Newbie Diplomacy?

Johnny Bravo · #1 06-18-2003, 11:14 AM

Inspired by this thread, I'm wondering if there are any new/novice players who would be interested in playing a game of Diplomacy. I suppose we'd need an experienced GM willing to help the less experienced along.

Myself, I don't know anything about the game aside from the concept, but I'm willing to learn. Any takers?

Mastema · #2 06-18-2003, 11:43 AM

I would be happy to play, but I too have never played before and know nothing of the game. I do have a few questions

How much time does a typical game consume in terms of time I need to be sitting at my computer?

What is the total duration of a typical game?

Rules? Of course.

I know so little that I don't even know what other questions to ask.

But I am willing.

ShibbOleth · #3 06-18-2003, 12:18 PM

Amount of time consumed, I'd put at a few hours a week. Can vary alot depending on how much you get into it. It's not interactive, you develop relationships via email.

Duration of a game can be weeks to months. Usual pacing is 1 year per week/ten days, which is three sets of orders. Number of years to sort out a game can vary wildly, but say maybe 15 years.

Here is a link to a treatise which covers strategy and in due course most of the The Diplomatic Pouch is another link that is a clearing house of Dip stuff, which you might find useful.

ShibbOleth · #4 06-18-2003, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ShibbOleth
rules

Damn, you miss one little bracket...

Whack-a-Mole · #5 06-18-2003, 01:03 PM

I'd be interested. I admit I played the game ages ago when my older brothers would let me play (I'm talking about 20 years ago now). In essence consider me a complete newbie (even when I did play my brothers would just crush me so I can't say as I learned much).

I also have an unfortunate and inordinate amount of free time on my hands just now so something to while away a few hours here and there would be welcome.

Scuba_Ben · #6 06-18-2003, 01:36 PM

I'd be interested in a game starting mid-July.

I've played 3 Diplomacy games in my life, 1 of which was face-to-face, and NONE of which endured beyond the fourth turn.

Shibb, would you be available as a GM? (Also, is 1092-GRY still stuck?)

ShibbOleth · #7 06-18-2003, 01:53 PM

I might be able to GM, but I've not done it before. Let's see where this gets headed. Sounds like we have four interested so far.

Omniscient · #8 06-18-2003, 03:35 PM

I'd be willing to give the newbie game another shot since the last newbie game died with a whimper. If players are short I'd like to play, since I'm not playing in any games at the moment, and even though I'm not really a newbie. But, if the game fills up with true newbies I'll GM it.

ShibbOleth · #9 06-18-2003, 03:52 PM

FTR, I think that Omni did a great job in GM'ing the last Newbie game, so he'd be a great fit for this and should be the first choice. If he's needed to fill in as a player then I can be a newbie GM, although I'd need some hand holding from a more experienced GM to do that.

Lockz · #10 06-18-2003, 04:50 PM

I'd love to play in a newbie game, only having one game under my belt.

Lemur866 · #11 06-18-2003, 05:13 PM

I've played 3 games. Put me down as an alternate. If actual new players show up they can go first.

Mastema · #12 06-18-2003, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ShibbOleth
Amount of time consumed, I'd put at a few hours a week. Can vary alot depending on how much you get into it. It's not interactive, you develop relationships via email.

Duration of a game can be weeks to months. Usual pacing is 1 year per week/ten days, which is three sets of orders. Number of years to sort out a game can vary wildly, but say maybe 15 years.

That all sounds do-able, and I have now read some of the rules and been intrigued by them, but I am wondering what the differences are when played online, does all communication take place through e-mail, and is there a central place to view the map, or do we each keep our own? Pardon all of the questions, but I'm trying to picture how this plays out.

Also what version of the rules do we play by?

Einmon · #13 06-18-2003, 06:06 PM

Uuuuh!!! Another round of Newbie Diplomacy!!! I missed the last one and was reduced to lurking in the thread.

Can I play? Pretty please?

However, I must admit that I usually suck at strategy games and am a little bit scared of the rulebook. Then again, you might give me Italy and have it over and done with rather quickly

Johnny Bravo · #14 06-18-2003, 07:03 PM

In summary, then:

Johnny Bravo - Never played.
Mastema - Never played.
Whack-a-Mole - Never played.
Scuba_Ben - Never played.
Lockz - One game played.
Lemju866 - Intermediate(?)
Einmon - Never played.

