This was my first game of Diplomacy on the site and I rolled Italy. Unfortunately, I missed my first turn, so I spent much of the game behind and struggling to catch up.
Because I missed Spring 1901, I missed my first build in the Fall. I exchanged a few messages with Austria (who had been very friendly and advised me that we were natural allies). I was behind, so I needed all the help I could get. Instead of going into Tunis, which was the sure thing, I suggested to Austria that I convoy my army to Greece to support in an eastward attack. At this stage, I knew full well that I'd stagnate and die if I turned west to fight France. War with France loomed on the horizon, however, as they built a fleet in Marseilles, which serves one purpose...to fight Italy. Austria agreed to support me into Greece. In addition to this, I sent a group message to Austria and Germany, suggesting a central alliance. For now, we agreed to it. This also meant appealing for England to attack France and draw the attention away from me, since I was vulnerable. The attack on Greece succeeded, and I grabbed Tunis in the Fall to secure my builds. At this stage, it's also obvious that Russia is afk and will be dropping from the game soon.
I couldn't rest yet. Turkey pushed their fleets directly toward me. Fortunately, France had turned their attention to England, so I could focus eastward. I turned my fleet from Tunis into the Ionian Sea. Turkey, seeing the writing on the wall already, attacked Apulia. In Fall 1903, Austria kicked Turkey out of Bulgaria. I moved my Ionian fleet into Eastern Med to force the Turkish fleet in the Aegean to defend Smyrna.
By Fall 1904, a new Russia was in the game. Austria convinced Russia to move into Armenia and help us eliminate Turkey. With fleets in Aegean and Eastern Med, we could finally start attacking the Turkish mainland. In Spring 1905, I took Smyrna. England was falling up in the north as well. In Fall 1905, Constantinople fell, which gave me two more fleet builds. In Spring 1906, I moved to deliver the final blow to Turkey, which would finally put me in a safe and stable spot, after spending the entire game worried about my own future. I started preparing for a westward push, in the direction of France. Austria pointed out how scary Germany was starting to look, and convinced me to move to Tyrolia. We'd been working very well together and I was still under the impression that we needed each other...so I complied. This is what happened in Fall 1906:
Betrayal! I eliminated Turkey, but Austria had taken the opportunity to grab two of my centers, causing a net loss of one for me. I was really quite annoyed at that play, given how well things had been going with Austria...and our friendly, open communication. Being the vindictive dude that I am, I went straight to Germany and declared that I would help destroy Austria and be the German kingmaker. I don't think Austria accounted for the fact that I was more willing to let Germany win than the person that stabbed me.
By Fall 1908, Austria had realized their mistake. Fighting against me and Germany would be the death of them...so they did a complete turnaround and offered to let me have Venice and Greece back so that they could focus on creating a stalemate line with Germany. Had we not been forced into this 2-year war, I might have been able to move on France earlier and the complexion of the game would have been changed...but alas it was not meant to be. It took until Spring 1910 for me to be in a legitimately strong position...I had firmly established Italy as a naval power...but we weren't done yet...Here's the state of the game after Spring 1910:
It was pretty clear that France's days were numbered. There was talk among me, Germany and Austria about a 3-way draw...which given how the game played out, seemed fairly reasonable. I moved away from Austria and intended to take Marseilles, Spain, and Portugal, to finish the game. Fall 1910 I made a cheeky play of grabbing Bulgaria to further strengthen my position. With their attention turned toward Germany, I didn't expect Austria to turn around. I saw it as justified given their stab. It also wouldn't ruin their stalemate line. In Spring 1911, I took Spain with the support of two of my fleets. In Fall 1911, I took Portugal as well...however Germany supported Marseilles to hold. I began to suspect that Germany was looking to solo given how close they were already. Give how cluttered the western oceans were, I built two armies instead of fleets. More fleets wouldn't really strengthen my position. I think this, combined with one of my eastern fleets moving toward the Black Sea, scared Germany and Austria into making a deal. In Spring 1912, Germany moved their fleets westward as I kicked them out of the Mid-Atlantic. Austria completely moved away from their German border...which sent me into a panic. Had they made a deal to keep France alive until I was eliminated...then settle for a 2-way draw? I hadn't realized how my choice of two armies would be interpreted. Fall 1912, Austria grabbed Greece from me again. I began moving my forces into more defensive positions in the hopes of creating a stalemate line...all the while reminding Austria that Germany would absolutely take the opportunity to stab them and solo. I didn't believe Austria could afford to risk leaving their back to Germany.
Still, Germany supported Marseilles to hold, despite kicking their rogue fleet out of St.Petersburgh. Fall 1913, the rogue French fleet moves to Norway...still staying alive. My patience was fraying, and by 1914, I began more aggressively chastising Germany for letting France live...even resorting to public press. I'd come a long way in this game and I did not want to be left on the outside right at the end. I was absolutely convinced that Germany was playing hardball and trying to solo. They had even moved eastward into Prussia and Silesia...and not yielded that territory back to Austria.
Fall 1913:
Finally, in Fall 1914, Germany stopped supporting Marseilles and I took it. By Fall 1915, France was eliminated, and a 3-way draw was accepted between Italy, Germany, and Austria.
On the whole, I think I did pretty well. A solo win wasn't in the cards for my first game, but I'm content with the draw.
your move west almost reopened the solo door for me! Didn't work though 
Phlegmatic was too fast.
