The Portly Pasha Moustasha

I recently entered this portentous fellow in the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge as an entry for the Bonus Theme Round entitled "East".

A chap in a fez seems exotic enough to qualify as "East", to my mind, and I was relived that the estimable Sidney Roundwood agreed: " Nothing quite screams "EAST" to me quite like a capaciously large Pasha, a pair of Turkish slippers, a plate of delicious Baklava and an illicitly filled pipe of hashish. By the look of this chap, he's competing to fulfil all four of those..."

Exactly.   This sculpt is by Bob Murch of Pulp Figures, and was created by Bob as this year's Movember entry.  As Bob's many fans know, he has sculpted several figures for this charity aimed at fighting illnesses experienced by men, and if you send Bob your Movember tax receipt for your donation, he will send you the figure, charging only for postage.

Perhaps the Pasha was a veteran of Gallipoli, and now, as a senior Turkish politician or general, has returned for a ceremony, where he will doubtless give a fiery speech.

Another Turkish leader was Jon Freitag, proprietor of the Palouse Wargaming Journal, who played Turkey in my play-by-blog Diplomacy game in 2016, and who won quite handily.    As followers of this blog may recall, the game ended in 1907 when the German player conceded the victory to Turkey.  Jon, this figure will be going out to you by post next week, as promised long ago, to honour your achievement.  Well done.

There is still a prize still owing, to Ben (Johnny Rosbif) Gilmour who played Italy with brio and panache and won my very subjective prize for best diplomacy and role-playing.   Ben, I have decided on your figure and will start painting it this weekend.

With all that is going on at home, I don't see another online game of Diplomacy in the near future, but perhaps in the latter part of 2017 or early 2018.  

Blessings to your brushes!

MP

15mm: Vehicles: 3

28mm:  Foot Figures: 32;  Mounted Figures: 2

Diplomacy Game 2016 - It's Over

Our Diplomacy game ended tonight with the German player conceding to the Turkish player, citing the uncertain path of a German win and the desire not to prolong the game.   I thank the German player for this gracious decision, sorry as I am to see the game end.

Here are the final positions:

 

And here are the final standings:

 

1st place:  Turkey     15 SCs

2nd place: Germany   13 SCs

3rd place:  Italy    3 SCs

4th place:  Austria  2 SCs

5th place:  England    1 SC

 

The finishing players were:

 

Turkey:  The USA’s Jonathan Freitag  (https://palousewargamingjournal.blogspot.ca)

Germany:  The UK’s Edwin King (https://diplomatist2.blogspot.ca)

Italy:  Australia’s Ben Gilmour (http://rosbiffrog.blogspot.ca)

Austria:  Canada’s Patrick Gilliland (http://irregularwarbandfast.blogspot.ca)

England:  Australia’s Mark Haughey (http://onesidedminiaturewargamingdiscourse.blogspot.ca)

 

Jonathan and Ben were new players in my online Dip games.    Edwin, Pat and Mark all played in the online Dip game I ran in 2014.   Mark kindly stepped into this game to replace the England player who dropped out.

 

So congratulations all.   I certainly enjoyed reading the diplomacy as it went back and forth, and as always I had the best seat in the house to watch the intrigue and maneuvers.  

 

I promised two painted miniatures, one to the top player and one to the best role player.

 

First choice is quite easy.  Jonathan managed a very convincing win, and I think could have dominated even against a German-Austrian alliance.   

 

Second choice is more difficult, as Jonathan’s Ankara What was a very convincing propaganda organ of the new Ottoman Empire, and showed lots of work, but the prize for best roleplaying goes Ben Gilmour.  Italy had several propaganda broadsheets of its own, and Ben’s diplomatic messages were always full of Italian brio and showed a consistent sense of humour.

 

Gentlemen, I shall give some thought to your prizes.   

 

Well done all and thank you for playing.    I may do this again in a year or two.

 

Best,

 

Michael

Diplomacy Game: Fall 1907 Results

Hello again Diplomacy fans.   Our 2016 game is now at an exciting end phase as the two superpowers, Turkey and Germany, grapple for dominance.   Startling amid the Falll 1907 moves was Turkley’s patronage of the sole surviving English unit to drive the German army out of Brest, keeping England in the game.

Germany’s Austrian ally is now an army in exile, as all of its supply centres have been overrun by Turkey.   Italy struggles to survive, keeping its toehold in the south of France but losing Spain and Tunis to its sometime protector and sometime predator, Turkey

Fall 1907 Moves:

Results for Fall, 1907 (Movement)

    

    

General Notices:

    

    

Order resolution completed on 24-Jun-2016 at 22:01:04 EDT

    

    

Order Results:

    

    

Austria:

A gal - ukr

A ven Holds

A war Holds

      

England:

 

 F eng -> bre

      

 Germany:

 

No order for unit at Burgundy. Hold order assigned.

 

A bel - pic;  A ber - sil; 

A bre Holds Dislodged from eng (2 against 1). 

A bur Holds;  F den - nth; A edi - lvp;  A hol - bel; A lon Holds

F  nwg - nao; A pie - mar Bounced with spa (1 against 1). 

A pru Supports A war; F stp/sc Holds; F swe - bal; A tyr Supports A ven

      

    

Italy:

F lyo Supports A spa - mar;  F rom - nap

A spa - mar;  A tus - pie

Failed because Germany: A pie - mar failed. 

        

Turkey:

F aeg -  ion; A bul - ser; A con -bul

F mao Supports F eng - bre; A mos -war Bounced with war (1 against 2). 

A rum Supports A ser - bud; A ser - bud

F tri Supports A tus - ven

Support failed. Supported unit's order does not match support 

 given. 

 F tys -tun; A vie Supports F tri; F  wes - spa/sc

 And the results.   In the retreat phase, the German army driven out of Brest opts to retreat to the fleshpots of Paris.

And here are the results.  Germany, Italy and Austria all have to remove a unit, while Turkey gains another three, thus vaulting into first place with 15 Supply Centres to Germany’s 13.   Still a horse race, but the Kaiser must be feeling the pressure now.

