DoMeBo Diplomacy?

[garygnu]

Who's in?
Shall we use PlayDiplomacy, a Judge, or email it all to a [del:2vb3tqdh]hapless[/del:2vb3tqdh] accommodating poster?

[TheFlame]

I've never played Diplomacy before - are total n00bs welcome?

[garygnu]

Of course!!!

:mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :twisted:

[pedescribe]

I've always been intruiged by this game--how does it work?

[Boozahol Squid, P.I.]

I'm in. Unless I'm Italy. In which case, I'm in... and will soon be out.

[AllWalker]

Yeah, I'm in.

I've always liked the look of the game, and I'm long overdue for actually playing it.

Yay!

[KidVermicious]

I think I'd like to play, but I've never been very clear on how it works. Is there a rundown of the rules somewhere I could be pointed at?

[garygnu]

The official rule book can be downloaded from this page. Scroll down to the "D" section.
A quick rundown of the basics can be found here.
The Wikipedia page has good info. Sections 2 and 4 tell the basics.
The Diplomatic Pouch is my favorite of many Dip-devoted websites. You'll be most interested in the online resources page.

[hawkeyeop]

I could play again. I wasn't a big fan of PlayDiplomacy.com Alternately, I'd be willing to a hapless poster and run the game.

[Vox Imperatoris]

I suggested this on the Dope, but then was really busy for a time, but we could use the DPJudge. The only possible problem I foresee with that is that it might be a bit difficult for the person running the game to actually play it (or we could find a hapless poster to it, as has already been suggested). It is vastly superior to PlayDiplomacy.com, though, mainly because it processes instantly as soon as everyone has sent in orders (unless someone sets a wait) and doesn't let people put in screwed-up orders that won't process.

Total Diplomacy noobs are completely welcome! The resources already linked to are excellent.

[Boozahol Squid, P.I.]

It is vastly superior to PlayDiplomacy.com, though, mainly because it processes instantly as soon as everyone has sent in orders (unless someone sets a wait) and doesn't let people put in screwed-up orders that won't process.

I'm not a huge fan of PlayDiplomacy.com, but I do think that allowing screwed-up orders is necessary, and part of the game. They can be a valid tactic if used correctly, as well as a punishment for sloppy players.

If we can find a rube, I think that's the best option. In fact, if necessary, I'll be the rube.

[Vox Imperatoris]

[quote=Boozahol Squid, P.I.]

It is vastly superior to PlayDiplomacy.com, though, mainly because it processes instantly as soon as everyone has sent in orders (unless someone sets a wait) and doesn't let people put in screwed-up orders that won't process.

I'm not a huge fan of PlayDiplomacy.com, but I do think that allowing screwed-up orders is necessary, and part of the game. They can be a valid tactic if used correctly, as well as a punishment for sloppy players.[/quote:2ajifehs]

Yeah, but it took orders such as Norway-Paris without so much as a warning, which confused the heck out of noobs when I tried a game on that site. The main problem, of course, was that it was way too slow.

[garygnu]

If ALL the other players are innocent rubes, I could act as the hapless poster, as long as I can kvetch.

[Boozahol Squid, P.I.]

Our current list of players is as follows:

garygnu
TheFlame
pedescribe
AllWalker
KidV
Vox
Hawkeyeop
BSPI (me)

That makes, happily enough, 8 which is just enough for seven players and a mod.

We've had several people offer to moderate, but I'll just take the bull by the horns and appoint myself Hapless Rube Watcher-On/Moderator.

If I can just get everyone to confirm that they're playing, I'll set up a second thread and post the starting map, and country assignments. We'll play the standard game, as we have some new folks, and you can post any open press there, or send me a PM for anonymous press.

That cool with everyone?

[Boozahol Squid, P.I.]

Oh, I forgot to mention timing.
I'll process moves when everything's received. How long should we wait to decide on NMRs? Would 48 hours be too quick for folks?

[AllWalker]

Confirming my interest...

Can't be certain how well I can play, given noobness and other commitments, but I think I can squeeze it in.

Yeah. Confirmed.

