[Diplomacy diary - Only the first few years strike me as interesting. I append my lost messages to Austria - their failure to arrive pretty much determined what later happened in the East. If there is any interest in Russian archives regarding the origins of Russo-Turkish hostility or the preliminary negotiations leading to the Treaty of Hier, I would be happy to make those available as well]
*Pre-spring 1901
I haven't played more than a couple games of Diplomacy in my life, and they were thirty years ago. So I spend the first part of the negotiations completely confused about basic rules and tactics. My first confusion was that I was under the delusion that coastal fleets resided on a particular ordered pair of land-province and ocean-province. So that, for example, a British fleet on the North Sea coast of Norway would take several moves to get to the Barent Sea coast of St. Pete. Once that was cleared up, I still didn't understand that Sweden (unlike St. Pete) has only a single coast.
Once I had that finally cleared up, I was able to negotiate non-aggression agreements with England and Germany. They won't hold for long, but maybe long enough so that I have time to deal with the mess in the Balkans.
The first annoyance is that Turkey wants us to pretend hostility (by bouncing in the Black Sea, for example) but later turn together against Austria.
Austria doesn't respond to my emails suggesting that maybe we should ally against Turkey. My original intention was A Warsaw->Galatia, A Moscow->Ukraine and F Sevastapol->Rumania. In fact, I told Austria and Turkey that this was my intention. I also suggested ways (German verbal threats against Russia, basically) that Austria could be assured that my army in Galatia was not a threat to Vienna and Budapest. Alas, no response from Austria until too late.
Austria claims that he never got most of my emails. I'm not sure whether to believe this or not. In any case, it gets me thinking about how I am royally (imperially?) screwed if I continue with my original plans with both Austria and Turkey hostile. I begin to realize just how important it is for both Turkey and Russia to keep the other party's fleet out of the Black Sea.
So at the last minute, I switch my orders to bounce the Turkish fleet. And I also decide to make a Warsaw move that is less hostile-appearing to Austria. Of course, I realize that this probably means that Austria will be moving the Vienna army toward Warsaw. So I also send a note to Italy suggesting that a move into Tyrol may prove interesting.
Spring 1901
I am relieved and surprised that Turkey has not moved into Armenia. I am initially completely baffled by the French decision to hold his army in Marseilles. And the Austrian decision to hold in Trieste.
My Fall moves are obvious. The only question is whether to attack Rumania from Ukraine or Sevastapol. If the attack fails it doesn't matter which direction I choose. Both Ukr and Sev stay put. But if I do succeed, I will need to build twice, and for the sake of peace in the north, I don't want to build in St. Pete. So I will try to move my fleet to Rumania and then build in Sevastapol. Fleet or Army? Interesting choice. I hope I get the chance to make it.
And now I am informed that Italy hasn't been receiving my email either. Sheesh.
Winter builds 1901
Cool! I get to build twice. I had been nervous about a German bounce in Sweden or an Austrian invasion of Rumania.
I had been planning to build a fleet in Sevastapol this winter, but now I'm not sure. Scandinavia looks mighty tempting right now, since Britain moved to Belgium. And assuming I decide to continue with my southern strategy, building an army in Sevastapol keeps Turkey confused about my intentions for a little longer. I need to talk to Austria. I'll delay my decision about the build until the last moment.
9:30 PM. Well, Turkish intransigence eliminates the confusion. Turkey and Russia are now at war. I will build an Army in Moscow and a fleet in Sevastapol. And Austria must decide whose side to be on.
Spring 1902
Tues. I have proposed a treaty to Austria and Italy. I believe it is a good deal for both. Italy wanted better terms; I replied. Austria queried, I responded.
Fall 1902
Fri. Well, I am screwed. I can hold Sevastapol with support from Ukraine and Moscow, But when Austria eventually moves into Galicia, I'm in trouble. I need to stir things up somehow. So I am goint to take Norway, to gain a build. And I am going to move Warsaw to Silesia. Two purposes: I can build in Warsaw. It can next turn south to Galicia or Bohemia. Plus if Germany moves some of his forces east, it may distract Austria.
[End diary.]
