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THE DAMNED END-GAME STATEMENTS
GM:
Andy Scott [EGS]
Started: 13th September, 2003
Finished: 20th April, 2004 (Autumn 1908)
Result: 5 way draw (E/G/I/R/T)
| Country | Player | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | Result | | Austria | Rod Werner | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | survived | | England | Paul Preston | 4 | 5 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 12 | 11 | 0 | drew | | France | Christian Thomsen | 4 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Eliminated(Autumn 05) | | Germany | David Jolly | 5 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 0 | drew | | Italy | Alec Sharman | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 0 | drew | | Russia | Steve Dean | 5 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | drew | | Turkey | Anthony Ling | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 0 | drew |
ENGLAND (Paul Preston) I began The Damned with friends from my first game Needham. I knew Christian to be an honest diplomat and a good strategist. I thought David a good player though I was cautious of him because Christian and I had attacked him in Needham. Steve I knew to be a lot of laughs and the guy who wiggled his way into a three-way draw in Needham despite only having two units.
Hats off and bottle tipped over to Steve Dean. The man is a master. Last time he got the draw with two units. This time he did it with none on the board though with two according to the rules. I vote for Steve Dean as the resilient diplomat and the one who best responds to the jokes about alcohol.
Steve, it is great being in the draw with you. Draw partners are all equal but to steal from Orwell some are more equal than others. Hell, I have to bow to you: twenty or so fewer centers in two games and you are still there. Thanks for being the fighting sort. That is what makes Diplomacy after all.
Well, I started out trying to be friendly to Germany and France. I also tried to establish strong relations with Italy because I knew that Alec Sharman had a reputation as a loyal ally. Once I saw that I could have at least decent relations with Christian's France while working behind the scenes with David Jolly's Germany and Alec's Italy, I became very confident that I could get into a very small draw and have a chance at soloing. My idea was to stab Christian a little then to try to convince him to let me into the Med. I also established a humorous relationship with Steve Dean's Russia in order to have an eastern balance in case Germany became too strong for me to handle. Rod Werner's Austria was in the mix as well as Tony Ling's Turkey. Rod and I had great conversations about literature, popular culture, and history throughout The Damned. I thought that Rod could be of use in the midgame if he could survive that long. Tony and I had some conversation early, but he was to prove the problem for me: I had hoped that Turkey would be the eastern power that would put the pressure on Italy that would allow me to stab and go for the solo. Turkey's numerous NMRs ultimately foiled that strategy and led to my stab of Germany.
1901 went very well. I established DMZs in the right places was able to block France from a second build with the help of Germany. In addition, France built in a way to stop Italy. That gave me the confidence that my fleets would carry the day against France. The only drawback was a Russian fleet build in St.P. nc, which Steve claimed was a misorder. I suspected that Steve was anti-English, but I was not too worried after seeing the trouble Russia was going to have in the south. The key was to keep Germany on my side. At this time, Italy, Germany, and I were having joint conversations, so I was confident of Germany. My trust was reciprocated. Germany and I plotted to go for a two-way draw fairly early in the game though I did not keep notes on exactly when the pact formed.
I did not keep notes from much of this game. At one point, I schemed with Christian to get into the Med. The moves would have worked to effect a major stab on Alec's Italy, but Christian ordered in a very bizarre way. It was clear that he had neglected to change his provisionals to work with me. Because of this, Christian was left in a position in which he was of little use to any power including his own. I felt sad because I did want to work with Christian to include him in the draw if I did not solo; however, I also felt obligated to stab Christian for the error. I did and immediately jumped out with Germany to a terrific start. The problem was that Turkey had NMRed by this time. Turkey's NMRs were very frustrating to me because they allowed Alec's Italy to establish position without worries on the eastern front. Though I expected a major alliance against me once I made a push for a solo, I did not expect Italy to get off for lack of pressure in the east. The other problem with the Turkish NMRs was that I feared that Germany was much better positioned than England to take advantage of a Turkish anarchy and possibly to coast to a solo about which I could do little.
I had conversation with David's Germany throughout The Damned. David and I worked extremely well together through The Damned. I truly hoped to get the two-way draw, but when I saw that Germany had a very good chance at a solo if Turkey anarchied and others neglected the threat, I decided to take a step to reduce the possibility of a solo. I contemplated this for some time. I actually considered doing nothing and risking the German solo: David is a very good player who was unlucky in Needham because of an irresponsible Austrian player who anarchied. It would not have pained me too much if David had won The Damned. Still, I could not do that, so I stabbed. The stab was effective and led Alec to wonder how I had gotten David to gift me a solo.
