Retreats done and it’s time for Winter
Russia: Army Berlin -> Prussia
Russia: Army Rumania -> Sevastopol
Here is the latest map
BUILDS
Austria: Builds 1 unit
England: Builds 1 unit
Germany: Builds 1 unit
Turkey: Builds 2 units
REMOVES
France: Removes 1 unit
Italy: Removes 2 units
Russia: Removes 2 units
Deadline for BUILDS/LOSSES is Wedesdnay 19th August at 20:00 GMT
Okay Omni, he accepted my gambit, which provides for superior position next year. I toyed with moving to Spain, but couldn’t take the chance of either letting him keep all six units, or leaving me with Fleet Wales (not Channel) being out of position next spring. I also considered Western Med, but that would again run the same risks. So I ended up playing it a bit safe, but I’ll have all 3 fleets in his backyard after next spring, and you can build A Mun to threaten Bur, and the Russian actually did you a favor, letting you keep A Tyr, allowing it move back to Pie (with Austria’s cooperation) next spring.
I’ll make a request now, which you might understandably feel uncomfortable with; let me build A London. France will now reflexively scream “stab!”, but I figure if I can get that sucker to French territory somewhere next year it will really help both of us, with the possibility of pressure on Paris that a fleet can’t provide. I don’t really need the extra fleet at the moment, and I promise that it will be the last army I’ll build anytime soon. If I do get either Spain or Brest next year then you may walk into Holland.
Okay Malacandra, we now have something to talk about. I fear that any moves of yours towards Iberia will mean we’ll be long down the road towards an overall game stalemate/draw. Likewise you understandably dislike the idea of English fleets heading towards the former Italy. Can I suggest neutralizing North Africa/Western Med/Gulf of Lyon? If you want to put an expiration date on that I am perfectly agreeable. I’ll note you still haven’t drawn any blood from the Bear.
:more crickets:
Is the game in hiatus mode or something? No press, no build results from the GM-a word of enlightenment from CIAS would be mucho appreciated.
I sent my build in.
Sorry for the delay, have finally received all builds/removes. Yes, Russia I’m looking at you.
Will update game later tonight and get it moving again.
ITALY NO MORE. STOP.
FRANCE AND RUSSIA IN RETREAT. STOP.
MAJOR ALLIANCES TO FIGHT. STOP.
So here, we in Winter 1904
Builds
Austria: Army Budapest
England: Army London
Germany: Army Munich
Turkey: Fleet Constantinople, Smryna
REMOVES
France: A Mar
Russia: Fleet Black Sea, Army Prussia
Italy: Fleet ADR, ABL
**Deadline for Moves for Spring 1904 is Saturday 22th August at 20:00 GMT **
Malacandra- Any chance I can get you to move that army in Greece to Italy or North Africa? That would free up my army in Serbia. If you convoy it to Italy it, you could use it to take Rom. That would allow the army currently in Naples to reach Pie a turn earlier. Or by moving it to Tun then NAF you could deny that territory to England.
One more thing, it would be a million times easier for me to crack Russia if there was a fleet in the Black Sea. Any chance of that happening? It would only need to be for this year.
I’m happy to oblige with a fleet in Bla. I’m also all in favour of receiving Rom as part of our share-out, and I’ll make arrangements to get the army out of Gre to where it can be useful. But your primary assurance should be the realization that even if I stabbed you now and took all your centres, I would still have to fight a Western alliance that would be handily outnumbering me. In my book that’s a loser strategy. 
Well, what can I say? I am willing to throw myself in with the Turk and his crew, if they’ll have me. Anything I can do? Austria? Etc?
Sounds good. I view Rom as yours and have no problem with you taking it whenever you like.
I’m not really concerned about a stab, mostly because it wouldn’t work ;). I just need to keep a minimum level of defense in the south, and if that army moved out of Greece the minimum would be one fewer.
Omni,
I’ve heard very little from you in almost a week now. In any event you look like you have a good shot at Burgundy, with A Mar disbanded (not a move I expected). I may decide to indulge in a 50-50 shot at either Picardy or Brest with my convoy. Of course, given the noises being made above by the other alliance, getting F Channel into the MAO might be better. I await your thoughts.
Since France is offering his services to the Southern Alliance, I may as well bat for the other team…
John - I can offer safe passage through Moscow if you wish, or simply harass the Turk.
Omni - I was intending to send Warsaw to Galicia, but can assist you in Sil if you wish.
I’m around. Just biding my time until I saw what the builds and retreats are. It’s late and I need to call it a night, but I’ll tune in tomorrow to start sorting out the upcoming moves.
My initial thoughts strongly favor you getting your fleets to the MEd as fast as possible and postponing the convoy. It’s not essential at the moment and the moves of Turkey and Austria are worrisome.
Speaking of which, treis what is the plan on this move to Sil? Are you intending to be openly antagonistic here? We’ve gotten along pretty well up until this point and I’ve gone a long ways towards helping you tame the Bear and here you are sending an expedition into my backyard. I hope you realize that when the Turk gets hemmed in in the Western Seas you’ll want to still have me on your trusted side.
It’s just there to add pressure onto War. I didn’t think that I could crack Russia without getting a unit there.
A fair offer, gp. I might actually consider a move to Livonia actually, as that might help you prop up Warsaw in the fall. Get back to me ASAP, but keep in mind that stabbing the hand trying to help you would be very bad form.
A move to Livonia is fine with me - frozen wasteland that it is…
I’ll have to think about it-no firm promises, but your demise wouldn’t do our alliance any good (and Turkey & Austria apparently feel like they have nothing substantive to say to me-they might be right of course).
Interesting claim as you don’t have another unit adjacent to Warsaw.
I will have one in the near future, and you can examine my last set of moves to see that it was not possible for me to move another unit to threaten War last turn.
