Turn 8, Drama and DEATH!
Russia is DEAD! Attacks from Germany, Turkey and me have finished him off this turn. Truly a sad day. Lizzurd, you played well and made good, bold moves. Can't win 'em all. Hope we see you in the next game
I don't think Russia made any major mistakes this game and actually had a pretty incredible comeback when he re-allied with Turkey who he had backstabbed the previous turn - it was more that Germany was gunning from him from the start because he wasn't having any pressure from France or England, and Russia exposed itself with the bold but dangerous turn 2 attack on Turkey.
Elsewhere, England holds on, and even gets a build from taking Rome! Conquest of England will happen eventually without German intervention, but England can hold a while yet and has a chance of surviving even with his home centers gone with that valuable fleet in the Med who everyone there will want as an ally.
In the south-east, Turkey betrays Italy and supports me (Austria) into Budapest and into Greece. With Rome taken, Italy is kinda screwed at the moment, despite that successful defense of Venice. But you never know! At least one documented game ended in a solo victory for a player who subbed in for a Germany reduced to a single army.
Just for fun, let me reveal what happened in Venice/Trieste against Italy from my perspective:
My choice was whether use my army in Ty to attack Trieste (with support) or go to Venice.
If Italy moves to Venice, he won't capture Trieste. Unless I attack Venice and bounce him off, keeping him in Trieste to capture it - like you can see happening above. On the other hand, he could do something useful with the Trieste army (like support Bud to Serbia or attack himself) and then I'd feel like an idiot for not taking Ven when I could. Note that taking Ven also prevents him from building there if he leaves it empty, had he gotten a build this turn.
Also note that his army in Trieste is very exposed - Germany, openly allied, can cut potential support to Tri from Bud, and I could take Tri with support from Tyr and Vie. Nothing he can do about it. So I'm inclined to think the will move
somewhere. Either Ven or as part of an attack to Ser or Vie. However, if he grabs Serbia or something I won't actually lose Tri even if I don't move in anything there (remember, provinces are captured at the
end of this turn), so moving Tyr-Tri is actually a waste of two moves (move from Tyr and support from another army) if he grabs another of my provinces like Serbia. So if he is attacking one of my other provinces it would be much better to move to Ven.
There's also the interplay with my (and other) units and questions like who I'd support an attack into Trieste with, how likely that support is to be cut, am I defending the other provinces under threat, etc. The rules of the game are simple, but the tactical situation can get quite complex even with low numbers of units. It often ends up being guesswork, but it's "fair" guesswork in the sense that there is no dice involved - you just have to out-guess your opponent.
Simply put, tactically my decision to move to Ven was based on my assumption that Italy is likely to try to attack something from Tri given that his position there is untenable, and on the fact that wasting a unit's move and one more's support just to move to a spot that will stay mine if Italy successfully takes something else seemed inefficient.
My decision was complicated by the diplomatic situation, of course. Turkey had betrayed me two turns ago, but now offers alliance against Italy who had betrayed me last turn - I happily accept, but understand that he may just be tricking me into finding out my moves and then majorly fucking me up. But my situation last turn was dire (two home centers lost, at war with Italy, Turkey, and Russia) so I decide to act as if Turkey will do what he will say. Could have been the final nail in my coffin, but you don't always have a conservative play to make other than "make your death a bit slower", and I don't care for those
Still, I don't want Turkey to know ALL my moves, to I tell him I'll be attacking Trieste. I will, however, be attacking Venice, since if Turkey stays allied with Italy, betraying me, Trieste is sure to take an active role in their attacks on me, which means Ven will be empty and I at least get that. If, however, Turkey doesn't betray me, I'll get some territory in Greece and a bounce in Ven is not so bad.
Anyway, as the turn timer nears, Turkey (who is betraying Italy this turn but is still ostensibly allied to him) tells me he has info that Italy will move back to Ven. He is telling the truth, but since he is my good RL friend whom I've known a long time, I don't trust him at all. I in fact assume he will give Italy good info on my moves and then pretend it was Italy lying to him - when ganging up on someone, it's always nice to have your ally do
worse
So I tell Turkey "Cool! Then I won't move to Ven!" and then move to Ven. And make a wrong guess and lose a province I didn't need to lose
But hey, it was a calculated risk, mostly based on the fact that if Turkey was betraying me (instead of Italy) I'd still make
some gains by taking Ven.
So there, that gives you an idea of all the things considering just one move can involve