Napoleonic Empire - 5ppl - Free for All (Noll - Veqryn - Alex - Wheat - Gekk)

austria is not declaring war on anybody

TripleA Turn Summary for game: Napoleonic Empires: FFA 5 Player, version: 4.0.7

Game History

Round :3

Combat Move - UnitedKingdom
            1 Artillery, 1 Grenadiers and 1 Marines moved from Brittany to SZ36
            1 Frigate moved from SZ33 to SZ31
            1 Marines moved from Connaught to SZ31
            1 Marines moved from Connaught to Munster
            1 Marines moved from SZ31 to Munster
            1 Artillery, 1 Fusiliers and 2 Mariness moved from Essex to SZ29
            1 Artillery, 2 Barques, 1 Cutter, 1 Fusiliers and 2 Mariness moved from SZ29 to SZ12
            1 Artillery, 1 Fusiliers and 2 Mariness moved from SZ12 to Norvege
            1 Artillery, 2 Barques, 1 Battleship, 2 Brigantines, 1 Corvette, 1 Cutter, 2 Frigates, 1 Grenadiers and 1 Marines moved from SZ36 to SZ44
            1 Artillery, 1 Grenadiers and 1 Marines moved from SZ44 to Galacia
            1 General moved from Wessex to Sussex
            2 Mariness moved from Wessex to Sussex
            1 Dragoons moved from Wessex to Essex
            2 Howitzers moved from Wessex to Sussex
            3 Fusilierss moved from Wessex to Sussex
            2 Chasseurss moved from Candia to SZ82
            4 Mariness moved from Candia to SZ82
            2 Barques, 1 Battleship, 1 Brigantine, 2 Chasseurss, 2 Cutters and 4 Mariness moved from SZ82 to SZ81
            2 Chasseurss and 4 Mariness moved from SZ81 to Libya
            3 Mariness moved from West Sahara to SZ51
            1 Barque, 1 Frigate and 3 Mariness moved from SZ51 to SZ49
            3 Mariness moved from SZ49 to Algarve
            1 Artillery and 1 Fusiliers moved from Andalusia to Algarve
            1 Frigate moved from SZ51 to SZ50
                  UnitedKingdom take SZ50 from France
            1 Frigate moved from SZ50 to SZ48
            1 Corvette moved from SZ31 to SZ34
            1 Corvette moved from SZ33 to SZ41
            1 Grenadiers moved from Lancashire to Northumberland

Purchase Units - UnitedKingdom
            UnitedKingdom buy 1 Artillery, 4 Barques, 3 Fusilierss, 1 Howitzer and 2 Mariness; Remaining resources: 0 PUs;

Combat - UnitedKingdom
            Battle in Algarve
                UnitedKingdom attack with 1 Artillery, 1 Fusiliers and 3 Mariness
                Neutral defend with 4 Chasseurss
                UnitedKingdom win, taking Algarve from Neutral with 1 Artillery and 3 Mariness remaining. Battle score for attacker is 16
                Casualties for UnitedKingdom: 1 Fusiliers
                Casualties for Neutral: 4 Chasseurss
            Battle in Norvege
                UnitedKingdom attack with 1 Artillery, 1 Fusiliers and 2 Mariness
                Neutral defend with 3 Fusilierss
                UnitedKingdom win, taking Norvege from Neutral with 1 Artillery, 1 Fusiliers and 2 Mariness remaining. Battle score for attacker is 12
                Casualties for Neutral: 3 Fusilierss
            Battle in Galacia
                UnitedKingdom attack with 1 Artillery, 1 Grenadiers and 1 Marines
                Neutral defend with 1 Dragoons and 2 Fusilierss
                UnitedKingdom win, taking Galacia from Neutral with 1 Artillery and 1 Grenadiers remaining. Battle score for attacker is 8
                Casualties for UnitedKingdom: 1 Marines
                Casualties for Neutral: 1 Dragoons and 2 Fusilierss
            Battle in Munster
                UnitedKingdom attack with 2 Mariness
                Neutral defend with 1 Fusiliers
                UnitedKingdom win, taking Munster from Neutral with 1 Marines remaining. Battle score for attacker is -2
                Casualties for Neutral: 1 Fusiliers
                Casualties for UnitedKingdom: 1 Marines
            Battle in Libya
                UnitedKingdom attack with 2 Chasseurss and 4 Mariness
                Neutral defend with 3 Fusilierss
                UnitedKingdom win, taking Libya from Neutral with 2 Chasseurss and 4 Mariness remaining. Battle score for attacker is 12
                Casualties for Neutral: 3 Fusilierss

