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GREEN PUFFER END-GAME STATEMENTS
GM:
Ally Bain [EGS]
Started: 6th July 2003
Finished: 4th January 2004
Result: France, Germany, Italy & Russia four-way draw
| Country | Player | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | Result | | Austria | David Smith | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | Survived | | England | Stuart Bonnington | 4 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | Eliminated | | France | Andrew Laing | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 9 | Draw | | Germany | Matthew Schmitz | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 6 | Draw | | Italy | Robert Dane | 4 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 7 | Draw | | Russia | Paul Simpkins | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 8 | Draw | | Turkey | Alex Belton | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | Survived |
ENGLAND (Stuart Bonnington) Ally
Thanks for adjing this game. Excellent as always.
As you know, I have very few fond memories of this game, and it has almost put me off email Diplomacy for life. Of particular poor repute were France and Germany (right couple of gits to be truthful), plus I was really really dissappointed that Alex would not make any effort whatsoever to get in contact, esp. as we had been such solid allies in a previous game. I just could not understand that.
The only person to come out with credit is Robert I would say.
Anyways, I am only in one other game at the moment...Gonna Get Close to You. I was also in Black Dog, but Tal seems to have dissappeared off the face of the earth and as he was adj bit difficult to finish the game (I was in a winning position on that one too!)
Well, I must admit, I really do prefer the speed and tactical intrigue of Gunboat. I think I am probably best suited to that, and F-2-F. Perhaps if you are going to be running another Gunboat game soon, you might consider me.
Cheers
Stuart
Matthew
I would like to publicly apologise to all the players for my behaviour during Green Puffer.
I believe I had apologised before to Matthew, and will do so again.
I had no right to write the things I did, irrespective of whether I was provoked or not.
I have now played 7 games by email, and have made friends in all of them but this one.
The last few months have been extremely challenging for me on a number of personal fronts, many which I are taking time to heal. But, IRRESPECTIVE of that, I had no right though to take that out on Matthew, or anyone else for that matter.
The only thing I would say is that I believe an email written from one person to another with clear private reference should remain that, private. This clearly, for one reason or another, has not happened, and this is disappointing.
Once again, I apologise to you all.
Yours sincerely
StuartReturn to Top
FRANCE (Andrew Laing) The French Premier offers his thoughts on the game:
Well! Here we are at last. It has been, on the whole, a most enjoyable game, and honestly I am sorry to see it end. I think it could’ve gone on healthily for quite some time, although, granted, some relationships seemed to be getting a bit strained. All in all, though, a draw including me is really nothing to complain about.
So... “What was he thinking?” you ask yourselves. Well, I’ll tell you. At the very beginning of the game, I was, as you might expect, trying to decide whether to go with Germany against England or with England against Germany (and of course trying to prevent Germany going with England). Matt (Germany) was very amiable from the beginning and had some very good ideas, but Stuart (England) seemed inextricably bound to the idea of a three-way alliance against what he perceived as the horrible imminent threat from Italy and Russia. Matt and I, however, felt that it would be more advantageous in the short run (and less stab-prone in the short run) if we kept alliances smaller – i.e., not including Stuart. So we led him along for a bit, finally agreeing to make a move and stab. Sorry if our behavior came off as a bit dishonest, Stuart, but I must tell you: that actually IS quite appropriate in this game. That’s why they call it “Diplomacy” instead of “Unconditional Friendship.”
Italy and I had been on good terms as well (with “good terms” defined here as “mutual ignorance”), and we collaborated a bit on what to do with Vienna, but that of course didn’t go very far. This was all after I had moved into Munich, an unfortunate accident (I was trying to move THROUGH to Bohemia, but I ended up with an extra supply center, so I didn’t really mind – although I did try to give it back, I was literally unable to do so). Things went on like that for a while, bouncing back and forth with Austria and Russia and not really doing much elsewhere except slowly exterminate England. Then, finally, I decided (and Russia, with whom I corresponded little, agreed) that I really was in an excellent position to attack Germany and just take a few supply centers. He was on his last legs anyway, and my stab was purely an opportunistic grab; I had hoped to work with him much longer, but it was taking far too long to get him back on his feet. He stabbed me at the same time (good ol’ Yorkshire...), and Italy made defensive moves in my direction, too. Understandable, as I was getting fairly hefty. And then we drew.
Thank you all for being such excellent people to work with (stabbing is much more fun when other people are in on it), and many, many thanks to Ally for being so consistently good with moves. The game has gone very smoothly and very well – I hope to have more like it.