Results for Fall, 1907 (Retreat)


General Notices:


Order resolution completed on 29-Jun-2016 at 19:46:54 EDT


Order Results:


Austria:
Supply centers were lost. Units that must be removed: 1.


England:

Germany:
Supply centers were lost. Units that must be removed: 1.
Germany: A bre -> par

Italy:
Supply centers were lost. Units that must be removed: 1.

Turkey:
Supply centers were gained. Units that may be built: 3.


Supply Center Ownership:
Austria: Venice, Warsaw (2 total).
\England: Brest (1 total)
.France: None.
Germany: Belgium, Berlin,  Denmark, Edinburgh, Holland, Kiel, Liverpool, London, Munich, Norway, 
Paris, St. Petersburg, Sweden (13 total)
.Italy: Marseilles, Naples, Rome (3 total).
Russia: None.
Turkey: Ankara, Budapest, Bulgaria, Constantinople, Greece, Moscow, Portugal, 
Rumania, Serbia, Sevastopol, Smyrna, Spain, Trieste, Tunis, Vienna (15 total).

Adjustments:

Austria: 2 supply centers, 3 units. 1 unit must be removed.
England: 1 supply center is, 1 unit. No units to build or remove.
France:  No supply centers are, No units. No units to build or remove.
Germany:  13 supply centers, 14 units. 1 unit must be removed
Italy: 3 supply centers, 4 units. 1 unit must be removed.
Russia: No supply centers are, No units. No units to build or remove.
Turkey: 15 supply centers, 11 units. 3 units may be built. 

 

Diplomacy Game Update: Fall 1906 Turn Complete

The Fall Turn of 1906, the twelfth turn of our PBB Diplomacy Game, saw the knives come out as Turkey deftly carved its erstwhile ally, Austria, in half.   While Austria’s new alliance with Germany became apparent on the Warsaw front, the rest of Austria’s forces, committed to Italy, were out of position and unable to prevent Budapest and Trieste from falling.   How much of Austria survives the coming year remains to be seen.

Italy gained a reprieve as it celebrates its new status as a Turkish client state. The ghostly remnant of the Royal Navy haunts the North Sea, now a German lake, but the Turkish seizure of Portugal reduces England to one SC and one unit in the coming turn.

The score at present sees Germany leading with 14 of the 18 Supply Centres required to win,  However, Turkey is close behind with 12, and the endgame looks like a tight race between the two super powers with their respective vassals, who may be used either as battlefield enablers or as protein shakes depending on when their masters need to bulk up.

 

Fall 1906 Moves

Results for Fall, 1906 (Movement)


General Notices:


No retreating units; retreat phase skipped.Order resolution
completed on 30-May-2016 at 16:46:32 EDT


Order Results:


Austria:

Supply centers were lost. Units that must be removed: 3.


Austria: F apu Supports A pie -ven; Austria: A pie - ven Failed because Austria: A ven -> tyr failed. 

Austria: A tyr - tri Bounced with adr (1 against 1). 

Austria: A ven - try  Failed because Austria: A try - tri failed. 

Austria: A vie - bud Bounced with gal (1 against 1). 

Austria: A war Holds



England:

Supply centers were lost. Units that must be removed: 1.


England: F bre Holds; F nwg - nth



Germany:

Supply centers were gained. Units that may be built: 3.


No order for unit at London. Hold order assigned.

Germany:
F bal - swe;  A bur - par;  F fin Supports F bot - stp/sc; F bot - stp/sc

A lvp - edi; A lon Holds; A mar Holds; A mun - bur; A pic Supports A bur - par

A pru Supports A war; F stp/nc - bar



Italy:

A gas - spaI; F rom - nap;  F tun - wes; A tus -rom

Turkey:

Supply centers were gained. Units that may be built: 3.

F adr - tri; A alb Supports F adr -tri;
A gal - bud;  F ion Supports F nap - tys;  

A mos -war Bounced with war (1 against 2).

 F nap - tyr; A ser Supports A gal -  bud; F spa/sc - por

 Influence at the end of the F1906 turn.

 

Supply Center Ownership:

Austria: Venice, Vienna, Warsaw (3 total).

England: Brest (1 total).

Germany: Belgium, Berlin, Denmark, Edinburgh, Holland, Kiel, Liverpool, London, Marseilles, Munich, Norway, Paris, St. Petersburg, Sweden (14 total).

Italy: Naples, Rome, Spain, Tunis (4 total).

Turkey: Ankara, Budapest, Bulgaria, Constantinople, Greece, Moscow, Portugal, Rumania, Serbia, Sevastopol, Smyrna, Trieste (12 total).

Adjustments:


Austria: 3 supply centers, 6 units. 3 units must be removed.

England: 1 supply center is, 2 units. 1 unit must be removed.

France: No supply centers are, No units. No units to build or remove.

Germany: 14 supply centers, 11 units. 3 units may be built.

Italy: 4 supply centers, 4 units. No units to build or remove.

Russia: No supply centers are, No units. No units to build or remove.

Turkey: 12 supply centers, 8 units. 3 units may be built. 

 

Builds and adjustments for the end of 1906.  Germany builds three armies, Turkey hedges its bets between land and sea, while Austria’s military is cut in half.  With the fall of Portugal, the British fleet in Brest scuttles itself, and rumour has it that the last ships in the North Sea, loaded with the Crown Jewels, may make a run for Canada. 

g

Diplomacy Game Update: S1906 Results

The Diplomacy game hosted here and played by email had taken some decisive turns.   To bring you up to date, here are the builds and adjustments at the end of the 1905 turns.   With France’s last supply centre conquered, the French fleet in Englsh Channel that was a bane to the English player for so long disbands, and France is officially out of play.   Otherwise, Germany builds F Kiel and A Berlin and Austria builds A Trieste.    Germany is in the lead at this point with 11 SCs.

A map showing the influence of the remaining powers.   St. Petersburg is still white because Russia is in Civil Disorder and in F1905 the Turkish A Moscow supported Rus A StP, this denying it to the German player.  We shall see how long that lasts but it is clear that the two most powerful players are now throwing down.

Situation at the start of the S1906 Turn.