Non Combat Move - UnitedKingdom

Place Units - UnitedKingdom
            2 Barques placed in SZ35
            2 Barques placed in SZ29
            2 Mariness placed in Essex
            1 Artillery and 1 Fusiliers placed in Andalusia
            1 Fusiliers and 1 Howitzer placed in Candia
            UnitedKingdom undo move 5.
            1 Fusiliers and 1 Howitzer placed in Essex
            UnitedKingdom undo move 5.
            1 Howitzer placed in Essex
            2 Fusilierss placed in Candia

Turn Complete - UnitedKingdom
            UnitedKingdom collect 67 PUs; end with 67 PUs total

TripleA Turn Summary for game: Napoleonic Empires: FFA 5 Player, version: 4.0.7

Game History

Round :3

Combat Move - AustrianEmpire
            1 Fusiliers moved from Hungary to Transylvania
            1 Fusiliers moved from Moravia to Hungary
            1 Chasseurs, 4 Fusilierss and 2 Howitzers moved from Moravia to Krakow
            2 Chasseurss and 1 Fusiliers moved from Silesia to Krakow
            1 Fusiliers moved from Posen to Krakow
            2 Dragoonss and 1 Horse_Artillery moved from Brandenburg to Krakow
            1 Cuirassiers and 1 Dragoons moved from Prussia to Krakow
            1 Marines moved from Bologna to SZ77
            1 Fusiliers moved from Venetia to SZ77
            1 Barque, 1 Brigantine, 1 Fusiliers and 1 Marines moved from SZ77 to SZ76
            1 Fusiliers and 1 Marines moved from SZ76 to Umbria
            1 Dragoons moved from Venetia to Umbria
            1 Artillery, 1 Chasseurs, 1 Dragoons, 1 Fusiliers, 1 Horse_Artillery and 1 Howitzer moved from Bologna to Umbria
            1 Fusiliers and 1 Howitzer moved from Venetia to Bologna
            5 Mariness moved from Prussia to SZ7
            2 Barques, 1 Brigantine, 1 Cutter, 2 Frigates and 5 Mariness moved from SZ7 to SZ9
            1 Fusiliers and 1 Howitzer moved from Pomerania to SZ9
            1 Fusiliers, 1 Howitzer and 5 Mariness moved from SZ9 to Ostra Gotaland
            1 Chasseurs moved from Pomerania to Prussia
            1 General moved from Bohemia to Silesia
            1 Artillery, 3 Chasseurss and 1 Fusiliers moved from Bohemia to Moravia
            1 Grenadiers moved from Bohemia to Moravia
            1 Fusiliers moved from Prussia to Posen
            1 Fusiliers moved from Austria to Slovenia
            2 Fusilierss and 2 Howitzers moved from Austria to Moravia
            1 Grenadiers moved from Bohemia to Moravia
            2 Artillerys moved from Bohemia to Silesia
            1 Chasseurs moved from Prussia to Posen
            1 Chasseurs and 1 Howitzer moved from Brandenburg to Posen

Purchase Units - AustrianEmpire
            Turning on Edit Mode
            EDIT: Removing units owned by AustrianEmpire from SZ9: 1 Cutter
            EDIT: Adding units owned by AustrianEmpire to SZ7: 1 Cutter
            EDIT: Turning off Edit Mode
            AustrianEmpire buy 2 Artillerys, 1 Barque, 4 Fusilierss, 1 Grenadiers, 3 Howitzers and 1 Mortars; Remaining resources: 0 PUs;

