# Diplomacy - Dominatrix **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 2, 2003, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diplomacy-dominatrix/185727 "2003-07-02T05:54:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diplomacy-dominatrix/185727/1 "2003-07-02T05:54:55Z")
I’ve decided to begin a new thread now that this game has gotten itself together finally. A email has been sent to the players (go read it and start dipping kids!). The Text of which is mostly included below. > [@](#): > > We’ve gotten a roster together finally and the Newbie Game is getting underway. I’ve registered the game with Cat23 and it has a designation number of 1137. Not important to you guys, but if I’m not too lazy I’ll be copying the results to their database for the geeks to analyze. I’ve given it the warm fuzzie name of “Dominatrix”, do not ask why, but I feel it goes along nicely with the SDMB trend of names such as “Bobble”, “-GRY”, “Sophomore”, “Mini-Me” and “Adams”. > > Here are the country assignments. > > Austria: **Whack-A-Mole** > England: **Flood** > France: **Johnny Bravo** > Germany: **Erika** > Italy: **Einmon** > Russia: **Mastema** > Turkey: **Soup\_du\_jour** > > Everyone got their first choice except for one, and he got his 6th…I tried every trick I could think of but the only person who picked Austria above 5th also picked Italy first, which was equally unpopular. Since you’re all rookies, it won’t make a big difference anyways. Certain nations are especially difficult if you’re playing along side veterans as a rookie, but since everyone is pretty equal no one’s at too much of a disadvantage. > > I’m going to set the Spring 1901 deadline to be July 9th at 5PM. It gives you a nice long period to get acquainted and then to begin negotiations. I strongly recommend that you do not wait until the last minute to start dipping, and I also suggest you contact every player early and often for the first few years. I sadly don’t always take my own advice, but do as I say, not as I do. > > The Initial Winter 1900 Map is attatched, I’ll get a webpage up sometime later in the week. > > Let me know if you have any problems or concerns. Dip away my flock! There you have it, everyone now has a nation to heckle from, and the peanut gallery has a fresh crop of targets for jeers and advice. If only we had another **Go Alien** encounter. ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diplomacy-dominatrix/185727/2 "2003-07-02T06:17:30Z")
> [@](#): > > I’ve given it the warm fuzzie name of “Dominatrix”, do not ask why, but I feel it goes along nicely with the SDMB trend of names such as “Bobble”, “-GRY”, “Sophomore”, “Mini-Me” and “Adams”. Sheeet. All that work I do, and “Mulligan” dosen’t even make the list. That’s gratitude for ya! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Soup\_du\_jour](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Soup\_du\_jour](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soup_du_jour)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diplomacy-dominatrix/185727/3 "2003-07-02T08:25:10Z")
Wonderful. Should be a fun one. I got the Turk! Woo hoo! ---
**Author:** ![Mastema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/94ad74/32.png) [@Mastema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mastema)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diplomacy-dominatrix/185727/4 "2003-07-02T11:21:41Z")
Everyone like borscht I hope? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diplomacy-dominatrix/185727/5 "2003-07-02T20:13:10Z")
France. We come from France. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diplomacy-dominatrix/185727/6 "2003-07-03T02:02:30Z")
Well, it’s interesting to see who got what countries here. I _just_ finally hacked my way through the crud to get dial up access here on the Gulf of Mexico, cancelling a couple of crummy dial up ISPs, but I hope to get in here enough to bug you newbies with my half-assed analysis. I wonder if Russia and Italy will join forces like they threatened in the last thread? Or will a certain cocksure Czar learn how easily Russia can be destroyed when she’s seen as a threat? But perhaps best of all is someone with the name **Whack-A-Mole** getting Austria… surely that must be more than blind Providence? ---
**Author:** ![Mastema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/94ad74/32.png) [@Mastema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mastema)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diplomacy-dominatrix/185727/7 "2003-07-03T02:23:11Z")
Russia is not a threat. Russia is a big teddy bear who only wants to be loved. Now if you will all draw your attention to Western Europe for the next several turns . . . Pay no attention to the Czar behind the curtain, the Great Oz has spoken. [aside to **Shibb**]Thanks for pointing THAT out to everyone:rolleyes:. How was the drive down?[/aside to **Shibb**] ---
**Author:** ![Soup\_du\_jour](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Soup\_du\_jour](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soup_du_jour)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diplomacy-dominatrix/185727/8 "2003-07-03T23:55:38Z")
Hey, **Shibb**. Your Austria didn’t seem to have too much trouble in that last game… …though Turkey was stomped by Italy. Let’s hope history doesn’t repeat itself. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Erika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/47e85d/32.png) [@Erika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erika)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2003, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diplomacy-dominatrix/185727/9 "2003-07-04T01:11:44Z")
I’m going to be less-in-touch Friday - Sunday… nations expecting lengthy / quick responses from Germany are advised to get in touch this evening. ---
**Author:** ![Mastema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/94ad74/32.png) [@Mastema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mastema)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2003, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diplomacy-dominatrix/185727/10 "2003-07-06T20:16:48Z")
This thread is VERY quiet! How is everyone doing? Got your preliminary orders in yet? Got any deals you want to propose. Trash talk? Are the troops nervous? As for me, Russia’s military has it’s orders and is preparing to mobilize. Our path is clear and the road to victory lies before us. The troops are in high spirits since they have seen no combat yet. They seem so young, so bold. Would that I were still young enough to take up arms and go with them. Soon, I tell them. It won’t be long till the bayonets are affixed and you have to look the enemy in the eye while one of you dies. Then it will be up to each of you to insure that it is you, you and Russia, who turn from your enemies cooling body to search for another target. Bring us victory. Bring yourselves honor. Fight well. ---
