Diplomacy - Basics of Austrian Opening Strategy

[@Triumvir412]

Well, it certainly isn't easy - that's for sure! For every time some does what I want, someone else does exactly the opposite of what I want. The two biggest pieces of advice I couldd give would be (1) only lie when you have to - people are more likely to do what you want if you have been trustworthy, and (2) convince them that your way is the best way for THEM. No one cares how it will help you - let them know your plan will help them. Hope that helps. Thanks for watching.

[@ronmoe4899]

Thanks! I really enjoy watching your videos, and have done much better in my games using some of your strategies. Still haven't gotten a solo, but have gotten quite a few 3 or 4 way draws lately, have not been defeated nearly as much :)

[@conradoyens4935]

Nice overview. There's just one point that I have to dispute. You say that Austria can offer Greece to Turkey on the condition that Turkey doesn't build fleets. It should be the opposite, in this alliance Austria wants Turkey to exclusively build fleets and move against Italy, while Austria battles Russia. That said, the alliance with Turkey is not very desirable in itself. Much better prospects are to be found in a Lepanto alongside Italy.

[@Triumvir412]

I agree that a long-term alliance with Turkey is undesirable. That's actually why I like for Turkey to build armies. Turkish armies tend to get stuck in his home-centers where they can do little-to-no damage to Austria. Turkish fleets, on the other hand, can be very dangerous to an Austrian solo, as they can dominate the Mediterranean. The Lepanto has its advantages, but also its dangers. In general, though, I'm happy with whatever allies I can get as Austria. It's better than being stuck between a Juggernaut and a hostile Italian! Thanks for the comment. Glad you liked the vid.

[@HighlyCruciferous]

Before worrying about the solo, Austria must concentrate on survival. Turkish armies are extremely threatening to Austrian centers and an army-heavy Turkish ally can organize all sorts of nasty stabs.

[@gml4]

I agree with Conrad, I think an A/T alliance with Turkey focusing on building only fleets, while Austria builds armies make for an interesting game. Define the borders clearly, (while making everyone believe your about to backstab each other) creates a really cool game.

[@Triumvir412]

gml4 That's a nice idea but I have never seen it work out that nicely (at least if A or T wants to eventually solo). Simple fact of the matter is that Austria's nearest 18 centers include Turkish territory. A/T works really well as an early alliance. It works really well as a stalemate builder against a large Western power. Not so well if one of the two (A or T) intends to solo.

[@101jir]

When you were talking about Austria and Germany, it reminded me of my first game, and my only game of original Diplomacy (I had also played 1 game of Chaos Diplomacy as Belgium). Russia told me that Austria was planning on attacking me, and in the same message also suggested a DMZ in Prussia, Sicily, and that I wait until Fall to move into Denmark. I sent a message to Austria telling that player that Russia had said this, and if it were indeed true it was a terrible idea, and went on to explain how vulnerable that would make him. Austria told me that Russia had told him I was planning on invading him, and I checked with Italy and Turkey and found that they too had been lied to by Russia. After talking to all the others, I contacted Russia and agreed while feigning hesitation. The next move, I immediately backstabbed Russia and moved into all three locations he had told me not to move to. Turkey moved into the Black Sea, which I assume they too had an agreement to DMZ, and in a nutshell everyone that could backstabbed Russia simultaneously,. Britain had St. Petersburg, I had Warsaw, and Turkey had Sevastapol. Unfortunately, when I warned Italy that Turkey was lining up a backstab, Italy not only disagreed (never replied), but actually told Turkey that I had warned him. I had warned Austria as well, and though Austria saw my point that Turkey could theoretically backstab him, didn't think that it was actually his intention, and was supposedly saving up for a bigger backstab of Turkey. Well, Turkey backstabbed all three of us in the same turn (I wasn't originally a target until Italy told him about my warning) and formed a juggernaut alliance with a near-death Russia that was now able to make an amazing comeback. During all this, the first France player was pretty much my puppet. France and Britain got locked in a stalemated war, while Italy had been hopelessly spamming the same move to attack Marsaille over and over (we were all new to the game).

[@Triumvir412]

Getting Germany to invade Russia is easier said than done. In most cases, Germany is too worried about his western neighbors (France and England) than he is about Russia. Sometimes you can get Germany to pester Russia in Sweden, but an all out invasion would take a great deal of convincing indeed.

[@TheFunRevival]

Enjoy your videos, congratulations on graduating soon. its odd you are about finished, I remember watching these videos for the first time and reading comments from a year ago about you being in school. Congrats again, its a long commitment. looking forward to the possibility of more videos.

[@Triumvir412]

Glad you enjoyed (and best of luck in your game). I hope I can make more, too. Need to find the time to get playing again!

[@Triumvir412]

I would say the best thing you can do is convince Russia or Turkey to team up with you rather than with the other. I have had good luck with this tactic. Pointing out to both that the Juggernaut will be met with aggression for all 5 other nations can get them to "see the light."

[@Triumvir412]

Glad that they're helping. If you have other questions, feel free to ask them. Hopefully I'll be able to get back into playing/making vids soon. I'm graduating with my Master's Degree in a couple weeks...it's kept me pretty busy lately!

[@garyzottoli9466]

Really enjoy the video - really helps with my Austria game. If the juggernaut alliance between Turkey and Russia is unavoidable, what's the best way to respond as Austria?

