In my opinion the entire game hinged on Russia’s Tsar change. The entire balance of power was shifted when that leadership changed and the new Tsar did everything in his power to back track the alliances and moves made by the first. That move cemented the Austro-Turkish alliance and ensured he would be at odds in the north as well as in the south. His antagonism of me ensure the survival of France and his own death. Nonsense really.
It seemed no one ever wanted to ally with Germany. I can’t quite figure out why that was. I don’t think I was a complete prick.
In my view, had we continued, Austria was going to be the next target; he was the largest single power by some way, without having enough in the tank to make a sprint for the line. If he tries to fight me then he gets dismembered by England/Germany - from my point of view it was just a question of timing. I like my resulting position reasonably well, as I get a secure home base far from the enemy, but I don’t see better than a draw as it is impossible for me to get out of the Med and so E/G can easily hold a stalemate line if nothing better.
In the early stages I was more interested in keeping my options open than in maintaining one set alliance - hence I was perfectly prepared to put pressure on Russia if his opening was not anti-Austrian enough to suit my needs. It wasn’t - and my consequent move to Rumania would have enabled a much more effective attack on Austria if Russia wanted to play it that way, while still leaving me a bird in the hand if he proved intransigent.
Italy’s NMR changed the balance of power completely as Austria would have been a dead duck with the three of us after him. Naturally Italy would then have had to worry about me, but I’m cool with that; when you’ve got them by the balls, their hearts and minds will follow, and it wasn’t like Italy was getting help from any other quarter.
Open press made planning a pain though. At the time I definitely felt there were a few tactics I’d have preferred to agree in private. 