I'm supporting Mong attacking Germany.

Jacob,

The quote "I'm supporting Mong attacking Germany." is from our diplomacy game Saturday night.... Mong had an "ally" that he treated like every other, like garbage! He's known for not only using and abusing his alliances but actually causing them damage by being in an alliance with him.

The above map is displaying the future of the Germany/Turkey Alliance. Mong will continue to grow stronger and you will continue to grow weaker. Don't doubt for a second that once you're down 2 stars and have to disband Galicia and Moscow that Mong will strike. Like in any alliance the key is to attack the moment before you believe they will attack you. If you are waiting for a fair fight that moment for you has passed and you will continue to grow weaker has Mong grows stronger.

Mong is the devil.


Is this appropriate smack talk?

England's analysis of the last game

For the first few rounds of the last game, England and France had the traditional English Channel alliance. This was good because because both England and France could expand without interference from their next-door neighbor. But, there was also a nominal England-France-Russia alliance at the same time. This worked for a few turns, but once the Low Countries, Scandinavia, and Northern Germany were split between the alliance members, England had no where else to expand. France and Russia both had room to expand to the South without violating the treaty.

In this game, this situation ended up being advantageous for England. After the alliances failed, there were many poorly defended areas behind Russia's and France's southern fronts. England easily expanded into those regions.

If the alliances hadn't failed, one solution to England's expansion difficulties could have been a convoy line through the Atlantic and into the Mediterranean.

A more natural member for a three party alliance with England and France might have been Turkey. That way, all members would have room for expansion and would end-up sandwiching the other players between the two fronts.

Updated: England Victorious in Spring 1909!

This was an interesting first game for me. It certainly revealed twists to the game that the rulebook didn't mention. But, I had fun nevertheless. Thanks for letting me play.

England Victorious in Spring 1909!

"I would like to thank His Majesty's English Navy and the intrepid Royal Marines for this win." - Jacob

Charter for Diplomacy Decency Proposal

In an effort to curb negativity, spite, and vengefulness we have decided it would be a good idea to set some rules to guide behavior while playing Diplomacy between friends.  The smack talking in the last game got a little out-of-hand and feelings were hurt and people quit.

This is just to get the discussion started, but perhaps these would be some good starting points:

1. No Resigning: If you agree to play you agree to stay.
2. No Living in the Past: Do not speak of any previous games of Diplomacy.
3. No Crying Cheat or Rigged: Life is unfair--learn to deal with it.
4. No Personal Attacks: It's just a game Focker.  Only talk about players' moves.
5. Say Something: If you feel any rules are being bent or broken, air your grievances immediately--don't bottle it up.

This list is open to additions--please make comments.

To step away from Diplomacy--life is too short to fall susceptible to negativity and push it on others.  For competition and hobbyist gaming to be enjoyable, players should have a light heart and each would do well to re-read what they have typed before they hit the Submit button.  Now go get your shinebox.

The Way of the Samurai Is Found in Death

"Above all, the Way of the Samurai should be in being aware that you do not know what is going to happen next, and in querying every item day and night.  Victory and defeat are matters of the temporary force of circumstances.  The way of avoiding shame is different.  It is simply in death."  -- Hagakure

France committed seppuku rather than playing a role in the charade that was this latest game of Diplomacy.  Not even the Hidden Dragon can grapple with the True Bromance I was up against.  Maybe next game I will get to decide where the players start...but until then I leave you with this: *

Updated: Spring 1905

Forcast: Spring 1905

Nick/Jacob ask yourselves where do you fit in this picture? Where will you be when Hart has 18 stars (6 of them yours). This if if Hart doesn't attack your home country which he might decide some round that it'd just be easier to take one or two from you, I know I did in a weak moment. So when the time comes to submit your orders, ask yourself are you on team Hart. Remember only one country can be the winner.

- Emperor of Austria and Apostolic King of Hungary

Diplomacy Picker

I put a link to my AIR app (its not pretty but it works) under links on the right-hand side.

"Don't turn your back on the French"

-Emperor of Austria and Apostolic King of Hungary

Update

There is a nice working flash version on the side instead of the crappy one above or a silly air app based on the crappy one.