[Vox Imperatoris]

If I can just get everyone to confirm that they're playing, I'll set up a second thread and post the starting map, and country assignments. We'll play the standard game, as we have some new folks, and you can post any open press there, or send me a PM for anonymous press.

That cool with everyone?

So you're just going to put the pieces on the map manually, without the use of a judge? Fine with me.

I have some experience with this game, but I'm not a hardcore player, either. I guess I've played about three or four games on the internet (none in real life, since I can never find enough people ).

ETA: Are we going to be completely randomly assigned countries, or can we choose in order of preference?

[Boozahol Squid, P.I.]

So you're just going to put the pieces on the map manually, without the use of a judge? Fine with me.

I have some experience with this game, but I'm not a hardcore player, either. I guess I've played about three or four games on the internet (none in real life, since I can never find enough people ).

ETA: Are we going to be completely randomly assigned countries, or can we choose in order of preference?

I'll be the judge!

Well, yeah. I'll receive your orders and adjudicate accordingly. I'll post the moves along with a GIF of the map for each turn, and if I screw up how the moves work out, you guys can yell at me.

I was going to just randomly assign countries. If you guys would rather, I could randomly assign a pick order.

[garygnu]

What's the experience level of the players? I've played quite a bit, so maybe I could take a weaker country.

[Boozahol Squid, P.I.]

Okay. So to make things fun andfair, we'll do a pick order. Random.org gives me this order for players

1. garygnu
2. Hawkeyeop
3. TheFlame
4. pedescribe
5. Vox
6. AllWalker
7. KidV


Gary, if you want to pick a weaker country to balance things out, you're welcome to it. If you want France or Russia, they're all yours. When I've got all seven countries picked, we'll start. I should add that if anyone else is reading this thread, I'd love to have a substitute in case someone drops out, or doesn't really want to play.

[Vox Imperatoris]

I'll take Turkey, in case no one higher up on the list wants England, in which case I'll take that.

[Harlequin]

If someone drops out, I'm willing to take his place.

[KidVermicious]

I'd like to confirm - will we need to access any sites other than here? My firewall at work blocks anything it thinks is game related...

[Boozahol Squid, P.I.]

I'd like to confirm - will we need to access any sites other than here? My firewall at work blocks anything it thinks is game related...

Nope.

[garygnu]

I'm feeling masochistic.

Italy! I choose you!

[hawkeyeop]

I'll go for Turkey.

[garygnu]

Lepanto it is, then!

[Boozahol Squid, P.I.]

1. garygnu -- confirmed -- Italy
2. Hawkeyeop -- confirmed -- Turkey
3. TheFlame
4. pedescribe
5. Vox -- confirmed
6. AllWalker --confirmed
7. KidV --confirmed

France
England
Germany
[del:qlpptzuu]Italy[/del:qlpptzuu]
Austria
Russia
[del:qlpptzuu]Turkey[/del:qlpptzuu]

[KidVermicious]

I'd like to confirm - will we need to access any sites other than here? My firewall at work blocks anything it thinks is game related...

Nope.

I'm down, then.

I pick last, huh? Figures.

[garygnu]

Boozahol, you need an avatar. Here.

[TheFlame]

I'll go for Austria.

[pedescribe]

Okay. So to make things fun andfair, we'll do a pick order. Random.org gives me this order for players

1. garygnu
2. Hawkeyeop
3. TheFlame
4. pedescribe
5. Vox
6. AllWalker
7. KidV


Gary, if you want to pick a weaker country to balance things out, you're welcome to it. If you want France or Russia, they're all yours. When I've got all seven countries picked, we'll start. I should add that if anyone else is reading this thread, I'd love to have a substitute in case someone drops out, or doesn't really want to play.

I have never played before, so I'll pick...um...Russia or England, whichever's better.

[Vox Imperatoris]

Okay. So to make things fun andfair, we'll do a pick order. Random.org gives me this order for players

1. garygnu
2. Hawkeyeop
3. TheFlame
4. pedescribe
5. Vox
6. AllWalker
7. KidV


Gary, if you want to pick a weaker country to balance things out, you're welcome to it. If you want France or Russia, they're all yours. When I've got all seven countries picked, we'll start. I should add that if anyone else is reading this thread, I'd love to have a substitute in case someone drops out, or doesn't really want to play.

