Chapter 3: Let’s Get It On!

Season Covered: Spring 1901

S1901

Uh-oh.  Strange things are afoot at the Circle K after adjudication of the Spring 1901[1] moves.  France moved to Picardy and Germany opened with a Danish Blitzkrieg. France’s opening is a tad unusual. Burgundy was demilitarized “DMZ-ed” for sure.  If they reached agreement on Burgundy, FG[2] could be happening.  Or, everyone could be just playing it safe, but damn, that move to Picardy was bothersome.  Still, I played it positive with both F and G.  Stay cool, Fonzie.  It’s going to be ok.  You can’t act as weak as you feel.  Remember Goal 1: Don’t be a prick.  I force myself to believe that no one opened up strong, and everyone honored deals that they had with adjacent powers. 

As for Russia, I saw St. Petersburg moved to Finland and Warsaw simply held, which is atypical passive play.  What was up with that?  The moves are hyper-defensive towards both Germany and Austria, and I have never seen that Russian opening before.  Russia hinted in his press to me that he might go defensive because he was concerned about an attack.  Is he that nervous already? 

Turkey opened up normally with what some call The Bulgarian Push. Italy opened up anti-Austrian with The Obriana Attack.  Austria opens up with a Southern Hedgehog opening coupled with a rare move Trieste to Venice, which successfully bounced the Italian army back to Rome.  Are Austria and Italy already at war?  Could they not work anything out?  Or, is this a disguised alliance?  Curiously, Vie entered Gal unopposed thanks to Russia, when typically those two powers bounce in Galicia.  What is going on?

As I thought about it more, based on what I saw in NT48 with @Conq in which he played Italy, I thought AI might be a thing, and the moves in S01 led me to believe that he might be orchestrating another AI.  France sent me unsolicited press, making the same point.  

Austria says he’s under attack and begs for help.  I suspect subterfuge and tell him so.

I wasn’t sure if RT was a thing or not.  The moves could be RT or not.  Hard to tell in S01, and everyone always looks for the Juggernaut,[3] so I didn’t care too much.  Not my immediate worry, and I might benefit from a Jugg if people move away from me.

I start to think that I give too much information away about my thoughts, but I also consider that my apparent openness to others may be a strength.  This decision of mine to be open is one that causes significant problems for me as time passes by.

Notes

[1] There are ten years to the tournament, 1901-1910.  Each year has three major seasons, Spring, Fall, and Winter, abbreviated by “S,” “F,” and “W” respectively.  In the winter of each year, powers get to build, meaning add, or disband, meaning subtract, units from their power.

[2] “FG” means an alliance between France and Germany.  Alliances are commonly referred to using the first initial of the power, such as RT meaning an alliance between Russia and Turkey, AI for an alliance between Austria and Italy, etc.

[3] “Juggernaut” or “Jugg,” is the common name given to the Russian/Turkish alliance in Diplomacy.