|
GOLDFISH END-GAME STATEMENTS
GM:
Ally Bain [EGS]
Started: 22nd August 2003
Finished: 4th February 2004 (Spring 1911)
Result: France/Germany/Turkey three-way draw
| Country | Player | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | Result | | Austria | Alex Smith | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 0 | Eliminated | | England | Jon Wyman | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Eliminated | | France | Andrew Cochrane | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 9 | Drawn | | Germany | Scott Hinz | 5 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | Drawn | | Italy | Kester Bearne | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Eliminated | | Russia | Devon Monkhouse | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Eliminated | | Turkey | Wayne Read | 4 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 14 | Drawn |
AUSTRIA (Alex Smith) Hello all!
Well, this was an interesting game. We had two alliances, a stab, and four people eliminated. A good fast paced game. I faced adversity for the better part of the game, and then was finally eliminated by my former ally. Here’s my view of how the game went:
1901:
Russia takes Vienna, Turkey attacks Russia, and at the time I didn’t understand what Italy was doing. I was actually expecting Turkey to try for Greece, and I feel happy that I got it.
1902:
Russia brings in another army, Italy starts his attacks, and Turkey and I come to an understanding. I was surprised that Russia didn’t even try to double-team Vienna, but I guess that you thought that you could take Munich.
1903:
Russia and Italy, you should have had me. What got me out was Turkish aid, and luck.
1904:
Thanks to Turkish fleets, I’m able to go on the offensive versus Italy. If France had taken an interest, you would have stood a much better chance.
1905:
I get my first build in three years, and it looks good from my perspective. I take Venice, and commence the attack on Germany.
1906:
Turkey takes Berlin, his fleets are coming to the front line, and he comes within 7 SC of the solo. I begin looking for possible stab options, but none look good. Germany, good work holding Munich under all the pressure.
1907:
This was the turning point for me. I finished off Italy, and Turkey took over the entire Balkans. I know it’s a matter of time before my game was over.
1908 - 1910:
Not much to be said on my behalf. Turkey looses ground but makes up for it with all of my territory.
If it wasn’t for you Turkey, I wouldn’t have survived to see 1906. Germany, if the game had gone on, I would have picked you to be the winner. And France, despite the fact the we didn’t meet, I think you played a good game, especially with helping Germany hold Munich for all of those moves. Italy and Russia, if you’d been able to work together, you both would have lasted longer.
Thank you Al for GMing, and I hope to see you all in future games.Return to Top
FRANCE (Andrew Cochrane) Hi everyone else and thanks for playing a good game. Thanks as always to Ally for his patience and effort in GMing again. He does keep the game going and I appreciate that.
Well this was about my 5th or 6th game of Gunboat and I've been eliminated or survived all of them so once again I was determined to do better. I wanted France this time because it seemed to have a good draw/survive rate.
I took a cautious start but Italy's move to Piedmont was an unexpected one that caused me to retreat when I didn't want to. Well done Italy. From then on it was move to attack east ie Germany. Once I saw Italy move east A02 I knew that was one less to worry about.
As we all saw it became apparent that A and T were doing quite well together but not enough to worry about in the first 3-4 years. England was a dark unfathomable horse for me and I would like to read your gameplan as I was lost. By A04 I felt I had to get Lpl off E so as to build a Fleet in Mar. I think that piece helped to stem the oncoming Turkish tide and help to get us the draw.
England however took it back but I manged to gain Bel off Germany. I knew that with 6 Turkish fleets coming towards me I had to get a stalemate line set up asap. If MAO fell then it would be all over.
Obviously by this time (around 05/06) Germany was aware with me. All I knew I had to do was support Mun and hold back those yellow ships.
The turning point in the game in my opinion came in S07 when T moved towards A. I felt that with the A army in Piedmont and England still about, that France and Germany were lost and it was going to be a Tand A draw. Another survive/elimination for me. However T for his own reasons decided to go for his ally instead.
I wrote at the time to Ally that that was the breathing space F and G needed. Once I gained Lon I felt safe for a draw.Certainly when Lpl came back to France.
Unfortunately for Austria he was't able to survive after Turkey turned. My biggest fear was that Germany would also decide to turn against France and fancy his chances for a 2 way draw. If that had happened I would probably have collapsed in the south to try and allow Turkey a win so I could survive. So thank you Germany for sticking with me for my best result so far.
Thanks again all and Ally
Until I beat you next time
AndyReturn to Top
GERMANY (Scott Hinz) Thanks to Ally for his work as the GM. After the way things looked earlier in the game, I am happy to have survived with a draw thanks to the help of France. Thanks to everyone else for playing. I enjoyed the game.Return to Top
TURKEY (Wayne Read) This was an interesting, sometimes surprising, but always enjoyable game to play in. Thanks to Ally for GMing and the rest of you for putting up a good fight.
Early Game
I got Turkey, and started with my favourite anti-Russian opening, which is moving the Fleet to BLA, via Con, in 1901 while also occupying Arm. Things started well with Russia making straight for Rum with his Fleet and attacking Austria. Austria was very keen on making friends and supported me to Rum in S1902; I was extremely pleased with this as it also enabled me to take Sev the same year. I signalled my friendly intent to him with a support to Bud and that was it, we were away. By 1903 Russia had been pushed back and I was in Ukr and Sev, but Italy had come off of the fence and had attacked from the West. I build Fleets and moved into the Med. By 1904, Italy had also been repulsed and I was in Tun.
