Ace of Spades HQ Diplomacy Games Update[Weirddave]

A few weeks ago, I started a thread asking if anyone wanted to play the game Diplomacy online. (Thread here. I explained the game in some detail in that thread, you can read it if you're not familiar. Note: Do not post to old threads or Pixy will instaban you! It's a spam fighting measure) The response was overwhelming. There were enough people asking to play to play that I could have run 4 complete games. That was a little bit more work than I had envisioned, so I ran 2 games. If you replied and got a “you're on the waiting list” response from me, be patient, I may run 2 more games when these are finished. Anyhow, for the armchair generals out there, here is an update on the progress in both games. I want to commend all of the people who asked to play, we've only had one player drop out because of RL commitments and everybody has been prompt with meeting order deadlines. Both games have just finished the 1903 turns and are awaiting winter build orders due tonight. To refresh, here is the starting map:

Game 1

(Please note that all commentary is by me just from observing the maps. I won't mention anything that players may have said to me in private emails)

As you can see, Central Europe is playing out much like it did during the actual WWI. France is holding her position while Germany is moving strongly to consolidate it's territory. England is still maneuvering to get a foothold on the continent. In the Balkans, Turkey is doing rather better than it did IRL, and poor old Austria has almost been crushed. Austria is statistically the hardest power to play successfully, and it's a real shame because Austria is the power that had to leave the game due to real life concerns after making an inspired opening gambit. Austria faked Italy out of position on the very first turn of the game and was poised to take Ven (Italy's fall 1901 orders email contained much invective directed at Austria), which would have given it a much needed 2 army build going into 1902 and a strong position moving forward. Alas, he only sent in hold orders for all units for the fall move and then had to retire from the game. I give a lot of credit to the Moron who volunteered to take over for him, he's played out a weak starting hand faithfully, which is always a problem in online Diplomacy. Players figure they are done and stop sending in orders. The new Austria hasn't done that. The game so far (click to see the animated version):

Dip game 1 photo Ace Dip 1 Animation_zpsgtnbmq4o.gif

Game 2

And here's one of the reasons Diplomacy is such a fun game. Same starting positions, drawing from the same pool of players, and almost completely opposite results. Here Germany is clinging by its fingernails to a lone SC, and it's not even a “home” tile. Austria is the Central power that has cemented domination over the Balkans, driving Turkey back to its homeland as Russia slices into the Kaiser's still twitching corpse. Here's how it went down(click to see the animated version):

And that's where we stand as these wars drag into their fourth long year. The players have been asking for this thread, so I thought I'd oblige them. I haven't tied anybody's board names to their countries in either game, but if you want to identify yourselves in the comments, go ahead. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse have been ravaging Europe for three years now. Which power(s) will emerge supreme from this epic struggle? Stay tuned to find out next time. Same Ace Time! Same Ace channel!

**BTW, I'm aware that the maps could be clearer. This is the best I can do with the adjudication program that I use to run the games.(Realpolitik) Pixy says they are too big to upload as saved, so I have to shrink them before uploading them rather than just setting the display size in the HTML code. Sorry. That's why I put the animations on Photobucket, it can handle the larger GIFs.

Posted by: Open Blogger at 08:13 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Different.

Posted by: HH at April 24, 2016 08:15 PM (DrCtv)

2 Waiting for something new and was backtracking through all the threads to see if anyone has wrote anything and a new thread pops up. No fair.

Posted by: Skip at April 24, 2016 08:16 PM (Dpy/y)

3 3td

Posted by: AmeriDan at April 24, 2016 08:17 PM (Lj6uo)

4 What does this have to do with make-up and kitchen gadgets?????

Posted by: lindafell de spair at April 24, 2016 08:19 PM (xVgrA)

5 That looks like fun. Why didn't anyone tell me about this?

Posted by: Sticky Wicket at April 24, 2016 08:20 PM (tborC)

6 The Ukraine is weak.

Posted by: Kramer at April 24, 2016 08:20 PM (8aOqE)

7 I'm on a tablet can see what's going on

Posted by: Skip at April 24, 2016 08:21 PM (Dpy/y)

8 Or crossbows or fishing.
**bows out of the ring**

Posted by: teej at April 24, 2016 08:22 PM (0RM+L)

9 I believe in diplomacy. Tell them to act good. And if they don't, kick their asses. It's all they understand. Like I said. Diplomacy.

Posted by: Eromero at April 24, 2016 08:23 PM (zLDYs)

10 Not sure if this applies to the game, but back in the day pre-WW1, there was a theory that the country that mobilized first would win the war.

In theory...

Posted by: HH at April 24, 2016 08:24 PM (DrCtv)

11
What does this have to do with make-up and kitchen gadgets?????
Posted by: lindafell de spair

______________

From the main post...

Russia slices into the Kaiser's

__________

So, obviously the Russians would need a bread knife to slice a Kaiser roll.

