The Discord of Europe: Let's Play Diplomacy

[SeiKeo]

Panthera Ursidae Productions presents

A most excellent diplomatic spectacle

Starring:

The Right Honorable Mike1984, Prime Minister of England

Monseiur le President Nerroth of France

Kaiser AlfheimWanderer of Germany

Emperor Chaos Greyblood of Austria-Hungary

King Theocrass of Italy

Sultana Brynhilde of the Ottoman Empire

Tsar Ivan The Mouse of Russia

Current turn: Fall 1902



Orders are due by 14:00 GMT May 5 because first turn diplomacy is usually less complicated. 72 hours for all turns afterwards.

[alfheimwanderer]

To my fellow rulers of Europe:

I, Kaiser AlfheimWanderer of Germany, would like to propose a one year NAP between all of us, given that border security is important if we plan to expand as Great Powers. As the century is just beginning, let us have time to adjust to conditions and explore the consequences of the future before rash action is taken.

[SeiKeo]

The war in Europe begins with France and Monsieur le President Nerroth, who moves his fleet in Brest to the Mid-Atlantic Ocean. With his move of the army in Marseilles to Spain, he seems poised to conquer the entire Iberian Peninsula in the fall. He also moves his army in Paris to Burgundy, threatening Munich and Belgium. But will his choice to leave La Manche open cost him?



It would seem that the President has an arrangement with Prime Minister Mike, as English fleets and armies are going North in a big way. From his position, he can make a play for the Low Countries, or ensure he takes Norway.



A prudent move, considering Tsar Ivan's move of the army in Moscow to Saint Petersburg. With the Tsar's fleet setting sail into the Gulf of Bothnia, he seems to be making a play for Scandinavia.



A play that now seems risky, as Kaiser AlfheimWanderer orders his fleet to Denmark, giving him the ability to bounce the Russian fleet out of Sweden in the fall. He also moves armies to Kiel and the Ruhr, hoping to have a say in the ownership of the Low Countries.



Moving South, King Theocrass of Italy makes some strange moves. His fleet moves to Apulia, a place where it can only have minimal effect in the fall. His army in Venice moves to Tuscany, where it too can do little in the fall. Either the King has a secret alliance in the works, and this is a setup for a brilliant move later, or the rumors in Italy that the King was eaten by and his role taken over by his pet bear are true.



Emperor Greyblood of Austria shows mercy on Italy, holding his fleet in Trieste instead of sailing into Venice. His armies advance on Rumania and Galicia, threatening Russia and grabbing a supply center.



The Tsar doesn't take kindly to that, bouncing the Austrian move with his fleet from Sevastopol, and ordering his army in Warsaw to keep an eye on the Austrians. But in exchange for bouncing Austria, he's left the Black Sea open...



Which Sultana Brynhilde takes brutal advantage of, not only moving her fleet into the Black Sea but also moving an army to Armenia. If Turkey wants Sevastopol, Turkey is going to get Sevastopol. She also moves her army in Constantinople to Bulgaria, ensuring a gain of at least one Supply Center.

Full moves:


Result:


Orders for Fall 1901 are due 14:00 GMT May 8.

[Nerroth]

To whom it may concern,


The situation seems grave; the all-too-fragile peace of Europe, that great concert which has ensured the liberty and security of its many peoples, lies dangerously imperilled.

Who shall be the one to light the spark of a wider European conflagaration?

Time, in the end, shall tell.


Regards,

Théophile Delcassé, Ministère des Affairs étrangères, République française.


Postscript: On behalf of the Government of the Republic, I should note a response to the portrayal presented in the above article. In no way do we seek to "conquer" our Spanish and Portuguese cousins, as is so pluntly put; merely to ensure the liberty and sovereignty of our neighbours across the Pyrenees, in response to their governments' reasonable requests for assistance. Our President is no Napoleon; we come to Iberia as brothers, not as occupiers.

[Brynhilde]

To the loyal subjects of the Ottoman Empire


Let all hear that His Majesty, the Most Excellent Sultan of the Ottoman Empire who had ruled us steadily for over three decades, had recently passed away. This news brings inevitable sorrow at the passing of so steadfast a ruler, and all of Constantinople is draped in black in mourning. An empire as mighty as the Ottoman cannot exist without a ruler, but neither would a ruler exist without the people. Therefore, Turkey now beseeches all her subjects to support and love the newly crowned Crown Princess Brynhilde - now Her Grace, the Most Beautified Sultana of the Ottoman Empire - as much as you did for the late Sultan.