Mid-Game
During the initial seasons Austria had been taking the brunt of the damage and hadn't grown above 5 units, but I felt that we were now in a position to push forward and certainly had it in mind for him to take most of Italy. He was in Ven in 1905, the same year that Russia was eliminated. By 1906 it was clear that we were facing a strong F/G in the North but we were in Stp & Ber and Austria was just about to take the last Italian centre. We controlled 18 centres and looked good to force a 4-way draw as G/F were still finishing off England.
Then it happened, Spring 1907, Austria A(Tri)-Bud. I couldn't believe it; we were doing so well. True Germany had us stalemated in the North and France had the Atlantic sewn up but surely Austria wasn't serious? I looked at the position from every angle and could see no reason for it, so it must be the pre-empt of a stab, surely? So I attacked.
End-Game
Austria was completely enveloped by Turkish forces and had no chance. But F/G were closing in so I had to look at how I was going to get my self part of a 3-way draw without getting swallowed up myself. I checked out the stalemate positions and none of them immediately stood out. The closest one to my current position involved taking all the Austrian and Italian home centres, none of which were currently mine, but I did have the advantage of being in Ber, War, Mos and Tun which were not required to achieve the stalemate position. So I had the possibility of slowly pulling back, giving up the centres I didn't need while taking the ones I did (and picking up 2 extra ones to get to 14). My only hope would be that F/G wouldn't realise what I was up to until it was too late.
1908 - lose Ber, gain Nap & Rom =13
Good start, my Army in Boh will be useful in slowing Germany down, but I need to get it to Italy.
1909 - lose Mos & Tun, gain Bud, Tri & Ven =14
Got to 14, which is good, the Med is sorted, France is not going any further. But I'm in War & Ukr, while Germany is in Gal and I need one of those Armies in Austria! It's all going wrong :o(
S1910
Germany takes War with Gal! He obviously doesn't realise what I'm up to! He does however support Austrian A(Vie) which could be my downfall. A second look at the map and maybe Austria in Vie isn't too bad, I want the centre but, if Austria sits where he is, and I support him, then he will form part of the stalemate line. I will have to settle for a 4-way draw, but at least I won't get eliminated. I'll have one last go at Vie; I've already lost War so I'll be back to 13. From now on I'll be forced to support Austria and hope he realises what I'm doing and doesn't move.
A1910
I'm in Vie! Germany didn't support Vie, as he should've done. Instead he's forced his way to Gal again which could be a problem as Bud is empty and the unit that should be there is still in Ukr.
So, I've got my 14 units, all I need to do is drop A(Tyr) back to Ven and move Con to Bul, both of these moves are guaranteed. Then it's a matter of getting Rum to Bud and Ukr to Rum and I've got my stalemate in place. The problem is that Germany can stop me as I can't support Vie and support a move to Bud at the same time. I gamble on supporting Vie.
S1911
I needn't have worried! Germany obviously still has no idea what I'm up to, he threw his full force against Tyr, which I moved anyway, and ordered A(Gal)-Vie. That's it, I've got my stalemate position I'm guaranteed at least part of a 3-way, maybe F and G will attack each other when they realise?
The END
F and G agree a 3-way draw.
Too bad Germany, I think you were on for a shot at a solo here, you could've stopped me getting my stalemate position in any one of the last four seasons. Had you done that I think that you would've got the lions share of Turkish centres and won fairly easily.
France, you played solidly but were unfortunate to end up facing a Turkish wall in the Med and a German wall in the North.
A note to Austria, many thanks for your support early on, you were instrumental in me being in a position to stop F/G at the end. If only you hadn't moved to Bud in S1907! I was intent on keeping our alliance going if possible, and would've been happy for you to be there at the end, but you forced me into reacting. Too bad!
Thanks to the other players too, very few NMRs if I remember rightly.
Thanks again to Ally for GMing this most enjoyable game. I was really pleased with my performance and even though achieving the stalemate position had a little to do with luck it was still very satisfying.
Ally, I still think it would've been acceptable for you to publish the headline "Turkey achieves the stalemate position he was after" with the S1911 adjudication. I don't see that it could be construed as GM intervention, as you weren't telling me anything I didn't already know. If I was Austria however, I may have had cause to complain about your headline in S1907 - don't worry Austria, Ally didn't sway me into attacking you, I certainly would've done it anyway!
Cheers
WayneReturn to Top
GM (Ally Bain) I think this was a very interesting game & well done to you all, expecially France, Germany & Turkey.
The reason for saying how interesting is based on the early alliance together with eventually moves by all. I think those who don't understand the enjoyment of Gunboat, I hope they read the EGS submitted & then re-look the adjudications. Perhaps that might increase the number of players in Admiral '04 Gunboat Competition. :-)
As mentioned, your opening moves were used on the stats I'm doing but also the endings. See http://mysite.freeserve.com/alb_gsb/diplomacy/stats/gunboatendings.htm
Either way, thanks for playing & see you soon.
AllyReturn to Top
|