Posted by: AmeriDan at April 24, 2016 08:24 PM (Lj6uo)

12 winter is coming

Posted by: nckate at April 24, 2016 08:25 PM (O46jc)

13 Hope all the players check in because I will have to catch up on this in the morning.

Posted by: Skip at April 24, 2016 08:25 PM (Dpy/y)

14 9 I believe in diplomacy. Tell them to act good. And if they don't, kick their asses. It's all they understand. Like I said. Diplomacy.
Posted by: Eromero

Game needs moar hashtags.

Posted by: AmeriDan at April 24, 2016 08:26 PM (Lj6uo)

15 I'd like to discuss eye makeup with L,Elle.
I just bout an urban decay naked palette. I love benefit they're real mascara.
I also like MAC eyeshadow.
YSL highlighter pen.

Posted by: CaliGirl at April 24, 2016 08:28 PM (egOGm)

16 First one to invent the reliable tank wins

Posted by: George S Patton at April 24, 2016 08:28 PM (12kBq)

17 Hey, I played this ONCE in high school 15 years ago and would love to play it again. It was addicting.
Please add me, waitlist me, whatever. I'm down for the next game. Also, if you steal all of my time and make me fail my final I will cry like a real millennial.

Posted by: chris M at April 24, 2016 08:29 PM (P/L8t)

18 Why don't they call it "War" instead of "Diplomacy?"

Posted by: Josephistan at April 24, 2016 08:29 PM (7qAYi)

19 Diplomacy game in the age of Obama 2016:

Russia: "We wanna this piece o' land over here."

USA: "We surrender!!!1!"

**game over**

Posted by: qdpsteve at April 24, 2016 08:30 PM (ntObR)

20 Ukraine will never be weak as long as it can keep producing women as good-looking as Mila Kunis.

Posted by: qdpsteve at April 24, 2016 08:31 PM (ntObR)

21 This looks like something I could get down with. I'll have to read over the rules & such.

Posted by: Josephistan at April 24, 2016 08:31 PM (7qAYi)

22 This looks complicated.

Posted by: Weasel at April 24, 2016 08:32 PM (e3bId)

23 Josephistan, it's easier/more fun if you play by present-day real-world rules.

I.e., there are *no* rules...

Posted by: qdpsteve at April 24, 2016 08:32 PM (ntObR)

24 Has any of the players offered to apologise for the Crusades yet?

Posted by: AmeriDan at April 24, 2016 08:34 PM (Lj6uo)

25 Anybody nuked the Japs yet?

Posted by: Weasel at April 24, 2016 08:34 PM (e3bId)

26 Sincerely, no offense intended to all who are all about loving diplomacy and complicated maps, but is there any chance we can get an Open Thread for those who don't love diplomacy?
We have no place to go besides the artichoke food thread.

Btw, WD, haven't seen Gingy in forever. Hope she is well.

Posted by: L, Elle at April 24, 2016 08:35 PM (2x3L+)

27 Hi L, Elle - did you get the kitty pic I sent Saturday?

Posted by: Weasel at April 24, 2016 08:36 PM (e3bId)

28 Who sunk my battleship?

Posted by: Teddy Roosevelt at April 24, 2016 08:36 PM (sl+zA)

29 I was tempted to jump in, but wasn't sure if I could find time.

How long between turns?

Posted by: fluffy at April 24, 2016 08:37 PM (2hcmo)

30 Public bathroom situation during game's time period? Widespread boycotts could effect forword movement.

Posted by: AmeriDan at April 24, 2016 08:38 PM (Lj6uo)

31 The Ukraine is weak.

Latvia is a pimp. It was Lithuania all along.

Posted by: Don Vito Corleone at April 24, 2016 08:39 PM (sl+zA)

32 21 speaking of this very interesting online game and discussion thread thereof, are there any societies that do not produce at least some attractive women?

Posted by: Weasel at April 24, 2016 08:39 PM (e3bId)

33 USA: "We surrender!!!1!"

**game over**
Posted by: qdpsteve

Leading from behind with smart diplomacy. Well played, sir. Well played.

Posted by: AmeriDan at April 24, 2016 08:40 PM (Lj6uo)

34 Begun, this artichoke war has.

Posted by: Yogurt at April 24, 2016 08:42 PM (k4M/B)

35 Non diplomacy open thread is now below this one.

Posted by: Weirddave at April 24, 2016 08:42 PM (N8hFs)

36 Who plays the Bilderbergers?

Posted by: AD at April 24, 2016 08:43 PM (QuixQ)

37 Diplomacy is just horse-trading, right Sarah? John?

Posted by: John Kerry at April 24, 2016 08:43 PM (8aOqE)

38 Well, not sure about this game, but I do like playing Risk.

Posted by: HH at April 24, 2016 08:43 PM (DrCtv)

39 Cool....looks like fun.

Posted by: Hairyback Guy at April 24, 2016 08:43 PM (ej1L0)

40 AmeriDan, got my interview with State next week ;-)

Posted by: qdpsteve at April 24, 2016 08:44 PM (ntObR)

41 I was tempted to jump in, but wasn't sure if I could find time.

How long between turns?

