OK, France's EOG - better late than never.
First of all, I thoroughly enjoyed this game. Thanks to all the players, and especially to Guaroz for organizing it. I would definitely play future contract games.
I had played this map twice before, drawing eastern countries both times. The only thing I could remember about France in those games is that he fought with Spain both times and that he didn't last long in either game. So I went into this game with an initial plan to try and build an alliance with Spain and see how things progressed.
My goal for the first year was to take Monaco and Switzerland, and perhaps Belgium if it was uncontested, while making it clear that I had no ill intent against Spain. Germany's move into Alsace was very worrisome, and since it appeared he would be attacking me, I decided to avoid aggressive moves against Italy and Britain. I took a gamble that Germany would support himself into Belgium rather than risk a non-productive bounce in Paris or Lyon, and offered him support from Alsace to Belgium. Thankfully, he took Belgium, and this set the stage for a productive alliance.
With my borders with Germany and Spain looking secure, and with England looking to the north, I was able to move aggressively against Italy in year two. Italy's Tyr Sea fleet couldn't defend both Rome and Naples, and when it defended Naples from the Turk I was able to grab Rome in the fall. I also noted Germany's signal in the fall that he wanted to convoy to London.
In year three I continued the aggressive push into Italy and grab Venice. Responding to Germany's hint, I moved into the Channel to either convoy or support a German army to London. Germany took the North Sea in the spring, so I assume he will convoy and I support his successful convoy into London. I am concerned about the Egypt/Turkey alliance (an alliance I had great success with in a previous game), so I am hoping that our attack on England will allow Spain to finish off England's pesky southern fleet and move into Africa where he and I can work together against E/T. Successful year all around, and I am feeling pretty good.
Year 4 - No progress in the North as England held off my invasion attempts. The Spanish move into Gulf of Lyon forced me to pull back a bit to defend Marsellies, but thankfully it was not a sign that Spain is moving against me. I maneuvered forces to attack Naples, and I am happily surprised when I take it a year earlier than planned.
Year 5 - Continued pounding my head against Wales without success. Helped Germany take back Austria from Poland; I hoped that my helpfulness here and with London would encourage Germany to let me take Liverpool and Wales, despite my lack of progress there. I started positioning fleets to push into Egyptian line. Egypt's move into Adriatic meant that I'd need to swing my fleets around to get one of them into Venice in order to progress eastward.
Year 6 - Just when I gave up on invading Wales, England stopped defending it. It worked out ok though, as I slipped into the Irish Sea and grabbed Liverpool. This also let me leave an army to defend France - with Germany getting considerably bigger than I, best not to present to tempting a target. In the south I delay shifting my fleets for an attack on Adriatic so that I can (a) defend Italy against an Egyptian attack that never comes and (b) help Spain push eastward through Africa.
Years 7 & 8 - I grab Ireland, but otherwise not much happens. Egypt does a good job of guessing where Spain's attacks will come and my support doesn't help any. Had I foreseen this lack of progress, I would have shifted my fleets for the attack on Adriatic instead.
Year 9 - I finally shift my fleets in the spring, and take the Adriatic in the fall. It's pretty clear that Germany isn't going to advance much further against Turkey now, and he's big enough that I have to assume that he will then turn on me to try and get the solo. I am hoping that his goodwill will last long enough for me grab Croatia - we have worked together really well up to this point, so I am slightly optimistic that I have a couple of years before he tries anything.
Year 10 - Still no success against Croatia, although Spain finally is able to make some progress in Africa. I note the German build in Munich and suspect that it might signal the end of our partnership. I somehow completely missed the army he built in Edinburgh which would have removed any doubt that Germany was about to attack.
Year 11 - Germany attacks. I am disappointed, but I can hardly blame him for taking a shot at the solo here. I must have looked at the builds and entered my spring orders late at night, because I completely made them without noticing the new German army in Edinburgh, and so I wasn't 100% sure that he was about to attack. I moved to defend Switzerland, just in case, but otherwise my northern units held position. In the south I changed things up by going for Maltese Sea. This succeeds, as does Spain's attack against Tunisia. If Germany hadn't attacked, this might have been the start of some movement against Egypt. As it is, it marks the end of any aggressive action in the south for me - it's time to pull back and defend. Liverpool and Ireland are a lost cause (realistically, even if I had noticed Germany's Edinburgh build, my single fleet could never have defended them), but I think I have a good chance to put together a line to keep Germany from overrunning me.
Year 12 - My armies are able to hold back Germany's initial push, and Spain wisely moves some of fleets into the Atlantic to secure his northern shoreline. I expected Germany to continue the fight at least a year or two longer, but I breathe a sigh of relief when he concedes the draw.
A well played game by all five survivors. I tip my French cap to you all.
Kaner406 - I also enjoyed our silent partnership - it was quite effective there for a while. No need to feel bad about turning on me at the end, you had to give it a shot, and I would have done the same in your shoes.
Guaroz - I didn't plan to stab Spain after 2001 because I was pretty convinced that I was going to need his help against Egypt so that I could keep moving west.
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