The coronation of our young Sultana came at this delicate turn of the century, with the entire Europe standing on the edge of entering into a tumultuous era governed by greed and intrigue. Let all of us, who had pleaged our alliances to the glorious Ottoman Empire through birth or else, hope and pray that the young Sultana will bring our country through this time unscathed, and support her as much as you can against any who may thwart the power of the Ottoman.


- From Constantinople, the office of the Advisor of Foreign Affiars



A missive distributed to Turkey ambassies and local Turkish leaders around Europe

[SeiKeo]

President Nerroth completes his 'ensur[ing of] the liberty and sovereignty' of Iberia, granting him two builds. He also makes a less expected move, supporting the British Expeditionary Force into Belgium. Evidently he thinks the British need to liven up their diet.



Prime Minister Mike seems to agree, taking the offer of support and moving his other fleet to the coast of Norway. This move is vulnerable to a Russian bounce...



...which does not materialize, as the Tsar Ivan chooses instead to convey his army to Sweden. As with the Prime Minister's move, this is reliant of the permission of Germany. (The Tsar instructs all his other units to stay in place)



A move which Kaiser AlfheimWanderer is happy to allow, holding his fleet in Denmark and moving an army to Holland. It would seem that his concern for the French at this doorstep overcame his desire for three builds, as he moves his other army back to defend Munich.



In the South, Italy is belatedly getting in position. He moves his fleet to the Ionian and an army to Naples, setting up a possible convey to Tunis or Greece next turn. More interesting is his other army's move to Piedmont, threatening Marseilles. How will the President respond to this?



Emperor Greyblood does not take advantage of a empty Venice right on his doorstep, instead moving to Albania, which along with one of his armies' moves to Rumania, shows a desire to dominate the Balkans. He also suspects that the Tsar will move his unit in Warsaw to defend the rest of his territory, and tries to slip an army in. However, the Tsar did not move the army, and the Emperor is disappointed.



Sultana Brynhilde wanted Sevastopol. She got Sevastopol, and puts the fleet at dock to the torch. She also drives deeper into the Balkans, moving an army to Serbia.

Full moves:


Result:


Austria: 1 Build
England: 2 Builds
France: 2 Builds
Germany: 2 Builds
Italy: No builds!
Russia: 1 Build
Turkey: 2 Builds

Send me build orders ASAP!

[SeiKeo]

Builds:



Austria: F TRI
England: A LON F EDI
France: A PAR F MAR
Germany: F KIE A BER
Russia: A MOS
Turkey: A CON F SMY



Orders due 14:00 GMT May 12

[Chaos Greyblood]

To the Empires and Kingdoms in Europe:

The Ottoman Empire may look like a kingdom of boorish people and prosaic morals that go along with their archaic customs, but do not be fooled by their disposition! It seems that this past year it has begun to set sights on the entirety of Europe if that were possible. Russia, one of the Great Powers of the Continent, is quickly falling prey to the constant offensive approach by Turkey led by a dangerous Dalilah that is the Sultana Brynhilde of the Ottoman Empire and I fear that my Empire is the next one in her objectives. At first, she seemed personable and trusting, but I was fooled from the start. Now she seeks to encroach further into Central Europe with the Austrian-Hungarian Empire crumbled into dust at her wake, but that is something that I won't allow to happen.

Containing their threat shall be my priority, though I do not know for certain how long I'll be able to keep up with the task. The Turks are dangerous when left with their own devices and even more so now that they have the proper motivation. Their perfidity knows no bounds whatsoever and who knows which kingdom shall fall to their treachery and false goodwill after Russia and Austria are toppled! Their schemes and misdirections may doom us all! If Fate dictates that neither Russia nor Austria survive the ordeal in the years to come, all of the surviving empires must make their push if they are to stop the Turks once and for all. Whatever happens after that is your choice to make. I wish nothing but the best of luck and may God have mercy on us all.

Emperor Chaos Greyblood of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire

[SeiKeo]

Austria and Russia, you have retreats!



The king of Italy has revealed that he, in fact, was not eaten by his bear. However, he has now proclaimed himself Lord Yogi the Magnificent, Mad King of Italy, and sent his units in a new direction, taking a stab at Marseilles and moving his Ionian fleet into the Tyrrhenian Sea.



le President Nerroth n'est pas amused, and not only forces the attacking army to retreat, but also moves his fleets towards Italy! He also moves his army in Paris closer to the front.



Prime Minister Mike continues his northern advance, moving his Norwegian fleet to Sweden and convoying an army to replace it. But, can he really expect that move t succeed?