One game year per week. Spring orders due Tuesday night, retreats Wednesday. Fall orders due Friday night, retreats Saturday and builds Sunday.

Posted by: Weirddave at April 24, 2016 08:44 PM (N8hFs)

42 "Hey, I played this ONCE in high school 15 years ago "

Eh? Eh? Speak up, sonny. You're mumbling and BTW, get off my lawn or I'll brain your over the head with my cane. J/K.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at April 24, 2016 08:44 PM (w4NZ8)

43 WierdDave, thank you very much for your game and this post. It's a lot of fun. I'm England in the second game.

Vey intense game. Germany is an outstanding player. Too good, in fact. He has survived the English, French, and Russians ganging up on him.

He convinced the French, our erstwhile and maybe again ally to move French Fleets into the Irish Sea and English channel. And for the Russians to take Denmark.

I sent Germany a message of angst that was uncharacteristic of me. It dirtied my soul a tad. Nothing personal, Germany. Just appreciation of how my cunning plans have turned to dust.

After this game I can not fly, because I have all those cavalry sabers in my back.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at April 24, 2016 08:44 PM (u82oZ)

44 This game is close to the perfect board game. It's only drawbacks are the need for seven people and the near impossibility of playing face to face. People get upset. It also takes forever but that's more of a feature than a bug once you get into it.

I won't try to explain the rules because it can't be done in brief, but the mechanic of orders being executed all at once is what makes it tick, and it's why it's called Diplomacy. The real trick is persuasion and trickery and timing and good risk/benefit analysis, based more on your evaluation of your fellow players than the situation on the board. It's a distillation of human psychology. It's more satisfying to win than any other board game I've played.

This is the best repository on diplo strategy I've found:
http://bit.ly/1SsPVUX

I played daily on backstabber.com for about a year. Best site I've found if you want to get a game in and see if you like it.

And for all my bona fides that's me about to get eliminated in Belgium in game two.

Posted by: Phone of kari at April 24, 2016 08:45 PM (ZJOIO)

45 I did, Weasel, but if we have showcased one of yours already, you're at the back of the line. Sorry, friend. So many people are waiting patiently and impatiently to see their pets show up, so we are trying to get one pet pic up at a time. People with multiple pet pics, kinda get last place. I'm sorry for that. I hope you understand. It's been hard to figure out a priority of how to go through the pics bc we have recieved so many. It seems unfair and hoggish to put up 4 different cat pics from the same person or two cats and two dogs and some random other pet from the same person on the same post.

I can promise you that yours will eventually show up. MisHum and I are determined to get through every pic and put it up on the post.

Sorry, WD, I just wanted to answer that question. You guys go back to your game and have fun.

Posted by: L, Elle at April 24, 2016 08:46 PM (2x3L+)

46 I do miss Avalon hill games. This is something I would like to try it.

Posted by: Auscolpyr at April 24, 2016 08:46 PM (Ht/4p)

47 Nacly I got a kick out of your email and sent my reply in the spirit of fun as well.

Who will stop Russia. Austria probably.

Posted by: Phone of kari at April 24, 2016 08:47 PM (ZJOIO)

48 Sorry, WD, I just wanted to answer that question. You guys go back to your game and have fun.

I started an open thread for you below this one. Because I'm nice like that.

Posted by: Weirddave at April 24, 2016 08:48 PM (N8hFs)

49 BTW, do you guys like the game animations?

Posted by: Weirddave at April 24, 2016 08:48 PM (N8hFs)

50 Yes WeirdDave they're fantastic. Does Realpolitik do that for you or did you put in the work to set them up?

Posted by: Phone of kari at April 24, 2016 08:51 PM (ZJOIO)

51 As mentioned last time, another really good "no dice/chance" games is Tammany Hall:

http://pandasaurusgames.com/project/tammany-hall/

Just played it yesterday. Fun as ever.

Posted by: The Gamin' Hat at April 24, 2016 08:51 PM (vBeA5)

52 It's more satisfying to win than any other board game I've played.

True. I'm actually proud of winning a clean 18 SC victory in a Chaos variant game (34 players, everyone starts with 1 unit and one SC). Proud. Like I really achieved something and didn't just win a stupid game.

Posted by: Weirddave at April 24, 2016 08:51 PM (N8hFs)

53 Thank you WD for the Open Thread. What a gentleman you are. If you weren't happily married, I'd kiss you hard and hopefully you'd like it.

Posted by: L, Elle at April 24, 2016 08:52 PM (2x3L+)

54 Does Realpolitik do that for you or did you put in the work to set them up?

I made them using Jasc Animation Shop. It comes bundled with Paint Shop Pro. I have all the maps saved from running the games, I just have to set the parameters and load them in. Pretty easy, each one took about 8-10 minutes to do.

