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OSCAR END-GAME STATEMENTS
GM:
Ally Bain [EGS]
Started: 12th September 2003
Finished: 8th April 2004 (Autumn 1914)
Result: England won!
| Country | Player | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Result | | Austria | Brian Koon | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Eliminated | | England | Wayne Read | 4 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 18 | Won | | France | Kester Bearne | 6 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | Survived | | Germany | Michael Lorenz | 5 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Eliminated | | Italy | Cullum Weston | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | Survived | | Russia | Jeff Young | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Eliminated | | Turkey | Matthew Jennings | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | Survived |
AUSTRIA (Brian Koon) What can I say about this game. As austria facing a Juggy from the start, i thought that my only hopes rested in italy helping me out. And he bailed and went towards France. After that it was pretty much down hill. Cant say I really liked this game, i figure i would give gunboat a try and i did. There wasnt anything spectacular in the game, england played well.
Sorry there isnt much more to say.
Thanks ally for taking the time to GM, and perhaps next time i wont get eliminated in one of your games, hehe.Return to Top
ENGLAND (Wayne Read) Oscar was a great game from my point of view. I was very lucky, I owe my success early on mainly to France and Italy, not because they did anything wrong - far from it, but just because of the situation that developed. I gambled on leaving ENG empty and moved strongly against Russia and Scandinavia. France moved against Germany, which was a relief, and Italy moved against France so the gains that France made early on all had to be focused on the South. This allowed me to grow in the North while being unmolested by either Germany or France. By the time France realised that something had to be done, it was a little too late. I already had eight Fleets, and even though he got a Fleet to NAO, forcing me to back-track to dispose of it, my force of numbers was too great. Unfortunately for me I was out of position, with too many Fleets, and Armies in the wrong provinces, added to that France defended brilliantly and it seemed to take ages before I finally got my units sorted out and broke through.
For a while it seemed like the whole game was just me and France while A/R/I/T fought over the Balkans and pretty much left us alone.
At about the same time that I started to make progress through France, the South-East corner seemed to sort itself out into an I/T struggle. I was also fighting a few Russian units in the East but this never seemed to be a major conflict with units just chasing each other around.
France was crumbling and I/T still fought.
Russia crumbled and I/T still fought.
I moved towards the solo and I/T still fought.
Finally, as it was too late I/T seemed to realise what was going on and moved against me, but I had too many Armies in Germany by then. An attack 3 or 4 seasons earlier and they would have ripped through Russia and Germany. I would've had no chance and would've agreed a 3-way draw, but by this time the solo was a formality.
A note on the other players - no anarchies which was great.
Germany - moved against Russia at the same time as me but had the handicap of France behind him. Should've had a conditional build in A1901 to build an Army in Ber instead of a Fleet if France took Mun.
Russia - Always seemed to be up against it, but fought on.
Italy - helped me more that you know, both early on and at the end, you really should've come to France's aid and stopped me from taking MAO - should've got a draw.
Austria - didn't have any contact and lost out in the fight over the Balkans
Turkey - fought Italy for too long at the end - should've got a draw.
France - great player, I admired your moves throughout the game, had a good understanding and acted accordingly. I feel sure that, had Italy not been a thorn in your side early on, you would've stopped me in the North and maybe gone on to win yourself. I can imagine your frustration at the end when I/T did nothing to stop me. I was very pleased at the end that I could take my 18th centre without eliminating you. Thank you for a really good contest.
And finally many, many thanks to Ally for his continued top notch GMing. I have probably played under him more than any other GM and he always does a great job, which is amazing considering the work load he puts himself under both here and on Psychopath.
Cheers
WayneReturn to Top
FRANCE (Kester Bearne) ALB: This was sent to all those in Oscar after the EGS were on-site. As it's Easter, I thought I should be nice & therefore added it to the site. :-)
Oscar started well, descended into a sublime fight with England and collapsed into the ridiculous while Italy and Turkey fought with their hand-bags and England gradually rolled, very efficiently, to victory. I know I shouldn't know his identity when writing this but it comes as no surprise. Four or five times I've played Wayne at gunboat and the results are curiously predictable!