The stab was not part of a solo attempt. I did it to ensure my place in a draw though that might not have worked given a later development.
I conversed with David quite a lot after the stab. I think I did some things to show David that my intentions were not that evil, and I hope to learn in the EGS whether David believed some of what I wrote or whether he gave up on me.
Near the end, David got another chance at a solo because of NMRs by Austria and Russia. Another late development was a flare-up of Alec's meniere's disease. I told Alec I would vote for a large draw out of sportsmanship, something I had not done before. The only draws I voted for before the last one passed were the EG draws and the E solos. Well, I was somewhat relieved when the five-way draw passed. I thought that David would get a deserved solo because of excessive English generosity.
I am happy to have shared a draw with David though I wish it had been a two-way draw. Alec is a great diplomat and strategist. I hope to see him again.
Christian has become a transatlantic pen pal. I hope to see him in future games. I wish we had worked something out to stab Alec, but it was not to be.
Steve, well I said enough about Steve earlier. He is one of the coolest diplomats I have played with despite his occasional NMRs.
Rod Werner is the erudite dude. I hope to converse with him about literature, but I would suggest that he be more active in writing if he decides to play other games.
Tony Ling was an interesting diplomat when he was around. I was angry with his NMRs because I think they kept David and me from getting the two-way.
David, thanks for the alliance. I hope all goes well for you. Sorry for the stab. I probably should have trusted you more, but I could not suppress that nagging doubt. You certainly convinced me that you are an excellent diplomat and strategist. I hope you enter the tournament next year. I am still not sure why you allowed the draw to pass with a pretty decent chance at a solo before you, but I thank you for that.
Andy, thank you for being the GM.
I used Clash lyrics throughout The Damned. To make the decision on Andy's favorite Clash song, I should go now.
Thanks everyone.
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ITALY (Alec Sharman) First thing for me to do was to get allies. I had plenty of positive correspondence and soon joined England and Germany to help take down France. Sorry about this Christian but I had nowhere else to go and my top priority was to keep Germany as my main ally who I thought was the least likely to stab me. This was my first mistake.
I wanted to do a Lepanto with Austria but he turned me down flatly, so I turned west. Once France had gone I was stabbed by the one person I thought I was safe with. I felt confident that Germany would keep me as an ally against any threat from England but I miscalculated badly. Once I was stabbed I never really got back into the game. Nice stab David.
It was then a case of drumming up support to stop the Anglo/German domination of the map. Turkey and Russia did respond but a few NMR's made it hard to stop the rot.
The final result was odd. How Russia got to be a part of the draw still mystifies me but I have no complaint since the draw was the best result I could have hoped for.
My thoughts on the other players.
Paul (England) - The best communicator I have come across so far in Dip2000. It was a pleasure to keep in contact with you and you played a very good game. A solo was on the cards but luckily we managed to hold you. A two way with Germany would have been a fairer result.
David (Germany) - Another good communicator who did the most effective stab I have ever had done on me.... rotter. I still think you would have been better sticking with me but then I would say that wouldn't I.
Christian (France) - Went out early in the game due to being picked on by three players. Sorry mate. I should have joined with you but made the wrong choice. Had I been able to do the Lepanto I would have not attacked you but I saw that as the best way forward.
Anthony (Turkey) - An early NMR by Anthony made me wish I could have done the Lepanto. ;-) We did work well together towards the end of the game.
Steve (Russia) - In the early game we didn't talk much but towards the end it did get better as I tried to help him survive. A couple of NMR's didn't help matters. He was part of the five way draw which was lucky for him. Still makes me laugh when I think about it.
Rod (Austria) - What can I say about Rod. A one liner refusal to let me do a Lepanto with him was all I heard from him the whole game. Very odd. A good start was probably undermined by a lack of correspondence.
Andy (GM) - Thanks for GM'ing Andy. Ever helpful and efficient.
The press in this game was amazing. I'm not one for press myself but the quality of the writing was so exceptional I enjoyed reading them. I didn't join in very much simply because the standard was so high I would not have been able to compete.
So overall an unusual game. I can't understand Austria's reluctance to talk to his best potential ally (Italy) but we all play the game differently don't we. I am grateful the game ended when it did because I have to go into hospital on the 3rd may and would not have been able to continue in the game, so a draw was very good for me.
I wish you all well in Dip2000 games in the future.