Posted by: Weirddave at April 24, 2016 08:54 PM (N8hFs)

55 38 Well, not sure about this game, but I do like playing Risk.
Posted by: HH at April 24, 2016 08:43 PM (DrCtv)

I've been working on & off on an expanded version of Risk for a while. Major differences include naval combat, resources, & game effect cards. Maybe I'll be done in 20 years or so.

Posted by: Josephistan at April 24, 2016 08:54 PM (7qAYi)

56 Charles Koch suggests that another Clinton in the White House might be better than Trump or Cruz

I can hear heads exploding

Posted by: James T Kirk at April 24, 2016 08:55 PM (e8kgV)

57 AmeriDan, got my interview with State next week ;-)
Posted by: qdpsteve

Awesome! Heading below before Dave opens up a can o whup a$$ on us.

Tell me everything. Omit nothing! (bonus points if you know from what Steven King novella that "tell me everything, omit nothing!" comes from.)

Posted by: AmeriDan at April 24, 2016 08:56 PM (Lj6uo)

58 Creative

Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian at April 24, 2016 08:57 PM (voOPb)

59 James T. Kirk @ 56- Now don't that just prove they are all one party, both democrats and republicans? Bastages.

Posted by: Eromero at April 24, 2016 08:57 PM (zLDYs)

60 Your map of Westeros looks a bit off.

Posted by: Ostral B Heretic at April 24, 2016 08:58 PM (B8eYo)

61 I've been working on & off on an expanded version of Risk for a while. Major differences include naval combat, resources, & game effect cards. Maybe I'll be done in 20 years or so.
Posted by: Josephistan at April 24, 2016 08:54 PM (7qAYi)

Dude a college friend and I tried to make a game around (in effect) adding armies to Catan. We love our game effect cards too.

What we learned was there's a reason Klaus Teuber put his name on the box. Balancing that shit is impossible.

Posted by: Phone of kari at April 24, 2016 08:58 PM (ZJOIO)

62 20 Ukraine will never be weak as long as it can keep producing women as good-looking as Mila Kunis.
Posted by: qdpsteve at April 24, 2016 08:31 PM (ntObR)

The wrong head is thinking. Again

Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian at April 24, 2016 08:59 PM (voOPb)

63 47 Phone of kari

First, thanks for the great plays. We could have been contenders.

Glad you took that rant of mine as role-playing, as I took your to be in the spirit of fun.

I tell my wife about the game. Usually she has zero interest in such, but she wants to know how I'm doing. Progress!

I use my old wooden blocks Diplomacy game from Games Research, Inc. I'm using a printed Avalon Hill diplomacy guide written by Rod Walker for my Imperial General Staff appreciations.

So thanks for the link.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at April 24, 2016 08:59 PM (u82oZ)

64 AmeriDan, LOL.

I'll take a guess that the quote is from "Misery." I'm probably wrong though, I've never been the world's biggest King fan.

Posted by: qdpsteve at April 24, 2016 08:59 PM (ntObR)

65 i lack the patience for gaming because oooooh...shiny!

Posted by: redc1c4 at April 24, 2016 09:01 PM (Icb+G)

66 MH, wouldn't be the first time :-P

Posted by: qdpsteve at April 24, 2016 09:01 PM (ntObR)

67 It's not over till the fat Swiss lady sings

Posted by: Phone of kari at April 24, 2016 09:01 PM (ZJOIO)

68 You guys who aren't interested in playing this game, give WD and other players their thread back. Go down to the Open Thread for talking about whatever.

Thanks again WD

Posted by: L, Elle at April 24, 2016 09:01 PM (Gzt/W)

69 "Diplomacy is the art of saying 'nice doggie' while looking for a big rock."

I forget who said that. I'm thinking Mark Twain.

Posted by: rickl at April 24, 2016 09:02 PM (sdi6R)

70 Posted by: redc1c4 at April 24, 2016 09:01 PM (Icb+G)

I spend too much time here to spend that much time with games

Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian at April 24, 2016 09:03 PM (voOPb)

71 England from game 1 here. Great game. I was stabbed by Germany myself after going all in on an attack against France. Fortunately, with some luck and a very understanding France, England has managed to turn things around.

Things are just about to get interesting.

Posted by: A-Hole at April 24, 2016 09:04 PM (1Xp4O)

72 Posted by: L, Elle at April 24, 2016 09:01 PM (Gzt/W)

My bad
Thanks L

Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian at April 24, 2016 09:04 PM (voOPb)

73 Dude a college friend and I tried to make a game around (in effect) adding armies to Catan. We love our game effect cards too.

What we learned was there's a reason Klaus Teuber put his name on the box. Balancing that shit is impossible.
Posted by: Phone of kari at April 24, 2016 08:58 PM (ZJOIO)

I can believe it. I've also been working on a simpler little game, using Avalon Hill's "Battle Cry" dice & my own hex tiles. Each tile shows what dice need to be rolled in order to capture it, and the terrain effects the rolls. It can be played solitaire, multi-player cooperative, or multi-player competitive.