 

Spring 1906 moves.

Order Results:

Carnage in Italy!   Italian and Austrian armies are eliminated in heavy fighting up and down the Italian boot.   
In other notable events, Russia is eliminated from play.   The rules for countries in Civil Disorder specify that any unit which if forced to retreat is disbanded, so the Rus A StP is disbanded as StP falls to the Germans.
German troops are now sunning themselves on the Med, and Turkish forces may cause some consternation in Vienna.  

Austria:

The Army in Rome cannot retreat; unit destroyed.

F apu Supports A alb - nap
 Support failed. Supported unit's order does not match support given. 

A rom Holds  Dislodged from tys (2 against 1). 

A tri - vie;  A tyr - pie; A ven Supports A tyr - pie; A vie - tyr; A war 
       Holds

England: F bre Holds; F nao -nwg

Germany:
No order for unit at Prussia. Hold order assigned.
F bar - stp/nc; A ber - mun; A bur - mar
F fin Supports F bar - stp; F bot Supports F bar - stp;
F kie - bal; A lon Holds; A mun - bur;
 A pic Holds; A pru Holds; A wal - lvp

Italy:
The Army in Piedmont cannot retreat; unit destroyed.
A par - gas; A pie - ven Bounced with ven (1 against 1). Dislodged from tyr (2 
         against 1). 

F tun HoldsI; A tus Supports F tys - romI
F tys - rom

Russia:
No order for unit at St. Petersburg. Hold order assigned.Russia: 
A stp Holds
Dislodged from bar (3 against 2). 

Turkey:

F adr Supports F aeg - ion; F aeg - ion
A alb Supports A gre - ser; A gre - ser
F ion -  nap; A mos Supports A stp; A ukr -gal
F wes - spa/sc



Results for Spring, 1906 (Retreat)

General Notices:

Order resolution completed on 22-May-2016 at 19:52:50 EDT
Order Results:
Austria:

England:

Germany:

Italy:

Russia: A stp Disbands

Turkey:

And finally, the situation at the start of the F1906 turn.  Will Austria turn to its natural protector, Germany, before it is dismembered by the Turkish scimitar?   Will that courageous English Fleet in the Norwegian Sea avenge the fall of London?   Has Turkey overreached?  Will Italy survive?   Where in the world is Miss Amelia Roosevelt?  Stay turned, Diplomacy fans.

Diplomacy Game: Fall 1905 Moves are Complete, and a New Daily Dissembler!

Here are the moves for the F1905 turn of the Diplomacy game I am conducting.  We are down to five players:  England, Italy, Germany, Austria and Turkey.  

For fans of the Daily Dissembler, the latest edition is now available here.   It includes the latest adventures of Miss Amelia Roosevelt, on the trail of the missing journalist Harrngton, as well as other boring stuff like the fall of London. Also, the latest issue of the Ankara What, courtesy of the Turkish player, is available here.  My apologies for not posting it earlier.

Moves:

General Notices:
 Order resolution completed on 11-May-2016 at 17:43:56 EDT
    
  Order Results:
    
Austria: F apu - nap Bounced with ion (1 against 1).  A gal -vieA;  A tri - ven; A tyr  Holds]

A ven - rom; A war Holds

      
 England:

The Army in London cannot retreat; unit destroyed.
No order for unit at London. Hold order assigned.England: 
 F bre - pic Bounced with pic (1 against 1).   A lon Hollds.  Dislodged from yor (2 against 1).  F mao - nao

France:

No order for unit at English Channel. Hold order assigned.
      
    
 Germany:

F bal - bot; F bar - stp/nc Bounced with stp (2 against 2). 

 F fin Supports F bar - stp; A mun Holds;  A pic Supports A ruh - bur Support cut by Move from Brest. 

A ruh - bur; A sil - pru; A wal Supports A yor -  lon;  A yor - lon
      
Italy:

F ion - nap Bounced with apu (1 against 1). Dislodged from was  (3 against 1). 

 A mar - pieI; A par - bee Failed because England: F bee - pic failed. 

A tun -  tus Convoy path taken: tun- tys- tus.   F tys Convoys A tun - tus

      
Russia:

No order for unit at St. Petersburg. Hold order assigned.Russia:   A stp Holds
      
    
Turkey:

F adr Supports F eas - ion; F aeg Supports F was -  ion; A bul - gre;  F eas -  ion;
A gre - alb; A mos Supports A stp;  A sev - ukr
 F wes -  tis Bounced with tys (1 against 1). 

 

Results for Fall, 1905 (Retreat)
General Notices:
Order resolution completed on 11-May-2016 at 17:46:04 EDT
    
Order Results:
    
Austria: Supply centers were gained. Units that may be built: 1.

England:

France: Supply centers were lost. Units that must be removed: 1.

Germany: Supply centers were gained. Units that may be built: 2.

Italy:  F ion - tun

Russia:

Turkey:

Supply Center Ownership:

Austria: Budapest, Rome, Serbia, Trieste, Venice, Vienna, Warsaw (7 total).

England: Brest, Portugal (2 total).

France: None.

Germany: Belgium, Berlin, Denmark, Edinburgh, Holland, Kiel, Liverpool, London, Munich, Norway, Sweden (11 total).

Italy: Marseilles, Naples, Paris, Spain, Tunis (5 total).

Russia: St. Petersburg (1 total).

Turkey: Ankara, Bulgaria,  Constantinople, Greece, Moscow, Rumania, Sevastopol, Smyrna (8 total).
    
Adjustments:
 Austria: 7 supply centers, 6 units. 1 unit may be built.

England:  2 supply centers, 2 units. No units to build or remove.

France: No supply centers are, 1 unit. 1 unit must be removed.

Germany: 11 supply centers, 9 units. 2 units may be built.I

Italy: 5 supply centers, 5 units. No units to build or remove.

Russia: 1 supply center is, 1 unit. No units to build or remove.

Turkey:  8 supply centers, 8 units. No units to build or remove.

 

 

Diplomacy Game: S1905 Turn Results

Spring 1905 was a time of frustration for some of the contestants, as collisions and stalemates frustrated their plans.  