Alec (Italy)Return to Top
RUSSIA (Steve Dean) RUSSIA.............. Great, I have the purple monster spanning half the Board and plenty of action potential all over the place! Now what about a JUG, yes Turkey is up for it, now how to keep it hidden for there are some good players here, notably England and Germany and they will be hard to fool.
Great plan Turket NMR's in Spring 1901 and Russia upsets Austria, England and Germany after one move. That should fool everyone nicely.
From this great beginning I then played increasingly worse and being totally unable to communicate with an Austrian newspaper editor drunk on german beer things continued to go downhill beautifully.
Attempting to dream up increasingly obvious nonsense I ensured Germany and England were encouraged to plan holidays in Moscow. Turkey was actually very understanding and I apologise mostly to him for my bad play.
Italy was someone I liked because he made my play look OK.
France was and is a gentleman and I really want to play with him again, he stood no chance as the two best players got married and invited everyone to the wedding which fooled both Italy and Austria into thinking that the Northern version of the JUG was not alive and well and sailing and marching into Brest, Paris etc. (sic)
I also need to apologise to the GM for my NMR's, busy lives, new jobs, house buying etc are pathetic excuses and will not even be referred to. Sincere apologies to AJS the excellent GM. Indeed to all the players who deserved a better Russia. A special sorry to England who was just excellent in this game as he was in others, I would love to play with him again although he may avoid me, rightly, like the plague.
Now to the end, more Russian poor play and trying hard to marshall something of an alliance in the South, thanks again to Turkey for being a star. Looking hopeless but a draw is definately possible hanging on is key. How will it end?
Yes that is perfect setting a new standard to sneak a draw when all your units are dead, all the Russians had were a few rotting corpses guarding rusty tanks parked in two supply centres painted purple but with decorators booked for the next month. And the Austrian loon gets "survived" only. Very apt.
I like playing, I enjoy the press, like innovative thinking and never give up...maybe that's not too bad a mix to add to a set of 7.
Thanks to the GM and to all of the players even Austria but especially England, Germany and Turkey.
Cheers guys. Steve Dean
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TURKEY (Anthony Ling) First, I would like to thank Andy for his GM'ing. He was a helpful and punctual GM, always available. As for the game itself, I must apologize for my NMR's. I am absentminded at times and they were completely my fault. I hope that they did not ruin the game for the rest.
This was an interesting game to say the least. Russia and I planned a Juggernaut, typical. Things were going well until both G and E decided that they wanted some home made vodka. Germany and England had a strong alliance that the rest of us tried to stop haphazardly throughout the game. The sentence basically sums up the mid and end game in the east. Communication was strong in the beginning, but as the game dragged on, it closely resembled that of Gunboat. I did not feel that any moves were quite shocking, but was surprised at how late Germany saw the stab. I felt that if we had a few more turns, the game would have gotten more interesting, but, it seemed that everyone was fatigued by The Dammed and a draw would be the best way to end it.
Sorry for the short EGS, hope everyone had an enjoyable time
- Anthony
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GM (Andy Scott) As you can see from his farewell note belowthe Dark lord's shadow casts it's evil gloom upon this game still!
I know at various points the Dark Lord got right up some peoples noses, personally while I reeled him in a couple of times for the sake of good taste I found his in put very entertaining :-)))
The Damned was a game full of complications for me as a GM, the numerous NMR's affected the game and the I suspect the game result, Also having a major computer systems failure mid game was hardly ideal but by and large I got around these problems one way or another and I hope it wasn't too much of a trial for you all :-)) Overall I found the game very entertaining with many twists and turns to the various strategies you all used, sometimes it was very hard for me to keep my mouth shut as I had a good idea of what people were really up to most of the time at least! So all in all an excellent game even though it finished in a weird 5 way draw with Russia technically ending on 2 but no units? Like it or hate you have to respect it!
Of course Alec's illness cast a large shadow over the end of the game and I sure you all join me in wishing him a speedy recovery, I hope to see you back on Dip 2000 real soon Alec.
So well played everybody and thanks for an interesting game, full of song lyrics and impending doom, I loved it :-)))
Andy
And the final word belongs to................
Dark Lord EGS
You vomit filled sacks pretending to be warriors. There was no evidence of the art of war here only vapid noises and affected posturing. You should all stop playing immediately especially Russia, France and Austria. What a complete waste of a quality GM's time. If I had my way your screams would continue long into the night, the darkness only a blades cut away. I will be watching each of you carefully in future games and will bring fear and creeping madness into your snivelling mucus filled lives unless performance improves.
signed ... The Dark Lord with the knife beneath his cloak who cares for you and watches over you always.
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