I got way too much time on my hands...

Posted by: Josephistan at April 24, 2016 09:06 PM (7qAYi)

74 Posted by: qdpsteve

You're an *winks* "Apt Pupil" *winks again*, I'm sure you will figure it out.

Or maybe not. Dude, Misery was a full novel.

Uh oh, WD is giving me that look again. Off to pollute the lower thread!

Posted by: AmeriDan at April 24, 2016 09:06 PM (Lj6uo)

75 Heh, A-holes, I'm Germany in game 2, I was stabbed by England after going all in on an attack on France.

This must have something to do with the law of conservation of betrayal.

Posted by: Phone of kari at April 24, 2016 09:07 PM (ZJOIO)

76 Not only do I want to talk about Diplomacy, I'm on hour 6 of an 8 hour car ride.

Step it up, diplomats.

Posted by: Phone of kari at April 24, 2016 09:12 PM (ZJOIO)

77 Lucky for you, England left his backdoor open. I already made that mistake to alternate world 1 Germany. I feel like he stabbed mostly because I made it so easy for him to.

Posted by: A-Hole at April 24, 2016 09:14 PM (1Xp4O)

78 In our Risk play, we designated one country per continent as a Port country. You could attack any other Port country on the map from any Port country, but you could only attack from a Port country of a continent you completely controlled.

Posted by: davidt at April 24, 2016 09:14 PM (8aOqE)

79 75 Phone of kari

I've just been reading English strategy in your link. Whoa. I'm at least 30 years out of date with the state of the art. My gamer's guide must have been written in 1980.

Their best advice in 1980 was an England, France, Germany tri-alliance for the win. Then England and France. Today it is stab France from the start.

Russia and Austria are doing very well in an alliance in our game, and I do not see us stopping them anytime soon.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at April 24, 2016 09:15 PM (u82oZ)

80 Look at Russia and Turkey in game 1. Not good, friends. Have we not learned from recent events what happens when Turks get into Europe?

Posted by: A-Hole at April 24, 2016 09:17 PM (1Xp4O)

81 Hey Kari, you were a great neighbor. Been a pleasure doing business with you. Shame that it didn't go that well.

It's one of the first Diplomacy games to go well for me, so there's that. Last time I got Turkey and was vanquished in a couple of years. Props to Turkey 2 for resilience so far, and sorry for all the backstabbings. If this weren't so fun I'd feel bad.

Posted by: Emperor Gast of Austria 2 at April 24, 2016 09:18 PM (eJy/c)

82 Heh, A-holes, I'm Germany in game 2, I was stabbed by England after going all in on an attack on France.

This must have something to do with the law of conservation of betrayal.

Posted by: Phone of kari
...............
Never trust England.. but I am surprised by a back stabbing so quickly... You really need to build trust with your alliance members until you have a sweet spot for making a really big move.

England is such a great pick since it can start convoying armies to spain and the mediterranean as soon as it gets some builds.

Posted by: Chitown-Jerry at April 24, 2016 09:19 PM (UpGcq)

83 L,Elle - hi!

Posted by: Gingy at April 24, 2016 09:25 PM (N8hFs)

84 If WWI was a poker game...

Posted by: qdpsteve at April 24, 2016 09:27 PM (ntObR)

85 Oh, there are plenty of holes in backs in our game.

My "Gamer's Guide to Diplomacy" has a dedication paragraph.

The first dedication is to a player who never stabbed the author. They never played in the same game.

The second dedication is to a player who only stabbed the author 3 times in the one game they played together.

The third dedication is to a player who stabbed the author 1289 times in 206 games.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at April 24, 2016 09:29 PM (u82oZ)

86 Oh, HELL yes. A Moron horde Dip game? I'd love to be in on one of these.

Any chance we have enough Western Canadians for a FTF event?

Posted by: Sean at April 24, 2016 09:31 PM (2979E)

87 Okay, got lock off door. Went and bought new. Mowed till dark.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at April 24, 2016 09:36 PM (Uy2DB)

88 Italy is, in Game Two, taking its characteristic time. Nothing to rush. A little coffee, here, a delay there.

I know... I am Italy in that game. Great competition, and a scathing reminder of "tempo" (I ain't's gots it) and the control thereof.

We wonder about going the Berserk/Chaos route with the Sultan, however.

Posted by: Kestrel at April 24, 2016 09:36 PM (FTVIo)

89 Haven't played this game, but Mount and Blade Warband is tremendous fun. Lots of mods for it too. Prophesy of Pendor is one of the most popular and polished mods for it, but you will get raped if you're not familiar with the base game. The Jatu semi-nomadic faction with very long lances are hated by MB players.

