Do you have a preference of where you'd like to go?  When I play Italy, I always try to figure out where my 5th build is going to be - as long as it's not one of mine, I don't think a strong Italy is necessarily a bad thing for Turkey. Hi! I am not sure yet, I will keep you posted. Trying to feel out how things will be to the west Of course. Any thoughts on how you'd like to handle things in the East?  I know it can be a classic AI versus RT - what would you need to see  to prevent that?  Other than me opening to Armenia, that's a little bold for me. Was the bounce in Venice arranged?  Are you actively anti-Austrian? Gah didn’t go as planned. I am not sure if Austria wants to work with me. What’s your read? Russia seems neutral at this point I’d be open to a joint attack on Greece. Well ... Austria's pretty much toast.  Thoughts> Yeah, it seems like it. I think Austria was trying to work with Russia, which was clearly a mistake I offered him a great deal, but he decided to drop his pants for Russia.  Very frustrating to see in what is supposed to be a high quality game.  Oh well.  I am planning on building a fleet and heading into the Agean.  That is as far west as I plan on going, if you'd like to work together - I offer you the following:  I build only armies from here on out.  I think you might need a third army, but I'd ask you to build only fleets beyond that army.  France looks like he's going to be a bit slow in moving out on you, so maybe with a bunch of fleets and a head start, you can get the jump on him? Yeah that’s reasonable! I can work with that Ok. So, you don’t have a problem with me taking Greece while you focus on Trieste? Yes that’s fine. Have you agreed to anything with Russia? I think you me and he are all on the same page with respect to Austria. Hi!  Why are your fleets in my area? How are they helping you take shots off of Austria and / or defend against France? What threat did I pose you when I promised to only build armies from here on out? Trying to figure out what you’re thinking so that we can work together. a) I think it's bullshit that in a game where we're being compensated to communicate with each other, you ignore me for an entire season.
b) do you even look at the board before you put in your orders?  You're not getting any of my dots, brother.  And France is about to take at least two off of you. Well I’m going to lose this game anyways, so :  a) Just because I didn’t chat with you doesn’t mean I didn’t talk with others. B) Im fairly new to diplomacy and never played as Italy before. Honestly just brute-forced the Lepanto because of a lack of creativity on my part. Sorry to be an annoying neighbor. Best of luck moving forward Well, if they give bonus points for honesty, you just got some.  Anyway, if you had partnered with me and moved on Trieste, you'd be getting a build right now.  Sometimes you need to adjust your game based on the conditions on the board.  Also, as Italy, I never Lepanto.   Well, never say never ... but the convoy to Syrna?  There's got to be a specific set of circumstances that result in that.   And France not being aggressive and Austria letting me have Trieste are two of them. You live and you learn Or you read one of the dozens of strategy articles for Italy that are on the internet. And, out of curiosity, why or who were you talking to while ignoring me?  You coordinated absolutely none of your moves with anybody else and somebody convoyed into your home territory.  I'd say you invested your diplomacy down a dry hole, brother. So ... another French Fleet. Yeah... Obviously I don't trust him, but he says it's going to be used to attack England I suppose no matter what he told me, I'd tell you that he's attacking you.  

But he's going to keep attacking you. Right You need a 5th build, and I border both Greece and Trieste.  Maybe you can get your 5th build from one of them and I could help you out?  I'm just worried that you're going to cripple me while France cripples you.  But if we can work together against a common neighbor, then we can both gain. Maybe I’ll go for Tri. I think that Austria and Germany were trying to coordinate to push back at Russia in Vie. I’ll try to gather more info from Austria if that’s still in the works- might be able to get to Tri easily while he’s preoccupied with that You will probably want to cover Rome.  I'm hoping that you convoy back to your peninsula so that you can defend your home centers.  I don't know how you're going to cover everything - If I was France i would probably see if you're going to stalemate me or not.  If you don't stalemate me, then I'll take everything I can.  If you do, then I'll re-posture towards Germany. But, regardless, I'm going to protect my home centers from you.  So, I'd ask you not to dedicate 3 out of your 4 units to get one of my home dots while, in the process, you lose two of yours. Yeah that sounds reasonable Agreed, it sounds reasonable.  I just hope that you are reasonable! 🙂 Wow, brother. You'll lose one center to him, at least.  I really don't understand your play. Actually, you'll lose two.  You'll lose Trieste and Tunis.  You jackass. I had a deal with France (risky, I know) Are you new to this game? I’m trying to understand who I’m negotiating with. You’re making “beginner” mistakes and if you’re a beginner, that’s ok - I can help you see other options and improve overall. My games is basically ruined, and while I’m not going to give you my dots, I can help you in other ways. 

Your call. Yeah I am. Also it’s finals week so I haven’t been able to dedicate time to strategize, etc Did you have any input? Honestly open to it If I convoy Syr to Gre, would you be willing to support me into Greece? I would, yes. What is fleet Greece doing? Ok. Sorry for the late conversation but I’m flying to Iowa tonight. I’ll plan on supporting you to Greece. Let me know if you change your mind so that I don’t waste my moves. Thank you! I’m not sure what I’ll end up doing with fleet Greece, but I will keep you updated next season. High likelihood I’ll just have to convoy it back home Have a safe trip I assume you mean army Greece. 😊 Oops! Yes that’s what I meant I hope so .... Yes 100%. I was rereading your previous message asking about fleet Greece Ohhh. I meant Fleet Agean!! Ha, it’s so easy to make these mistakes! I can tell you stories ... Oh! Haha Words are hard Oh, misorders around Bulgaria have cost me in big moments. F Aeg was supposed to be used to support me into Smy as of last year- but Austria hasn’t replied to anything this season Not sure if he’s purposefully avoiding me or just given up A little column a, a little column b probably what would you like me to build? I don’t have a preference at the moment Ok, here's my pitch to you - I can replace your fleet with one that I build, but I can't replace your army in Greece.  So, I'll build a fleet and ask you to disband the one in Eastern Med.  Then, we'll work together to get you into Trieste, which will make up for losing Rome and give you a shot at getting Venice back.  Otherwise, you're just going to get caught in the sandwich between France and me, with a dying Austria trying to get back into things. Ok, that sounds good to me. I have my order in to disband EAS. 

Since I didn’t retreat into Tri, I’m trying to leverage that into some coordination from Austria on their way out.  Not holding my breath though, but will keep you posted Oh .... i don't think that's salvageable.  But ... maybe? Yeah, doubtful....Stranger things have happened though haha Ok, I'll support you into Albania? Yeah thanks. A Gre? I have a final exam this evening, so I probably won't be on again until tonight, FYI yes. i've ordered it. What's your plan with Bul ? I am hesitant to leave Greece wide open while I'm still so vulnerable to France at home I was going to pass through Greece and hopefully you’ll convoy me to Apulia? If I’m going to “screw you,” I’m going to screw you. But if you’re willing to work with me against France, I won’t take your dots unless I need to in order to prevent France from getting them. let me know what you would like to do. True. Let's stick with the plan then. I have orders in for Greece to albania, and F ION will be ready for a convoy hopefully he doesn't dislodge it.  If he does, you should retreat to Adriatic, in my opinion. I must have forgotten to update the orders. I woke up, was like “man, I hope I didn’t waste my orders,” and then I see you told the truth. Sorry, this was not my intent. Well this has certainly not been my magnum opus I'm supporting AEG-ION.  If you, as your dying gasp, would support me in, I would greatly appreciate it.