I have never played before, so I'll pick...um...Russia or England, whichever's better.

Russia wins the most, statistically. Plus you get an extra army! (To defend your huge territory.)

I guess that leaves England for me, unless you really want it.

[Boozahol Squid, P.I.]

I have never played before, so I'll pick...um...Russia or England, whichever's better.

Russia is generally considered a better country than England. So with everyone confirmed...

1. garygnu -- Italy
2. Hawkeyeop -- Turkey
3. TheFlame -- Austria
4. pedescribe -- Russia
5. Vox -- England
6. AllWalker --
7. KidV --

France and Germany left to pick from, AllWalker.

[garygnu]

When given the choice, have the first three picks ever been Italy, Turkey, Austria? In any order?

[Boozahol Squid, P.I.]

When given the choice, have the first three picks ever been Italy, Turkey, Austria? In any order?

I anticipate wonderful things for this game based on that.

[TheFlame]

I don't know what I'm doing so I didn't want to take one of the big powers.

[Vox Imperatoris]

I don't know what I'm doing so I didn't want to take one of the big powers.

Well, you picked the wrong little one!

Just kidding. Austria has decent chances, but you're sandwiched in between a lot of powers, so if things go wrong for you at the start, they tend go really wrong. Therefore, in games where Austria is going to lose, it's generally the first power out the door.

ETA: I really like the looks of this map, unless you have another one that would make it easier for you to place the units.

[pedescribe]

Why are Iceland, Ireland, Switzerland, and Siberia striped?

[Harlequin]

Why are Iceland, Ireland, Switzerland, and Siberia striped?

Because you can't go there. It only ever matters in the case of Switzerland; no-one wants to go to the other three places anyway.

[garygnu]

I'm partial to this map, myself.

[Vox Imperatoris]

I'm partial to this map, myself.

But that one doesn't have place names (or abbreviations, especially for the nonstandard ones like NWY), which would be more than a little confusing.

[garygnu]

What? You don't have them all memorized?



mumble mumble good point mumble

[Boozahol Squid, P.I.]

I'm partial to this map, myself.

I was going to just use the PlayDiplomacy map, as it's got nice, big provinces. But then again, it's also ugly compared to the two maps posted here. I like, gary's map more (particularly, what's the deal with adding Siberia?), but it doesn't have any labels on it. To make things easier for our newer players, I'd rather use one that had some sort of labelling on it. I'll mess around with a few while we're waiting for AllWalker to pick a country.

[Boozahol Squid, P.I.]

What? You don't have them all memorized?



mumble mumble good point mumble

At a pub trivia once, they handed out maps of both Risk and Diplomacy, and we had to fill the spaces in. The Risk map was pretty tough (which one of the vertical places in Asia is Irkutsk?), but the Diplomacy map, I got everything but one right. Stupid Clyde.

[AllWalker]

GAH! IDON'T KNOW ENOUGH TO MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION!

Umm... France?

[Boozahol Squid, P.I.]

Umm... France?

You chose... wisely. That leaves KidV with Germany (Richard Sharpe's favorite country, not bad for getting the last pick), and I'll start the new thread in the morning.

Because I haven't heard any issues with timing, we'll go with a 48 hour window to make your moves. After someone NMRs twice in a row, I'll PM Harlequin on the third NMR, and offer him their spot (and the ability to make the moves for that third turn).

I'll be glad to offer technical assistance in how support/convoys work, or what units can move where. I won't answer any tactical questions, although you're free to ask each other on those matters.

[Vox Imperatoris]

How about 72 hours? I'm fine with 48 if everyone else likes it like that, but 72 hours gives a little more time for discussion/real life getting in the way of moving. Of course, they wouldn't all have to actually last 3 days, as long as everyone submitted orders early.

[Harlequin]

Not in the game (yet) but 72 hours is better in case not everybody is in close time zones. You need extra time to allow for conversations back and forth.

[pedescribe]

This is more funny now that I know how the game works.