Hello Turkey, nice to make your acquaintance. 

I've been thinking about this game alot, because the fact that it will only last until 1910 really changes my strategy. Add in that no one is likely to NMR and I believe it will be near impossible to solo. As such, it really only makes sense to find a ride or die partner for close tactical coordination and grab as many centers as possible.

As I'm sure you know, when R/T can trust each other and are firing on all 8 the Juggernaut can be nearly unstoppable. You, as Turkey, are my number 1 preferred partner in this game. I propose that we ally to dominate the Eastern sphere of this game. Do you agree? I mean, who doesn't like a good Juggernaut?  Always a fun start to the game!  

How do you like to play it?  Standard bounce in Black then go our own way West, or something a little fancier that requires a bit more trust?  I'm of course partial to a plan that gets an army rather than a fleet in rum, but other than that pretty open. I usually go with the bounce, but due to the unusual nature of this game I would consider other openings. If you would be willing to allow F SEV-BLA I could support us both into a quick takeover of the Balkans. I understand that that move takes a lot of trust, however, so I am of course open to other suggestions. Bounce is safer, but rotation is more fun, and it's just a game. Let's do it. Nice! Have to take some time to think about this tactically but I think we're in a good spot.

 I'm kind of surprised Italy took Trieste, that's statistically a pretty bad move for Italy. But a good move for us, unless it's a Key - which it likely isn't, because the moving the second fleet north hurts that opening.

So...umm...  Carry on, I guess.  You're pretty well guaranteed two builds. Alrighty then - looks like there will be no coherent defense from the West. Italy getting two builds concerns me a little bit. I want to make sure that you gain two builds if possible in 1902. I'm worried that Italy is going to throw two fleets at you and to be honest losing you would be crippling for my game.

I've been toying with the idea of asking for an Alliance of you, Germany and I to go to 1910 together. I think it's the only thing that makes strategic sense. I can help you with Italy and Germany with England, and all three of us can end up with 10+ centers at the end of 1910.  Do you have any input on this idea? I'm ok with that - and his current issues aside, France is a reasonable alternative to Germany there - especially as I half-expect England/Germany to pull back and react to your three builds.  But I'm good either way.

In any event, yes, I expect Italy to drop two fleets and position on me.  If Austria were actually communicative I'd be trying to spin my positioning as protecting him, but at the moment I'm talking to a wall.  Which is somewhat moot if we move fast enough - he shouldn't really have enough time to firm up a credible defense. So...interestingly, I was having a conversation with the admin about why I would give an order for my army to be convoyed by your Black Sea fleet even though that wasn't ever something I asked for or discussed.  And it makes me wonder - did you see that move as me sending a message, and if so what message? Well, I can tell you that it totally faked out Germany.  They think that I screwed you by not convoying and the Jug isn't even on their radar at the moment. In that aspect it was amazingly successful. Tactically it's not a bad move, keeping an army back offers you a little insurance against an Armenian stab this year (of course I wasn't stabbing anyway, but insurance never hurts). If you had gained two builds it would have left Con and Smy open to build fleets in. Good move. Germany called it "an obvious bit of Lucy pulling the football away from Charlie Brown" What are you thinking in regards to the Balkans this turn? I've got a possible idea, but I need to kick the tactics around in my head for a minute before I explain it. I think this set of moves is the safe, normal play here:

Russia
A BUD-VIE
A RUM S BUL-SER
F BLA C ANK-BUL
A SEV-UKR

Turkey
A BUL-SER
A ANK-BUL

I think there are other options as well, like if I supported Austria from Serbia to Trieste, allowing you to move into Serbia, keeping Austria at 3 centers and harming Italy. That kind of move has a much greater risk of blowing up in our faces, however.

 I'm willing to follow your lead  here, you tell me which way to jump. Well hello, lots of messages to catch up on.  So the convoy move had more or less the intended effect. 😀

I *finally* am getting responses from Austria, so trying to stand Italy out of Ionian in the sitting is an option. Otherwise it's fall back on original plan which is basically the moves you have up above. Trying to get tricksy with supporting Austria forward sounds like a way to end up with hostile units in Galicia.   If I were going to put forth another option, it would probably be for you to rotate rum to gal while I tap Greece and Serbia - letting Budapest choose which move to support. Well, not perfect, but we can work with this. Serbia will take your proxy order this turn - I assume supporting rum to bud? Alternative proposal: use rum to support Serbia, and punch your fleet through Constantinople to get it on the front line. Deadline's looming. What's the plan, chief? I've been informed that Germany and England will be moving against me this turn, unfortunately. I'm going to move RUM-BUD, all other moves will be heading North. Fair. Didn't sound like they had gotten their shit together, but do what you need. Serbia will support Do you need anything specific besides me just pushing along in the South? Could you tap TRI? I may be able to snag VIE this year, depending on what Germany decides to do. Done. Let me know if not needed, as if be better off trying to rotate. Side note: for a bunch of Diplomacy players, this board isn't very talkative. I'll agree with that. You and Germany are the only ones seemingly willing to communicate with me, and Germany has been talked into a bad faith deal with England it appears. I'm trying to use England's NMR to drive a wedge in that relationship now. I think the way we played 1901 made Germany think that I am a giant threat, when in actuality I really do want to work with Germany. 

Do you think we can get you in Trieste this year? Quite possibly. You'll want me to tap it anyway to help protect Vienna. Found the negotiation point with Germany - he wants Trieste. Is that something you're willing to bargain on, and if so what do you want? (to be clear, I'm ordered to Trieste myself until I hear otherwise from you) I think I have something worked out that takes some of the issue off of you. You'll know it worked if you see some chairs in the West this turn. 😀 Wow, autocorrect. Some of the pressure off of you. Chaos in the West. That's awesome, I can work with that. It gives me the ability to make offensive moves in the North again with Germany under pressure.