You're right Sinny, it is an interesting Shoutbox and it probably tells the story of the game better than I can. Some might say it was more interesting than the game itself
For me this was a game of opposites, very frustrating gameplay mitigated by highly affable company. Immediately upon starting I knew from the comms that I was exploring previously unknown territory amongst the dizzy heights of high ranked players but the reality turned out to be a somewhat stodgier version of what I had imagined.
From the start the game was dominated by one unstoppable central alliance and although I called it quickly, ultimately I failed to break it or unite the rest against it. I tried everything I could; staying loyal to Turkey for as long as possible, trying to build trust between Britain and France and persuading them not to attack each other. All the while chipping away at the alliance, presenting new options, pointing out the inequalities, warning of the solo dangers. But none of it seemed to matter, there was a lot of disillusionment. The only thing that appeared to make a difference in the end was actively encouraging Italy to try and get the solo and offering not to defend territories.
Then a switch was flipped. Charlie suddenly became a different person trying to unite the rest of the board against Italy's solo and to my surprise everyone else was up for it. We managed to hold together a four way defence long enough to curb Italy's enthusiasm and despite refusing it once, inevitably the five way seemed like the only option. With the benefit of hindsight I should have pushed Italy to offer me territories paving a safe path to the three way but collectively the will didn't seem to be there for any further play. That would have made the difference to my final placing I think.
Low lights: Me and Poland banging our heads together like stubborn bairns for several years on our mutual border.
High lights: Accusing the alliance of carebear-ism in the PP, immediately being treated to a jpeg of the carebear poster from Charlie's bedroom and each being assigned our own moniker.
Special mention: To Turkey for being a thorough gent when I eventually stabbed him, as his demise became inevitable and to prevent Italy getting all the spoils.
Yours faithfully
Polite Panda
Classicist.
JonS earned 32 points in game C4: 5way DRAW 14 Italy 15 Egypt 3
MisterBigBug earned 24 points in game C4: 5way DRAW 14 Britain 9 Sweden 1
Buachaille earned 19 points in game C4: 5way DRAW 14 USSR 5 Rumania 0
charliep007 earned 19 points in game C4: 5way DRAW 14 Germany 5 Greece 0
Pb10gon earned 19 points in game C4: 5way DRAW 14 Poland 4 Czechoslov. 1
juangrisart earned 0 points in game C4: Turkey 0 Yugoslavia 0
YohanTM earned 0 points in game C4: France 0 Spain 0