Combat - AustrianEmpire
            Battle in Umbria
                AustrianEmpire attack with 1 Artillery, 1 Chasseurs, 2 Dragoonss, 2 Fusilierss, 1 Horse_Artillery, 1 Howitzer and 1 Marines
                Neutral defend with 2 Fusilierss
                    AustrianEmpire roll dice for 1 Artillery, 1 Chasseurs, 2 Dragoonss, 2 Fusilierss, 1 Horse_Artillery, 1 Howitzer and 1 Marines in Umbria, round 1 :  3/9 hits
                    Neutral roll dice for 2 Fusilierss in Umbria, round 1 :  0/2 hits
                    2 Fusilierss owned by the Neutral lost in Umbria
                AustrianEmpire win, taking Umbria from Neutral with 1 Artillery, 1 Chasseurs, 2 Dragoonss, 2 Fusilierss, 1 Horse_Artillery, 1 Howitzer and 1 Marines remaining. Battle score for attacker is 8
                Casualties for Neutral: 2 Fusilierss
            Battle in Krakow
                AustrianEmpire attack with 3 Chasseurss, 1 Cuirassiers, 3 Dragoonss, 6 Fusilierss, 1 Horse_Artillery and 2 Howitzers
                Neutral defend with 2 Chasseurss and 3 Fusilierss
                    AustrianEmpire roll dice for 3 Chasseurss, 1 Cuirassiers, 3 Dragoonss, 6 Fusilierss, 1 Horse_Artillery and 2 Howitzers in Krakow, round 1 :  5/16 hits
                    Neutral roll dice for 2 Chasseurss and 3 Fusilierss in Krakow, round 1 :  1/5 hits
                    2 Chasseurss owned by the Neutral , 1 Fusiliers owned by the AustrianEmpire and 3 Fusilierss owned by the Neutral lost in Krakow
                AustrianEmpire win, taking Krakow from Neutral with 3 Chasseurss, 1 Cuirassiers, 3 Dragoonss, 5 Fusilierss, 1 Horse_Artillery and 2 Howitzers remaining. Battle score for attacker is 18
                Casualties for Neutral: 2 Chasseurss and 3 Fusilierss
                Casualties for AustrianEmpire: 1 Fusiliers
            Battle in Ostra Gotaland
                AustrianEmpire attack with 1 Fusiliers, 1 Howitzer and 5 Mariness
                Neutral defend with 3 Fusilierss
                    AustrianEmpire roll dice for 2 Frigates in Ostra Gotaland, round 1 :  1/2 hits
                    1 Fusiliers owned by the Neutral lost in Ostra Gotaland
                    AustrianEmpire roll dice for 1 Fusiliers, 1 Howitzer and 5 Mariness in Ostra Gotaland, round 1 :  5/7 hits
                    Neutral roll dice for 2 Fusilierss in Ostra Gotaland, round 1 :  0/2 hits
                    2 Fusilierss owned by the Neutral lost in Ostra Gotaland
                AustrianEmpire win, taking Ostra Gotaland from Neutral with 1 Fusiliers, 1 Howitzer and 5 Mariness remaining. Battle score for attacker is 12
                Casualties for Neutral: 3 Fusilierss

Non Combat Move - AustrianEmpire

Place Units - AustrianEmpire
            1 Barque placed in SZ7
            1 Fusiliers, 1 Howitzer and 1 Mortars placed in Prussia
            1 Grenadiers placed in Silesia
            2 Artillerys, 3 Fusilierss and 2 Howitzers placed in Austria

Turn Complete - AustrianEmpire
            AustrianEmpire collect 63 PUs; end with 63 PUs total

Territory Summary for AustrianEmpire :

