TopGunBoat Journal—Table of Contents
Introduction | Spring 1901 | Fall 1901
Winter 1902 | Spring 1902 | Fall 1902
Winter 1903 | Spring 1903 | Fall 1903
Winter 1904 | Spring 1904 | Fall 1904
Winter 1905 | Spring 1905 | Fall 1905
Winter 1906 | Spring 1906 | Fall 1906
Winter 1907 | Spring 1907 | Fall 1907
Winter 1908 | Spring 1908 | Fall 1908
Winter/Spring 1909 | Fall 1909
Winter/Spring 1910 | Fall 1910
Winter/Spring 1911 | Fall 1911
1912 | Conclusion | End of Game
We continue with the adjudication of Fall 1901…
Fall 1901 Adjudication
England
F nth C
A edi – nor
F nwg – bar
A edi – nth – nor
France
A bur – mun
A mar – spa
F mao – por
Germany
A kie – hol
A ruh – bel
F den – swe
(*bounce*)
Russia
A mos – war
A ukr S
F sev – rum
F bot – swe
(*bounce*)
F sev – rum
Italy
A apu – ion – tun
A ven C
Austria A gal – rum
F ion C A apu – tun
Austria
A gal – vie
A ser S
F alb – gre
F alb – gre
Turkey
A bul – gre
(*bounce*)
A sym – ank
F ank – con
GM Observations
Austria moved to Vienna??? I don’t understand that. Is it to show Russia a desire to work together? Possibly a sign of not trusting Italy (getting in position to re-take Trieste)?
France took Munich! Germany took Belgium and blocked Russia in Sweden! England moved against Russia! This seems to have the start of an EG alliance (unless France only attacks Germany and England also attacks Germany).
Italy wants Austria to attack Russia (the convoy of Gal-Rum might as well be asking Austria to attack Russia). Meanwhile, Turkey is showing Russia a friendly yet cautious movement toward Italy and Russia moved to Rumania with the fleet (which is another potential anti-Turkish sign to me).
Hard to make determinations about the players at this point and their tendencies. Certainly, France and Germany both took risks (attacking Munich and leaving Munich open) while Russia and Austria did not (covering Warsaw and moving back to Vienna). Italy seems to be playing for a typical AI alliance while Turkey seems to prefer an RT alliance (or at least, doesn’t want Italy attacking). England has clearly moved fully north against Russia, which may work out just fine since France and Germany are going to be fighting each other.
Player Journals
England
Off to a great start! Germany’s move to Denmark could mean a bounce in Sweden. If that happens AND Russia does not get Rumania, he could be held to no gains with me being in position to force StP in the Spring (assuming Moscow to Warsaw)
France
I choose Germany as first target, because I am busy, and both England and Italy opened friendly regarding France
Germany
France supporting himself into BUR was a bit aggressive but not unusual and not necessarily anti German. On the upside, England sent his army to EDI rather than YOR so I’m now leaning towards England as an ally, but it’s marginal and it’s still early days.
Now I have the dilemma of protecting MUN or trying for BEL. I’m definitely ordering KIE-HOL and DEN-SWE (I always bounce Russia in SWE when playing Germany).
Think I’m going to take the chance and at least bounce someone in BEL. Maybe get lucky and get English support? If France goes for MUN then I’ll probably be screwed but at least I’ll have a very clear mission for the rest of the game!
Russia
As expected, A has moved to Gal and I have been bounced in Bla. A MOS can now cover Warsaw.
I will support F SEV to Rumania to prevent A from slipping into Ukraine. If it succeeds, Sev is available foe a new fleet if feasible. It is my hope (as it always is) that G will let me have Sweden. My experience as G suggests that a R without a build in the first year is a disadvantage to G ambitions in the mid term.
Italy
It would have been a good time to go anti-Austrian, but who knew A would get into Galicia? Or I could have been pro-French; it might have been nice to be in Tyrolia. But we are where we are. Turkey does not seem aggressive, though the position will likely be the usual one for T next spring. Russia may be in trouble early; we’ll see how committed England is to the north. I’ll look for what happens in Munich and Rumania.
Austria
gal-vie
ser s alb-gre
alb-gre
OK, so Russia didn’t move to GAL. Good news in some ways, but now I can’t bounce VEN in TRI.
So, I can kill 2 birds with one stone here. Firstly GAL-VIE shows clear goodwill with Russia (which is good as they are the ally I want at this stage) and secondly GAL-VIE would help me retake TRI if Italy now moves VEN-TRI which will look very tempting to them.
I am going to move on to GRE. I consider it key to any ambitions I may have in resisting a Turkish fleet advance.
It could all go badly wrong if Italy bounces GRE (which I think is extremely unlikely as it would require Turkey to also cut SER support and Italy to miss out on TUN). So, I should gain GRE and SER and possibly lose TRI – hopefully retaking TRI in 1902 from SER/BUD/VIE.
Here’s hoping Italy is feeling friendly – if not, he will pay for it next year!
Time for coffee and cake.
Turkey
I decided to try an opening for Turkey that is supposed to provide greater flexibility. Jury is still out on that.
Russia heading south; Austria moved to GAL, and England headed northeast. So Russia is pretty much forced to work with Turkey and deal with the threats from England and Austria. Things are looking bad for Russia.
Looks like Italy is planning on the Lepanto opening and working with Austria against Turkey. I will need to hope that France heads east against Italy.
Overall, not a good start for Russia or Turkey.
Fall 1901 (part 2)
With Italy heading east, I decided to send the fleet in ANK to CON and the army in SMY to ANK (allowing for the building of a fleet in SMY).
In the Spring, I would be able to send a fleet to AEG with support, but I would need to rely on Russia to support my army in BUL.
I debated whether to have BUL support Russia to RUM, but was unsure if Russia would send the fleet or army. So, I ordered BUL-GRE, meaning that Austria would not be able to take BOTH GRE & RUM.