I actually have enough people now. I’ll keep Steve in Reserve.
Ok, using the random method of calling out: “Hey Ginger, name a Diplomacy country. uh-huh, and another? Another?” and weeding out suggestions like Lithuania and Poland, I have assigned everyone to a country. Countries are as follows:
ppg_shg: Italy
Wikkit: Russia
ShibbOleth: England
Abe Babe: Austria
Garfield226: France
StephenKing221: Germany
Tarrsk: Turkey
Email to all to follow and the website will be updated tomorrow.
Hey, add me to the list.
This will be my first email version though.
Trigonal Planar, the game is full, but you and anyone else who is interested can follow along on my website for this and all Diplomacy games that I’m involved in.
For any of you who’ve not played before, just remember that England is everyone’s friend. It’s all that water, makes us almost like an island out there. We just bring barrels of Guiness and other fine lagers and ales, plus the occasional grayish piece of meat. And we never seriously threaten you in sports competitions. No, nothing to be concerned about there.
We’ve always been at war with England.
Curse you, foul Sultan! For you there is no mercy!
But still everybody else is sunshine and roses. Dogpile on the Turk!
Should I surrender now?
Also, what rules are you using? I dl’ed some 4th edition rules (Hasbro, I think?), and am currently soaking those up.
Any changes of note? House rules?
Well I’m running a little behind, but the Italian consulate is open. S01 special is free gelato. However, there are no housecalls, deliveries only please.
Um, when did I bow out?!?!?!?
Now there’s the ultimate stab!
Didn’t you send me an email explaining that you thought that your real life job pressures might interfere with playing the game? That wasn’t intended as a withdrawl? Geeze, Omni, I AM sorry, then. I’ll keep you in mind first for the next game, ok?
Well, being that I’m principally unemployed, I’m quite certain that I didn’t email you like that.
I mean, I know we clashed heads in Bobble as Russia and Austria, but this is taking it a bit far! 
Is it possible you confused Omni and Wikkit, since they both have the same first name IRL? Just wondering?
And Omni, are you trying to tell me that plying Depauw coeds with liquor is not work?
It’s certainly not work by any defination I’m used to, and with a grand total of about 16 hours of work a week doesn’t quite inhibit my dipping ability as long as its not on a Monday.
Oh, and BTW…they are DePaul coeds, a much finer brand than those Hoosiers at Depauw.
Wikkit is also unemployed, so not a lot of job pressures other than “GET ONE!”.
White from Russia:
Yes, I’ve been a bit uncommunicative, I’m sorry. Yes, I went according to the common will. No, you don’t want to threaten me this early in the game.
Ben
Is there any way for completely inexperienced players to join? I’d like to play, as I’ve heard a lot about this game around the SDMB, but I wouldn’t want to drag everyone else down with sheer incompetance.
I guess I’m asking what the learning curve is like.
The learning curve is not that bad but it can be a bit discouraging to jump in with the sharks whilst your learning to swim. Perhaps there might be another Newbie game soon if demand warrants it or you could get in a game with a mixed crowd. If you want to follow along we can explain this one to you, sort of, as it goes. It might also be good if a neutral observer explained to you what they think is happening, as there can be a good deal of BS and subterfuge involved. Not from me, of course, but from some of the others, possibly, save perhaps the esteemed White Russian. 
I’d love to get involved in a newbie game as well, as I just played my first game this past weekend.