DIPLOMACY (R) The Game - Round II

[Ayesha]

Honeybunch, you were afraid I was the same person as E.B.!! Heavens no. I'm just a little inexperienced here, that's all. P.M. Jonas if you don't believe me - he knows how we both are IRL.

Actually, don't bother, since he doesn't play with us any more. He gave me his spot because he wanted off the Rebel Forum, and like any addict, it was easier to go cold turkey than to cut back. He tells me he hasn't surfed this site (let alone logged in) since he handed the keys of the kingdom to me, and I think I believe him.

Both Jonas and Edmund are much more experienced players than little old me.

[E. Blackadder]

I recall playing all of three games before this. One was FTF. The other two were on a Birmingham BBS named "America Online."

They sold their name for a wad of computer equipment.

[E. Blackadder]

Speaking of the page, How did England get to build over my Army in London?

[Ayesha]

I was surprised to see you both build in the same spot, too. I guess your armies like to drink together?

Three games, honey, I've played three moves, now. (Counting the set I mailed off today.)

[2pac Shakur]

Speaking of the page, How did England get to build over my Army in London?

20 RO dollars
payable to Drzy

[Drzy]

I looked at the past moves for a bit, thinking I could've sworn Russia didn't have any armies on the England mainland. I'm stoooopid.

I tried to go change it, but the webpage's server must not be happy right now. Y'all know what's goin' on though.

[Macroman]

So I take it that the score is Russia -15, England -13?

[Drzy]

No retreats!! Woohoo!

Austria:
A Vienna --> Trieste (*bounce*)
A Budapest --> Rumania (*bounce*, dislodged)
A Serbia Support A Vienna --> Trieste

The army at Budapest has no retreats and is destroyed.

England:
F Edinburgh Hold
F Liverpool --> Irish Sea
F London --> North Sea
F Irish Sea --> English Channel
F Denmark --> Kiel
F Holland Support F Denmark --> Kiel
A Marseilles --> Piedmont (*bounce*)
A Gascony --> Burgundy
F Spain (sc) --> Western Med.
F Portugal Hold
F St. Petersburg (sc) Hold

Italy:
F Mid-Atlantic Ocean --> North Africa
F Gulf of Lyon Support F Western Med.
F Western Med. Support F Gulf of Lyon

Russia:
F Norwegian Sea --> Norway
A Moscow --> St. Petersburg (*bounce*)
A Warsaw --> Livonia
F Kiel --> Helgoland Bight
A Munich --> Tyrolia
A Venice --> Piedmont (*bounce*)
F Aegean Sea --> Ionian Sea
A Trieste --> Vienna (*bounce*)
A Bohemia Support A Trieste --> Vienna
A Rumania --> Budapest
A Galacia Support A Rumania --> Budapest
A Ukraine --> Rumania
F Bulgaria Hold
F Greece Hold

I'll do my best to remain an impartial bystander. :wink:

Since Thanksgiving is coming up, I'll make the moves due..... say.... Saturday night, how 'bout that. If you're gonna be gone for the holidays, feel free to submit them earlier, or you might be able to ask for an extension. We'll see how generous I am.

For some hot pr0n, go here (http://drzys.com/diplomacy).

[Werewolf]

Let's see. Russia takes St. Petersburg, Norway or Sweden, Rome, Naples, Budapest, Serbia, Vienna, and loses no more than Berlin and Kiel. Congratulations, Tsar Blackadder! Time for Rebel Forum Diplomacy, Round 3. :D

[E. Blackadder]

Let's see if we can work this out without too many spelling mistakes:

A Livonia -> St. Pete
A Moscow S A Livonia -> St. Pete

F Norway -> Sweden
F Helgoland Bight -> Kiel

F Ionian Sea to Naples
A Venice -> Rome

A Rumania -> Serbia
A Trieste S A Rumania -> Serbia
A Budapest S A Rumania -> Serbia

A Bohemia -> Vienna
A Galacia S A Bohemia -> Vienna

A Tyrolia -> Munich

F Ionian Sea to Naples

The other two fleets (Bulgaria (SC) and Greece) will support each other and play cribbage.

Doing the math
Russia (4)
Sweden (1)
Munich and either Kiel or Berlin (Tupac's choice) (2)
Italy (3)
Balkans (4)
Turkey (3)
Austria (3)
= 20.
Unless I'm having at least three blind spots , thanks to all for a tough game.

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I don't feel adequate to put together a "Here's how I won -- Nyah!" sort of monograph. First, I was almost carried out on a stretcher at the start, and second, the opposition did unify against me in time.

Most of what happened is probably clear to the discerning observer. Of the events that happened below the surface

Peace feelers were sent to England very early in the game, under the presumption that nobody -- but, NOBODY -- would believe it. Also it seemed reasonable that France and Germany would gang up on a self-proclaimed newbie. I would have.