For possible GMs, we have ShibbOleth and Omniscient.

Omniscient · #15 06-18-2003, 07:09 PM

OK, everyone email me here if you want to play. Looks like there's plenty of newbies which leaves me to GM, hopefully this one will be smoother than the last attempt.

Weirddave · #16 06-18-2003, 07:22 PM

I'll GM if you need it. It's easy for me, I have the website all set up and everything. Lemmie know if you want me to do it.

Johnny Bravo · #17 06-18-2003, 07:29 PM

It looks like Omniscient has already volunteered, Weirddave, but considering the quick responses to this thread, I'm sure another group of newbies would be more than happy to learn.

On that note, you can count me in for your game as well. Learning on two games at once should be twice as educational, right? Right.

Weirddave · #18 06-18-2003, 07:32 PM

Well, I accidentaly cut Omni out of 1099 and I promised him that I'd keep him in mind first for the next game I GMed. This would allow him to play in the game, by my count there are only 6 without him.

MonkeyMensch · #19 06-18-2003, 08:11 PM

Did I miss playing by that few of minutes?

flood · #20 06-18-2003, 08:18 PM

I'm in. Where do I sign up???

flood · #21 06-18-2003, 08:19 PM

Damn

Jonathan Chance · #22 06-18-2003, 08:22 PM

Hey, Shibb. If you get a group together and GM I'll advise and backstop you.

How's that?

Omniscient · #23 06-18-2003, 09:22 PM

I've got 4 emails, everyone who is interested should contact me. And in this case please include your SD nickname and your level of experince. Standard practice has been to treat an email contact as the official volunteering move since people tend to post to threads and then disappear or forget.

I think everyone who is interested should email me, if we have enough players stepping up to get two games going I'll group the second set and pass it off to Dave or Shibb, and I'll get in and play along there.

I hope no one gives up thinking that there are no more slots, if you're interested contact me and I'll make sure you get into either the first newbie game or a second game.

I'm not going to do a straight first-come, first-serve policy here, I'll group complete rookies into one game and those of you with one or more games experince in another if we get a second one going.

So far the confirmed are as follows.

Lockz (played once)
Mastema (rookie)
Mystery Emailer #1 (rookie)
Mystery Emailer #2 (unknown experince level)

If you're one of the mystery emailers, shoot me another message and let me know who you are and where we stand from an experience standpoint. I'm going to give it a few days before I start grouping players in hopes that all comers are able to see the thread.

Dave & Shibb, does it work for you if I organize the players and pass you a second lot with my name included? I'll let you guys decide who wants first crack at the GM title.

Johnny Bravo · #24 06-18-2003, 09:28 PM

Oh. Heh. I'm Johnny_Diplomat. I thought it would be obvious.

Omniscient · #25 06-18-2003, 09:43 PM

Gotcha, the name on the email profile was something different, I didn't check the email address. FYI, Mystery Emailer #2 is Johnny Bravo and is a rookie.

ShibbOleth · #26 06-18-2003, 09:49 PM

Omni, that would work fine for me. If the second game crowd is more experienced I could GM with JC and/or Dave as guides, and you could be a player in that one if it works out that way.

Erika · #27 06-18-2003, 10:51 PM

Email sent to Omni ... never played before, but want to learn.

Omniscient · #28 06-18-2003, 11:13 PM

Shibb, that was actually what I ideally hoping would happen. One newbie game, and a second game with slightly more experince for me to play in and making it a little easier for you to GM if you were inclined.

Abe Babe · #29 06-19-2003, 11:04 AM

I had offered to GM in flood's thread, and that still goes, but if you want to GM one Shibb, that would be fine too.

GMing isn't really that hard, once you have pulled out all your hair from the late and disappearing orders.

Lemur866 · #30 06-19-2003, 11:24 AM

Omni, I just emailed you for the 2nd game.

ShibbOleth · #31 06-19-2003, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Abe Babe

GMing isn't really that hard, once you have pulled out all your hair from the late and disappearing orders.

I'm already ahead on that count.

Trigonal Planar · #32 06-19-2003, 01:23 PM

Count me in for one of the games as well.

I can't email you at the moment, but consider this an "official" entry.

I'll call myself intermediate.

