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 have our first elimination…
Fall 1905 Adjudication
England
F bal S
F kie – ber
A pru S
F kie – ber
F nth C A yor – hol
F hel – kie
A wal – lon
F kie – ber
F nao S France
F eng – mao
A yor – nth – hol
France
A bel S A pic
F eng – mao
A mun S Germany
A ber (*cut*)
A sil S
Germany
A ber
A pic S A bel
A bur S
A mun
Germany
A ruh – mun (*bounce*)
A ber S
A ruh – mun (*cut, dislodged*)
Russia
A mos S
A ukr – sev
A ukr – sev (*bounce*)
A war – gal (*bounce*)
Italy
A ven – apu
A tyr – ven
F eas – smy (*bounce*)
F aeg S F eas – smy
Austria
A tri S A vie
A sev S
A rum (*cut*)
F gre H
A bul S Italy F aeg – con (*void*)
A rum S
A sev
A vie S A tri
A gal S A vie (*cut*)
A bud S
A gal
Turkey
A ank S
F con
A syr – smy (*bounce*)
F con S
A syr – smy
GM Observations
Germany is eliminated after a devastating E/F alliance (which may actually last beyond this year) targeted German lands fully from 1903 onward. I’m not really sure what Germany could have done different, except for let Russia have Sweden so that GR could oppose England together.
France clearly felt that England was against him but England supported ENG-MAO. This indicates to me that England built the fleet out of a defensive concern (surely England never wanted a French fleet in the English Channel).
Turkey keeps all home centers! I can’t see that happening again next year. If Austria had simply ordered BUL-CON, Turkey would have lost SMY.
The question now is about the future of E/F. Do both powers choose to move east? If so, Italy is VERY exposed to France and Russia is VERY exposed to England. I have to believe that Russia and Italy are aware of this. Will either of them pull back to defend from these threats? Austria and Turkey may benefit from this immensely.
Player Journals
England
This season should see Germany eliminated.
It will be interesting to see what France does next. He is in much better position to attack England than Italy or Austria, but he would not likely be able to take a center from me. I am not sure France will see that I want to bypass his home and help against Italy. I am also not sure even if he sees it that he will let me as it will likely spell doom for him eventually.
France
England has moved his fleet into NAO and has direct access to MAO, which is not a friendly movement at all for me.
I am forced to move back into MAO and will build a fleet in Bre for sure in Winter.
I also support Germany in Ber double, so, if Ber does not move, England will not gain an extra unit / fleet.
Italy has proved to be nice to me, I will answer that offer with respect
Germany
Probably my last move in the game. One last punch at the Frog!
Russia
Leaving Ukr vulnerable to be dislodged – can rebuild in StP if I have to (and if E moves to LVN / BOT). Grasping at straws now.
Italy
I can now retire from Tyrolia to see about swinging an army into Syria. As scary as it is, I may have to invite Austria into ION, but maybe we’ll get lucky and Turkey’s guesses will go wrong in time, though the difficulty is that Austria and I both have to guess right while T guesses wrong. Odds against. A pity there was no way to disband the Turkish fleet in a spring turn, but it did seem that Austria would be able to send an army into Armenia earlier.
Austria
rum s sev
sev s rum
gal s vie
vie s tri
tri s vie
bud s gal
bul s aeg-con
gre h
A complete hedgehog. Hoping to see England move on Russia and for Italy to win the coin toss and take a Turkish SC. Also hoping that France continues to withdraw.
Super-passive, but I feel very hemmed in.
Turkey
I got lucky in the Spring and didn’t lose a SC. Now comes the guessing game: do I go with the same orders or switch it up?
Since Austria’s army in BUL is supporting Italy’s attack, going with the same moves should be safe regardless of how Italy moves.
As for the rest of the map, it seems like there is a lot of craziness going on. England is, obviously, worried about France. Germany is toast. Italy and Austria continue to play very conservatively.
I really want to see the world where Germany didn’t cut Munich, and that French support actually kept England out of Berlin. Bonus points if Germany also moves to Holland!
Indeed, that would have been very interesting! If I had to guess, I think EF would have remained at odds longer and AI would have had the upper hand. There are so many what-ifs in these games; very intriguing to think about!
“I’m not really sure what Germany could have done different, except for let Russia have Sweden so that GR could oppose England together.”
that is EXACTLY what Germany should have done. In Russia’s shoes I’d have been furious there. An obvious EF that Germany spent the whole game surrendering to (or at least to one half of it).
“Always let russia into Sweden when EF both vacate ENG barring a wacky early Russian attack west” is a super easy rule of thumb for Germany. No clue at all why Germany ignored it, perhaps later commentary will shed light on the subject. I know in press diplomacy as any member of RIG I’m screaming at the other two and scaremongering around the board about EF if/when that happens.
I’m also not sure when there’s so many illegal orders. Is that just an issue with system being unclear on adjudication?
Hi Matthew, thanks for commenting! As you continue reading the journal, you will see Mr. Blonde’s rationale for why he bounced Sweden (it has to do with his experience with the meta on BOUNCED). Whether one agrees with it or not, he had a reason for it.
You also asked about the illegal orders. There is a setting on BOUNCED that the GM can click to allow the player to check the syntax of their orders. I turned that off for this game to make it harder since only highly rated players could join this game. It is also a bit more true to the original face-to-face Diplomacy game (where wrong orders can be a mistake or a tactic). That’s why they had illegal orders more frequently in this game than normal. I regret doing that because I didn’t consider the effect that would have on someone for whom English is not their first language (I mentioned that in the EOG post).
I also want to comment on your opinion that Germany should always let Russia into Sweden with a vacant English Channel. I agree that a vacant English Channel is a good reason to strongly consider supporting Russia into Sweden. Yet, there are times that England or France will still end up at odds and Germany may be able to work with England. In that scenario, supporting Russia into Sweden would make it hard to work with England and could alienate England. Or, Russia could be opening to the north so bouncing Sweden may make an ally out of England. Thus, I don’t believe a hard rule is something to utilize in Diplomacy.
I hope you enjoy the rest of the journal!
It was an interesting read, for sure.
I have to think that Germany is mainly a press diplomacy player with his take on things (Austria too given paranoia around RT). In press, a competent Russian player can have his fingers in every pie around the board and use his wits and charm to max effect (the potential and need for this is why Russia is my #2 fave power only behind italy which has the same requirements). In gunboat, Russia needs a lot of breaks to have any chance.
I’d agree that the rule of thumb isn’t perfect but it’s a strong guideline. And if anything, this board suggested even more strongly the need for this, as Austria in Galicia with a friendly Italy is inherently concerning for Germany, as a strong Austria is coming for Muncih sooner or later usually. So propping up Russia becomes MORE important given board state.
I’d recommend a post BB made a while ago on the subject, https://brotherbored.com/when-should-germany-let-russia-have-sweden-in-1901/, and I mainly agree w his points. “Never let the weakest gunboat power get Sweden no matter what” is, IMO, a self destructive impulse.
I’d also say that as a player who’s had a bunch of games where EF developed early, the best way to get those two to fight each other (if they aren’t already) is to stymie both of their growth curves as much as possible. That means propping up Russia, Italy, and/or both. In gunboat you can’t really prop up Italy early, but you CAN prop up Russia in the north. And, if EF are mutually friendly, that really should be your first instinct.