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THE JERUSALEM MAN END-GAME STATEMENTS
GM:
Andy Scott [EGS]
Started: 12th November, 2003
Finished: 7th April 2004 (Autumn 1910)
Result: Solo win for Austria
| Country | Player | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | Result | | Austria | Michael Shurkin | 4 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 17 | 16 | 18 | Win | | England | David Freer | 4 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 11 | survived | | France | Erik Knobl | 5 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | Anarchied | | Germany | Chris Goddard | 4 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | survived | | Italy | Wayne J. Chastain | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 3 | survived | | Russia | Christian Thomsen | 5 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Eliminated | | Turkey | Chris Goodson | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Eliminated |
AUSTRIA (Michael Shurkin) I wish first of all to thank Andy for doing such a good job of GMing; I know I can be particularly trying and he managed gracefully to put up with all my craziness.
I'm rather astonished that I pulled this off, for I never really thought I would ever solo, and having done so I'm convinced that only the right combination of lucky opportunities made it possible. I don't expect to do it again. I might be good enough to make the most of a good opportunity, but I'm no Tim Sweeny, who can create the good opportunity. Moreover, the victory is somewhat tainted by France's NMRs and final anarchy. I'm convinced that vigorous collaboration among France and the other players would have checked me.
This game went well because Chris and Wayne were terrific collaborators. Together we made quick work of Russia and Turkey. My alliance with Wayne was particularly fruitful; our email traffic was constant, and the result is clear. Look at how we efficiently we took apart Turkey and then applied my little navy to anti-French operations.
Wayne, I never intended to stab you until the Autumn 1907 map came and I had a revelation: I could win.
Chris and David: you both played really well. I think chance alone kept you from greater success. Rather, if you had had neighbors as easy to defeat as Russia and Turkey, you would have been far more successful.
Erik: great play, but I sure wish you had fought on.
All and all this game was great fun, especially because of the collaboration with both Wayne and Chris. That's my favorite part of Diplomacy.
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ENGLAND (David Freer) Well an interesting game in terms of alliances chopping and changing. My memory is a bit hazy as to what the story was early on but this is how I remember it....
Germany and France seemed to have a pact where France would grind away at England whilst Chris was free to explore the east by invading Russia. Myself and Russia were trying to work together but to no avail.
Meanwhile Austria and Italy were striking up a good relationship and working well together.
After I kicked France out of London I think Erik finally got the message to leave me alone and f agreed to work with me against Germany. All was too late though as Austria and Italy had a firm grip on things. Then Wayne left himself wide open for a stab and Michael took advantage. It was really all over from about Spring 1908 when the inevitable happened just two seasons later. If only Wayne had moved A(Mar)-Bur like I suggested..... :-)
Anyways, congratulations to Michael for a well deserved solo. You must have done some stirling diplomacy with Wayne to get into that position!!
Thanks everyone for a great game and to Andy for GM'ing.
See you again maybe
David Freer
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RUSSIA (Christian Thomsen) RUSSIAN EGS
Well, I guess this actually was a good game, and if anybody spoiled it, it was probably me. I managed to NMR - even though I really, really dislike NMR's - I have since learnt from this game, not to be involved in more games, with short deadlines, than you can manage. So lads, sorry!
Well, I started out being quite neutral to everybody. Germany troubled me somehow with a strange - but maybe affective Baltic-move, which prevented me from getting Sweden. He since blamed me for our problems, which I had a hard time understanding. No offense, Goddard is probably a better player than me - in this game everybody was.
Also Turkey troubled me, even though I have only positive things to say about Goodson as a person, his play seemed a bit hard to understand. I got Rumania - and build an army in Moscow - probably not a wise choice. The intention was, due to my paranoia, that it could be used as a flexible defensive safeguard, towards many, but mostly Germany, who I feared most. Austria was being very nice to me - In retrospect I can see that it is a very good tactic - to be kind to your fellow players. So I chose to work with Shurkin - also because he was more alive than Turkey.
I found myself in a tough position, and I started to do one of the worst things in diplomacy - being passive. That meant, that a turkey who woken up, together with Germany and Austria - who for good reasons couldn't use a passive Russia for anything else than to invade.
Hmmm.... continuing being passive - and Germany, Turkey and Austria came closer. Whomp! A NMR - sorry - and then WIPED out. that's it and that's that.
Well, congratulations to Shurkin for the solo - I think he had a bit easier start than most due to a passive Russia and Turkey, and maybe also Germany's play suited him well. Again no offense to Goddard, he probably had his reasons. Nevertheless - a solo is something. And my lessons are: Be nice to your fellow-players, Shurkin was the nicest and most motivated of my neighbours - and he won. Lesson 2: Never play, unless you are fully committed.
Thanks for a good game - and thanks to the GM for a good job.
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GM (Andy Scott) This is an embarrasing confession but it has been nearly nine months since the game ended and I am just getting arond to doing the EGs I got. My most humble apologies The game simply slipped through my administration net.
A well deserved win to Michael, some may say more luck then judgement and indeed he did have some luck but he still used it damned well. As napoleon said "if I have a choice give me a lucky general!"
Apologies again,
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