Omniscient · #33 06-19-2003, 04:32 PM

Trigonal Planar, email me when you can at the linked address, please.

Here's an update on the contestants:

Likely Game #1 roster
Mastema (rookie)
Johnny Bravo (rookie)
Erika (rookie)
Mystery Emailer #1 (rookie)
Flood (rookie)

Likely Game #2 roster
Lockz (played once)
Scuba_Ben (played a couple times)
Lemur866 (played 3 times)
Royal Nonesuch (played in -GRY)
Trigonal Planar (intermediate)
Omniscient (yours truly, played enough)

Still trying to figure out who Mystery Mailer #1 is. These line ups aren't concrete yet, and if I am unable to get into touch with someone when I start assigning countries they might need to be replaced, so please email me if you're interested regardless.

Omniscient · #34 06-19-2003, 04:37 PM

Trigonal Planar, email me when you can at the linked address, please.

Here's an update on the contestants:

Likely Game #1 roster
Mastema (rookie)
Johnny Bravo (rookie)
Erika (rookie)
Mystery Emailer #1 (rookie)
Flood (rookie)

Likely Game #2 roster
Lockz (played once)
Scuba_Ben (played a couple times)
Lemur866 (played 3 times)
Royal Nonesuch (played in -GRY)
Trigonal Planar (intermediate)
Omniscient (yours truly, played enough)

Still trying to figure out who Mystery Mailer #1 is. These line ups aren't concrete yet, and if I am unable to get into touch with someone when I start assigning countries they might need to be replaced, so please email me if you're interested regardless.

Einmon · #35 06-19-2003, 04:53 PM

Oh, my e-mail doesn't seem to have arrived

I'm not Mystery Mailer #1, so I guess I'll have to try again. Darn my laptop and its screwed-up net access.

Mastema · #36 06-19-2003, 09:25 PM

When is this game likely to start?

Johnny Bravo · #37 06-19-2003, 11:35 PM

I'd be happy to play in Game#2 as well, although I certainly wouldn't be any sort of challenge.

Omniscient · #38 06-20-2003, 03:08 AM

Just another update, I've gotten two more messages from interested players.

Whack-a-Mole (barely not a rookie)
Einmon (rookie)

Still looking for an identity for mystery mailer #1. This gets us to 7 players for the newbie game assuming that our secret player speaks up before too long. I'm still taking interested parties, so please don't hesitate to get in touch.

Mastema, I'm planning on leaving the invite out there until at least tomorrow, probably Saturday. Then I'm going to get in touch with everyone for confirmation and country preferences with hopes of having the roster lined up by Monday. I'm not going to rush things, but if everything moves quickly thats the earliest it'll start.

Mastema · #39 06-20-2003, 05:45 AM

Sorry, I didn't mean to imply that I was getting impatient, I'm just trying to plan my weekend.

ShibbOleth · #40 06-20-2003, 06:01 AM

Another piece of information that will assuage your concerns:

After countries are assigned, you are normally given a pretty decent amount of time to do your initial diplomacy, eg, email the other countries and work out what you'll do and with whom. This might be a week, give or take, for example, in a normal game. So I think you'll be fine doing whatever you want this weekend. The weather is supposed to be beautiful this weekend, so I'd suggest the pool or a Reds game (are they still in town?) or something.

Lemur866 · #41 06-20-2003, 01:51 PM

Just to reassure new players, Diplomacy games tend to be pretty leisurely affairs, although percieved time does funny things. Once you've sent in your orders it can be infuriating to have to wait 3 days to see if your brilliant strategy worked. On the other hand, if you are trying to arrange something via email and your partner only checks his email once per day then it can be almost impossible to set things up in the required time.

Also, the biggest rule of thumb in Diplomacy is: the player that talks the least becomes the biggest target.

flood · #42 06-20-2003, 03:08 PM

Unexpected news, I'm going out of town all this week from tomorrow til next Sunday. If you have a game ready before next Sunday, then someone can take my place. If not, I'm still game.

Omniscient · #43 06-20-2003, 08:46 PM

Flood, it probably won't be an issue. Odds are I'll be looking to get things organized this week and the first set of orders likely won't be due until at least middle of next week. Please send me your country preferences, ranked from 1-7, before you go. If you do I can get the game set up and ready to go while you're gone.