Slavonia : 1 flag, 1 Fortress
    Brandenburg : 1 flag, 1 Artillery, 1 Fortress and 2 Fusilierss
    Silesia : 1 flag, 2 Artillerys, 1 General and 1 Grenadiers
    SZ9 : 1 flag, 2 Barques, 1 Brigantine and 2 Frigates
    Transylvania : 1 flag, 1 Fusiliers
    Hungary : 1 flag, 1 Fusiliers
    Austria : 1 flag, 2 Artillerys, 1 Capital, 3 Fusilierss, 2 Howitzers and 1 Mortella_Tower
    Venetia : 1 flag
    SZ7 : 1 flag, 1 Barque and 1 Cutter
    Bologna : 1 flag, 1 Fusiliers and 1 Howitzer
    Moravia : 1 flag, 1 Artillery, 3 Chasseurss, 3 Fusilierss, 2 Grenadierss and 2 Howitzers
    Salzburg : 1 flag, 1 Fortress
    Krakow : 1 flag, 3 Chasseurss, 1 Cuirassiers, 3 Dragoonss, 5 Fusilierss, 1 Horse_Artillery and 2 Howitzers
    Posen : 1 flag, 2 Chasseurss, 1 Fusiliers and 1 Howitzer
    Prussia : 1 flag, 1 Artillery, 2 Chasseurss, 1 Fusiliers, 1 General, 1 Grenadiers, 1 Howitzer, 1 Mortars and 1 Mortella_Tower
    SZ11 : 1 flag, 1 Brigantine
    Mecklenburg : 1 flag
    Hollande : 1 flag, 2 Mortella_Towers
    Bavaria : 1 flag
    Magdeburg : 1 flag
    Umbria : 1 flag, 1 Artillery, 1 Chasseurs, 2 Dragoonss, 2 Fusilierss, 1 Horse_Artillery, 1 Howitzer and 1 Marines
    Ostra Gotaland : 1 flag, 1 Fusiliers, 1 Howitzer and 5 Mariness
    SZ76 : 1 flag, 1 Barque and 1 Brigantine
    Slovenia : 1 flag, 1 Fusiliers

Production/PUs Summary :

France : 53 / 63
    UnitedKingdom : 67 / 67
    AustrianEmpire : 63 / 63
    OttomanEmpire : 57 / 68
    Russia : 60 / 60

Dice Statistics:

Total
            1 was rolled 7 times
            2 was rolled 7 times
            3 was rolled 6 times
            4 was rolled 4 times
            5 was rolled 11 times
            6 was rolled 8 times
        Average roll : 3.674
        Median : 4.000
        Variance : 0.643
        Standard Deviation : 0.802
        Total rolls : 43

Neutral Combat
            3 was rolled 2 times
            4 was rolled 2 times
            5 was rolled 3 times
            6 was rolled 2 times
        Average roll : 4.556
        Median : 5.000
        Variance : 1.125
        Standard Deviation : 1.061
        Total rolls : 9

AustrianEmpire Combat
            1 was rolled 7 times
            2 was rolled 7 times
            3 was rolled 4 times
            4 was rolled 2 times
            5 was rolled 8 times
            6 was rolled 6 times
        Average roll : 3.441
        Median : 3.000
        Variance : 0.848
        Standard Deviation : 0.921
        Total rolls : 34

TripleA Turn Summary for game: Napoleonic Empires: FFA 5 Player, version: 4.0.7

Game History

Round :3

Combat Move - OttomanEmpire
            2 Barques, 2 Brigantines, 1 Chasseurs, 1 Dragoons and 3 Mariness moved from SZ59 to SZ64
            1 Chasseurs, 1 Dragoons and 3 Mariness moved from SZ64 to Sardinia
            1 Dragoons, 2 Fusilierss, 1 Horse_Artillery and 1 Hussars moved from Palestine to Sinai
            1 Fusiliers moved from Egypt to Sinai

Purchase Units - OttomanEmpire
            OttomanEmpire buy 1 Brigantine, 2 Cutters, 1 Frigate and 6 Mariness; Remaining resources: 0 PUs;

