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
Will England and France recapture the alliance they had to take on Austria/Italy?
Fall 1907 Adjudication
England
F swe – fin
A pru – ber (*bounce*)
F eng S
F iri – mao
F nth C
A hol – nor
A wal – lon
F kie – hol
F mao – wes
A hol – nth – nor
F iri – mao
France
A bel – bur
F por H
A mun S A ber
A ber S A mun (*cut*)
A bur – gas
A ruh S A mun
F bre NMR
Russia
A mos – war (*bounce, dislodged*)
A lvn S
A mos – war
Italy
A apu – rom
A ven S
Austria A tri
F syr – smy (*bounce*)
F eas S
F syr – smy
Austria
A tri S
Italy A ven
A sev S
A war – mos
F aeg S A con
A con S Italy
F eas – smy (*void*)
A ukr S
A war – mos
A sil – war
A war – mos
A gal S
A sil – war
A boh H
Turkey
A ank S A smy
A smy NMR
F bla S Austria A con – bul (*void*)
GM Observations
On one hand, it seems quite incredible that France simply let England go by. On the other hand, England did signal a desire to move into the Mediterranean. Still, this just seems like a bad long-term deal for France. I no longer see Austria as a solo threat but I do see England as one. Once England takes Tunis, (which Italy can’t stop), England only needs to conquer France and more of Germany/Russia for the solo.
At the beginning of the game, France checked in and identified himself as a player that is in the top 15 on BOUNCED for number of solo wins. I’m very curious to read his reasoning for why he allowed England through without any opposition… I can’t believe he doesn’t see the risk here. Perhaps they are both focused on stopping Austria from a solo and are gearing up for an A/E/F draw? Austria doesn’t seem to be going for a solo, so things may change between E/F quickly.
In other news, Russia lost Moscow and will lose StP to England next year. Turkey continues defending and benefits from the difficulties of coordination in gunboat between A/I. If Italy turns back to face England, Turkey may survive a bit longer but I can’t see Turkey making it into the draw in this game.
I think Italy made a mistake in not moving back to ION to defend Tunis. Even if Italy took Smyrna, England would still be ensured of taking (and keeping) Tunis next year. Italy has been a good ally to Austria but I don’t think it will get the Italian player into the draw.
What can I learn from this? I think England signaling non-aggression to France is a good method to get better positioning for future aggression. It only worked because France had been signaling alliance with England for so long—if France wasn’t so friendly then France may not have believed/accepted England’s message.
Player Journals
England
I thought about my moves for a considerable amount of time this season.
This is what I would like to accomplish but can’t do it all:
Move to Norway and Finland so I can either support Russia in StP or take it from him.
Keep France from building more fleets by either holding my German centers, capturing French centers or a combination of both.
Move into Wes to begin to threaten Italian centers.
Not move against France at all in hopes he will see my plan and help me stop Austria/Italy.
Obviously some of these conflict with others. My biggest concern is that if I lose too much to France this Fall, he could build 1 or even 2 fleets and that could spell my doom.
I could not find any combination of moves that keep France from building even if I totally ignore Scandanavia and risk Russia moving in. I decided that continuing on the plan to not attack France and hope that Austria soon becomes his biggest concern is the best way to go. My moves in Germany are designed to limit my losses this season. The worst thing that can happen there is for France to take Kiel and let my fleet succeed to Holland so that it can’t retreat to Denmark.
Will my signal of A Wal to NAf last season have an impact? Will France set up to start working with me if I don’t take anything from him? Will Italy see the fleet heading his way or expect it to be embroiled in a French battle for quite a while?
Finally, will Austria allow Italy to finally grow? Or will he keep Italy out of position and set up to make him pay for his over-commitment to attack Turkey?
France
I take the glove of England and hopefully he is with me.
I take risk in Spa and in Bel, by moving into Bur, and hope to give a signal back that I am looking for peace as well.
hopefully will give Ber me an extra build in Mar…
Russia
Well an act of desperation here. I figure this is the ONLY chance of still holding two SCs. If MOS – WAR succeeds.
Italy
Retreating does no good. England is likely to wander into WES, but it does no good to back out now. I dare say, if E wins by solo, everyone will blame me for not covering Tunis, but I have seen way too many games in which Italy gets stuck sitting on four centres and gradually gets squeezed out from both sides. I doubt I’ll even get the build, as I imagine Austria will probably just defend Constantinople and hope to keep it. But at least A has not turned against me yet.
Austria
aeg s con
con s eas-smy
sev s war-mos
ukr s war-mos
war-mos
gal s sil-war
sil-war
boh h
tri s ven
Well that WAS interesting. The Englishman is up to some weird stuff. Making a convoy that couldn’t work, ‘withdrawing’ to SWE and attacking me in WAR rather than defending BER (to his cost). I had decided to go more anti-French and pro-English, so I am fairly disappointed in the English moves. But, at least F & E are fighting each other – maybe England will see value in working with me sooner rather than later.
This move I am going to act more like I am neutral to France and just wanted him out of SIL.
I am moving to take MOS, retain WAR, hold BOH against French reprisal (but not antagonise further) and at least breakeven with Turkey.
I am also still trying to keep Italy from a 5th SC in case they go pro-French on me. The Italian convoy of MUN-LON suggests a pro-French position.
Turkey
ANK will support SMY. BLA will support CON-BUL in the hope that Austria decides to bounce in BUL.
Austria didn’t go for the stab of Italy and the solo. Now England is making gains in the west against France.
Fall 1907 Retreat Adjudication
Russia: A mos – stp