Chapter 20: “Onward Ho”

Season Covered: Spring 1907

Winter 1906

Finally, things are not looking awful for me.  All the fleets, except for one, are gone in my corner of the map.  

France may lose Belgium.  He writes quickly after orders process and asks, “Hm, I’m screwed here aren’t I?”

All I want to do is soothe over tensions and see if I can get him out of my hair so I can grow elsewhere.  Ultimately, I have a small chance in this game, but I believe that chance must have France commit to the Med, and it seems increasingly unlikely France will move there given my actions.

At this point, Austria loses his mind, both on Discord and in this game. I guess he now knows Turkey is coming for him. He dares everyone to attack him on an external and unhinged Discord post. He also sends out press entitled, “I can’t win.”

I begin to worry about Austria.  He reached out to me when I was down and now I thought about returning the favor. Additionally, I would also remember Germany’s press urging Austria to keep trying to play his best as the sign of a good player.

Germany and I work pretty hard on a plan, but his plan nets him Belgium and nets me maybe Warsaw.  I don’t like that plan.  I have to split my forces and expose two centers to him.  But, I think I can work it out with Germany.  I think we really are a team, but I look for every opportunity to gain some centers on him, as I can’t get them through France at the present moment.

Austria writes me about how he’s mad at Germany for telling something to Turkey.  I don’t think that’s possible because Germany doesn’t ever talk about other players except in vague terms.  I try to talk him off the ledge.  I write in all sincerity:

I mean this truthfully.  I may have to attack Austria, but he’s been fun to play with and I am gratified to have a friend.  One goal accomplished, and a good thing for my life, as well.

Turkey and I continue to communicate with each other, and I make a serious play to him:

Turkey tries hard to sell me on FG and that I need to make a play now.  I already went down that road once.  It’s not that I’m gun shy, but hopefully I’m a little wiser, and I’m not buying what he’s selling in my head, but I kind of start buying it anyway.  He tells me Germany’s plan is “stupid” and I shouldn’t do it, or the implication is that I would be stupid.

Do you see all the elements of a superior player?  He is so confident, that he begins to brim me with confidence.  I enter the orders he suggests but will wake up early and talk to Germany, as I am in no way convinced that this really is a “good move set” as Turkey suggests.

Meanwhile, back to France to see if we can disengage. Long story short, we can’t.

Morning comes.  Germany reached out to me first and wanted to talk.  Either a great sign or he wants to be sure of my moves before a stab.  Through a couple of dozen press communications, I believe Germany is my ally for real.  We create a series of multiple moves to try and help both of us and make a quick stab more difficult.  I change my orders. 

Our mutual paranoia gave me a sense of calm.  Germany would have to be a great actor to write all that press and actually betray me.  You may remember, however, that I did precisely that to Russia twice earlier in the game. Ergo, I am a great actor.

The moves:

Spring 1907

The good news:  Germany and I both kept our word.   Germany now has a two supply center lead over me, but I may get one back if I can get into Moscow.  

France, as expected, kept a defensive line, but he lost Belgium.  I am now convinced more than ever that my growth path is through Germany.

France writes me quickly:

As soon as I wrote “bullied,” I regretted it.  I wrote it in a quick moment, and I failed to remember that this word triggers France.  I tried to let it go but he would not.  

Back to the moves. Austria makes an inexplicable move toward Germany and away from Turkey.  What is he thinking and could that be a blessing for me?  Turkey grabs Rumania and he got Austria to move his units towards Germany.

Austria tells me that Germany told Turkey something important, and now Germany must die. I think that’s all wrong and I tell him so.

I now fully realize how great Turkey is.  He got his adjacent enemy to turn his forces in the opposite direction.  He damn near got me to stab Germany, opening up a solid path for the win.  God, he’s good.  He’s the player to beat.  Can I suck up to him and get him to support me into Mos?

I knock out some Hall & Oates clips for the Board:

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