Smid's Diplomacy Game Thread #1

[Smid]

This is the map incorporating the Austrian retreats and the Russian builds:

[minionofmidas]

Are we expected to turn in the next move tomorrow, or next week?

[The Mikado]

Rules question:  If two players both have units dislodged, and their retreat orders are to the same place, what happens?  Do they both need new retreat orders?

[Smid]

Are we expected to turn in the next move tomorrow, or next week?

I'm easy. If everyone has orders in by Friday, I'll resolve the orders then. If even one player hasn't submitted orders by then, I will extend the deadline by a week because I was slow in resolving the last set and I don't think it's going to be fair to process at the end of this week if not everyone's ready.

Rules question:  If two players both have units dislodged, and their retreat orders are to the same place, what happens?  Do they both need new retreat orders?

I'll look into this to make certain I know the correct answer to this, but my understanding (without looking it up in the rules) is that in this instance, both units would be disbanded, in the same manner as if they both had no territory in which to retreat. I've got a PDF of the rulebook here and will look into this today and get back to you.

[muon2]

Rules question:  If two players both have units dislodged, and their retreat orders are to the same place, what happens?  Do they both need new retreat orders?

I'll look into this to make certain I know the correct answer to this, but my understanding (without looking it up in the rules) is that in this instance, both units would be disbanded, in the same manner as if they both had no territory in which to retreat. I've got a PDF of the rulebook here and will look into this today and get back to you.

As I understand the rules, you are correct and both would be disbanded.

[Smid]

Page 17 of the rulebook states:

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Cheers, Muon.

[The Mikado]

Are we expected to turn in the next move tomorrow, or next week?

I'm easy. If everyone has orders in by Friday, I'll resolve the orders then. If even one player hasn't submitted orders by then, I will extend the deadline by a week because I was slow in resolving the last set and I don't think it's going to be fair to process at the end of this week if not everyone's ready.

I assume that this was the situation?  If so, my orders stand.

[Smid]

Are we expected to turn in the next move tomorrow, or next week?

I'm easy. If everyone has orders in by Friday, I'll resolve the orders then. If even one player hasn't submitted orders by then, I will extend the deadline by a week because I was slow in resolving the last set and I don't think it's going to be fair to process at the end of this week if not everyone's ready.

I assume that this was the situation?  If so, my orders stand.

Yep, there were a few people who didn't put in new orders, so I think people needed some more time.

[Erc]

My apologies to those who have been expecting press from me...damn nearly forgot to submit orders this round (been a busy last couple weeks), let alone PM'ing folks.  Will be back on top of things next turn though.

[Smid]

The map showing orders for Fall 1902:



The orders were as follows:

France
A Burgundy - Munich
F Picardy - Belgium
A Ruhr Supports A Burgundy - Munich
A Spain - Portugal

Russia
F Black Sea Holds
A Galicia - Budapest
A Rumania Supports A Galicia - Budapest
F St Petersburg (sc) - Gulf of Bothnia
F Sweden Supports A Norway - Denmark
A Warsaw - Galicia

Italy
F Ionian Sea Holds (*Dislodged*)
A Tyrolia - Trieste
A Venice Supports A Tyrolia - Trieste
F Western Mediterranean - Tunis

Germany
F Denmark - Helgoland Bight
A Kiel - Denmark (*Fails*)
A Munich Holds (*Dislodged*)

Austria
A Bohemia Holds
A Budapest Holds (*Disbanded*)
F Trieste Holds (*Dislodged*)
A Vienna Holds

Turkey
F Aegean Sea Supports F Eastern Mediterranean - Ionian Sea
F Eastern Mediterranean - Ionian Sea
A Greece - Albania
A Serbia Supports A Galicia - Budapest
A Smyrna - Constantinople

England
F Holland - Kiel (*Fails*)
F London - English Channel
F North Sea Convoys A Norway - Denmark
A Norway - Denmark
F Norwegian Sea - North Atlantic Ocean

Leading to a map that appears thus:



The Austrian army in Budapest has been disbanded as it has nowhere to retreat to. The Austrian fleet in Trieste needs to retreat. The German army in Munich needs to retreat. The Italian fleet in the Ionian Sea needs to retreat.

If anyone wants to change their build orders or retreats based on this turn's moves, please PM me within the next 24 hours (I'll update the maps when I get home from work tomorrow afternoon, which is probably actually 25.5 hours or slightly longer given the commute). If I don't hear from you, I'll assume the retreat and build orders already sent to me are the ones you wish to use.

[Smid]

The retreat orders were as follows:

Germany: A Munich - Berlin
Austria: F Trieste - Adriatic
Italy: F Ionian Sea - Greece

This resulted in the following number of builds for each nation:
F: 3 builds
R: 1 build
I: 2 builds
G: Remove 1
A: Remove 2
T: 0 builds
E: 1 build

The nations chose accordingly:



France:
F Brest
A Paris
A Marseilles

Russia:
A Sevastapol

Italy:
F Rome
F Naples

Germany:
Remove F Helgoland Bight

Austria-Hungary:
Remove F Adriatic Sea
Remove A Bohemia

Turkey:
0 builds

England:
F London

The current state of affairs is therefore:

[Erc]

Um...oops.

[Smid]

Um...oops.

