Why was this game drawn so early? There was not a single player who was even close to a solo threat.

Portugal EoG- Never trust a Frenchman. that is all.

Mariseilles EoG: FRENCHMEN!!!!!!!!

Paris EOG

By the time I got going a number of alliances had already formed. I figured it was better to join than be targeted, but I also made an early effort to form a sub-alliance with my fellow Frenchman, hence the formation of the "Three Musketeers." Marseilles offered to support me to Spain and when I suggested Brest follow up with Portugal, all was seemingly set for French domination of Iberia and beyond. I knew we were in trouble quickly though when I got back to the board a couple of hours later to find that Marseilles had negotiated an alliance with Spain and Portugal on his own, and had now headed off in the opposite direction to Italy, leaving Brest and I hanging in the wind as the turn had now processed.

With no centers in sight for any of us, I decided my only real move was to stab. The question was, Marseilles or Spain? Although Marseilles was responsible for our predicament, it looked like an honest mistake and he was responsive and still seemed willing to coordinate tightly from here out. Plus, I had already put a good amount of effort into uniting France first, foremost, and above all the switching of sides that would take place later, so I snuck into Spain.

While I managed to acquire two centers, Tunis' suicide play kept me (and him) from doing anything, and Holland's move against us, despite the fact we were on the same alliance and would be better served cooperating, assured a difficult game. Then, in an attempt to gain Portugal, Brest's decision not to cover his home center from Liverpool provided the final nail in the coffin. While I understand how important builds are in a game like this, Brest would be essentially useless in Portugal if Liverpool opted for Brest, and that's exactly what Liverpool chose to do. Though we Musketeers functioned together quite well on defense for some time after this, and I had some hope of winning a key foe over to our side at some point, all three of our fates had really been decided early on.

Ok my real EoG now- As soon as the game started I sought an alliance with my neighbors in France. Not until almost 3/4ths of the way through the second phase(Spring 01) Did I finally hear back. that truly irritated me because it was obvious the French were just ignoring my messages(I sent many messages when I knew they were online). After they finally messaged me back, Paris stabbed, followed by Brest. and my game was over. so I spent the rest of the game trying to stir trouble between the others and rooting on those destroying France.

EoG Marseilles: I'm not blaming Paris or Brest for this, but it is really damn hard to get SCs as Marseilles by moving into Italy. I kind of went off and did my own thing while Brest, Portugal, and somewhat Belgium coordinated in the North. Game didn't last very long for me, but I was happy with my allies, and with the overall global chat thing.

@ Marseilles: While I too enjoyed the fun factor and global chat, on a pure strategy level, it was you who offered to support me to Spain, and agreed on the Spain/Portugal plan with Brest, only to make a last-second alliance with Spain and Portugal and run off to Italy as the turn processed. So, I don't know what you expected here? Had we taken Spain and Portugal immediately, we likely would have found a way to get you Tunis, Venice, Munich, or Belgium soon after.

EoG Naples: first off I had a lot of fun and liked how well the abs/Olympians worked together. Initially I tried set up an Italian alliance, but with rome and Tunis not talking I thought it best to join up with venice and the easterners. This got my some nice growth despite some caution on my part and eventually I drove west towards France where I found a worthy adversary in Paris. At that point it became a battle of words between the two of us to sway Denmark. After the west was cracked open though it was only a matter of time.

Rumania EoG: Sevastopol NMR'ing twice in the first two moves really helped seal my fate. Going to Warsaw in Fall '01 was likely my only chance, but with King Atom yelling about HOW GREAT BILL CHASE IS, I really felt bowing out early was the better play.

Just noticed that KA was Vienna... why does that not surprise me?

I should have added that of the entire knot of 7 countries in the Balkans, I was the only one who didn't join the ABS. In hindsight, that was likely a terrible play.

Austria EoG: Far too many fools influenced too many important decisions. The worst thing about a game like this is that everybody has something to say. Of course, every time I play a game like this, everyone flocks to the one guy that has no political prowess, he simply puts forth a plan that he thinks is best for him. You all decided to listen to Green's liberal, stupid pansy-ass agenda of welcoming whomever HE liked, instead of keeping the draw right. I stabbed not because I was fed up with the dumbasses who were trying to take my Supply Centers 'benevolently,' but because Ankara told Denmark he would be a welcome member. WELL I DON'T CARE WHAT ANKARA THINKS, ANKARA WASN'T THE ONE PUTTING THEIR SOLDIER'S ASSES ON THE LINE UP AND DOWN EUROPE!

Of course, once I stabbed, the bitches decided that a three way draw would be silly. How irrational would it be to reduce the number of players to a more manageable size? Then I had these punk asses trying to tell me that 10 out of 34 was good based on simple math. As if I can't do your 'simple math.' Maybe you dumbasses should have done my simple math that 3 out of 34 is much better! And yes, I told everyone that I was aiming for the solo, not for any stupid gift card, but simply because I COULD. Instead of working with me, y'all decided to kill me. BUT THAT'S YOUR OWN DAMN FATE! But you enjoy your 9-way. It's not like you liberal pussies could have GROWN THE BALLS to take care of business and just take the freakin' solo.

Y'ALL ARE WEAK!

King Atom, you have got to be the biggest candy ass of them all. Again, because you lost, you are bitching that everyone else is weak, yet they were alive at the end of the game and you weren't. Quite frankly, any opinion that you have is completely irrelevant. All those involved in the draw approved of the result and their opinions are the only ones that mattered with what the result was.

KING ATOM, GROW THE FUCK UP AND STOP BASHING PEOPLE BECAUSE YOU LOST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You missed the point entirely. You are literally the dumbest person I've encountered on this site, and I'm sick and tired of you making your stupid generalizations. Every time, it's the same shit out of you. Leave me alone, I'm tired of seeing your ugly name.

Can I ask again why on earth this game was drawn so early?

The game was drawn because going for the solo was pointless if you did the rest of the abs would knock you down, eventually the draw would have been smaller, but no one was willing to risk it after Vienna and Moscow got it. plus you can't blame Ankara for inviting Denmark, I did that as well and I stand by that choice while Vienna and holland were gaining on the mainland myself and venice were stuck at sea and needed him to break the naval lines. I personally considered forming a new alliance block with Denmark but that didn't play out in the end and the risk wasn't worth it after Vienna stabbed. He was surrounded on all sides and didn't have a chance.

And a quick look at my record shows that I am perfectly capable of going for the solo if I so choose.

Any of us can win, we simply chose not to because we new what the outcome of trying it would be, as Shep said.

I missed the point, my dear King Atom? My generalization is that every single time you lose, you bitch because people don't play the game the way YOU think they should. My only opinion is that every single person on this site is entitled to play how THEY see fit, not how little king atom sees fit. If you can't live with that, then leave.

I only defend people's right to choose. I frankly don't give a shit how the game ended. If someone would have made the solo happen, congrats to them. But had that happened, King Atom, you would have been bitching at those who lost saying, "Why couldn't you band together and stop the solo?"

You are a fucking instigator and that kind of shit should stay within the game, not come out onto the forum. I am all for being a prick inside the game, because its diplomacy. Out here, you insult people by saying what you say. One would think that you would have been taught some manners. But some people are just unteachable. Unfortunately, that's you, my dear King Atom.

Hey KA, Imagonnalose, we have these two awesome features called mute and block... if you guys can't stand each other that much you should try them out...