Well, I'm going to keep up my annual reporting on BrinL1 Diplomacy.
The game can be viewed at:
http://www.onesite.org/observer/request.php3?judge=USIN&gamename=brinl1
The current stats:
England: 5 centers, no net change.
France: 4 centers, no net change.
Germany: 4 centers, no net change.
Italy: 5 centers, gain of one.
Austria: 6 centers, gain of one.
Russia: 5 centers, loss of one.
Turkey: 5 centers, gain of one.
Looks like we have some interesting developments, most noticebly the
apparant lack of alliances out there. Yes, we've seen some
cooperation. But multiple revolving back-stabs seem to be the order of
the day.
Germany's lack of moves in spring have really hurt him. All five of
his direct neighbors plunged in for the kill, with Italy (!) managing
to take Munich, and France on the Ruhr. Luckily Germany managed to
grab Denmark, which he should have had last year. But Germany is now
surrounded by hostiles, with no allies in sight. His only reason for
hope for survival are the hostilities that seem to be breaking out
everywhere else.
After being kicked out of Norway by Russia, England has brutally
back-stabbed France, taking the northern port center of Brest. With
Germany on the ropes, was this really the best time? Perhaps, since
France is so busy she had no defenses at all. But having betrayed her
ally, can England/Earthclan hold her continental possessions of Brest
and Belgium? It seems doubtful, unless she cooperates with her former
adversary Germany.
And although Russia has won a temporary advantage over England in the
north, she has been savaged in the South, losing her critical Black Sea
port of Sevastopol and her conquered province of Rumania. Well, we've
all heard the name calling between Turkey/Tandu and Russia/Soro. Those
who hypothesized that it was all a big maskirovka session have been
proven wrong, with Russia crippled. And it seems unlikely that Russia
can grab a bit of Germany also. From a strong start Russia looks to be
in trouble.
But the question is what will happen now in the south. Turkey has
pledged undying hatred towards Russia. But will the Ottomans have a
chance? Austria is now at six centers, the strongest power on the
board, controlling almost all the Balkans. Will Austria and Turkey
sign an armistice, or will Russia be saved by an Austrian attack on
Turkey?
Next, Italy. No one has moved against Italy yet, she has a respectable
five centers, and some apparant cooperation with France. Both France
and Italy will need to cooperate in this reporter's opinion. How can
Italy hold Munich without French help? And France will probably have
to give that help since she can't afford to fight both England and
Italy. And Austria threatens. The Hapsburgs have an army in Tyrolia,
and a probable build in Trieste, meaning that Venice is ripe for the
picking. Italy needs to build an army in Venice this winter to avoid
this disaster.
Although France has a chance to regain Brest it will be extremely
difficult because all her units are positioned so far away. She can
move F Por-MAO and A Bur-Par, giving her two units to strike for Brest
next fall, but England has her English Channel fleet ready. Standoff,
and she can move F-Eng-Pic to give the flexibility to defend Belgium if
needed. If Italy picks this moment to go for Marsailles France is
finished, when she seemed to be doing so well last year.
Well, that wraps it up. And a more brutal spectacle this reporter can
not remember seeing. Alliances used to mean something in the Five
Galaxies, perhaps lasting many turns, but this new cycle of warfare
seems to have driven the powers into a frenzy. The watchword for this
millenial cycle: TRUST NO ONE!
=====
Darryl
Think Galactically -- Act Terrestrially
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