Yes he can. The Prime Minister has convinced the other member of his neck of the woods, Kaiser AlfheimWanderer, to help him into Sweden. The Kaiser also moves to the Ruhr, and with moves to the Baltic and Silesia, it looks like the spirit of Frederick I is in the Kaiser.



The Tsar is only able to do so much under the assault, ordering his fleet to ensure Saint Petersburg's safety, and ordering all his other units to hold.



Luckily for him, one of his other neighbors is turning a blind eye to his misfortunes. Instead, Emperor Greyblood attempts to hold the line against Turkey, supporting Romania, and... slipping into Venice? I'm sure he has a perfectly good explanation for that.



The Sultana Brynhilde decides that the Austrian defense is not good enough for her, and launches a three-pronged assault to take Romania. Her army in Constantinople is also able to move to Bulgaria, and her fleet puts sail to the Agean.

Full moves:


Result:


Russia: A SWE can retreat to Finland or disband.
Austria: A RUM can retreat to Budapest, Ukraine, or disband

Send me retreat orders ASAP!

[SeiKeo]

Pics later

Retreats:

A ROM-UKR

A SWE Disbands

Orders due May 15 14:00 GMT

[SeiKeo]

France, Germany and Russia, you have retreats!



Caught up in the chaos of a communist revolution, the Tsar's generals decide to hold what they already have and not risk losing more ground.



Emperor Greyblood makes a stab at Warsaw which is likely to fail, and also takes a stab at Greece. His fleet in Venice decides that fine Italian food isn't good enough for it, and moves out into the Adriatic.



Sultana Brynhilde, on accident or on purpose, breaks Russia's support from Moscow, allowing the Austrian armies to march into Warsaw. She also allows the Austrians to slip into Greece, and shuffles her units around for position, including an aggressive move towards Italy, with her fleet moving into the Ionian.



Kaiser AlfheimWanderer makes the Austrian invasion of Warsaw even more of a sure thing, supporting the attack. He also tries to force his way into Burgundy, and moves his fleet up towards Saint Petersburg.



Whereupon he is stabbed in the back by Prime Minister Mike. He thunders into Denmark and Holland, the rest of his units moving up to replace the advancing ones.



President Nerroth is more conservative, moving his fleets in the Mediterranean to threaten Italy, and ensuring he holds Burgundy. He also moves his army in Picardy into Belgium as the English move out (the arrow is hard to see, but it's there). Was this arranged beforehand, or is this a break in the alliance?



Lord Yogi is having none of this "0-builds" nonsense, and conveys his army to Tunis. He also breaks France's support for the Burgundy army, allowing Germany into the region.

Full moves:



Result:



F DEN can retreat to SKA, HEL, KIE, BAL, or disband.

A WAR can retreat to PRU, LVN, or disband.

A BUR can retreat to GAS, PAR, PIC, or disband.

Send me retreat orders ASAP!

[SeiKeo]

Retreat orders:



Result:



Austria: 1 build
England: 2 builds
France: 1 build
Germany: 2 disbands
Italy: 1 build
Russia: 1 disband
Turkey: 2 build

Send me your build orders ASAP!

[SeiKeo]

Builds:



Result:



Orders are due by 14:00 GMT May 19

[Nerroth]

To whom it may concern,


As I write this, the indignity and deprivation of foreign occupation which had hitherto been placed around the necks of our brothers and sisters in Alsace-Lorraine has been visited upon the people of la Bourgogne. Further, to add insult to injury, the citizens of the otherwise-idyllic Côte D'Azur have been threatened by the would-be advances of one whom the Republic had once offered the hand of friendship.

In the face of these intolerable actions, there can be but one outcome; as of his moment, la République française is at war.

None on this temporal plane of existence may know what fate may befall the free people of France, and those in Europe who yet cling to the principles of liberty, equality and fraternity; much as the stewards of the Élysée Palace would dearly wish it not to be so, we must accept the fact that the road ahead lies frought with danger.

Nevertheless, we shall not relent; la Patrie demands no less.


Regards,

Théophile Delcassé, Ministère des Affairs étrangères, République française.

[SeiKeo]

France, you've got retreats.



Kicking off the year, Prime Minister Mike continues his assault on Germany, moving his troops into position for the fatal blow - and moves a fleet into the English Channel. Is this a break in their alliance?



If so, it's news to President Nerroth, who continues his southern assault on Italy and again tries to move the Germans out of Burgundy.



The Kaiser orders his army to escape destruction by fleeing to the French coast, and retakes Holland, destroying the English army.



Russia tries to take Warsaw back...

