I just don't have time for the creative writing we're all used to, but here's an update on a fantastic game thus far:

We're in round 8. The CPs have eliminated Russia, but the French have their army based in the Rhineland. Spain teeters on the edge of joining the Allies outright, while Italy is firmly in the CP camp. Bulgaria was conquered by the Ottomans a few rounds back; their income is about 30. Unfortunately, so is Germany's. The UK is fully in the game, thanks to a botched naval attack that would have gotten the German admiral court-martialed... if he hadn't been killed in the process. UK is close to making a huge impact, but it's only a one-front war from here on out. The Ottomans are attempting an assault on Egypt, but odds are it will take a few turns to get it, if the siege is successful at all. However, the Turks also can rail troops right into Vienna at will, so the CPs mobility is ideal at the moment. The Allies still rule the Mediterranean as well as the Atlantic, so not much opportunity exists for the Ottomans to expand further.

This game would have been over in round 4, but a mustard gas attack (versus only gas masks) on the French infantry massed in Champagne yielded only 4 casualties, causing the Western Front to rupture. I was gambling on inflicting enough damage on that force to buy time to finish my one-two assault on Poland. The Russian part worked flawlessly... only problem was the Germans pretty much had to concede permanent control of western Germany due to the bad gas. Since then, I have not scored a single gas casualty. All the Allies have storm troops, while all of the CPs have mustard gas. The Western Front seems to be headed to stalemate... about four hundred miles east of where it was historically. The wildcards are the neutrals. Spain mobilizing could rupture the lines, as could Italy. Right now, Austrian troops have crossed over into Burgundy through Italy, though it probably won't be enough to hold Lyons for a round or two. Pete's reaction should be interesting, though. There's nothing left in France - his whole army is in Germany.