an EGP in A1911. Naturally this was turned down as all Germany had to do in A1911 to get the certain stalemate was to move F(NWG) in to a position to support RUSSIAN A(StP). Instead he moved against England, giving Italy a sure win. In fairness, Italy did not really win. Other powers lost!
Thanks everyone for sticking with it and especially to Ally for his patience and work. It was fun for me anyway! The big message for southern powers is to get a fleet out of the Med sooner rather than later. And don't ever give up!
SeanReturn to Top
RUSSIA (Simon Berry) I drew Russia and opened with a full commitment to southern affairs - ordering to Gal and BLA. I bounced in BLA but not in GAL and Germany's opening meant that Swe was there for the taking. In Autumn I took Rum, Bud and Swe - even though I expected only to take Rum and Swe and found myself building three, including F(StP sc) - which was a mistake and a bad one as it committed me to an unnecessary war against Germany - my only serious mistake in this game.
1902
Having committed to attack Germany with my build, ordered my new my builds to Scandinavia and Silesia . I should not have started a war with Germany after being let into Swe and concentrated on the south. I tried to make up for the lack of resources in the south by supporting a hard pressed Austria. I ended the year with the gain of Ber for the loss of Swe and a declaration of war from Turkey with his build of F(Ank) - but my forces were scattered and I was vulnerable on all fronts.
1903
I was a mess - I was fighting Turkey in the south, Germany in the middle and England in the north and was back to 6 SCs with the loss of Sev. My units were scattered and my ability to apply force in any one sector was awful. So far the game had become a textbook example of bad tactics on my part. The R/T war had played into the hands of Italy who ended the year with the
highest SC count and, more importantly, well positioned units. Austria took an early exit (been there, done that - at least it is quick).
1904
I have to get my units working together if I am going to stay in this game much longer. I abandon Kiel, handing it back to Germany, and head for Scandinavia - picking up Den and Swe in the north and Sev in the south but losing Bud to the expanding Italian empire. Turkey misses his retreats, forgets his builds and loses units - a mistake which was to cost him dearly next year (and one which I failed to learn from - although when I made the same mistake later in the game it hadno serious consequences). I'm surprised that Germany has not reclaimed Kiel - it is there for the taking.
1905
I swap Den for Nwy, but have now become concerned that Italy, having gained the ascendancy over both Turkey and myself has no real opposition left in the south, but gain some comfort from the presence of the English and French fleets in the Med.
1906
Italy continues to grow at Turkey's expense, but myself England and France all seem to see the danger and move to try and block further expansion. Germany finally retakes Kiel and I lose a unit. Conflict between myself, England and Germany continues - this could play into Italian hands.
1907
I spend the year trying to end hostilities in Scandinavia - only Italy has a realistic chance of winning from here. England gains Nwy at my expense and it looks like G/E intend to continue our war in Scandinavia. Italy gains two more from Turkey to reach 13. I try to make my intentions obvious to all by disbanding the only units I have left which could be viewed as threatening to Germany.
1908
I start moving my remaining units out of Scandinavia to try and set up a defensive line against Italy. Germany supports England into Swe, and again I chose to take a disband from the north, hoping that E/G will at last realise that Italy is a threat to win the game and my only interest at this point is stopping that. Italy takes the last Turkish SC and reaches 14. I count the dots - Italy will need all of my home SCs to win (or make a breakthrough somewhere else). I can do nothing to prevent the loss of Mos, War and Sev but if I can get a unit into StP, either England or Germany can prevent an Italian win, simply by supporting me in place. If I'm down to just A(StP), then I'll need one or the other to provide the support.
1909
Sev falls and I disband my useless F(Fin).
1910
I'm disturbed when England bounces me out of StP and even more so when A(Ukr) disbands with no retreat possible and I lose the opportunity to build A(StP). A small mistake on my part and not of any consequence - there is still plenty of time to complete the stalemate line. Germany gains the ascendancy over England - but does it matter at this stage?
1911
I lose War and Mos - not something that could be prevented. All it takes is Germany to move one unit to either Nwy or BAR to support my A(StP) in place in either Spring or Autumn and Italy will be stuck on 17SCs and we have a multi player draw. Instead I am disappointed when Germany attempts to take Edi. At year end Italy is in position to force a well deserved win and there is no longer anything which either I or anyone else can do to prevent it.
1912
In spring Italy forces me out of StP. Germany moves fleets to Nwy and BAR - a season too late. Even with German support StP cannot be retaken and I elect to move my A(Fin) to Swe ensuring survival rather than the elimination which would follow from a futile attack on StP (the attack would not have succeeded even with full German support). (And, yes, I know that survival is
still a loss, but it is an improvement on my last two completed gunboat games.)
As Ally might have put it, the fat lady gave her performance in the former Russian capital.
Final comments
Thanks to Ally for his prompt, efficient and friendly GMing.
Congratulations to Italy on a well fought win - although a single support of my A(StP) would have prevented it - and commiserations to my fellow losers. It was educational - a few good tactical lessons learnt in the early stages of the game.
Cheers
Simon
(Russia)Return to Top
TURKEY (Carl Brewer) Well I would like to say it was a well played game and that I enjoyed it. Well, sans the part of me losing et al. No diplomacy and still no victory. I'm not very good at these End Game Statements, but thanks for not smoking me too badly.
Carl BrewerReturn to Top
GM (Ally Bain) I found this a very interesting game for one of many reasons. The first mentioned is that earlier on JW was doing & still is doing the stats for the results in Gunboat. I remember him saying that Italy had never won a Gunboat & not long after him saying it, I GMed a game that Italy won. Due to this, the number has increased so well done Sean!
As you may know, I've created a Web Site where I'm writing about Diplomacy. I've finished another one, which is aimed at Gunboat & within it I've mentioning Sean's victory & the other Italian win. If you want to read it, my site address is shown within this site's links.
Either way, thanks for playing & I'll see you on the board.
Ally
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