Russia Victorious in Spring 1910!

Next Online Game

H, B, and myself all have people we'd like to invite to join the next game.  I feel we should give the new people first dibs on countries since we've all had some experience.  Please email me the email address they use or would like to use for the game and the top 4 countries you would like them to start with.  I'll process all the new people in order of the emails to decide which country they get.  H, B, and M please send me a list of all 7 countries in the order you'd prefer and those will get assigned based on the number of stars at the start of 1910 (least to greatest).  If anyone else wants to join just comment on this entry, if anyone in the game wants to hold on this choice until a later year please comment/email/something.  Also are we all in agreement that 12 hour rounds more than enough time and if you will be out of town or miss a turn that is how it goes?

Turkey-Russia Alliance

Turkey and Russia are a great alliance, but the challenge comes in striking at the last moment.  If you wait too long you're ally will be too large to attack or they will attack you first, but if you strike too early then you will run your alliance and risk both of you going out of the game early.  

The two countries work well together since they can divvy up the Austria-Hungry-Neutral peninsula and Russia is even safe to let Turkey take a  larger piece of the pie since Russia has the entire northern part of the board to work with.  The situation would be a little different if Germany were occupied and Austria-Hungry were able to strike an Alliance and push back at Russia.  

The Black Sea works as a perfect neutral zone providing at least a 1 season warning to either country of an attack.  1 key to the sea however is having two fleets on it so that one can support the other both in moving or bumping someone else out.  I think that if 2 fleets aren't established early on by Russia that it could easily be viewed just as aggressive as actually moving to the Black Sea.  

Alliances in Diplomacy are key to a strong start and are required at least for the first 2-3 years until you are strong enough to support yourself but non-aggression packs are key to victory so that you are not fighting a two front war.  I also have learned from this game that a good alliance is between 2 strong players who both benefit equally from one another like this game with Turkey and Russia neither getting in the way and always taking turn with who supports whom.  England and France in this game however had a poor alliance blocking each other from crucial points, not communicating, and England crippling France by reducing stars on more than one occasion.  The only benefit the alliance saw from one another was non-aggression which allowed them to leave the exposed side to each other completely unoccupied.

In war always be ready for your ally to turn on you and support as frequently as possible when a strike could occur even if they do not it is better to be safe than sorry.

The Bear begins to ROAR!!

I would just like to thank my vodka and my strong Russian boot for kicking the Western pansies and that guy who was actually good on his word (for once)!

NEVER TRUST A RUSSIAN

Please examine the aggressive nature that the Russians have pursued regarding the Black Sea.  Then they accuse me of aggression!?!?  WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN AT WAR WITH EURASIA.

RL Diplomacy

This weekend: some cigars, some whiskey, and some strategy.

The Never-Ending JMBAH Game

I'll keep this brief: Russia controls about one-third of the map and just made it's most aggressive move of the game by attacking France-controlled Munich.  Because France is MIA, Munich fell easily and the English Channel Alliance must be terror-stricken about the torrent from the East about to bust through their levees--I speak of the Black Sea Alliance.

Austria-Hungary never really had a chance as they were surrounded from the get-go and made some questionable decisions to expand towards Turkey instead of picking off the easy computer-controlled nations of Germany and Italy.

The question remains: Who shall control 18 supply points and how will it be done?  Stay tuned...

1337

Flex Version of Diplomacy

we've casually talked about this, but games by email has a javascript frame work we could probably work on top of... Anyone interested check out: http://gamesbyemail.com/Developers

However I'd also enjoy the challenge of the backend "judge", but to get something up in running would be quick if we only had to focus on the UI.

Waiting on Mong

he returns to the PHX area Thursday at 1400 and then HOPEFULLY we won't all have to pick our nose all day.

Oh I created this blog so we had a simple space to talk about our games, strategies, and plan future games.


"All is fair in love and war"

The Tao of Diplomacy

"Long united, the kingdom must divide; long divided, it must unite. It has always been thus."

-- Romance of the Three Kingdoms