Combat - OttomanEmpire
            Battle in Sardinia
                OttomanEmpire attack with 1 Chasseurs, 1 Dragoons and 3 Mariness
                Neutral defend with 1 Chasseurs and 2 Fusilierss
                    OttomanEmpire roll dice for 1 Chasseurs, 1 Dragoons and 3 Mariness in Sardinia, round 1 :  2/5 hits
                    Neutral roll dice for 1 Chasseurs and 2 Fusilierss in Sardinia, round 1 :  0/3 hits
                    2 Fusilierss owned by the Neutral lost in Sardinia
                    OttomanEmpire roll dice for 1 Chasseurs, 1 Dragoons and 3 Mariness in Sardinia, round 2 :  1/5 hits
                    Neutral roll dice for 1 Chasseurs in Sardinia, round 2 :  1/1 hits
                    1 Chasseurs owned by the OttomanEmpire and 1 Chasseurs owned by the Neutral lost in Sardinia
                OttomanEmpire win, taking Sardinia from Neutral with 1 Dragoons and 3 Mariness remaining. Battle score for attacker is 8
                Casualties for OttomanEmpire: 1 Chasseurs
                Casualties for Neutral: 1 Chasseurs and 2 Fusilierss
            Battle in Sinai
                OttomanEmpire attack with 1 Dragoons, 3 Fusilierss, 1 Horse_Artillery and 1 Hussars
                Neutral defend with 3 Fusilierss
                    OttomanEmpire roll dice for 1 Dragoons, 3 Fusilierss, 1 Horse_Artillery and 1 Hussars in Sinai, round 1 :  2/6 hits
                    Neutral roll dice for 3 Fusilierss in Sinai, round 1 :  0/3 hits
                    2 Fusilierss owned by the Neutral lost in Sinai
                    OttomanEmpire roll dice for 1 Dragoons, 3 Fusilierss, 1 Horse_Artillery and 1 Hussars in Sinai, round 2 :  1/6 hits
                    Neutral roll dice for 1 Fusiliers in Sinai, round 2 :  0/1 hits
                    1 Fusiliers owned by the Neutral lost in Sinai
                OttomanEmpire win, taking Sinai from Neutral with 1 Dragoons, 3 Fusilierss, 1 Horse_Artillery and 1 Hussars remaining. Battle score for attacker is 12
                Casualties for Neutral: 3 Fusilierss

Non Combat Move - OttomanEmpire
            1 Cutter moved from SZ82 to SZ81
            2 Mariness moved from Egypt to SZ86
            1 Chasseurs moved from Smyrna to SZ82
            1 Barque, 1 Frigate and 2 Mariness moved from SZ86 to SZ82
            1 Chasseurs moved from Smyrna to SZ82
            2 Mariness moved from Smyrna to SZ82
            2 Chasseurss and 4 Mariness moved from SZ82 to Candia
            1 General moved from Smyrna to Kiutayeh
            1 Horse_Artillery moved from Kiutayeh to Karamania
            1 Horse_Artillery and 1 Hussars moved from Smyrna to Tarsus
            1 Fusiliers moved from Bulgaria to Macedonia
            1 Chasseurs moved from Macedonia to Constantinople
            4 Fusilierss and 2 Howitzers moved from Macedonia to Thessaly
            4 Fusilierss and 3 Howitzers moved from Constantinople to Macedonia
            2 Artillerys and 4 Fusilierss moved from Smyrna to Kiutayeh
            2 Fusilierss moved from Smyrna to Kiutayeh
            1 Howitzer moved from Smyrna to Kiutayeh

Place Units - OttomanEmpire
            1 Brigantine, 1 Cutter and 1 Frigate placed in SZ85
            1 Cutter placed in SZ84
            OttomanEmpire undo move 2.
            OttomanEmpire undo move 1.
            3 Mariness placed in Kiutayeh
            OttomanEmpire undo move 1.
            1 Cutter and 1 Frigate placed in SZ85
            1 Marines placed in Kiutayeh
            OttomanEmpire undo move 2.
            OttomanEmpire undo move 1.
            3 Mariness placed in Kiutayeh
            3 Mariness placed in Constantinople
            1 Brigantine, 2 Cutters and 1 Frigate placed in SZ84