Most notable was a collision of Austrian and Turkish armies in Livonia,   As far as we can tell, this was an accident between two allies, but by the time this friendly fire incident at a corps level was diffused, neither side owned Livonia and the way appeared clear for Germany to claim St. Petersburg in the fall.

German and Italian armies clashed in Burgundy in their race to retrieve the spoils of France.   While Italy claimed the city of light, this clash with the German colossus comes at a terrible time for embattled Italy.   Even though Italian warships pushed back the Turkish navy and the legions of Rome marched back into Tunis, the entry of the Austrian army into Venice threatens to undo the triumphs of the Resurgimento and of Garibaldi.   In her hour of peril, Italy can scarce afford to alienate Germany.

Meanwhile, in a sad and pointless battle, the British fleet was bottled up in Brest by a zombie French fleet in the English Channel, all that remains of France’s martial glory.  France is now in civil disorder and there are now only five active players:  England, Germany, Italy, Turkey and Austria.

Moves and mao follow:

Results for Spring, 1905 (Movement)
    
 General Notices:
    
Order resolution completed on 01-May-2016 at 13:10:42 EDT
    
Order Results:
    
Austria: F adr - apu; A bud - tri;  A gal - war Failed because Austria: A war - lvn failed. 

] A tri - ven; A vie - tyr;  A war - lvn  Bounced with mos (1 against 1). 

England: F bre - eng Bounced with eng (1 against 1). 

 A lon Holds;  F por - mao
      
France:

No order for unit at English Channel. Hold order assigned.
 F eng Holds
      
Germany:

No order for unit at Silesia. Hold order assigned.

 A bel - pic; F ber - bal; A edi - yor;
 A kie - ruh; A lvp - wal; \

A mun -bu  Bounced with mar (1 against 1). 

F nwy - bar; A sil Holds;  F swe - fin
      
Italy:

A gas - parI; A mar -bur Bounced with mun (1 against 1). 

 F nap - ion;  A naf - tun; F tys  Supports F nap - ion
      
Russia:

 No order for unit at St. Petersburg. Hold order assigned.Russia: 
        A stp Holds
      
 Turkey:

A bul - gre; F con - aeg; F ion - tys Bounced with tys (1 against 1). Dislodged from nap (2  against 1). 

A mos - lvm Bounced with war (1 against 1). 

A rum - bul; A sev - mos Failed because Turkey: A mos -  lvn failed. 

F smy - was; F tun - wes     

The Turkish player chose to retreat his fleet from the Ionian Sea to the Adriatic.  The map below shows the dispositions at the start of the F1905 turn.

MP

Diplomacy Game Update: 1904 Build/Adjustment Phase Results

Here are the results of the 1904 Adjustments Phase for all you Diplomacy fans out there.  At the end of eight turns. Germany leads the game with 10 Supply Centres, while Turkey follows with 8, Austria with 6 and Italy with 5.

 

A new English player has replaced the original player, and Russia is now declared in Civil Unrest as the Russian player has dropped out.

 

Results for Fall, 1904 (Adjustment)

General Notices:
    
 Order resolution completed on 25-Apr-2016 at 14:08:39 EDT
    
Order Results:
    
Austria: Builds A tri

England:

France: Removes A bur France: Removes F mao

Germany: Builds F ber Germany: Builds A kie

Italy:

Russia: Removes F cly Russia: Removes A lvn Russia: Removes A ukr

Turkey: Builds F smy

Supply Center Ownership:

 Austria: Budapest, Greece, Serbia, Trieste, Vienna, Warsaw (6 total).

England: Brest, London, Portugal (3 total).

France:  Paris (1 total).

Germany: Belgium, Berlin, Denmark, Edinburgh, Holland, Kiel, Liverpool, Munich, Norway, Sweden (10 total)

.Italy: Marseilles, Naples, Rome, Spain, Venice (5 total).

Russia: St. Petersburg (1 total).

Turkey: Ankara, Bulgaria,  Constantinople, Moscow, Rumania, Sevastopol, Smyrna, Tunis (8 total).

Here are the results.   Russia’s last unit is an Army in St. Petersburg, and France’s last unit is a Fleet in the English Channel.   England holds grimly on to London, while the Royal Navy holds the Mid Atlantic coasts.

Will the war between Turkey and Italy heat up after Turkey’s capture of Tunisia?  Will German and Austria escalate their war over Silesia and Bohemia?   Find out more next weekend when the Spring 1905 orders are due!

 

On Newstands Now! The Daily Dissembler, Fall 1904 Edition

Your latest copy of the Daily Dissembler, containing essential news of a fictitious Europe in flames, may be found here.  Followers of the game will note that we have a replacement English player, hence the cover story.

Thanks to the Turkish and Italian players for content, and to the inestimable Ion Dowman for his play by play analysis as Sir Erasmus Blatt.

The online DD contains a somewhat imprecise rendering of the Turkish player's journalistic efforts, the Ankara What.   Readers may find their own Turkish delight in a clearer view of that fine journal, here.

PBB Diplomacy Game Update: Fall 1904 Turn Results

Hello Diplomacy fans (all three of you).

It took a little time, but the results of the Fall 1904 turn are in and were sent out to the players some days ago.  Now it can be told to you, too.

 

This last turn was disappointing in that three players (France, England and Russia) missed the orders deadline and failed to submit moves.  Turkey, Germany and Austria profited thereby, while Italy held her own.

 

Here are the orders, as shown in the colourful and action-filled map below:

Results for Fall, 1904 (Movement)
   
Order resolution completed on 15-Apr-2016 at 20:23:54 EDT
Order Results:
   
Austria:

F alb - adr; A bud Supports A gal A gal Supports A war
A vie -  tyr  Bounced with mun (1 against 1).
A war Supports A mos
     
England:
No order for unit at Brest. Hold order assigned.
No order for unit at London. Hold order assigned.
No order for unit at Portugal. Hold order assigned.

France:
No order for unit at Burgundy. Hold order assigned.
No order for unit at English Channel. Hold order assigned.
No order for unit at Mid-Atlantic Ocean. Hold order assigned.