When I saw Italy's fleet was dislodged, I wondered whether it was legal for it to retreat to Greece, so I looked up the rules in apprehension of a retreat order.

I guess it's ironic that Italy gained a build and Turkey lost one, solely through Turkey dislodging an Italian fleet.

[Erc]

Um...oops.

When I saw Italy's fleet was dislodged, I wondered whether it was legal for it to retreat to Greece, so I looked up the rules in apprehension of a retreat order.

I guess it's ironic that Italy gained a build and Turkey lost one, solely through Turkey dislodging an Italian fleet.

Yeah, it's perfectly legal, and it's unfortunately something I realized approximately 10 minutes before you posted retreats.

[Smid]

I'm sitting up watching the Western Australian election results trickling in, and noticed that it became Sunday half an hour ago, so I should probably do up the current moves now. I'll post them shortly.

[Smid]

Okay, on the map, the moves are as follows:



France
F Belgium Holds (*Dislodged*)
F Brest - Mid-Atlantic Ocean (*Bounce*)
A Marseilles - Burgundy
A Munich Supports A Ruhr - Kiel
A Paris - Gascony
A Portugal Holds
A Ruhr - Kiel

Russia
F Black Sea - Ankara
A Budapest Supports A Galicia - Vienna
A Galicia - Vienna
F Gulf of Bothnia - Baltic Sea
A Rumania Supports A Trieste - Serbia
A Sevastopol - Armenia
F Sweden Holds

Italy
F Greece - Bulgaria (sc) (*Bounce*) (*Disbanded*)
F Naples - Ionian Sea
F Rome - Tyrrhenian Sea
A Trieste - Serbia
F Tunis Supports F Naples - Ionian Sea
A Venice - Trieste

Germany
A Berlin NMR
A Kiel NMR (*Disbanded*)

Austria-Hungary
A Vienna NMR (*Disbanded*)

Turkey
F Aegean Sea - Greece
A Albania Supports F Aegean Sea - Greece
A Constantinople - Bulgaria (*Bounce*)
F Ionian Sea Holds (*Dislodged*)
A Serbia Supports F Aegean Sea - Greece (*Disbanded*)

England
A Denmark - Kiel (*Fails*)
F English Channel - Belgium
F Holland Supports F English Channel - Belgium
F London - English Channel
F North Atlantic Ocean - Mid-Atlantic Ocean (*Bounce*)
F North Sea Supports F English Channel - Belgium

This results in the following map:



A number of units were dislodged and had nowhere to retreat. These included:

• Austrian army in Vienna,
• Italian fleet in Greece,
• German army in Kiel,
• Turkish army in Serbia.

Indeed, Austria is now the first nation to fall from the game.

The map now appears thus:



Retreats are required for the Turkish fleet in the Ionian and the French fleet in Belgium, although the retreat from Belgium isn't too hard to guess...

[muon2]

Indeed, Austria is now the first nation to fall from the game.

Technically, the Russians could vacate Vienna in the fall and allow Austria to rebuild.
It does show the need for the Central Powers to make good alliances early and couple them with strong moves. In comparison, France was able to survive an early civil disorder and still come out well at this point.

[Smid]

Indeed, Austria is now the first nation to fall from the game.

Technically, the Russians could vacate Vienna in the fall and allow Austria to rebuild.
It does show the need for the Central Powers to make good alliances early and couple them with strong moves. In comparison, France was able to survive an early civil disorder and still come out well at this point.

I thought about that - or if other armies were nearby, then they could support the Austrian army to charge back in. I think Realpolitik disbands if a unit is dislodged with NMR. If Xahar advises he wants the army to retreat, I'll put it back on.

[The Mikado]

Retreats are required for the Italian fleet in the Ionian and the French fleet in Belgium, although the retreat from Belgium isn't too hard to guess...

Surely you mean retreat orders for the Turkish fleet in the Ionian.

[Smid]

Retreats are required for the Italian fleet in the Ionian and the French fleet in Belgium, although the retreat from Belgium isn't too hard to guess...

Surely you mean retreat orders for the Turkish fleet in the Ionian.

Sorry, yes, corrected. I PM'd Erc earlier to chase that up - he provided a provisional retreat that I'll use if he doesn't come back with an alternate order, but I thought it best to check.

[Smid]

I have received retreat orders.

Firstly, Xahar advised me that his NMR was accidental, so his army shall retreat to Bohemia.
Secondly, Jas advises that his French fleet will retreat from Belgium to Picardy, which is unsurprising as it's the only place it can go.
Thirdly, Erc advises that his Turkish fleet in the Ionian will retreat to the Adriatic.

The map therefore appears thus:

[minionofmidas]

Isn't sunday going to be over in a couple of hours in Australia? How many hours is the difference to Europe again, 9? 10?

It's just that I was hoping to be able to check the map this morning.

[Gustaf]

Isn't sunday going to be over in a couple of hours in Australia? How many hours is the difference to Europe again, 9? 10?

It's just that I was hoping to be able to check the map this morning.

Me too. I'm not sure which Australian time zone Smid is in though. But it has to be Sunday evening there now...

[Smid]

Isn't sunday going to be over in a couple of hours in Australia? How many hours is the difference to Europe again, 9? 10?

It's just that I was hoping to be able to check the map this morning.

Sorry, I'll have it up in a few more minutes.

[Smid]

Map first - here are the moves as resolved.