But is foiled by Turkey and Austria. It seems that Lord Yogi's madness has spread to Austria and Turkey also, and as such I have no idea what they're doing. Just look at the moves.







Full moves:



Result:



France, the army can retreat to Spain or disband. Tell me ASAP!

GM's note: what the hell just happened?

[SeiKeo]

France retreats to Spain



Orders are due 14:00 GMT May 22.

[SeiKeo]

The year again leads off with Prime Minister Mike, who is determined to strike a fatal blow to Germany, assaulting with support Holland and Kiel. His other fleets move to cover him in the North Sea and to cover the Mid-Atlantic ocean.



France is determined to assist with this goal, assuring the downfall of Holland and the German army in Marseilles. France and England: buddies for life?



The Kaiser orders his armies against Belgium and Burgundy in what are surely futile efforts. The once grand nation, it seems, has fallen farm.



Lord Yogi tries his best to keep the Germans alive in exile, but his best just isn't good enough now. His army in North Africa moves back to Tunis to retake it from the dastardly Turks that took it in the spring.



And the Austrians seem glad to help with that, supporting the African army. But the Austrians's contributions are felt more elsewhere, as they deliver the coup de grâce to Germany, wiping it off the map.



The Tsar moves back in order to hold on to his last cities.



And now, the Turks. Their African fleet attacks North Africa, but is repelled and destroyed by the Italian-Austrian attack. The rest of their armies don't do much interesting either, passing up a perfect opportunity for a stab on Austria, instead moving right past Austria's centers.

Full moves:



Result:



Austria: 2 builds
England: 2 builds
Turkey: 1 build.

Turn in builds ASAP!

[Nerroth]

To whom it may concern,


At a stroke, one of the two belligerents facing the Republic has been laid low; though not through as much of our own actions as we might have expected.

Fortunately, we were successful in defeating the invasion force which had scourged both Burgundy and Marseilles; through the actions of others (some more surprising than others), the Kaiser shall never again threaten the freedom and sovereignty of the free peoples of Europe. (Indeed, even Alsace-Lorraine currently lies unoccupied; surely a step in the right direction!)

On behalf of the government and people of France, I wish to formally extend my sincere gratitude to the governments of the United Kingdom and of the Empire of Austria-Hungary. We hope that this day can herald the beginning of a new era of peace in northern Europe, if a fair and just dispensation can somehow be established between our various countries.

Alas, a wider peace in Europe still seems all too distant, with the Italian government intent on pressing forth with its clear aggression against our southern shores. So long as any tyrant seeks to undo the hard-won liberty of the French people, we shall not relent in our own efforts.


A final note for the time being; you may reflect that, for all of the talk of "French imperialism" by the now-deposed Kaiser, it is worth remembering that not one pair of French boots has set foot on German soil throughout this campaign, and that no pre-emptive strike on a fellow Great Power has been ordered from the Élysée Palace.

Let our actions, from this time forth, serve the long-term goals of our many peoples.


Regards,


Théophile Delcassé, Ministère des Affairs étrangères, République française.

[SeiKeo]

Builds:



(That's an army in Edi and a fleet in London in case you can't see.)

Orders due 14:00 GMT May 25

[SeiKeo]

Italy, you got retreats



Locked behind her ally Austria, the Sultana continues to move her armies into position, with the exception of a venture into Russia that seems unlikely to succeed.



Unless of course, her ally Austria flanks the Russians, allowing her to slip into Moscow. In the east, the armies from the homeland move out, and the German force makes an assault on Kiel.



In the south, her fleets continue to provide mostly moral support to the Italians.



The Russians don't foresee the assault on Moscow, but they do move into position outside of Warsaw.



Lord Yogi seems to have discovered parallel lines, as he orders his units to advance in a nice, parallel fashion across the Med. The success of this strategy is in question, but it certainly looks nice on the war maps.



The French are less inclined to symmetry than Lord Yogi is, but they do manage to make a nice crab claw-esque shape with their supported invasions of the Ruhr and Piedmont. To ensure total dominance of the Med, they try to help the British into North Africa, but the Italians cut it's support and bounce it.



The English themselves are in a convoying mood, slipping the under attack army out of Kiel to Prussia and attempt to replace it with an army from the home front, which is thrown out on arrival by Austria.



He does accept France's offer of support, but the move is rejected by Italy.

Full Moves:



Result:



Moscow can only retreat to Saint Petersburg, and does so (unless you really want to disband, Ivan).

Italy, you can retreat to Tuscany or Venice. Tell me ASAP.