-AndrewReturn to Top
GERMANY (Matthew Schmitz) Deutschland's Deliberations
This game was rather frustrating overall. I tried some new tactics and it didn't quite pan out the way I had hoped. Combined from some very, very, very poor sportsmanship from one part of the board and it put a damper on the rest of the game.
My initial efforts in this game were two-fold. The first and most important to me was to get Stuart(England) out of the game quickly and second to wipe-out Paul(Russia). By trying to do this I set out on a very determined anti-Russian campaign to convince Stuart that I was on his side in his rediculously proposed "Western-Tripple." Then together with Andrew(France) proceded to gut England.
My efforts against Russia did not bear much fruit. I attempted to get both Alex(Turkey) and David(Austria) to form an anti-Russian alliance stating that through cooperation we could hold Russia to zero builds in 1901. That didn't work and much of the info I told the two made its way back to Paul. David soon stopped speaking to me as did Alex.
Andrew and I worked well together, but I assumed correctly that he would stab me once England was conquered. If all had gone the way I wanted to, as statement all Dip players must make, Russia would have been beaten down in the east, England gone in the West I would have been better prepared to meet Andrew on the field of battle when the stab came, hopefully with Robert's(Italy) help. My downfall this game as opposed to Golden Chicilid was that I stuck to my plan too rigidly.
Overall depsite being at odds with Paul the entire game, I enjoyed our exchange of e-mails.
Robert, thanks for helping me as much as you did in the endgame. Without you I would have been taken out with the combined pressure of France and Russia.
Andrew, I don't have any ill will towards you even though you stabbed me, I left myself open for it and was waiting for it to come much sooner that you actually did it. Also, thanks for allowing me to draw with you, Paul, and Robert as I would have been one of the next players out.
Stuart, I hope never to see you again in a Diplomacy game. I was on the recieving end of many attacks, some deserved but far more underserved. Attacking a person's character and upbringing repeatedly is not acceptable and shows what a poor player you are. You should really reconsider playing this game.
Alex, we were far apart from each other yet could have helped each other more. Even though we didn't work together too much it was still a pleasure.
David, I can't understand why we couldn't work together at all. Maybe it was that Paul had you over a barrell and you wanted to survive. Either way, despite our lack of comunication when we did speak it was emjoyable.
Paul... We were at odds the entire game and both knew it. I know it was probably my schizophrenic play against you that first year that did it. You got the better of me in the east, I the better of you in the north. France the better of me in the west. I would enjoy playing with you again.
Last and not certainly least, Ally. Thank you for GMing this game. Both of my games have been under your GM-age and in both you have been extremely helpful to me.
Regards
MattReturn to Top
ITALY (Robert Dane) Green Puffer EGS - Italy
I've been going through all my emails for this game to try and work out what on earth my plan was! My original plan was to be boring and traditional. I was going to go with the lepanto towards turkey and use my builds to stab Austria, Then hopefully form a stalemate line with Russia and be able to send units west and see where we all ended up. I think it's clear this didn't really happen!
Early game.
France and I agreed early on a policy of Mutual ignorance which we stuck to leaving me to focus on expansion west. I had several agreed bounces with Austria in Tri however this left Austria open to Russian attack. in S02 Austria originally said he was going to support me to AEG from Gre. Then he suddenly said he couldn't but wouldn't elaborate on what he was going to do. If he hadn't done this I would never have became suspicious of an Austrian attack. As it happen I was able to defend myself. I found it odd considering Russia had walked into Bud. This enabled me to work with Turkey again.
Considering Austria was under attack from Russia I found some of his moves blatantly anti Italian and odd to say the least. Russia was going large. England was suffering at the hands of Germany and France. England did ask for me help and the plans he suggested were good. All that was stopping me from helping was Austria.
Since Russia was in the lead I set about forming a 'stop the leader' alliance. I wrote to France and Germany at the same time suggesting a plan where we would move a French army through Mun in the spring and towards Russia in the autumn. WE all went along with this but The unit never got to leave Munich.
Russia then told me that Austria had dropped out and he had his proxy. I think that was to try and get me to trust him again. Instead I got France to send units though Pie towards Austria to help support me in.