The first encounter between Edwena and the English (in Norway?) occured largely because neither England nor Germany admitted to me that Germany was about to turn on France. I thought I was doing what was necessary to protect England. That was embarrassing.

Jonas turned out to be of the "First or Strong Second" school of thought in the game. He told me he probably wouldn't stab me until we got to a specified size. Using that verbiage. So of course I had to stab him at somewhat below that size. Jonas did make the best move in the game, by putting his position in Ayesha's name.

I found the discussions with CubedBee quite disappointing. After the first move I just didn't have a warm, fuzzy feeling. I hope that if you felt initial ill wlll towards me, it wasn't because of anything I might have said in other fora.

Likewise Cho Da. Perhaps you were tied up with other things. I hope you had good success with your other game. I spent a lot of time trying to tie you up diplomatically.

Macro was a pleasure to conspire with. It's easy to envision him being "the chalk" in a future game. Just a feeling.

Sandman, the fates conspired against you. You have your choice of Ayesha or Edwena. I'll send them over. Take a couple years to make up your mind, and rule Africa well.

Tupac. An impressive first game.

Ayesha, I'm sorry we didn't get to know each other better. You'll be in Sandman's capable hands.

Drzy: Thanks for adjudicating.

I will go on a limb and tell you that it is important to talk to everyone every turn. I didn't live up to that, but half the fun is swapping recipies and making friends.

[Cho Da]

EB, I apologize for the lack of press. I thought the game had gotten way too silly, so I danced around with the newbie. Macroman was a total goof: both in this game and the previous. In my other dipomacy games, I actually won a solo as Italy, and participated in an AET (as T) draw. I've also tried playing "Gunboat" diplomacy, that is, no press. I find it sterile, probably because I suck at it. Oh well, I just started up as E in a new game.

If anyone is looking for more Diplomacy online, surf over to http://diplom.org

[2pac Shakur]

Congratulations EB. You really played me like the rank amateur I am.
Some highlights/lowlights of this 6 month + odyssey:

* If it wasn't for Cho Da writing my moves out for me the first couple of years, I would've had to quit. Thanks Cho Da!

* Unfortunately Cho Da wanted to crush England from day 1. I recognized this and enlisted Germany on my side. Probably my best moment (IMHO of course).

* A secret alliance works best if you don't accidentally tip off your opponent. After allying with Germany, I sent him an e-mail discussing the plan. Unfortunately I sent it to EB by mistake, instead of Macro. Probably my worst moment.

* I chose to turn on Macro at a critical juncture of the game, and helped EB. Should've known better than to trust whitey. Karma sealed my fate at that point.

* EB is right about conversing with all other players every move. I think the only reason my poor play didn't lead to an earlier England demise is the fact that I am on this forum 24/7. A definite advantage.

* Thanks to Drzy for all the work he did. This was a long freaking game. The map updates and friendly reminders are appreciated.

* Thanks to 4Sigma for the Gazzette. Again, the game was a lot longer than anybody expected, but the issues that came out were quite good.

* I look forward to another try. But not for a couple of months, at least.

* EB - enjoy your mug. I guess our original plan to share world domination would have never worked anyway. How would we share the mug?

:clap: :notworth: :party:

[Macroman]

I'll confess I wasn't really paying attention the first couple moves just following along with Cho Da's plan. On the eve of the planned invasion of England 2-Pac called me on the carpet to explain what was going on. The plot was so obvious that everyone in the game was onto it and even posting publically. Looking at the position on the board seriously for the first time I saw that, with forces arrayed as they were, I had nothing to gain by continuing on to attack England. With 2-Pac aware of the plot I decided to ally with him instead and attack an enemy that was at least not completely tipped off to what was coming.

Alas, France has natuaral defenses which I was unaware of (this being only my second game) and I was unable to enlist the assistance of Italy until it was too late. Once Russia and Austria decided to turn on me I gave up playing for myself and just tried to better Tupac's position. I do think I had some success in that regard.

Cho Da- sorry for bailing on your plan, but you have to see that there was not much in it for me. Everyone can see that you are an excellent player, that natuarally makes you a target for people who want to win.

Werewolf- I think you decided the ultimate winner, cogratulations

Cubedbee- You lasted a long time in a bad position.

Jonas- I'll miss you. You are a very tough competitor.

Tupac- Very good first game. I don't blame you for abandoning me at the end, you can't put too much effort into saving a one army country. Your problem at that point was not that I was gone but that you had no allies. Werewolf especially could have helped you out but decided to go the opposite way. Some of that is no doubt due to your decision to attack him, but some is also just natural independence.

EB- well played and congratulations.

Drzy- thanks very much for running the game.

