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
What will come of the E/F battle? Will Austria turn on Italy after taking Turkey? How much longer can Turkey and Russia survive?
Spring 1907 Adjudication
England
F bal – swe
A pru – war (*bounce*)
F eng S
F nao – mao
F hel – nth
A wal – iri – mao – naf
(*no convoy*)
F kie S A hol (*cut*)
F nao – mao
A hol S F kie (*cut*)
F iri S F
nao – mao
France
A bel – hol (*bounce*)
F mao S F bre (*cut, dislodged*)
A mun S
A sil – ber
A sil – ber
A pic – bur
A ruh – kie (*bounce*) F bre S F mao
Russia
A mos S
A lvn – war (*cut*)
A lvn – war (*bounce*)
Italy
A apu C France A mun – lon
A ven NMR
F syr – smy (*bounce*)
F eas S
F syr – smy
Austria
A tri S
Italy A ven
A sev – mos (*bounce*)
F aeg S
A bul – con
A bul – con
A rum – ukr
A boh – sil
A war S
A boh – sil (*cut*)
A gal S
A boh – sil
A vie – boh
Turkey
A ank S A smy
A smy S F con (*cut*)
F con S A smy (*cut, dislodged*)
GM Observations
Austria moves into position to attack Munich and Russia while taking Constantinople. It seems England has taken note of the growth of Austria by ordering PRU-WAR, abandoning BER, and indicating a desire to move past France and into the Mediterranean (WAL-IRI-MAO-NAF). If so, that is good for France in the short-term but bad for France in the long-term (England could more easily attack France in that position).
I’m a little surprised England ordered vacated both the Heligoland Bight and the Baltic Sea (moving to Sweden instead of Denmark). France could take Kiel now and England can’t stop it. Regardless, this seems to be a bit of an olive branch to France from England.
Meanwhile, Russia will lose Moscow as long as Austria orders properly. France wisely moved into position to hold Munich by moving to Burgundy. Turkey defends against Italy and allows Constantinople to be taken.
The biggest thing I’ve learned from this is how drastic England has made movements to show that there is no desire (or no more desire) for aggression with France. Let’s see if France picks up on it.
Player Journals
England
We are definitely in the mid-game now. Germany is gone and unless Italy or Austria change direction, Turkey will be out soon as well.
A couple of years from now, I expect to see me in Norway supporting Russia’s last unit in StP to hold, a fleet in Denmark protecting all of Scandanavia, and hopefully a fleet in Tunis or Tyrrhenian Sea beginning to threaten Italy. This is the power of eliminating all of the Northern enemy fleets.
Several things can go wrong in the meantime. If Russia is not willing to let me support him to hold forever in StP, my position in the North could collapse. If I can afford to leave a unit in Finland as well it could safeguard against that. If France takes my Germany holdings to quickly and is able to build a fleet in Brest, I may need to fight back by attacking Iberia.
My hope is to show France my desire to head past him quick enough, that he will turn to defend the German centers from Austria and assist me in the South against Italy.
The next couple of years will be interesting to see what happens with Italy. He has been friendly to France and Austria. Once Turkey is gone, what direction will he turn? My guess is he will head toward France and stay allied with Austria. This will be in part because of my fleets might be threatening him and the likelihood that even if he attacked Austria, he probably could take nothing from him.
The final thought is what does Austria do now? If he stays allied with Italy, he is only going to be able to pick up another 5-6 centers. To win, he will have to attack Italy at some point. If this is in his thoughts, he might do so now. He could keep Italy from taking a Turkish center just by not attacking Turkey. He can set up an attack on Venice while also taking the Ionian Sea and threatening to convoy to the Italian homeland. This should net him 1 Italian Center this coming year with more to follow. He might consider this especially in light of the apparent England/France war. He has played a very conservative game to this point, so I highly doubt he will make this move, but I hope he does.
France
A triple attack on MAO can be expected, so I need at least an extra point to build later this year a fleet in Mar.
Bel-Bur, to move into Gas in the fall, to defend the Iberian island
and a crazy attack on Ber by Sil supported by Mun.
Why Sil, because I expect an attack from Austria on Sil, because we want to get rid of Russia, and thus he needs Sil def.
last change to succeed
Russia
Desperation now. Not much chance of keeping A out of Ukraine.
Italy
Many thanks to Austria for catching on, although sadly A will have to get Constantinople before I can get Smyrna. Let us hope A realizes to attack Con first.
Austria has finally had a breakthrough against Russia – good – and England will be pushing through into MAO this turn – bad. But it does me no good to head back now.
Austria
sev-mos
rum-ukr
boh-sil
war s boh-sil
gal s boh-sil
vie-boh
aeg s bul-con
bul-con
tri s ven
Lots going on this season:
1. Attacking Russia
2. Joint manoeuvres with Italy in Turkey
3. France!
1. I am hoping Russia sees their loss of MOS as inevitable and my SEV-MOS, RUM-UKR move makes a MOS gain in the Fall a certainty.
2. How long can I give Italy nothing and yet take so much? This is a risk I am extending. To be honest an AFI or AEI 3-way is my current wish/plan. I will help Italy this Fall, I just don’t need a Turkish retreat to BLA or ARM messing with my Russian plans. An alternative move is to support EAS-SMY, knowing SYR is the real unit needing support. But, let’s play the CON move.
3. Very excited to see F/E at war! I have no particular horse in this race, but France’s presence in SIL is annoying, so I am going to lean towards England. Maybe I could also get England to let me push through Russia.
My risk I guess is that alliance with Italy and war with France is incompatible – let’s see whether Italy is pragmatic….
Turkey
As noted when talking about the Fall moves, Austria has the opportunity to almost certainly get the solo by stabbing Italy while finishing off Russia. But, it is highly unlikely Austria will take advantage of that opportunity given his conservative and unimaginative play.
This game really has become a disappointment given its billing of top players fighting one another. Instead of being an example of top play, it has repeatedly proven to be an example of poor play.
For this turn, I will do my best to defend from an Italian attack, leaving myself vulnerable to an Austrian attack. Of course, Austria will have the option of helping Italy FINALLY take a SC from an opponent (noting again the option for Austria to go for the solo by stabbing Italy).
Spring 1907 Retreat Adjudication
France: F mao – por
Turkey: F con – bla
Spring 1907 Retreat Journal
France provided a journal entry for the retreat phase.
France
first signals from England, for a more peaceful attitude against me. I get the message, and I will retreat to Por, and open the gateway to Med. Sea.
See how I solve the Ber issue, now I am arrived there….