By the end game Austria was scattered around and Turkey was doing his best to help me after Russia nearly eliminated him. in the very last turns I started to write to Germany separately. We were worried that with us slowing Russia France was going to grow strong. We started to discus plans to make moves against France whilst stopping Russia at the same time. As Matthew had real life commitments I had his proxy for the very last turn. I encouraged France to stab Germany and moved against France myself. I got Germany to convoy to Yor. Russia had proposed a four way draw at this point which I was happy to go along with since I think we all deserved the draw. I told France I wouldn't be moving units away from him as It would be throwing the solo to him.
Finally thoughts on the players
David (Austria) : I didn't get to talk to you much as you stopped writing from S1903. I don't know if you got bored of the game or had other commitments. It would have been nice to know if you weren't going to play though.
Stuart (England) :I know you didn't enjoy the game that much and I hope you understand my reasons why I couldn't help attack France. However you suggested lots of ideas that I normally would have gone along with and I hope to play you in another game some day.
France (Andrew) - Germany (Matthew) : I think the fact we were able to come to agreements all writing to each other at the same time proves that triple alliances can work. I've tried in other games to form 'stop the leader' alliances and failed so I'm glad we had come success
Russia (Paul) : I never really knew where I stood with you since we never quite worked together properly. While it meant you managed to be ambiguous and grow strong on the board it did make you difficult to trust completely. I'm sure You think similar things about me though. You certainly deserved your place in the draw
Turkey (Alex) : Thanks for you help in the later stages of the game, even If I was going to attack you at first. I'm sure you'll do well in a game on dip 2000 one day.
GM (Ally) : Thanks for GMing the game. Green Puffer provided quite an interesting tactical game and less from me in deviousness.
Robert DaneReturn to Top
RUSSIA (Paul Simpkins) EGS Russia
I had hopes of winning this game especially as I found a compliant ally in Austria. But the tenacity of Robert Dane dragged Italy into the game and coupled with Andrew's reluctance to attack his ally Germany meant that it declined into a draw.
The first few seasons were spent sparring with Germany who for some reason sent an army into Sil on the first move. This ruined my otherwise good start. He denied me Sweden as well but I managed 2 builds. 1902 saw Austia and I start on Turkey and in the autumn I was on 7 units and in BLA and in Sil and it looked good. 1903 saw 8 units and Austria 6 units.
Around this time I finally gave up talking to England. As others have said privately and publicly England was more than aggressive he was actually insulting and in a game this was something I didn't need. So I stopped talking and eased off in the north in the hope he would be eliminated soon.
France was doing very well at this stage and even managed to gain and hold Munich while being in alliance with Germany. I wrote long letters pointing out how we could together wipe Germany out in 2 seasons but he resolutely refused to stab his ally. If he had then France and Russia might well have been in a race to the winning line as Italy was bogged down. But no stab came. He also slipped an army into Tyr which didn't help Russia/Austria and we were gradually pushed back. Turkey was still hanging on.
Penultimate season I finally lost the lead to France and drew back to defend and settled for the draw. Robert had played his way into it, Andrew had played his way into it buy not taking his chance to stab Germany, Matthew had talked his way into it by going public with his moan about England.
Even tho' England apologised his diplomatic style affected the game to the extent that when a reasonable ending was proposed it was a relief to most surviving players to get out.
Of the players I think Robert comes out best, I don't get any brownie points here as I think I should have done better than I did. I feel I was demonised by Matthew in particular (but in a nice way) as an experienced player who was going to rampage all over the board and eat up the inexperienced players for breakfast and his move to Sil and denying me Sweden certainly made it difficult at first. But I did make it to 9 centres with many more en prise and should have profited, Turkey's refusal to give in was a particular thorn in my side. I wonder if he was ordering that single unit?
PaulReturn to Top
GM (Ally Bain) Hi
I know GM EGS goes after all others but allow me to explain England EGS.
The first part of the EGS was sent out, by Stuart, to all on the 27th Nov but the second on the 13th Dec. The reason for me showing both the EGS is partly due to other players' EGS which comment on Stuart & therefore I felt I should show both the e-mails I & others got from him. Stuart, I hope you don't mind the way I'm showing your EGS but to me, the apologise e-mail, sent all players & me, show good character. The only comment I would say though is your thoughts, shown in the penultimate paragraph. Diplomacy, in general not just the game, shows all type of people. Some who agree with you & others who don't. Part of Diplomacy is finding out how others think & when/if found out, how you & perhaps others, would react.
Going back to the game, I found it odd that the game was drawn so early but either way, see you on the boards.
AllyReturn to Top
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