Posted by: JHW at April 24, 2016 09:37 PM (kn0BL)

90 88 Kestrel

You sure bring a lot of La Dolce Vita to the game.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at April 24, 2016 09:41 PM (u82oZ)

91 Games?

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at April 24, 2016 09:45 PM (Uy2DB)

92 89 JHW

Haven't touched that one for a while, but yes, MBW is a blast. I liked the LotR mod quite a bit, even if it doesn't have the best balance between factions. Cavalry is absolutely useless unless you're playing orcs.

Posted by: Emperor Gast of Austria 2 at April 24, 2016 09:47 PM (eJy/c)

93 Well, just well-wishes for Jinx. I've been a dumbass in the yard all day.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at April 24, 2016 09:49 PM (Uy2DB)

94 England left his backdoor open

Ooh!

Posted by: edward ii at April 24, 2016 09:50 PM (6FqZa)

95 90 NaCly

We try. Italy knows more about Dolce Far Niente in this round, I am afraid (*hic).

Posted by: Kestrel at April 24, 2016 09:51 PM (FTVIo)

96 92 Emperor, there are some interesting new mods for the game, a bit unpolished but still fun. Nova Aetas has a mechanic where you can found colonies in the New World, very high income but the Aztecs will fight you tooth and nail. Perisno has several interesting factions with a huge Samurai invasion mechanic that still needs some work.

Posted by: JHW at April 24, 2016 09:53 PM (kn0BL)

97 While not as strategic or cool as Diplomacy, there is an awesome free risk ripoff called war light that is pretty sweet.

Posted by: Rory at April 24, 2016 09:55 PM (/BTP8)

98 Okay. Just going to go ahead and step on out.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at April 24, 2016 09:56 PM (Uy2DB)

99 well if we are talking about MAKING games, my brother in law and I made a hilarious/mostly clean board game for people who would hate Catan, Risk, and the like. It's called The Nebula from Hell.

http://www.thenebulafromhell.com

Enjoy.

Posted by: chris M at April 24, 2016 10:03 PM (P/L8t)

100 95 Kestrel

To be honest, I was not expecting this outcome for this year. I presumed you were coordinating more closely with Turkey. You should have.

Posted by: Emperor Gast of Austria 2 at April 24, 2016 10:06 PM (eJy/c)

101 France from Game 1 here. I really did have to resist coming at England after he came after me. Luckily we have turned it around a bit and it's time to go on the offensive.

RIP Austria.

Posted by: Zakn at April 24, 2016 10:07 PM (J+gcF)

102 Moron games

Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian at April 24, 2016 10:08 PM (voOPb)

103 Don't forget. Jinx in the AZ?

Yo. Yo. Yo.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at April 24, 2016 10:10 PM (Uy2DB)

104 Oh, fuck it. Take whatever you want. I have an early tee time. It's at noon.

Posted by: Barak O at April 24, 2016 10:11 PM (kTF2Z)

105 104

Oh, what are you talking about. The Bama would be great at Diplomacy. He knows a whole lot about backstabbing allies.

Posted by: Emperor Gast of Austria 2 at April 24, 2016 10:13 PM (eJy/c)

106 Any chance of an ONT?

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at April 24, 2016 10:18 PM (Uy2DB)

107 There is an open thread right below this one that WD opened kindly for anyone not into this one btw

Posted by: L, Elle at April 24, 2016 10:20 PM (Gzt/W)

108 Okay. No.

Changed out the deck gear of my Troy Bilt this morning. One God Damn gear had it all out ot whack.

Wrenched around on that bastard.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at April 24, 2016 10:23 PM (Uy2DB)

109 Got that fixed. Fire that muther up

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at April 24, 2016 10:27 PM (Uy2DB)

110 ONT

ONT

Posted by: ghost of hallelujah at April 24, 2016 10:28 PM (dBmVV)

111 parts of ScandiLand (Norway & Sweden?) look like a dangling pecker

Posted by: ghost of hallelujah at April 24, 2016 10:31 PM (dBmVV)

112 No ONT, olny Zuul.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at April 24, 2016 10:34 PM (Uy2DB)

113 albeit a misshapen dangling pecker

Posted by: ghost of hallelujah at April 24, 2016 10:36 PM (dBmVV)

114 more liberals need this kinda wake up call

http://tinyurl.com/j8lv5lk

Posted by: jimmytheclaw at April 24, 2016 10:40 PM (A9+EM)

115 ONT's come add go. I gotta hasta.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at April 24, 2016 10:51 PM (Uy2DB)

116 test

Posted by: redbanzai at April 24, 2016 11:05 PM (nUJM6)

117 Why would I want to communicate with the other players? Stupid game...

Posted by: Barack Obama at April 24, 2016 11:22 PM (eeTCA)

118 From the play by email Diplomacy campaign I was in as Russia. Mock newspaper report used to make public the turn's moves:

To: All Players Date: 01/04/2004 11:52:36 pm
Subject: Diplomatic Courier: The St. Petersburg Times

WAR DECLARED!
The lights are going out all over Europe, especially in the heads of the leaders of the Franco-German alliance, and we shall not see them lit again in our lifetime.

