I quite like it as it is.

Well, I know for my part that it wouldn't affect my strategy at all, since I always send the ECH fleet to Spain (sc) in A01. But I know the current trend is to open to Brest/Paris/Denmark or Brest/Paris/Norway, which would require an ECH convoy.

I dunno that it would make a difference in the balance for me, but it might balance out around the site since it removes one of the favorite English strategies.

The other thing to consider: Disregarding one premature 2wd, we've only had 13 finished games on the site, with the score being 7-5-1 England. Not really a big sample size.

Well, I fought kaug to a 17-17 draw as Turkey and we're fairly evenly matched. So it's probably fair, all things considered. Hard to tell with 13 games whether it's a matter of board imbalance or PEBKAC.

And speaking for myself, I quite like it as is, too.

Ok ok ok I won lucky as turkey but I said from start that I think england is a little favourite here, because it's much easier to get a safe spot north and south and really push the mid...
sen 1 army to st. peter and its safe up there...
go 2 fleets med and its safe... push the middle, if you get munich you won....

I have lost twice as Turkey already, but I can attribute both to misorders in key moments. I believe there is no room for mistake as Turkey as they need to blitz for the win. As the years passes the tables turn and England becomes the favorite. The convoy to Brest has so far worked well for me as England and is probably a safer bet than the fleet move towards Spain. But if the correct guesses are made the fleet to spain can be more beneficial. I believe the way to counter the fleet move to Spain is probably to forfeit an SC in 01 to take Aegean with the fleet instead of bul sc. Still have to try that out though.

ok after playing england to i musst say it seems pretty balanced...

well at least it is generating some discussion, i'm not sure if i would risk falling behind on builds so early, though i guess the distance gives you time to catch up...

It's a great variant. Please don't 'refine' it!

i've already started on version 2, and stopped which means i may never finish it...

in that version there are neutral armies along the stalemate line just holding...

but my point was, this version will remain as it is.

After playing 2 more games against PE gameID=4387 and gameID=4386, I have come to believe England is in fact the favoured one. The move in 01 to Aegean worked for me better than the alternative, but it was mostly because I got lucky with all the guesswork in the Med. My belief is that it would be fun to try out a couple of variants to see if they play out more even. Maybe have England start with the fleet currently in North Sea in Edinburgh instead or have Turkey start with a fleet in smyrna and army in ankara

F Smy/A Ank would be interesting. England being in Edinburgh would be kinda bad imo, England needs its fleets in the water to start to have a chance to win.

have you seen the tempo anaylsis, and how many moves it takes to get to 18 - it woudl be nice to have an automated tools to work out different positioning and how they should affect a variant..

I could do that if I weren't so busy tonight. :P

ok, i have a little bit of time now... anyone want to play?
gameID=4406

Let's do this!

doing it...

well i can't tell much from that, other than having a fun game.

any other comments before i let this thread die?

If you want to play a set of games with me to try it out I am up for it. I would suggest playing 4 games. 2 as each Turkey and England to see.

sure. one at a time, with both of us finalizing when we can.

gameID=4476

pword in pm.

gameID=4487

gameID=4547

gameID=4564

Well i've been thoroughly schooled. Thanks a lot for those four games Kaug, i clearly have a lot to learn. At least three of them were pretty close, and in only one did i mess up so completely that you walked all over me... It's nice to have a challenge which is just beyond my skill because it forces me to learn... which unfortunately i don't think i did enough of during those games...