Builds mostly went as expected. England took the fleet route to cover North Sea instead of building an army. Perhaps England doesn’t trust Germany to repay the help given so far?
Spring 1906 Plan
I want to kick Russia out of Vienna and (if possible) hold my position. If I could actually pull that off and get a build, I may be able to survive. I don’t think that is likely, so I will at least settle for re-taking Vienna.
- Turkey has an open shot at Sevastopol that I think he’ll take in the fall. I think Turkey will take conservative action right now: Gre-Alb, Ion s Gre-Alb, Aeg-Gre, Bla s Rum, Bul-Ser, Rum s Bul-Ser. Another option is Bla-Rum and Rum-Ser with support from Bul. If Turkey actually takes a shot at Sev now, I think it would be with the fleet and Bul s Rum would be the order there. I just don’t see that happening since Sev could be taken later without any problem.
- Russia will probably order Lvn-StP with support from Mos. What will Russia do with Vienna? Sit? support a Turkish attack on Bud? Vie-Tri to cut support for a Turkish attack on Ser? I think Russia orders Vie-Tri to help Turkey attack me but this is hard to predict. Russia is also down to 3 units and may be starting to check out.
- Italy will probably do the same thing as last year: Rom-Ven and bounce in TYS.
- Germany has an opportunity to repay England for the help or to focus on the expansion of the German empire. I think Germany starts to move south with Ber-Sil. Not sure if Pru s War is in the cards or Pru-Lvn with War-Mos. Normal German assault on France will continue.
- France may actually do something different (MAO-ENG with support) but probably not. Support, support, support.
- England will certainly take MAO and move to Nth. Otherwise, I expect a movement to Fin and StP-Mos.
As Austria, I will try to set myself up best for the fall. I have a few options:
- Fully support Serbia so that it’s not destroyed.
- Bud-Rum and/or Tri s Ser to protect Serbia.
- Abandon Serbia and take Vienna now.
- Try to bounce Turkey out of Albania.
To fully keep Turkey out of Albania, I have to abandon Venice. I’m going to take Vienna now also. Adr-Ion, Ser-Alb, Bud-Vie, Tri s Bud-Vie. This should give me a retreat option if/when Turkey take Serbia. Turkey could try for Budapest but I don’t expect it. I expect to lose Serbia but I may have a chance to re-take Venice in the fall.
Spring 1906 Movements
Yeah, that went poorly for me. Turkey supported Ion-Alb and all I did was block Aeg-Ion. I have no opportunity to re-take Venice now and will likely have Italy attacking me at the same time as Turkey. With England completely trusting Germany and Germany simply supporting himself, Russia has a good shot at holding StP and Turkey may not take Sevastopol to keep Germany at bay a little bit. Germany should have a decent shot at a solo if England doesn’t cover North Sea soon enough and leaves an open path for a German stab.
Since I seem to be on my way out, I’m going to stop providing in-depth analysis of each player’s style. Besides, it seems like they have fairly well revealed their approach. The only true surprise to me was Turkey’s move of Ion-Alb. Even that shouldn’t have been much of a surprise—it is prioritizing protecting supply centers.
I’m retreating to Budapest. Russia will probably go to Galicia, France to Portugal or Spain, and England to Norway. France’s defenses are falling and France could lose Burgundy and/or one supply center.
Fall 1906 Plan
Retreats went as expected with France going to Portugal.
- Turkey may support Serbia with Rumania and attack Trieste with the fleet. Or, order Rum-Bud with Alb-Tri and support one of them with Serbia. Turkey will also move a fleet to Ionian Sea. I don’t know that Turkey will take Sevastopol now since EG didn’t sustain their gains in Russia. A Russian buffer would help Turkey.
- Russia may try for Warsaw but I think the Russia player will do something to spite me. But maybe not. Either way, I’m going to prepare for Gal-Vie. There could be an order of Gal s Rum-Bud but I can’t prepare for everything.
- Italy may try for Ionian Sea now. I expect Ven-Tri or Venice supporting a Turkish attack on Trieste.
- Germany will support Warsaw and either move to Livonia or try to move to Galicia. Otherwise, the same attack on France.
- France will try to protect as best as possible. I’m not going to bother trying to guess.
- England will probably order a fleet into MAO with support and MAO-BRE with support. Why else have all those fleets over there? I assume Swe-Fin as well. Another possibility is putting a fleet back in Nth or Nwg to cover against a German stab or to help re-take StP next year.
- As Austria, I am going to order Bud-Tri, Adr s Bud-Tri, Tri-Ser, and Vie s Sil-Gal. I need an ally and maybe Germany would want to pester Turkey sooner than later (that would probably be my only chance of survival). Bud-Tri should keep Tri safe with the support of my fleet. Tri-Ser has a chance of keeping Budapest safe. I could order Vie-Gal to cover Budapest in the event of Gal s Rum-Bud but I’m taking my chances that Russia won’t do that and would rather try to re-take Warsaw or simply order Gal-Vie to cut support.
Fall 1906 Movements
Russia is really against me. The Russian player not only made no attempt for Warsaw and ordered Gal-Vie, the order for StP was a convoy of Rum-Bud. Italy also made the odd movement to Apulia instead of trying for Ionian Sea. Finally, England made no attempt to take a supply center and instead positioned for next year (and will have to disband).
I expect England to disband the fleet in Nwg, Turkey to build an army in Con, and Italy to build a fleet in Nap. I will disband my fleet.
BOUNCED Gunboat Journal—Table of Contents
Introduction
1901 | 1902 | 1903 | 1904
1905 | 1906 | 1907
Elimination
Conclusion
End of Game Statements