In this series, I'm going to take a brief look at the seven powers in the game of Diplomacy. This will be not much more than a brief introduction to each power, looking at their position on the board, their neighbours and the pros and cons of playing them. More detailed strategy will follow in future posts.
Turkey's most vulnerable space is probably Armenia, although the Black Sea is a problem, too. The difference is that, for the Black Sea to become a vulnerability, Russia needs fleets. She starts with that fleet in Sevastopol, of course, but she needs to occupy the Black Sea with it. True, if she does, she can get into Constantinople or Ankara but she's going to need back up. Russia usually doesn't build fleets in the south until later in the game... if at all.
Armenia, on the other hand, is easily occupied by an army (yes, by a fleet too, I know) and that army can move to Ankara, Smyrna or Syria... a fleet can't get to Syria or Smyrna from Armenia (see?) This means that Armenia is more useful as a springboard for a Russian invasion of Turkey.
This explains why Turkey often opens with A Smy-Arm. It covers Armenia and is a decent place to have an army in should Turkey wish to attack Russia. Russia isn't likely to cover Armenia with F Sev-Arm because there are more important things to do with that fleet.
Turkey's openings are easily read as being anti-Russian in most cases... and just as easily read as falsely anti-Russian. She will open with A Con-Bul because, well, what else is she going to do with that army? The question is what she does with her other army and her fleet?
A Smy-Con is a possibility. From Constantinople it can cover Ankara and Constantinople, if need be. It can move to Bulgaria if the Turkish army there opts to move elsewhere. Not much point to that unless she feels Bul-wherever is going to work, though. If Turkey's moving against Russia, A Smy-Arm is best.
The fleet is a little trickier. For Turkey to get her fleet into the Black Sea can be important. If she achieves this, she can convoy armies north. This is often the key to a successful attack on Russia... quick and easy. And, of course, the fleet has access to Bulgaria, Rumania and Sevastopol.
However, Turkey needs to get fleets into the Mediterranean, so F Ank-Con is just as good. This allows her to access the Aegean Sea or move to Bulgaria, either coast. If she's looking to get into the Med, though, that has to be Bul(sc).
But can Turkey afford to let Russia order F Sev-BLA? If a fleet there is important to Turkey, isn't it equally important to Russia? Well, actually, probably not. Turkey can deal with a Russian fleet in the Black Sea better than Russia can deal with a Turkish fleet there. If Turkey has ordered A Smy-Arm/Con/Ank and F Ank-Con/Arm then her two Black Sea SCs are safe. Given that the army in Smyrna is not going to move to Syria, this means that Turkey can cover these SCs 100% of the time. Even if the army in Smyrna is bounced from Armenia these SCs are still covered.
So Turkey can afford to let Russia have the Black Sea. It may mean she doesn't make the progress she'd like in 1901, if she has to defend, but it isn't fatal.
What Turkey does in Fall 1901, however, can have a much bigger impact on her game, potentially. Does she help Austria take Rumania, or does she get help into Rumania? Does she try to keep Greece unoccupied or try for it herself? Who does she ally with?
Austria is a good choice for Turkey. Not only does the Osturk alliance allow Turkey and Austria to split the Balkans between them in 1901 if they choose, it leaves Turkey behind Austria later in the game. What Turkey should aim to get from this alliance, however, is Greece. If she gives Greece ot Austria, she runs the risk of being hemmed in.
Italy is also a good choice for Turkey. The Unholy alliance means Austria is in trouble. The only problem with this is that it is likely to mean that Russia is a problem. It may take some time for Italy and Turkey to get into a position to attack Russia but it's doable. And, again, when the waters settle, Turkey is at Italy's back.
Ideally, for quick progress, the Unholy alliance should probably be a triple alliance with Russia, the Southern Arc. This means Austria is doomed from the start, and it keeps Russia onside until the Italo-Turkish alliance can spring to the attack.
The Juggernaut is probably the most well-known of Turkey's alliance options. In this alliance, she sides with Russia. This brings the east side of the board together and allows the two to trundle across the map. The problem with this alliance is that every other power on the board is looking for it and will take steps to prevent it. The only possible exception to this is France, who may well look to turn it into the triple alliance I call the Bridge. France can gain a lot from the other powers all focused on stopping the Jug.
However, the Juggernaut can cause Turkey problems. It is common for Russia to make faster progress than Turkey, having a wider frontier accessible to her armies. While she uses Turkish armies to move east, Turkey has little help from Russia in her wars. French and Italian fleets can easily blockade Turkey.
Actually, there are few alliances that are negative for Turkey... providing she's part of it, of course. Maybe that's one of the reasons that she often gets isolated: she's difficult to break down (as I've said above) and then there's the fact that with her neighbours she's in a position to stab.
So I'd suggest that Turkey should also be looking to form an alliance from across the board - Germany, England or France. Of these, the Anglo-Turkish alliance (the Coven) is useful. England attacks Russia from the north, Turkey from the south. If successful, they are in a position to form an alternative juggernaut.
The Franco-Turkish alliance - the Mediterranean - is about sea domination from either end of the Med. As such it can take some time to come into play.
The Germano-Turkish Railroad alliance is again principally aimed at Russia. If this can be part of the triple alliance I call the Bear Trap by adding Austria, then Russia is definitely in trouble.