**Author:** ![flood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@flood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flood)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2003, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diplomacy-dominatrix/185727/11 "2003-07-06T20:37:32Z")
I’m not clear as how to send orders. Who do I send them to and what do I put? Is there some kind of code that I’m supposed to use or something? ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2003, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diplomacy-dominatrix/185727/12 "2003-07-06T21:41:18Z")
You send the orders to me, and only to me. There’s a few options as far as format. Experienced players often use the accepted abbreviations for the territories involved. Here’s the basics, you will find many examples in the various links and articles [here](http://devel.diplom.org/Online/). A dash ( - ) indicates a move. You will typically order one unit to move from one space to another space like this. **Fleet London - English Channel** or alternatively **F Lon - ENG** This obviously means "Move the Fleet in London to the English Channel. Often you will want to hold a unit to defend or simply to wait a turn. You order that like this. **Army Berlin Hold** or alternatively **A Ber H** Note, that there is no dash, and this simply means the army in Berlin holds. There will be frequent occasions where you need to support a unit into a location in order to add strength to the move. That is ordered as such. **Fleet Baltic Sea Supports Army Warsaw - Prussia** or alternatively **F BAL S A War - Pru** This simply means that you are ordering the fleet in the Baltic Sea to support the army moving from Warsaw to Prussia. Keep in mind that you must accompany this support order with the respective move order you are supporting (A Warsaw - Prussia) or else it is void. There are occasions where this could be intentional, but that’s another discussion. Also note that a unit can only support a unit into a province that it itself can move into that turn. For example the Fleet could not support the move A Prussia - Warsaw. Lastly, there may be occasions where you’ll want to convoy a army across a sea province. This is similar to the support order. **Fleet Ionian Sea Convoys Army Naples - Tunis** or alternatively **F ION C A Nap - Tun** Again, just like the support order, you’ll need to also have the corresponding move order of (A Nap - Tun) to go along with it. I have no trouble with you using the shorthand, but I highly suggest you make sure you know what you’re doing when you do. Its not complicated, but if you use a ambiguous abbreviation I’ll have no choice but to NMR that unit. For example, in -GRY I had a order that didn’t clarify whether it meant Norway or the Norwgeian Sea. You can also mix and match abbreviations with long hand without trouble. Its very common to abbreviate the unit type (F or A) and the order (H, S or C) while using the longhand for the provinces to ensure clarity. Whatever you choose, be careful, and when in doubt spell it out. ---
**Author:** ![Soup\_du\_jour](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Soup\_du\_jour](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soup_du_jour)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2003, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diplomacy-dominatrix/185727/13 "2003-07-07T02:54:50Z")
Oh, and send your orders to me too. The provisional ones too. Early. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![flood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@flood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flood)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2003, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diplomacy-dominatrix/185727/14 "2003-07-07T18:31:06Z")
I smell treachery **Soup boy** ---
**Author:** ![Einmon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Einmon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Einmon)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2003, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diplomacy-dominatrix/185727/15 "2003-07-07T20:03:57Z")
What, **flood** , you mean I shouldn’t have sent my orders to **Sultan Soup**? :eek: I guess the only way for this game to remain fair now is for you all to send your orders to me. That’ll even the balance. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2003, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diplomacy-dominatrix/185727/16 "2003-07-08T23:38:00Z")
I just wanted to remind everyone that the deadline is still set for 5PM CDT on Thursday the 10th. How has the game been progressing so far, plenty of communication from all players I hope? Is there any potential reason for anyone to be requiring a delay? If not, wonderful. I’ll be pleasantly surprised if this first year passes by without incident. ---
**Author:** ![Soup\_du\_jour](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Soup\_du\_jour](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soup_du_jour)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diplomacy-dominatrix/185727/17 "2003-07-09T03:56:53Z")
Lots of communication from some players, **Omni**. Other players, however, are incommunicado. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diplomacy-dominatrix/185727/18 "2003-07-09T06:07:11Z")
Word to the wise, silence usually makes you a target. War mongering is probably a safer tactic than silence. ---
**Author:** ![Mastema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/94ad74/32.png) [@Mastema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mastema)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diplomacy-dominatrix/185727/19 "2003-07-09T09:55:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Omniscient \* > **I just wanted to remind everyone that the deadline is still set for 5PM CDT on Thursday the 10th.** How did it get to be Thursday the 10th? In your original post it was the 9th. ---
**Author:** ![Mastema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/94ad74/32.png) [@Mastema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mastema)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 10:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diplomacy-dominatrix/185727/20 "2003-07-09T10:04:27Z")
In other news, the game seems to be going well. I think everyone is afraid to start war wongering at this point because they don’t want to burn any bridges. Wait until mid-game when the battle lines are more clearly defined and we’ll see who can spout the best rhetoric. I’m interested to see the initial moves so I can find out who went with The Plan™ and who has their own agenda. . . . . . Oh wait, this is diplomacy, EVERYONE has their own agenda. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diplomacy-dominatrix/185727.md?page=2)