Germany:
A ber - sil;  F den - swe;
A lvp Supports A yor - edi; A mun -  tyr Bounced with vie (1 against 1).
F nth - nwy; A ruh - bel; A yor - edi
     
Italy:
F lyo - tys; A mar Supports A spa - gas
F nap Supports F lyo - tys; A spa - gas
A tun Holds - Dislodged from tys (2 against 1).
       
Russia:
No order for unit at Clyde. Hold order assigned.
No order for unit at Livonia. Hold order assigned.
No order for unit at St. Petersburg. Hold order assigned.
No order for unit at Ukraine. Hold order assigned.
   
Turkey:
 F bla - con; A bul Holds;  F ion Supports F tys - tun
A mos Supports A war; A rum - ukr Bounced with ukr (1 against 1).
A sev Supports A mos; F tys - tun
      

 

 

 

 
Results for Fall, 1904 (Retreat)
General Notices:
Order resolution completed on 15-Apr-2016 at 20:26:53 EDT
   
Order Results:
   
Austria:

Supply centers were gained. Units that may be built: 1.
     
England:
France: Supply centers were lost. Units that must be removed: 2.
     
Germany: Supply centers were gained. Units that may be built: 3.
      Russia: Supply centers were lost. Units that must be removed: 3.
     
Turkey: Supply centers were gained. Units that may be built: 1.
     
Italy: A tun - naf   (Italian Army Tun has no other retreat route than NAF)

 

 

England has missed two turns now and the player is thus removed from the game.  England is declared to be in a state of Civil Disorder as per page 18 of the official rules.  If anyone would like to take over as the English player, pray send an email to madpadre (at) gmail (dot) com.   While Germany occupies two of England's three Supply Centers, England still has skin in the game.  France and Russia however are in dire straits.

 

The deadline for all players to get their builds and removals to me is no later than this Sunday at 23:00 EST.  Before then, watch for another issue of the Daily Dissembler.

 

 

Diplomacy Game Update and Tuesday Night Wargame

Two-part post tonight.  

The first part gives an update on the PBB Diplomacy game which now begins Turn 8 (F 1904). 

The three retreats from the S1904 Orders Resolution are as follows:

England:  F MAO to BRE
Russia: A WAR - LIV
France: A MAR - BUR 

The deadline for the F1904 Orders is Wednesday, April 13, at 23:00hrs EST.  Things to watch:

Russia is down but not out, and could retake Moscow unless the Austro-Turkish alliance holds firm.

Germany is poised to take London and give England the coup de grace.

Italy is prevented from really exploiting the advantage of a weakened France, as it has to much of its forces guarding against the Turkish expansion.  What will the Sultan do?

Second, and reviving an occasional Mad Padre Wargames practice, it’s Tuesday and that means a Tuesday boardgame.  Here’s the map of a micro-game designed by Paul Koenig from his D-Day series of operational level games on the first few days of D-Day, published by Victory Point Games.  Paul had two other games in this series, one on the British beaches and the other on the American landings.   I bought this copy and another PK game, on Operation Veritable, when VPG discontinued many of its small games.  This game, Juno: The Canadian Beach, is a one-map game, maybe 50 counters, pitting the Canadian 3rd Division against the German 716th Regiment, from June 6-8.  The Canadians have to get off their four beaches, capture the four villages near the coast and the town of Douvres, while exiting as many units as possible off the far edge of the map.  

There’s not a lot of chrome here.  PK describes himself as a war games designer in the mould of Jim Dunnigan, with a Keep It Simple philosophy. I like PK as a designer, because he has a flair for neat and elegant game mechanics.  Juno has a simple combat mechanic, but with three different ways of attacking, it offers a lot of options for clever playing.  The chit-pull activation system is ideal for solitaire play, and it’s small size means that I can set it up in a quiet corner of my workplace and spend 20-30 minutes a day on my lunch break  pondering my strategy. 

Situation at the end of 6 June.  The Canadians have gotten off their beaches and captured Courcelles, but have a ways to go as German defence firms up in the bocage.   Each unit is a battalion, and parent units are brigades (Canadian) and regiments (German).  The round counters under the unit counters indicate hit markers.  A unit can take one hit and is still fully effective, and two hits and be partially effective, but three hits removes a unit from the map.  

Most of the comments I’ve seen on BGG suggest that the Canadians have a tough haul to get a win in this game.  I’ll keep you posted.

Blessings to your die rolls!

MP+

 

Diplomacy Game: Spring 1904 Results Are In

Results for the Spring 1904 Turn (Turn 7) of our PBB Diplomacy Game are now in.

Austrian and Turkish troops movements indicate a high degree of trust between the two powers, while Italy appears to be taking a prudent stance as the Turks move into the neighbourhood.   Russia’s fortunes continue to ebb, and more German troops arrive in a quiescent England.  France continues to fight on, though once again Marseilles changes hands.

The Daily Dissembler is tracking all this mayhem. and there are rumours that Miss Amelia Roosevelt has taken the Orient Express to seek an audience with the Sultan.

 

Results for Spring, 1904 (Movement)
    
General Notices:
    
Order resolution completed on 01-Apr-2016 at 16:34:29 EDT
    
Order Results:
    
 Austria:

 A gal Supports A sil - war;  F gre - alb; A ser - bud; A sil - war; A vie Holds
      
England:

No order for unit at London. Hold order assigned.

No order for unit at Mid-Atlantic Ocean. Hold order assigned.

No order for unit at Portugal. Hold order assigned.

A  lon Holds; 

 F mao Holds  Dislodged from wes (2 against 1). 

 England: F por Holds
      
France:

 F eng Supports F wes -mao; 

A mar - gas Bounced with spa (1 against 1). Dislodged from pie (2 against 1). 

F wes - mao
      
 Germany:

A ber Holds; A edi - lvp; F hel - den; A hol - yor

Convoy path taken: hop - nth - yor. 
A kie - ruh;  A mun Holds;  F nth  Convoys A hol - yor
      
Italy:

F lyo Supports A pie - mar; A pie - mar; 

A spa - gas Bounced with mar (1 against 1). 

