Chapter 14: Charles’ Law

Season Covered: Spring 1905

Winter 1904

Most people have heard of Murphy’s Law: “Anything that can go wrong will go wrong.”

Fewer have heard of Charles’ Law / O’Toole’s commentary: “Murphy was an optimist.”

I decided to let Russia take Sweden, and then I will maneuver to screw him in the fall:

Austria and I continue to message each other frequently, and increase our bond:

I tell Germany I will support him into Belgium.  He's happy:

Now, there’s this Discord commenter on the game named @enriador. He posts comments on what he thinks is happening based on the players’ moves and without seeing the press. He is a fair commenter, but he actually thinks I am winning the game. Incredible. If only he knew …

I realize the game is getting to me too much, so I leave the computer to go play some golf with my sons and get my mind off of this madness. When I return, I write this press to everyone for laughs:

I spend the next few hours figuring out how to stab Germany, who I am helping this round.  I guess I'm determined to end this without dignity.

Also, I joke around with France, but I’m prescient

Without much negotiation, here were the moves: 

Ouch.  Everyone moves on me.  Germany takes two dots.  Russia moves into the Barents Sea.  France maneuvers into Western Mediterranean to secure the Mid-Atlantic Ocean. Russia writes:

Germany sends his “regrets:”

Austria messages me, but I think he may have been a part of this disaster.

I try to keep it together.  I spend an hour writing my next press (really 50 minutes because I lost my first draft).  I alert the board to be on standby:

I finish what I had to say. I entitled it:  "Did You Think I Would Stop Playing Like Germany 1?"

Full credit: I plagiarized some of the above from my a poster who replied to my late departed friend’s (Joedaniel Horne) post about OU coach Bobby Stoops. I got a couple of responses, and I got a jab in at France:

France shows some sympathy for me:

Turkey writes, and tells me he tried to help. The guy is good, and always telling me what I want to hear.

At least somebody likes me. Onto Fall 1905 to see if I have any play left.