Turn Complete - OttomanEmpire
            OttomanEmpire collect 60 PUs; end with 60 PUs total

Production/PUs Summary :

France : 53 / 63
    UnitedKingdom : 67 / 67
    AustrianEmpire : 63 / 63
    OttomanEmpire : 60 / 60
    Russia : 60 / 60

Turn up tonight, had a live game yesterday :)

TripleA Turn Summary for game: Napoleonic Empires: FFA 5 Player, version: 4.0.7

Game History

Round :3

Combat Move - Russia
            1 Hussars moved from Astrakahn to Kirghix
            1 Horse_Artillery moved from Astrakahn to Kirghix
            1 Fusiliers moved from Astrakahn to Tsaritsyn
            1 Battleship moved from SZ101 to SZ98
            1 Brigantine moved from SZ101 to SZ98
            1 Barque moved from SZ2 to SZ3
            1 Barque moved from SZ2 to SZ3
            1 Barque moved from SZ2 to SZ3
            1 Cutter moved from SZ2 to SZ3
            1 Cutter moved from SZ2 to SZ3
            1 Kutusov moved from Kiev to Minsk
            1 Hussars moved from Kiev to Minsk
            1 Cuirassiers moved from Kiev to Minsk
            1 Cuirassiers moved from Kiev to Minsk
            1 General moved from Kiev to Severia
            1 Chasseurs moved from Odessa to Kiev
            1 Fusiliers moved from Odessa to Kiev
            1 Dragoons moved from Galicia to Minsk
            1 Dragoons moved from Galicia to Minsk
            1 Dragoons moved from Galicia to Minsk
            1 Artillery moved from Galicia to Kiev
            1 Artillery moved from Galicia to Kiev
            3 Fusilierss and 3 Howitzers moved from Novgorod to Minsk
            1 Dragoons moved from Karelia to Minsk
            1 Cuirassiers moved from Karelia to Minsk
            1 Cuirassiers moved from Karelia to Minsk
            2 Artillerys, 3 Chasseurss and 2 Howitzers moved from Karelia to Ingria
            1 Marines moved from Warszowa to Minsk
            1 Grenadiers moved from Warszowa to Minsk
            1 Chasseurs moved from Moscovia to Severia
            1 Chasseurs moved from Moscovia to Severia
            1 Chasseurs moved from Moscovia to Severia
            1 Barque moved from SZ101 to SZ98
            1 Fusiliers moved from Astrakahn to Mordvins
            1 Fusiliers moved from Astrakahn to SZ103
            1 Barque and 1 Fusiliers moved from SZ103 to SZ102
            1 Fusiliers moved from SZ102 to Kirghix

Purchase Units - Russia
            Russia buy 2 Chasseurss, 1 Dragoons, 1 Frigate, 3 Fusilierss, 1 General and 1 Grenadiers; Remaining resources: 0 PUs;

Combat - Russia

Non Combat Move - Russia
            1 Cutter moved from SZ3 to SZ4

Place Units - Russia
            2 Chasseurss placed in Severia
            1 General placed in Moscovia
            2 Fusilierss and 1 Grenadiers placed in Minsk
            Russia undo move 2.
            1 Dragoons and 1 Fusiliers placed in Moscovia
            1 General placed in Moscovia
            Russia undo move 4.
            1 General placed in Moscovia
            Turning on Edit Mode
            EDIT: Adding units owned by Russia to Ingria: 1 Encampment
            EDIT: Changing PUs for Russia from 0 to 2
            EDIT: Turning off Edit Mode
            1 Frigate were produced but were not placed

Turn Complete - Russia
            Russia collect 60 PUs; end with 62 PUs total

apologies, discovered I cant build ships as I have no coastal facility. I converted the 12 into an encampment and edited 2 more PUs into my treasury. The 12 for the unplacable ship are not returned, apparently, so everything should be fine. If not, please let me know.