A tun HoldsI; F tys - nap
      
    
 Russia:

F nwg - cly; A stp Supports A ukr - mos;
 A ukr - mos; Bounced with mos (2 against 2). 

A war - gal Bounced with gal (1 against 1). Dislodged from sil (2 against 1). 

        
Turkey:

F aeg - ion; A bul - rum; A con - bul; F ion - tys;  

A mos Supports A sil - war Support cut by Move from Ukraine. 

 F rum -  bla; A sev Supports A mos
      

We are now in the Retreats Phase.  The following units must retreat:

English F MAO must retreat.  Possible retreats: NAO, IRI, BRE, NAF (still waiting to hear where the English will retreat to)

French A MAR must retreat.  Possible retreats:  BUR  (French retreat to BUR)

Russian A WAR must retreat.  Possible retreats:  PRU, LIV (Russians retreat to LIV)

Your Latest Daily Dissembler, Your Guide to a Quaint and Distant World in Flames

The latest edition of the Daily Dissembler, your guide to Europe in flames, is now available for discerning readers everywhere.  (For those not in the know, this is the latest newsletter from our ongoing play by blog Diplomacy Game. This issue includes creative and much appreciated copy by the Turkish and German players.

 

In this issue (link here) you will find:

Miss Amelia Roosevelt, America’s Girl Reporter, describes her exclusive meeting with the Kaiser.

Sir Erasmus Blatt’s perspicacious analysis of the European situation.

An eye-witness account of the Fall of Moscow!

Also, as an extra feature, we provide the latest English language news from Turkey, a Rising Power.   While the issue is included in the Dissembler, you can find a crisper imprint of the Ankara What here.

 

Diplomacy Game: 1903 Build Phase Complete

Our online Diplomacy game has now finished six complete turns and we have now completed the Adjustments Phase.

Austria, England, and Italy neither had to remove or got to build units.

Two countries had to disband units because they have insufficient Supply Centres.  France removed A Bur and Russia removed F Nwy.

Two countries gained Supply Centres and got to build units.   Germany built A Ber and A Kie.  Turkey built A Con.

Here is the leaderboard:

Turkey: Ankara, Bulgaria, Constantinople, Moscow, Rumania, Sevastopol, Smyrna (7 total).

Germany: Belgium, Berlin, Denmark, Edinburgh, Holland, Kiel, Munich (7 total).

Italy: Naples, Rome, Spain, Tunis, Venice (5 total).

Austria: Budapest, Greece, Serbia, Trieste, Vienna (5 total).

Russia: Norway,  St. Petersburg, Sweden, Warsaw (4 total).

England: Liverpool, London, Portugal (3 total).

France: Brest, Marseilles, Paris (3 total).

    

Here are the dispositions at the start of Turn 7, S1904.

 

The deadline for orders for this turn is 31 March, though that date may move up if everyone gets their orders to me before then.   Watch for an issue of the Daily Dissembler to hit new stands in the next day or so.

Blessings to your intrigues.

Diplomacy Game: Fall 1903 Results

Here are the results for the Fall 1903 turn.   I received orders from all players except for the French player.

Results for Fall, 1903 (Movement)

General Notices:

Order resolution completed on 18-Mar-2016 at 05:42:28 EDT

Order Results:

Austria:

F alb - gre; A boh - vie; A bud - gal; A gre - ser;

A sil - war  Bounced with war (1 against 1). 

England:

 F iri - mao; A lon Holds; F mao - por

France:

No order for unit at Burgundy. Hold order assigned.

No order for unit at English Channel. Hold order assigned.

No order for unit at Marseilles. Hold order assigned.

No order for unit at Spain. Hold order assigned.

A bur Holds; F eng Holds; A mar Holds;

F spa/sc Holds Dislodged from gas (2 against 1). 

Germany:

 F hel Convoys A kie -edi; A hol Holds

A kie - edi Convoy path taken: kie-hel-nth-edi. 

A mun Holds;  F nth Convoys A kie - edi

Italy:

A gas - spaI; F lyo Supports A gas - spa

A pie - mar Bounced with mar (1 against 1). 

A tun Holds;  F tys Holds

Russia:

 F bar - nwg; A gal - ukr

A mos - sev  Bounced with sev (1 against 1). Dislodged from ukr (2 against 1). 

F nwy Supports F bar - nwg;

A war Supports A gal - ukr Support cut by Move from Silesia. 

A Mos can retreat to Liv, StP

Turkey:

F aeg Supports F eas -ion;  F bla -rum A bul Supports F bla - rum; F eas - ion

A sev Supports A ukr - mos; A ukr -mos

Results:

Retreat Phase 1903

French fleet Spain SC only has one retreat option, to the West Med.  

Russian A Mos has two retreat options, either to Liv or to St. P.   I am waiting on the Russian player to decide where to retreat to before announcing the Fall 1903  builds.

Diplomacy Game: Spring 1903 Turn Concluded

Spring 1903 moves were a hot mess.  France recaptures Marseilles thanks to a surprise lunge by the Italian army into the heart of la Republique.   Germany regains Holland and destroys the English fleet there, while withdrawing from Austria.   A surprise move by the Russians into Galicia opens the Ukraine to a Turkish army, which must have shocked the Turkish General Staff.   All eyes are on Germany to see where she will commit herself.

Results for Spring, 1903 (Movement)
    
 General Notices:
All dislodged units destroyed; advancing to next phase.Order 
resolution completed on 08-Mar-2016 at 20:01:06 EST
    
Order Results:
    
Austria:

No order for unit at Greece. Hold order assigned.Austria: 

 A bud - gal Bounced with ukr (1 against 1). 

A gal -sil; A gre Hold;  F tri -alb; A vie - boh
      
 England:

The Fleet in Holland cannot retreat; unit destroyed.
England: F hol - nth Bounced with nth (1 against 1). Dislodged from bel (2 against 1).

F iri Supports F nao - mao; A lon Holds;  F não - mao

 

France:

 A bur Supports A spa -mar;  F eng - mao  Bounced with nao (1 against 1). 