6-sigma - Thanks for being a pest. :wink:

[Werewolf]

Werewolf- I think you decided the ultimate winner, cogratulations

Tupac- Very good first game. I don't blame you for abandoning me at the end, you can't put too much effort into saving a one army country. Your problem at that point was not that I was gone but that you had no allies. Werewolf especially could have helped you out but decided to go the opposite way. Some of that is no doubt due to your decision to attack him, but some is also just natural independence.



I know I have mad Diplomacy skillz :D but how did I help out Tupac, considering it wasn't me playing Italy in this game? Perhaps, you meant Sandman?

[Macroman]

Werewolf- I think you decided the ultimate winner, cogratulations

Tupac- Very good first game. I don't blame you for abandoning me at the end, you can't put too much effort into saving a one army country. Your problem at that point was not that I was gone but that you had no allies. Werewolf especially could have helped you out but decided to go the opposite way. Some of that is no doubt due to your decision to attack him, but some is also just natural independence.



I know I have mad Diplomacy skillz :D but how did I help out Tupac, considering it wasn't me playing Italy in this game? Perhaps, you meant Sandman?

DOH...where I said Werewolf, I guess I meant Sandman (the one who doesn't return PMs). Shows how much attention I was paying to the game. Oh wait, I have been out about 2 months now.

BTW, despite all the praise Tupac's getting, it is E.B. who won the game...that's who I was accusing you of helping....

[Drzy]

Yep, moves are no longer necessary for this turn. EB's are in, we'll say everyone else holds, and boom. Very huge congratulations E.B. :tup:

Moderating took a fair amount of work, but I'm definitely glad I did it. What I did (at least in the beginning) was wake up 20 minutes ealier than usual and use that time to format the moves, make the map, and update the webpage. Some days I was actually glad to see that people were late so I could get back in bed. :) I doubt there'll be a Diplomacy III, at least not any time soon, but if there is, I'll have to be handing off the moderating torch. Once is enough for me.

Thank you to everyone! Cho Da, I enjoyed your honest and frank opinions about the game. E.B., excellent combination of humor and strategy in your move submissions. Sandman, you were the only one keeping me up to speed in what was going on in negotations, especially during the early game, and that definitely made things more interesting for me. Tupac, I enjoyed our stimulant-ing discussions. :smoke: Ayesha, thank you for taking over and keepin' things running. And Jonas, Macroman, and CubedBee... thank you for playing, especially twice. I wonder if you'll be insane enough to do it again.

And now.....................
I retire. :party:

P.S. Harrrrrrr. :dsmile:

[Ayesha]

Thanks everyone for giving me a chance to learn to play Diplomacy. I hope my novice blunders didn't mess up anyone else to much.

Congratulations to EB - we could have made beautiful music, but he already had Edwena to keep him warm at night.

Thanks especially to Dryz, for making this game possible, and to 6-Sigma, for making it interesting to onlookers.

And (although he won't read it) thanks to Jonas, who handed his armies over to me.

I've been toying with moderating a game, but I have neither the software nor the web-space at the moment. If there's demand, let me know and I'll look into it.

[E. Blackadder]

* A secret alliance works best if you don't accidentally tip off your opponent. After allying with Germany, I sent him an e-mail discussing the plan. Unfortunately I sent it to EB by mistake, instead of Macro. Probably my worst moment.

The worst thing from your perspective is that I didn't lose any sleep over it.

Ayesha: Edwena is like a daughter to me. A very mean daughter. I'll play music and think of you, then.

Drzy: Sorry about not telling you what I was trying to do. But I didn't want you convulsing with laughter.

My sense is that the game could use a rest. Certainly I could. Perhaps in a few months. If I take up the gavel again, time restrictions will be mercilessly enforced. And I might consider a gentle variant.

Until next time, think happy thoughts of stabbing and world domination.

[Cho Da]

Final map. Click for the game history.

http://cho_da.home.comcast.net/RF2/w1910a-big.png
(http://cho_da.home.comcast.net/RF2/)

Thanks again to Drzy for moderating!

[Avi]

Excuse me for cutting in, but this is part of our new Thanksgiving programming on the to 17 channels here on the RF--All Avi, all the time (at least as of this post :roll: )

Thank you, we now return you to your regularly scheduled program.

[Macroman]

Excuse me for cutting in, but this is part of our new Thanksgiving programming on the to 17 channels here on the RF--All Avi, all the time (at least as of this post :roll: )

Thank you, we now return you to your regularly scheduled program.

Avi, now you have to moderate the next game. :o

[Avi]

Unfortunately, I have never played, and barely know the rules. While it might be enjoyable to learn, I think I'll pass until I get a few more exams under my belt. Come back to me in five years or so :D)

[TakeNine]

This thread needs to be moved to the Games forum.

I just wanted to mention that I saw a very nice-looking hardwood Diplomacy board at a Diplomacy tourament. Someone either has a lot of time and talent, or a lot of money.

By bringing back this thread, maybe someone will step up to run another game? Hmmm?