Turkey has a number of choices. Her biggest obstacle is in changing any alliance she builds into a win, rather than just surviving.
The witch in the east. England and Turkey are often know as the "Witch of the East" and the "Witch of the West" respectively. They are both incredibly difficult to eliminate, which earns them this sobriquet. With England, of course, it's because she's surrounded by sea spaces and will - or should - have a number of fleets on the board to protect her. With Turkey it is that she's always slow to break down. Even with a Gobbler triple alliance (A/I/R) it takes time.
One of the reasons for this is Turkey's position as a corner power. You can't get in behind her... literally in this case.
Armenia, on the other hand, is easily occupied by an army (yes, by a fleet too, I know) and that army can move to Ankara, Smyrna or Syria... a fleet can't get to Syria or Smyrna from Armenia (see?) This means that Armenia is more useful as a springboard for a Russian invasion of Turkey.
This explains why Turkey often opens with A Smy-Arm. It covers Armenia and is a decent place to have an army in should Turkey wish to attack Russia. Russia isn't likely to cover Armenia with F Sev-Arm because there are more important things to do with that fleet.
Turkey's openings are easily read as being anti-Russian in most cases... and just as easily read as falsely anti-Russian. She will open with A Con-Bul because, well, what else is she going to do with that army? The question is what she does with her other army and her fleet?
A Smy-Con is a possibility. From Constantinople it can cover Ankara and Constantinople, if need be. It can move to Bulgaria if the Turkish army there opts to move elsewhere. Not much point to that unless she feels Bul-wherever is going to work, though. If Turkey's moving against Russia, A Smy-Arm is best.
The fleet is a little trickier. For Turkey to get her fleet into the Black Sea can be important. If she achieves this, she can convoy armies north. This is often the key to a successful attack on Russia... quick and easy. And, of course, the fleet has access to Bulgaria, Rumania and Sevastopol.
However, Turkey needs to get fleets into the Mediterranean, so F Ank-Con is just as good. This allows her to access the Aegean Sea or move to Bulgaria, either coast. If she's looking to get into the Med, though, that has to be Bul(sc).
But can Turkey afford to let Russia order F Sev-BLA? If a fleet there is important to Turkey, isn't it equally important to Russia? Well, actually, probably not. Turkey can deal with a Russian fleet in the Black Sea better than Russia can deal with a Turkish fleet there. If Turkey has ordered A Smy-Arm/Con/Ank and F Ank-Con/Arm then her two Black Sea SCs are safe. Given that the army in Smyrna is not going to move to Syria, this means that Turkey can cover these SCs 100% of the time. Even if the army in Smyrna is bounced from Armenia these SCs are still covered.
So Turkey can afford to let Russia have the Black Sea. It may mean she doesn't make the progress she'd like in 1901, if she has to defend, but it isn't fatal.
What Turkey does in Fall 1901, however, can have a much bigger impact on her game, potentially. Does she help Austria take Rumania, or does she get help into Rumania? Does she try to keep Greece unoccupied or try for it herself? Who does she ally with?
Austria is a good choice for Turkey. Not only does the Osturk alliance allow Turkey and Austria to split the Balkans between them in 1901 if they choose, it leaves Turkey behind Austria later in the game. What Turkey should aim to get from this alliance, however, is Greece. If she gives Greece ot Austria, she runs the risk of being hemmed in.
Italy is also a good choice for Turkey. The Unholy alliance means Austria is in trouble. The only problem with this is that it is likely to mean that Russia is a problem. It may take some time for Italy and Turkey to get into a position to attack Russia but it's doable. And, again, when the waters settle, Turkey is at Italy's back.
Ideally, for quick progress, the Unholy alliance should probably be a triple alliance with Russia, the Southern Arc. This means Austria is doomed from the start, and it keeps Russia onside until the Italo-Turkish alliance can spring to the attack.
The Juggernaut is probably the most well-known of Turkey's alliance options. In this alliance, she sides with Russia. This brings the east side of the board together and allows the two to trundle across the map. The problem with this alliance is that every other power on the board is looking for it and will take steps to prevent it. The only possible exception to this is France, who may well look to turn it into the triple alliance I call the Bridge. France can gain a lot from the other powers all focused on stopping the Jug.
However, the Juggernaut can cause Turkey problems. It is common for Russia to make faster progress than Turkey, having a wider frontier accessible to her armies. While she uses Turkish armies to move east, Turkey has little help from Russia in her wars. French and Italian fleets can easily blockade Turkey.
Actually, there are few alliances that are negative for Turkey... providing she's part of it, of course. Maybe that's one of the reasons that she often gets isolated: she's difficult to break down (as I've said above) and then there's the fact that with her neighbours she's in a position to stab.
So I'd suggest that Turkey should also be looking to form an alliance from across the board - Germany, England or France. Of these, the Anglo-Turkish alliance (the Coven) is useful. England attacks Russia from the north, Turkey from the south. If successful, they are in a position to form an alternative juggernaut.
The Franco-Turkish alliance - the Mediterranean - is about sea domination from either end of the Med. As such it can take some time to come into play.
The Germano-Turkish Railroad alliance is again principally aimed at Russia. If this can be part of the triple alliance I call the Bear Trap by adding Austria, then Russia is definitely in trouble.
Turkey has a number of choices. Her biggest obstacle is in changing any alliance she builds into a win, rather than just surviving.
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