 F mao - spa/sc;  A spa - mar
      
    
Germany:

A bel - hol; A boh - mun; F den - hel; A mun - kie; F nth Supports A bel - hol
      

Italy:

A mar - gas; F nap -tys; A naf - tun;  A ven - pieI; F wes -lyo
      
    
Russia:

A mos - sev  Bounced with sev (1 against 2). 

 F nwy Holds; F stp/nc - bar;  A ukr -gal; A war Supports A ukr - gal

      
 Turkey:

 F bla Supports A sev; A bul Holds;  F con - aeg; A rum -ukr; A sev Supports A rum - ukr

Support cut by Move from Moscow;  F smy - eas

 

Situation at the Start of Fall 1903 Turn:

      
   

Your Latest Daily Dissembler, In A Handsome New Format!

 

The fast steamers from New York are just arriving in European ports, and bundles of America’s most prestigious journal of foreign news, the Daily Dissembler, are now on express trains heading to all of Europe’s capitals, embassies, chancelleries, War Ministries, and the better class of exotic nightculb.   But don’t worry, you can get your copy, now in a new, exciting format, HERE!

In this season’s edition:

Our usual penetrating analysis of the European Situation, with our resident expert, Sir Erasmus Blatt

The latest adventures of America’s Girl Reporter, Miss Amelia Roosevelt, including an account of what REALLY happened in Paris!

An interview with the Italian player

The latest English language edition of the leading Turkish newspaper, the Ankhara What, courtesy of the Turkish Player

All letters to the editor are welcome. 

Diplomacy Game, Fall 1902 Results

A bunch of stuff has happened in the past few days.

Moves for the Fall 1902 Turn (Turn 4).  Noteworthy actions:

A concerted Turkish attack droves the Russians from Sevastapol.  

The German High Seas Fleet drives the Royal Navy from the North Sea, while the English hold the Irish Sea against the French MAO fleet.

Italy easily drives off a French attempt to retake Marseilles, while that Germany army in Tyrolia moves north to Bohemia, perhaps trying the patience of its Hapsburg guests.

The Retreats Phase.  The Russian army has no other route to retreat except Moscow.   The English fleet in the NorS has many options, though, and chooses the most vexing possible route for the German player by slipping into Holland and taking it from the Germans.  That deprives Germany of a build and saves England from removing a unit in the build phase.

 

The situation at the start of Turn 5 / Spring 1903.

Austria builds an Army in Budapest, Turkey a Fleet in Smyrna, Italy a Fleet in Naples and Russia an Army in Warsaw.

 

Next turn is a week from today (Tuesday March 9).

Daily Dissembler, Spring 1902 Extra Edition

This edition of the Daily Dissembler is dedicated to the memory of Robert Audin, who passed away recently at too young an age.  Robert was an avid war gamer, painter, and blogger.  He played Russia in the Diplomacy game I ran here in 2014, and I like to think he would have enjoyed the Dissembler's gentle silliness.   He was creative and clever, with many ideas and projects that sadly died with him.  Rest in peace, friend.  MP+

The Daily Dissembler, Special European Gazette Issue, June 15, 1902

 We make sense of a complicated world so you, dear reader, can enjoy the Gilded Age.

“A Turn-up for the Books!”  Our Expert Offers His Analysis

General Erasmus Blatt.

The editors are delighted that General Blatt, hero of the Empire’s campaign to subjugate the striking coal miners of Tiddleypool, has agreed to provide commentary on the unfolding events in Europe.  General Blatt’s column is syndicated by the Rioters News Agency.

A few surprising revelations have discovered themselves in the spring campaign season for 1902.  Though your correspondent was correct about some matters, he admits to have been somewhat mistaken about others.  Then there are one or two of my forecasts that have been proved right, but in unexpected ways.  

There is no four-way alliance against the Austria-Hungary Empire.  Not that this was really expected, but it seemed possible that the Asiatic Powers at least might be in cahoots, despite events around the Black Sea coasts.  That there could be a military alliance between Addul Hamid II and Franz Josef did cross my mind, but events gave no real indication that any such arrangement existed.  As it transpires, in the Great Game, a Statesman does well to play his cards close to his chest.

It is now clear that Turkey and Austria-Hungary are acting in concert.  Their combined forces have destroyed for good the Russian Black Sea Fleet – gone forever the Romanov dream of an untrammeled sea-going passage to the Mediterranean. Further, the purpose of Turkey’s raising the army in Smyrna has been revealed.  Pursuing the Russian Army counterattacking from Armenia and recapturing Sevastopol, it is now on the borders of that Tsarist province.  The three-pronged attack in the fall season  cannot fail to ensure that Sevastopol changes hands a third time.

I can perhaps excuse my assessment of a Hapsburg- Ottoman rapprochement as unlikely by the observation that Turkey seems so far to be garnering all the fruits.  Master of the entire Black Sea littoral by the end of 1902, the Ottoman Empire will have doubled its military resources (6 supply centres from 3), the Hapsburg having expanded by a third as much (4 from 3).

The attentive reader will understand by now why your columnist expected an army to be raised in Moscow in 1901.  An army there would have secured Russia’s southern flank, at a time when neither the northern, nor yet the centre, was under threat.  Russia’s stunning – and, I confess, beguiling – coup in Scandinavia will prove scant compensation, one imagines, as events have turned out.  At that, although I expected the Arctic Fleet to take Norway, it is probably as well for the Tsar that he chose the Baltic (in Sweden) for that honour.  That is, of course, providing Russia can rely on Germany leaving Sweden, lacking a garrison, inviolate.

That might not be so misplaced a trust.   Germany’s attention has been focused westward hitherto.  Its excursion into the Tyrol is explainable in terms of distracting Austria-Hungary, and hoping thereby to disarm the threat presented by a Austro-Turkish alliance.  It has not worked, and not helped much, withal, but this effort hasn’t harmed Germany very much – not in the short term anyhow.  In view of Russia’s plight, would Germany turn and take a bite out of the corpse of an ally that is dying?  Possibly – likely if the alternative were to cede the opportunity to England.  But that seems unlikely in the short term, as to do so would weaken Russia in the north and England is the more likely to gain.  Having said that, I have been proved wrong already so far! With nothing to fear from the West, Germany is free to decide ‘where to next’.  There, I refuse to speculate, so many are the possibilities.