After a last minute deal that saw Great Britain agree to pressure her Canadian Dominion to send ice hockey players to the Czar's court, Russia has agreed to aid Britain in her defence against the French and German fleets.

"If the Northern Alliance does not act now, it will be too late by the fall of 1903 with dire consequences for all of Europe," said Imperial marshal, Bushinski. He continued, "Only preemptive action on our part can ensure that the northern seas remain open for free maritime traffic between the northern powers."

Reported military and naval movements for His Imperial Highness' forces are as follows:
The Russian army in Sweden attacks Denmark.
The Russian fleet in the Gulf of Bothnia moves to the Baltic Sea.
The Russian army in Warsaw holds.
The Russian army in Livonia supports the army in Warsaw.
The Russian fleet in Rumania holds.

Exact movements of Britain's Royal Navy remain sketchy at the current time, but the editors of the Times believe that their vessels are returning to home waters to defend the realm against the unprovoked aggression of the Paris-Berlin axis.

The only way to avoid war would be the voluntary disbandment of one German fleet and one German army said advisors close to the Czar.

For more war news, see page A3, "Kaiser accused of eating kittens." And page A4, "French President found eating pussy."

Posted by: andycanuck at April 24, 2016 11:22 PM (jVvcc)

119 To: All Players Date: Friday, April 9, 2004
Subject: Diplomatic War News via The Moscow Stun

Inside the Moscow Stun today:
Grand Naval Battle for Denmark. Page 1
Land of Chocolate Invaded! Page 2
Page 3 Girl shows ankle; Grand Patriarch mortified. Editor says it aids war effort. Page 3

DENMARK SWALLOWED LIKE PUFFY PASTRY!
Anglo-Russian Alliance strikes first.
By Andrei Noksumov; Stun naval correspondent

United action by the combined fleets of Great Britain and the Imperial Navy saw the portion of the German High Seas fleet taking on coal in their Danish bases forced to flee taking unspecified casualties. Rumours of several German Dreadnought-class vessels and Heavy Cruisers being lost have yet to be confirmed by German naval sources. As well, spurious rumours that the Royal Navy's Irish Sea fleet had a hand in supporting the Russian advance into Denmark have proved to be unfounded.

Grand Admiral Pumpinin said, "We have always lived in the Imperial Navy by the spirit of vodka, er, I mean the spirit of being, in the words of a famous Russian general, Firstest with the Mostest. And that winning tradition, aided by the Royal Navy's efforts, should see the Germans forced from the northern seas shortly."

The admiral is especially optimistic of this once the new fleet built of the best Swedish steel steams into the war zone from St. Petersburg.

Also playing a role in the Anglo-Russian Alliance are negotiations with Britain's self-governing Dominion of Canada for hockey players and coaches to aid in the Czar's programme (dubbed Hockey Night in Moscow) to placate the masses with the fast-paced, violent sport as recent talk of socialism, spread by the usual coalition of anarchists and Jewish elements, no doubt spurred on by the Kaiser's agents, has incited some disaffection on the home front.

"Don't send anyone from Ottawa, though. They always choke at crunch time by the end of a series," said the Czar's hockey envoy, Don Cherrynyn speaking to the British attache, Ron Maclean, until stopped from completing the interview by an aide after seven seconds.

British naval attache, Admiral Horatio Pornblower, pointed out that French naval advisors are said to have "aided" the German High Seas Fleet in both Denmark and the North Sea to the stunning loss. Speculation that the lack of French support and the bad advice offered to the Germans in Denmark may have something to do with France wanting all of Great Britain to herself once the German High Seas Fleet is out of action is rife in the capitals of Europe and in Constantinople.

See "Steam Blows, Like French President's Mistress" and "Danish pastry craze at Czar's court" on page 5 for more.

Posted by: andycanuck at April 24, 2016 11:32 PM (jVvcc)

120 Posted by: andycanuck
............
Russia is a great alliance for certain powers.. I was Turkey in one and and read up on "The Juggernaut Alliance" between Turkey and Russia.. it sweeps east.. unfortunately my Russian partner lost the will too early and doomed us.. *sigh*

Posted by: Chitown-Jerry at April 24, 2016 11:33 PM (UpGcq)

121 118
Oh, these are hilarious. There's an idea for the next year (or game).

Posted by: Emperor Gast of Austria 2 at April 24, 2016 11:34 PM (eJy/c)

122 Posted by: andycanuck
............
BTW - we have also had loads of fun with "communique's" from heads of state in emails.. signed with contemporary heads of state signatures and coats of arms.. great fun!

I'm sorry I did not sign up for this...