Also, for the record: Sweden is very well defended, compared to Middle Europe territories that are worth the same or even less. 19 units in just two territories. I get 7 territories or so for 19 hostile units elsewhere, and much more cash in return as those seven are worth more than the meagre three for Finland and Karelia together. Just an observation.

Also the +6 NO for killing $6 worth of units is more easily obtained when fighting the 19 units over 7 territories…

Russia offers

• eternal friendship to the Finnish people (and their military)
• probably not as much friendship (but a lot of best wishes) to the good people in our South-East
• an improvement in diplomatic relations with France to the next possible step (whatever that is, if any, cant remember where we stand)
• a cold winter to Austria, should this agressive buildup over the whole border (no more neutrals to take, if the Tzar remembers correctly) mean more than improving the beverage-based economy of far-flung provinces; as for Russia, no misguided intention to go to war with Austria we harbour.

@Gargantua:

Also the +6 NO for killing $6 worth of units is more easily obtained when fighting the 19 units over 7 territories…

no national bonus for killing “neutrals” is awarded.
there might be a few more neutrals in the middle east next version, but for your information, the number of units is not the only thing making them hard to task (the other is location, and the number of other powers who can possibly take it [and whether there is a VC in the region or not]).

Veq I see the point and its not criticism.

But in case of KArelia and esp. Finland: Costs like hell, worth nothing, next VC far away (did I overlook?) - need to burn through yet more troops if I dont invade by sea, own units far away from any human player border if in Finland (again, unless transported by ships, but Russias fleet not competitive and not even a factory from start –> Petersburg should have one, really), so out of action;

same is true for Persia; not too badly defended, and own troops even farther away from human players; not doable without a general, if I even want to send my men dying there.
Factor in that Russia has less money overall, probably less troops at start (didnt count both claims, looks like though) while all other nations can take lightly defended neutrals and remain in the main theatre still.

Having said all this, again, no complaints, I am easy whichever way this game goes. I like the setting and appreciate the hard work that went into the map already.

Russia generally does really well, because they are well positioned to attack many theaters without as much risk as other players.

Karelia is needed for your to take if you want to use your navy up north.  Finland is connected to your capital and can only be accessed by Russia (Austria sure as hell isn’t taking it).  Once you attack Karelia, you may as well use your troops for Finland (or not, up to you).  Therefor both, despite being heavily defended, are an advantage for you.

Most importantly, you don’t piss anyone off by taking them.

Compare that with the Middle East, or the austria/russia border.  In the middle east, take too much and you piss off the Ottomans (and maybe the french or uk, depending on the game).  And of course, taking the ones bordering Austria will piss off Austria.

The neutrals in the middle east are far away from capitals and can be accessed by 2-4 powers.  You will see that if Russia and the Ottomans ever go to war, those neutrals are incredibly hard to hold onto both any power in the game. 
(though i may still add a few more for next version)

anyway, glad you are liking the game!

respectful and constructive criticism is always welcome

It IS true that Russia has not as many open flanks as others, and I do not forget that advantage. But about Finland and Karelia, they are simply not worth it (or only with guaranteed peace with A and O for a looong time). How many turns do I have to hold both for making this worthwile? Every unit lost costs one more PU minimum than what I get for holding both territories for one game round. Add cavalry, artillery losses…you get the picture. And the amount needed is massive, hence why you have to rely on A and O holding still (granted again, they have to worry more than Russia does about the rest of the world).

But ok, strategies differ and one opinion (mine) does not cover all situations and neither all plans another player might have.
The one thing I do criticise is that those Russians ships up north are not available until Karelia is attacked, and that is truly unfair for players who decide that going in is not advantageous at all. Only for the navy you shouldnt be exposed to so many enemies (and a gain of one PU per turn).

Not all neutrals must be taken in all games.

Actually, I like having some neutrals last until 10+ rounds later.

Also, taking finland might be easier with low luck, cus you exactly how much to send to wipe it out round 1, therefore limiting your losses to absolute minimum number of units.