For its part, the Austrian Foreign Minister seems to have persuaded King Victor-Emanuel to cast his eyes westward.  Greece has been left open – presumably for the Austrians to gather up in the autumn.  Did the Emperor apprehend an Italo-German descent upon Trieste?  That would explain his spring move to ensure the place had a garrison.  Otherwise, he might have moved the fleet thereto and the Albanian army into Greece during this past season.  A ‘bounce’ would have been as good as a repulse for the Austrian defence.  The opportunity to bring Greece under Hapsburg sway remains, however.  The Sultan is unlikely to oppose it – not so early in the game, when there is so much more to be gained from the partnership.  Italy obviously has no interest in Greece whatever.

That is understandable.  If the Italian is in any way in partnership with the Austrian and the Turk, it makes sense to forego Greece the more to concentrate on western conquests.  Marseilles has fallen, and France can not soon retrieve it.  The puzzle is the move into North Africa.  Why there?  It seems that the plan is to bring the Fleet into the Western Med, then to convoy the African Army into Spain with support from Marseilles.  There is not a great deal France can do about this if England continues the pressure from the Channel.  But as this army could equally well have embarked from Tunisia as North Africa, why ‘telegraph’ the punch?  To this writer it seems it would have been cagier to have kept the army in Tunisia.  More flexible, too, as were the sudden need arise in the autumn to bring that army quickly to the home country, it might have been accomplished at once, the army being convoyed across the Tyrrhenian Sea.  The King must really trust the Emperor!

Could France – can France – resist Italy’s planned tide of conquest into the Iberian Peninsula?  Possibly, if Germany stays (apparently) neutral, and England abandons its war with France.  That England might well patch up a peace with France, now, is not unlikely, given the loss of its Norwegian supply base, and French naval superiority in what we probably ought now to call ‘La Manche’.  France has been canny enough to send its newly raised fleet from Brest into the Channel, which leaves La Republique with resources sufficient, by the look, to retain possession of Spain and Portugal both – at least for the time being. 

Will England persist with its war against France, or try to retrieve its fortunes in Scandinavia?  No alternatives to these options suggest themselves, and neither of them seem especially promising of favourable outcomes.  The Spring battles in the Channel have left England’s naval resources somewhat dislocated.  Were the Channel Fleet now in London instead of the Army (which had gone to York, say) then England might well have reasserted its control of Norway.  Even that plan could not have been successfully concluded before mid-1903.  Can it be achieved at all?  One would have to hope that in the next eighteen months nothing would conspire to prevent it.  How likely is that?

Suppose England were instead to persist in its efforts to subjugate the Republic.  Something might be achieved with the former’s overall superiority at sea, but it would take at least half a year to bring it into concerted action, placing all three somewhere along the Irish Sea-Channel coast-North sea line. 

Whatever strategy is chosen,  the Ministry of the incoming PM, the Earl of Balfour, is placed in an unenviable and difficult position.  One imagines that the diplomatic channels between England and its nearest Continental neighbours, including Italy, will be carrying a deal of traffic in the second half of 1902!

It is true to say that the strategic situation of France is little better than England’s.  It is imperative that she hold Spain in the fall – even at the cost of giving up control of La Manche.  Even then, the loss of Marseille guarantees she can not expand her military. Italy can, and that spells the latter’s likely achieving mastery over the Mediterranean Sea west of the Ionian.  This is provided, of course, there remains no threat developing against Italy in the east.  No doubt Italy will be seeking dialogue with Austria and Turkey as well as with England… and Germany… At any rate, I should not be surprised if a spanking new Fleet sails out of Naples or Rome, come the Spring campaign in 1903.


Rioters Association 1 July 1902
 

Bonus Edition!  Turkey’s Leading Newspaper, Translated For Our Readers (courtesy of Mr. R. Pasha, the Turkish player)

(Click for a larger image)

Diplomacy Game: Spring 1902 (Turn 3) Results

I can vouch for the fact (because I pay the telegraph boys and lick the envelopes) that the cables and dispatches are flying between the European capitals after Turn 3 of our Diplomacy Game.  Here are the moves for S1902.

Note the first instance of international cooperation, as Austria’s Army in Serbia helps the Turks to take Rumania, destroying the Russian fleet there.  Germany plays it cautious this turn but plucks the low-hanging fruit of Denmark, while England’s situation worsens as, with Norway gone, she loses her only build thus far.    While France can feel confident in the north, the Italians marching into Marseilles must be an unpleasant shock.

Results for Spring, 1902 (Movement)

General Notices:


Order resolution completed on 26-Feb-2016 at 08:13:49 EST


Order Results:


Austria:

 F adr Supports A alb -tri; A alb - tri;   A ser Supports A bul -rum;  A vie Holds



England:

 F eng Supports F lon - nth  Support cut by Move from Brest. Dislodged from bre (2 against 1).

 F lon - nth;  F nwy - nwg;  A wal - lon

France:

France: F bre - eng;  mao Supports F bre - eng;  A pic Holds; A por - spa



Germany:

 F bel Holds;  A hol Holds; F kie -  den; A mun Supports A tyr; A tyr Holds



Italy:

 F ion - tys;  A pie - mar;  A tun - naf;   A ven Holds



Russia:

The Fleet in Rumania cannot retreat; unit destroyed.
A arm - sev; F rum Holds  Dislodged from bul (2 against 1). 

F stp/nc Supports F swe - nwy; F swe - nwy; A ukr Supports A arm - sev



Turkey:

Turkey: F ank Supports F sev - bla; A bul - rum;  A con - bul;  F sev - bla; A smy - arm

 

Here is the situation as of the Retreats Phase.   England’s fleet is driven out of the English Channel, and only has two retreats, the Irish Sea or Wales.   I await the English player’s decision.    Hard times at the Admiralty as the south coast now lie within range of French naval artillery.  

 

Expect the next turn this Sunday.   Subscribers to the Daily Dissembler may see an issue before then.   Your letters to the editor are encouraged.

Blessings to your intrigues!

MP+