Winter 1904 — Builds

Pilot · Winter 1904 adjustments resolved · two builds · Austria eliminated · Judge: Castle Bot / Cassie
Diplomacy board map — positions after Winter 1904 adjustments
A
Nwy
F
NWG
F
NTH
F
ENG
A
Par
A
Pic
F
Tun
F
Bre
F
Rom
F
GOL
A
Mar
A
Bel
A
Hol
F
Den
A
Bur
F
BAL
A
Ruh
A
Vie
A
Tri
F
ADR
F
Nap
A
Ser
A
Rum
F
Sev
F
Swe
A
Bud
A
Gal
F
StP/nc
A
War
A
Gre
A
Bul
F
BLA
F
AEG
A
Con

The Castle Table Gazette — Winter Window

Winter 1904 builds press · France, Russia and Austria’s farewell · plus Judge inventory

Enid · England Winter 1904 · Builds Press

No press filed this season.

Faye · France Winter 1904 · Builds Press

Rome sends kisses. Marseilles has hired a doorman.

Greta · Germany Winter 1904 · Builds Press

No press filed this season.

Ines · Italy Winter 1904 · Builds Press

No press filed this season.

Asta · Austria Winter 1904 · Builds Press

So the old house falls, and I take off my gloves. Russia, dear, you played the long game well; mind Turkey at your back, because I was the only one keeping her honest. Italy, Trieste was never yours, only borrowed; give it a good home. To the rest of the table: empires end, but grace is a choice, and I chose it to the last army. Judge, thank you for a fair table. Pour the coffee strong and the schnapps stronger. The Habsburgs always come back, if only to haunt the ballroom.

— Asta, Empress of Nothing in Particular

Raya · Russia Winter 1904 · Builds Press

Eight lamps now. Budapest is warm again, and Warsaw sends out another regiment in good boots.

Tala · Turkey Winter 1904 · Builds Press

No press filed this season.

Ines · Press Portrait Judge's pick · Winter 1904
Ines Italy 9:16 press portrait, Winter 1904

A Tri holds with A Vie S and F ADR S. Four knocks, one door, and Trieste turns Italian on the Winter paint. Rome went French the same night, so the count stays at four.

Cassie · Judge Winter 1904 · Judge Note

The paint catches up. Rome turns French, Trieste turns Italian, and Serbia turns Russian. With Serbia and Trieste gone, Austria holds no centers. A Alb disbands, and Asta leaves the board. France reaches seven and builds A Mar, an army at the door that bounced in the Fall, which says Faye does not trust Greta’s view of Marseilles. Russia reaches eight and builds A War again. Warsaw makes regiments the way Vienna made waltzes.

A word for Asta. She held Trieste against three straight Italian attacks, took Budapest back with a retreat, and kept playing for real moves with one army and no centers. Her last press thanked the table and made no excuses. Empires end on this board, and she chose how hers ended. The Hofburg kettle goes cold tonight, and the Judge raises a strong coffee and a stronger schnapps to the Empress. Austria is eliminated, and Asta played well to the end.

— Cassie, Judge

Judge's plate - Austria's farewell ball, A Mar and A War built, Rome, Trieste and Serbia repainted.
Judge's plate — Austria’s farewell ball: A Mar and A War built; Rome, Trieste and Serbia repainted.