> Every once in a while I have a game where I know from
> the initial round of negotiations that I'm in really
> bad trouble...
>
> What are strategies to use in that situation?
If you must roll, try to roll in one direction.
For any position, but especially those with stronger offense than
defense... Pick one enemy and go for the jugular. Very few alliances can
stand the strain of the knowledge that one power is going to emerge
weakened. Let the victim know that the only way out is to completely
burn bridges with his key ally and point out *almost* every possible way
in which he could get stabbed or jabbed. Warn the beneficiary of your
aggression about the consequences of early leader syndrome, but only if
you think that you can get through to him. Feel free to beg, cajole,
manipulate or even throw a tantrum if you really think all is lost, but
it's better to show what a good ally you'd be by maintaining clear and
specific communication.
For a strong defensive power - Dig in. I've taken France to 1910
against an unshakable GE alliance. Although it's possible to force
France as early as 1905, I don't think that my results were unusual.
Five game years is at least 5 weeks in a typical judge game or hand
adjudicated PBEM game. A lot can happen in that time. Even in a face to
face game, a couple hours of that kind of tension can be brutal.
Always look for allies in unexpected places as well as securing
traditional allies. You need to warn the other side of the board about
what happens if the action shakes out too quickly in your corner. When
Germany tells your Austria, "I don't know what you expect me to do for
you," then tell him... If he doesn't then march up through TYR with
French assistance and make Germany your tem****ary base until IRT have
had a falling out. If you're A, R or even T then you want England
threatening the Med. If you're in the north then you want to try to
get Italy into the Atlantic... Even if Turkey is threatening
your Russia, you want the pressure on England to ally with France
rather than Germany.
In a board-wide web of alliances disrupting one alliance is
likely to disrupt the one that is annoying you the most. Find a
co-victim, even if it's someone you can't help strategically, and work
together on a propaganda strategy to disrupt the others opposition.
One final alliance breaker... Present entirely different faces to two
allies. When they talk, they will become convinced that the other is
lying about you.
Chris
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