I opted for trying an EF from the beginning: getting off to a great start out of the blocks, things were going swimmingly: Germany feel over immediately and Italy was lined up next; I knew England had a chance to stab me when I elected not to do so; however, I also knew that there was no chance he could succeed with 7 units against 8, because France can hold out for a very long time and I'm actually quite good tactically even if I don't have Wayne's overall perception; besides, it would take him so long that the east and centre would of course be tied up long before he could gain anything, so why give up a great shared position in order to settle for a massive stalemate? Well, he did stab (can you stab in gunboat? I guess so), so a gallic shrug was shrugged and I must say I enjoyed the fight. England actually missed one or two chances, even though he outnumbered me 10 to 6 for a long time - but let's face it, there could be only one winner from this. I was happy with Italy initially as he did not try to help England despite our early clashes from which we both disengaged quite swiftly. I was also quite pleased to see the Balkans finally dividing into two as the four could evidently not work together to stop England in the east. Then, however, they carried on fighting. And carried on. And carried on. After a while, I missed a vital build: wrote it in my notes, didn't send it to Ally: I was supposed to disband in Holland, I think, and rebuild in Paris or Marseille. Didn't happen. France is stuffed. By then, I didn't mind too much: it would have given me another two years to fight, but for what? Italy and Turkey still have their heads up [in the clouds] and seem unable to see what my three-week old niece can see. I count dots and am tempted to wave England through - but surely they will stop pulling each others' hair now? Nooooo. Please can I NMR? Please? Please!!! England passes Gibraltar, I make a fortuitous guess or two, The game gets longer. No change in the east. England has the SCs he needs in the east. You know what? I might survive this if I salute the Royal Navy and wave him on. I have to make sure it happens this season, though ... Aargh! England is too conservative (for me, that is) and doesn't end it... can I last another year? YES. The Prime Minister of a man of mercy (after all my begging - I hoped he might be after he pointed me rather implausibly at Venice) and leaves me Portugal. Little things ...
Congratulations to England: I say again that attacking me should have been the wrong choice: how did you know that IT would never work to stop you? Amazing foresight. Germany and Austria never seemed to have a chance. I was wrong-footed a bit by how weak the defence of Scandinavia was: I wanted England to do well enough to be kept happy, but not that well! Had he had 6 SCs, as you might expect, after 1903 when I had 8, I think this would have been a different game indeed: I never quite understood what Russia was up to, although I guess he felt fully committed in the Balkans. I was initially pleased to be able to avert conflict with Italy so easily, and to see the Balkans organise themselves at last, but really I fought England for TEN - 10 - X - Ten!!! years and saw nothing from IT until he already had the requisite dots behind his line. It DOES NOT MATTER if you lose a dot or two to a misguided enemy towards the end: unless you reach the stalemate line before the solo-running power, you will LOSE: either or both of IT could have done this. Initially, Italy probably felt that he could have been squeezed out of the draw by trying this and he was probably right, but there comes a time ... No question, this should have been a four-way draw. Well really, it should have been an EF draw, and I will have stern words with Wayne about that just before I lose his orders in some other game or other...
End of rant.
Cheers, all
- KesterReturn to Top
ITALY (Cullum Weston) I set out in this game with the aim of attacking France. I had seen it done before and wanted to give it ago. France unfortunately covered this possible game plan and it quickly settled into a stalemate. Austria wasn't doing to well and Turkey looked strong and since France was under pressure from England I decide just to move across and take what I could from Austria.
By the time everything had settled in the East it was all over. England had unstoppable momentum and the only 2 who could slow him done where busy fighting between themselves.
Well done England and thanks to all those who took part and especially Ally for GMing.
Regards
CullumReturn to Top
TURKEY (Matthew Jennings) Well here we are again - an EGS, the prizes, the applause, the recriminations, the laughter (not much of that) and the tears (well read on some of you) ... and all because England won.
So lets start this EGS with a hearty thank you to Ally for another splendidly GMd game and a job well done. One rarely notices when a game is well GMd - the GM makes it appear so easy, so seamless. But when it is not well done then this can be a real nuisance. He has done this job very well again and I am truly grateful.
Similarly, a hearty well done to England for the splendidly executed victory. You deserved it thoroughly and my following comments should in no way diminish from your performance. I look forward to finding out who you are and hopefully avoid playing with you at all cost :) Only joking, it would be a pleasure to play with you.
Now lets comment on this game that had more twists and turns than ... a twisty turny thing.
Firstly there were far too many NMRs. I myself made one and my reason for it was given soon afterwards. But others did not do so and their mistakes and indeed their non-participation (and I am thinking of Austria here) at crucial moments (but then aren't they always) completely changed the nature of the game. It may well have been to my advantage but from that point onwards the game lost its way and its enjoyment. Bloody NMR and Anarchy merchants really get up my nose. I have NMRd myself twice in all my dip days and only for reasons in extreme circumstances. I very much doubt that those who NMRd and changed the game did so for similar circumstances.