[@dclark142002]

Alliance with Germany (almost required in every game) - conservative Lepanto play with Italy (not Key Lepanto) to limit Ottoman gains in the Balkans. Encourage the UK to get involved in Scandinavia, which reduces the pressure on Germany and allows a joint defence of Central Europe. You want the Lepanto to be public since the juggernaut I assume would be public (or at least state the Lepanto is a response to a Juggernaut). This forces the Ottoman player to focus on building fleets instead of armies...and forces the Russian player to focus on the northern war rather than the center. It gives you a freer hand in the Balkan supply centers and reduces the pressure on central Europe. I almost always open as Austria with a public hedgehog: A TRI to VEN - Keep Italy out of the Alps A VIE to GAL - Keep Russia from attacking A BUD to SER - gain supply center I tell all players that this will be my move and it is non-negotiable. What is negotiable is F'01. As Austria, your first priority is to find a friend of two of the following people (Germany, Italy, Russia). If you can gain one solid ally and a friend in S'01, F'01 and following goes much better...even if you only got one build.

[@lucasmayer2412]

I found that a good introduction with a lot of important points mentioned. I believe a lot of players have the wrong attitude playing Austria. To play Austria you have to know that you are dead from the start. So you can be brave because you have nothing to lose. When you get to 1903 with 6 or more centers then you are not dead anymore. I would never play a different move than Bud-Ser and Tri-Alb to go for both Gre and Ser. I would never let Turkey into Gre. Vie is more flexible depending on my feeling either Vie-Gal, Vie-Tri or Vie-Bud is the choice. A hedgehog is too timid in my eyes. It says basically "I`m dead and I just wait to finish me off". The Rum-version mentioned here is even worse because Ser can be blocked from Turkey in the fall and then I have no build at all. An interesting possibility that was not mentioned here is the so called Trieste treaty. That means giving Tri to Italy and attack Turkey together. It is somehow counterintuitive to give up one home SC but it gives you a lot of steam in your attack and that is what actually lets you survive. In this variation Italy does often not even take Tun in 1901 but moves to Aeg or Eas to put pressure on Turkey immediatly. When everything works fine Italy gives Tri back in 1903 or 1904 but this temporary loan to Italy had ensured the win of Bul for Austria and Smy for Italy. Of course giving Tri to Italy comes with some risk but you are Austria and you have got nothing to lose...

[@jonhatter]

Good thoughts. I like the concept behind the sacrifice of TRI but that was obviously more complex than I wanted to get in a "basics" type of video.

[@Triumvir412]

I've really got to pay better attention to which account I'm using before I comment on these things...lol

[@ronmoe4899]

how do you get people to do as you say so easily? any tips on diplomatic part of the game? i have the strategy part down, so i'm able to do well in gunboats, but i was a hard time in regular games

[@Supermario0727]

I don't know why, but I usually draw Austria-Hungary when I play Diplomacy online. Anyways, in my experience, Austria-Hungary is most successful when allied trustingly with Italy. A strong bond between the two against Turkey never seems to fail, especially when Russia is kept at bay.

[@Triumvir412]

In my experience, you can never say never in Diplomacy. The success of your "never failing" alliance between Italy and Austria relies on a number of assumptions that you can't always count on. The necessary mutual trust you mention is not always there. Russia remaining uninvolved (and unallied with Turkey) certainly can't be presumed. Success is also dependent on France staying out of the Med (or else Italy has to split his focus). Don't get me wrong, I love gaining Italy as a strong ally when I draw Austria, and it does make life immeasurably less complicated, but it's far from unbeatable. Appreciate your comment!

[@brickkid30]

Wish u could finish this series

[@Triumvir412]

Every once in a while I entertain the idea of coming back to wrap it up. Maybe one day I'll surprise you...

[@brickkid30]

Ik there's other guides, but u got a charm with ur words, even with that shitty fan noise in the background

[@Triumvir412]

@@brickkid30 🤣 I haven't watched the videos in a while but I'm pretty sure that was someone in the shower.

[@1okie908]

Hi, I love your videos, will you be making any more?

[@Triumvir412]

I would love to eventually. Really want to finish the series on opening strategies. Been in grad school for the lasts few years, so it's just hard to find the time. Thanks for watching! Glad you enjoy them.

[@1okie908]

No problem, just glad they exist, they have been very helpful!

[@mattrey97]

Hi, Thanks for making this video, its very helpful. whats the name of the software you are using to view the game. is this an online site or do you have to buy a cd or something. thanks

[@Triumvir412]

The software I use to view the game is called jDip. It's open source so if you do a web search for it, you should be able to find the download pretty easily. Glad you found the video helpful. Thanks for watching.

[@josephaskins8575]

Going to play my first game tonight! Hope you can make some more of these!

[@alendsefermohamad]

i was austria. had a juggernaut alliance i distroyed both. had alliance with UK . uk went to Russia from north, while i am attacking french for him. i took vinice when italy gave up and alliance.

[@markleadon8188]

Good stuff but a key lepento would be good to talk about. This takes some guts but if you have them can be extremely worthwhile. For those who are not familiar it has the Italian unit moving through Trieste to Serbia whilst Austria goes to Rumania.

[@Triumvir412]

Of course, you're right! Someone else pointed out that I had failed to mention that possibility. A valid (and surprisingly popular) strategy, but not one that I have any experience with (either as Austria or as Italy). Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@markleadon8188]

I've done it a few times and lived to tell the tale but it takes loads of guts. It also can stop the juggernault. It also gets you very close to Italy (more than other early alliances because of the trust needed). Any key suggestion in spring 1901 must come from Austria not Italy because of the risk taken

[@Triumvir412]

Yeah. The suggestion should certainly come from Austria. I would NEVER trust an Italian player who suggested a Key.

[@liamhayleyfiveash3453]

I have an alliance with Austria and Italy

[@Triumvir412]

Playing as which country? (Also, if this is an on-going game on Webdiplomacy, you should wait until it’s finished to talk about it.)