I'm interested in everything- and am anxious to discuss what everyone has learned (I've learned a ton). Unfortunately, the other nations persist their bloody and pointless war against the British Empire.
And so it came to pass that on Christmas Day 1911, the three Great Powers of Europe signed a treaty to divide the continent between them peacefully, ending what future historians would call the Great War.
The sun truly never sets on King Jack's British Empire, which stretches from Spain to Stockholm, from Casablanca to Copenhagen, from the fringes of the Sahara to the coast of the Arctic Ocean. They rule fourteen major world capitals, and innumerable smaller towns and cities, the greatest power of the age and the unquestioned master of Western Europe.
From the steppes of Siberia to the minarets of Istanbul, the Ottoman Empire is no longer the Sick Man of Europe but stands healthy and renewed, a colossus every bit the equal of the Christian powers to its west. Its Sultan calls himself the Caliph, for the entire Islamic world basks in his glory, and his Grand Vizier has been rewarded with a reputation as one of the most brilliant and devious politicians of the age. At his feet grovel representatives of twelve great cities, and even far-flung Tunis has not escaped his sway.
And in between, the Austro-Hungarian Empire straddles the Alps and ancient Italy. Its lack of natural borders presented no difficulty for its wily Emperor, who successfully staved off the surrounding powers and played his enemies off against one another while building alliances that stood the test of time. Eight great cities pay homage to his double-crown, and he is what his predecessors could only dream of being - a true Holy Roman Emperor.
And hidden beneath the tricolor map every student learns in grammar school are echoes of subtler hues. In Germany, people still talk of the mighty Kajser Sotala I, who conquered the ancient French enemy and extended German rule all the way to the Mediterranean, and they still seeth and curse at his dastardly betrayal by his English friends. In Russia, Princess Anastasia claims to be the daughter of Czar Perplexed, and recounts to everyone who will listen the story of her stoic father, who remained brave until the very end; at her side travels a strange bearded man who many say looks like Rasputin, the Czar's long-missing adviser. The French remember President Andreassen, who held off the combined armies of England and Germany for half a decade, and many still go on pilgrimage to Liverpool, the site of their last great victory. And in Italy, Duke Carinthium has gone down in history beside Tiberius and Cesare Borgia as one of their land's most colorful and fascinating leaders.
And the priests say that the same moment the peace treaty was signed, the blood changed back to water, and the famines ended, and rain fell in the lands parched by drought. Charles Taze Russell, who had been locked in his room awaiting the Apocalypse, suddenly ran forth into the midwinter sun, shouting "Our doom has been lifted! God has granted us a second chance!" And the mysterious rectangular wall of force separating Europe from the rest of the world blinked out of existence.
Pope Franz I, the new Austrian-supported Pontiff in Rome, declares a month of thanksgiving and celebration. For, he says, God has tested the Europeans for their warlike ways, isolating them from the rest of the earth lest their sprawling empires plunge the entire planet into a world war that might kill millions. Now, the nobility of Europe finally realizing the value of peace, the curse has been lifted, and the empires of Europe can once more interact upon the world stage.
Chastened by their brush with doom, yet humbled by the lesson they had been given, the powers of Europe send missionaries through the dimensional portal, to convince other worlds to abandon their warlike ways and seek universal brotherhood. And so history ends, with three great powers living together side by side and striving together for a better future and a positive singularity.
...
On to the more practical parts. If you think you've learned lessons this game worth telling the rest of Less Wrong, you should send them to either myself or Jack. I say either myself or Jack because Jack had the most supply centers and therefore deserves some karma which he could most easily get by posting the thread which the other two winners then comment on, or if you insist that three way tie means three way tie, I'll post the thread and the three winners can all comment and get up-voted. We'll talk about it in the comments.
Thanks to everyone who played in this game. I was very impressed - it's one of the rare games I have moderated that hasn't been ruined by people constantly forgetting to send orders, or people ragequitting when things don't go their way, or people being totally incompetent and throwing the game to the first person to declare war on them, or any of the other ways a Diplomacy game can go wrong. Everyone fought hard and well and honorably (for definitions of honor compatible with playing Diplomacy). It was a pleasure to serve as your General Secretary.