For those with a lack of constancy simply don't play diplomacy and waste everyone else's time.
Secondly, and this is another complaint - this time directed at Italy - at what point did you decide to give up watching events in the west and north of the board (most specifically England's ascension to victory) and decide instead to confine yourself to a wholesale and utterly pointless war against me? Could you not see that your lack of action in the west was letting England gain a centre per season on average? What was going through your mind from season A1909 onwards? England is on 11 centres and is bound to pulverize plucky France on 6. Yet you failed to come to France's aid (choosing instead to continue to attack me) All you had to do was offer a support to me to say the war was over and I would have been free to head north. I would have even helped you too..... If you follow events through from that date onwards it takes you 4 seasons - yes 4 seasons to wake up to
France's plight. But you still don't do anything major about it till A1912 - 6 seasons later! Absolutely extraordinary! That has to be some of the most blinkered dip playing I have ever seen. In the end, I really was tempted to wipe you out when you had to disengage just for spite and to teach you a lesson. But no, I thought, my nice side prevailed and I thought I would simply vent my spleen in this EGS.
Italy, if anyone was responsible for England winning this game (other than him) it was you. You gifted him his victory. You completely failed to read this game as season after season went by. You failed to ditch a doomed strategy of attacking me. You failed to come to France's aid or take chunks out of him when you had the chance to deny him centres. You failed to disengage from me. You failed to apologise for your NMR. So there is my complaint - your actions I am afraid.
France, I thought you played really well and were a tad unlucky at times, especially when you needed help. But I was so glad you survived. You really deserved to.
Russia, your play was, quirky, and I am sorry I stabbed you when you were most vulnerable. I thought you left your north far too exposed too early but then that is an easy assessment to make in hindsight and I am sure you were kicking yourself about it too. You seemed to be constantly chasing around the board trying to put out fires that eventually got the better of you. Having said that I am worse at playing Russia - so what do I know? Well tried anyway and I am sorry for the stab....
Germany, well you gambled on an opening from which you never really recovered and ended up at war with France while England consolidated gains. But then you hardly had any choice - if you had acted the good Samaritan with France and supported him when he was attacking you, goodness knows what France would have thought or done. Good luck next time.
As regards my game as Turkey, well, very little happened frankly. I got stuck in Balkan trench warfare against Austria until he vanished from the game at which point I grew fast. I took out Russian forces in the vicinity - boo, naughty Turkey. And I obviously made a big mistake in sending a fleet into Ven - it so yanked Italy's chain that he could not let it go long after the fleet had been sunk. Indeed Italy was so provoked that he obviously called up the Pope and asked for a crusade to regain the Holy
Land. Such was his zeal and determination to attack me at all costs and to the exclusion of everything else going on in the game that I had to respond and defend myself/attack him back. And the absurdity of it all was that it was so blindly pointless given England's growth. Why the heck couldn't Italy see that too? I couldn't do anything about it and frankly gave up wanting to in the end after what felt like (after A1909) 6 turgid rounds of pointless sparring. Sad really. Oscar descended into 2 games. England's attempt for the solo and a pathetic, pointless duel between Italy and myself. As the one stuck in the corner with less freedom of movement you can imagine my frustration.
And that leaves England who stuck to his task very well and had some opposition in Germany and France to eventually to break down. I take my hat off to you sir.
Best wishes to you all in the future and no hard feelings especially to Italy who in retrospect I am sure wishes he would have moved differently - so do I. But I bet England doesn't :)
Regards,
MatthewReturn to Top
GM (Ally Bain) I think all players should know that Gunboat is very different to normal Diplomacy however it's also true that experianced & non-experiance comes into play in Gunboat. Regardless of EGS, said by those in this game, the one thing I think all six of you (yes, six not seven) will figure out, is the high level of expriance that Wayne has. To prove the point see the Gunboat Endings stats I do & you'll notice that England is worse than any other country & yes, that does mean that Austria does better than England. The Web address is; http://mysite.freeserve.com/alb_gsb/diplomacy/stats/gunboatendings.htm. Obviously the stats for this game have been added to it.
After you've read that paragraph, please don't think I'm insulting the rest of you. Some of you I've GMd in other Gunboat games & I think you play well however, & again no insult meant, Wayne does show to be ahead of all but without you, this game would have been boring.
In closing, you will all receive an e-mail from me about 'Admiral' Gunboat Competition 04 however the date is likely to be in the summer as the final for 'Admiral' 03 is still underway.
See you on the boards.
AllyReturn to Top
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