Posted by: Chitown-Jerry at April 24, 2016 11:36 PM (UpGcq)

123 CZAR'S ARMIES HEAD WEST
Slaughter said to be great on both sides.
By Boris Battunov; Special to the Stun

Although temporarily caught at an impasse with the Czar's army in Warsaw making a strategic withdrawal, the Czar's Army of Livonia is aggressively heading West through Prussia. It is believed that once more support is found for the armies, that they shall push the Teutonic aggressor back from whence he came.

While this reporter was interviewing frontline soldier Homer Simpsonisky about the potential for loot in the land of chocolate the reply, "Mmm. De land of chocolate. . . ," was rudely cut short as a shell from a Krupp gun decapitated the unfortunate soldier. (Showering this reporter in things best left unmentioned and, surprisingly, two pork chops.) Still, there are many more of him in Mother Russia willing to sacrifice all for their Czar and Motherland.

Grand Marshal Gowandown regretted the many casualties, vowing that hams would be sent to the widows, but said that due to bolt-action rifles and rapid-fire machine-guns, as well as the new recoilless cannons (as recently introduced to the unfortunate Simpsonisky), war in the modern age was likely to be "Nasty, brutish and short. Just like the Kaiser's wife."

See page 6, "Prussian women pleased with Russian 'performance'. Ukrainian dance troupe also a hit" for more war news.

Posted by: andycanuck at April 24, 2016 11:40 PM (jVvcc)

124 Better than me, Chitown-Jerry! Turkey stabbed me in the back after our ally Britain completely effed-up a turn where we told him what to do. It intercoursed me so badly that Turkey decided he had no choice but to backstab me.

Dick.

Posted by: andycanuck at April 24, 2016 11:42 PM (jVvcc)

125 BTW, here's what the Turkish Player wrote after stabbing me in the back...

From: "V.C." To: All Date: Fri, 16 Apr 2004 20:44:02 -0400
Subject: Headlines from the East

Turkish Forces Flock to Czars Defence:
In response to the Czar's call for assistance against the looming menace of Teutonic Beastlyness, numerous detachments of Turkish Volunteers have begun to make there way north, crossing into Russian territory in a veritable frenzy of goodwill and camaraderie. Reports just in from Rumania speak of crowds of jubilant peasants showering the enthusiastic conscripts with flowers and frilly undergarments. Meanwhile, in the Black Sea, flotillas of tiny fishing craft have spontaneously begun to transport eager well-wishers and tourists towards the scenic vacation town of Sevastopol.

In a recent interview Pasha Mustaphan Ali of the Turkish Home Guard recounts, "The whole thing strikes me as rather a reverse Dunkirk sort of situation. By which I mean if, hypothetically speaking, at some future date Germany were to be at War with England & France, and the English Army were to be trapped at, say Dunkirk, but then suddenly rescued by a great load of volunteers in little boats, well if that were to happen some day then that would be the exact opposite of this."

The Russian ambassador has yet to respond to the recent outpouring of support, but sources in the Sultan's foreign affairs office state that they expect a positive response shortly, possibly a fruit basket or maybe even one of those big fuzzy Russian hats.

For additional information see pages A5 "Foreign Affairs Office Ponders Possible contents of Fruit Basket"; and don't forget to check out our fashion section on B3 "Big Fuzzy Russian Hats, Passing Fad or Solution to Constantinople's Rat Problem?"

Posted by: andycanuck at April 24, 2016 11:55 PM (jVvcc)

126 If anyone wants to send me press in our games I'll publish it....

Posted by: Weirddave at April 25, 2016 12:21 AM (CTvSA)

127 If you're still checking the thread occasionally, Weirddave:

If you're reading this thread, Weirddave, I've just sent a Diplomacy-related email to you to Ace's email address for the HQ that as a cob I'm assuming you can access. It's a couple of maps.

Posted by: andycanuck at April 25, 2016 12:59 AM (jVvcc)

128 Well, I can't access Ace's email. Try sending it to me, weirddave at the gee, mail! thingy.

Posted by: Weirddave at April 25, 2016 01:16 AM (N8hFs)

129 Oh, yes, Diplomacy! Love this game, and I'm terrible at it. One college game I was Italy. Wound up with only one fleet -- in Norway.

Used to be a website devoted to the game. Those guys played all kinds of variations: South America, Southeast Asia, different eras. The maps looked like the ones here.

I'd love to get into this, but I don't think I'd be able to find time for discussions. But I will follow these posts.

Posted by: Weak Geek at April 25, 2016 03:22 AM (LDRZc)

130 Addendum:

I think a pretty suspenseful movie could be developed around a Diplomacy game. Both the moves on the board and the interactions of the players. Lying, dissembling, soying. And occasionally, seeing somebody adhere to a commitment.

I'd pay to see it.

Posted by: Weak Geek at April 25, 2016 03:52 AM (LDRZc)

131 Spying, goddamn it.

Big fingers and tiny keys not compatible.

Posted by: Weak Geek at April 25, 2016 03:53 AM (LDRZc)

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