From: charbonn@silver.ucs.indiana.edu (gary charbonneau)
Subject: Re: EiA: Solve a problem
Keywords: Empires in `Arms
Organization: Indiana University
Distribution: world,local
Date: Tue, 12 Jan 1993 17:29:52 GMT

In article <1993Jan12.085851.1@milori.ccit.arizona.edu> bob@sclera.physics.arizona.edu writes:
> Courtesy of: charbonn@silver.ucs.indiana.edu (gary charbonneau)
>>In article <1993Jan11.112746.1@milori.ccit.arizona.edu> bob@sclera.physics.arizona.edu writes:
>>>Time for y'all to display your Empires in Arms wisdom.  1805 scenario,
>>>we are in April.  France has crushed Austria in one month, so the HRE lost
>>>2/3 of her corps and Mack was captured.  Before that, war erupted between
>>>Prussia (me) and Russia over Denmark.  We reached an informal peace after
>>>Alexander botched an attack from Copenhagen.  Oh, and the Austrians refused
>>>our summons, so that when France attacked, justice was served 8^|
>>>
>>>The evisceration of Austria scared everybody else into forming alliances.
>>>France refused to ally with Prussia (yikes), so we allied with a rather
>>>hapless Brit, as did the Russians.  Austria and Turkey allied with France,
>>>and Spain is being "clever."
>>>
>>>Now, I read carefully the talk last month on reasons to dump on England
>>>early on.  My attempts at convincing our group of this wisdom fell on 
>>>deaf (and dumb) ears.  This is why Prussia has the Danish fleet counter,
>>>and is building its own fleet - to be placed at a later date 8^}  OK, we
>>>are really doing a fleet for the sheer fun of it.  We have a referee who
>>>is keeping track of where ships are built, in case of overuns.
>>>
>>>Napoleon has a stack moving down the Italian boot, and two more sitting in 
>>>Bavaria.  The Russians are poised on the Prussia/Austria border.  And the
>>>Germanic horde is currently taking the Duchies.  The Turk has not even
>>>raised his feudal corps yet, and is bogged down in Egypt due to poor die
>>>rolling.
>>>
>>>* My question: Given the botch job in the game so far, should the Russians
>>>and Prussians DOW on France now, or wait for them to come for us?  Natch,
>>>the Brits will fund us, ship us, etc.  Yes, if victorious we intend to 
>>>keep the French fleet intact at all costs.
>>>
>>>bob@sclera.physics.arizona.edu
>
>>Where is everybody on the political status chart?  Are you using economic
>>manipulation?  If so, who is manipulating, and for what?  More specifically,
>>is France in a decent position in the dominant zone, and can he stay without
>>having to fight someone else?
>>
>>-Gary Charbonneau
>> charbonn@silver.indiana.edu
>
>From memory - and since I am a non-fanatic this is not accurate :) -
>France is way ahead, in a -2 box in the Dom. Zone.  The rest of us are 
>scatterred about the next lower zone.  Manipulation is allowed, but only
>the English use it, at +1, so far.  France is on the way to creating Italy,
>which could keep him from squishing a neighbor for a while.  
>
>We are also using the alternate naval combat rules, and no crossing arrow
>@Calais.  The group was convinced that the new rules were reasonable after
>we did a trial battle, English vs. Americans.  The English won, got 13 hulks,
>but lost Nelson.  There was much rejoicing.
>
>My concern is that even should France be placid for a while, it could take a
>VERY long time for Austria to recover.  Meanwhile, France will do well,
>England will do almost as well, and the rest of us will just weaken each
>other.  Or am I just being paranoid - er, more paranoid than usual?
>
>Thanks for responding.
>
>bob@sclera.physics.arizona.edu

I don't know the personalities involved, but I would advise you and Russia
to wait.  First, you want as much time to elapse as possible before war
break out to increase your chances of later Austrian support.  Second,
let France be the one to spend the political points for the DoW.

My guess is that Prussia's in trouble.  France is not economically
manipulating, so he's going to need to keep racking up military
victories.  He's already KO'd Austria, so you're at the start of
a vicious cycle (France beats Austria alone, then, with Austria
unable to help, beats Prussia, then, with Prussia unable to help,
beats Austria....).  Also, since you and Russia have just patched
up a quarrel, are you sure you can trust him?  If he's worried about
the French getting too far ahead and realizes the implications of
the vicious cycle, perhaps.

Keep us posted.

- Gary Charbonneau
  charbonn@silver.indiana.edu