# Diplomacy: SDMB's entry in the WorldMasters 2002 Tourney **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 5, 2002, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diplomacy-sdmbs-entry-in-the-worldmasters-2002-tourney/135323 "2002-11-05T05:12:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![White\_Lightning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@White\_Lightning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/White_Lightning)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diplomacy-sdmbs-entry-in-the-worldmasters-2002-tourney/135323/161 "2003-01-19T02:02:02Z")
Neither. He’s just bitter that things aren’t going his way, and he’s trying to scare his opponents into looking the other way. You could cut the hyperbole in that letter with a knife. Another alternative is that he’s just trying to win a side bet with his teammates over who can write the press filled with the most sexual entendres. ---
**Author:** ![Wikkit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c0e974/32.png) [@Wikkit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wikkit)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diplomacy-sdmbs-entry-in-the-worldmasters-2002-tourney/135323/162 "2003-01-19T03:26:28Z")
If it’s the latter, I don’t want to know what “gobble up the frogs” is a euphemsim for. ---
**Author:** ![Abe\_Babe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3ab097/32.png) [@Abe\_Babe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abe_Babe)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diplomacy-sdmbs-entry-in-the-worldmasters-2002-tourney/135323/163 "2003-01-19T18:30:41Z")
Omni, I sent you a map. I agree that it’s the shriekings of a dying man. ---
**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:** [January 21, 2003, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diplomacy-sdmbs-entry-in-the-worldmasters-2002-tourney/135323/164 "2003-01-21T22:39:45Z")
OK, I need a minute to rant and rave about my WM GM. OK, I sent my Fall '02 orders to the GM at 10 AM on Monday, orders were due at Noon. Due to some email server lag he didn’t get them until 2:26PM. He adjudicated at approximately the same time. He checked his email before sending the adjudication, saw my email and simply dismissed it and NMRed me “because I was late”. What a Napoleonic little fuck. I escalated the complaint to the game overseer who agreed and sided with me, but didn’t have the authority to overrule the GM. He refered it to Rudi, the Tournament Director who seemed to not grasp the situation simply defered to the GM. As a result my moves were negated. My support of England into the North Sea was invalid so it sits vacant, my support of Germany into Ruhr (which worked since he supported himself into Ruhr suspecting my move there) followed by a move into Holland failed allowing Germany to keep an extra SC. My vacating of Paris to free up a build also didn’t happen. the only silver lining is that I was holding my unti in Spain, so I at least still gained a build. This horribly affected the validity of this game. What silly notions would possess a GM to act so childishly and heavy-handed? Every turn my moves have been sent the morning before the deadline, so its not as if I’ve been perpetually late (or ever late). He seems to take glee in NMRing me. Infuriating since I wasn’t even fucking late!!! Well, I went from easily the strongest position in my game, to one of the plebes. What a dick. ---
**Author:** ![ppg\_shg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f19dbf/32.png) [@ppg\_shg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ppg_shg)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diplomacy-sdmbs-entry-in-the-worldmasters-2002-tourney/135323/165 "2003-01-21T23:38:18Z")
> [@](#): > > What do you think? Am I an idiot, or a moron? \*\* Well if you are Germany then he was bang on with that “taken from the rear” comment. ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diplomacy-sdmbs-entry-in-the-worldmasters-2002-tourney/135323/166 "2003-01-22T02:09:39Z")
Check your email, Ben, and we’ll see what happens. ---
**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:** [January 22, 2003, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diplomacy-sdmbs-entry-in-the-worldmasters-2002-tourney/135323/167 "2003-01-22T05:06:40Z")
Got it and I replied, check yours as well. Gracias. Although, I’ve already had about 12 volleys with the GM, 2 with the overseer, and 2 with the TD and all for naught. I’m not feeling very optomistic. ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diplomacy-sdmbs-entry-in-the-worldmasters-2002-tourney/135323/168 "2003-01-22T08:41:40Z")
Hell, I’m giving it my best shot. Frankly, this is bullshit, it’s a case of a GM who wants to lord his “power” over everyone. What an asshat. Take solice in the fact that it’s prolly a 'puter nerd who would scream and faint if forced off the 'net into the real world. He must be a 30 year old virgin living in his mom’s basement. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diplomacy-sdmbs-entry-in-the-worldmasters-2002-tourney/135323/169 "2003-01-22T14:10:41Z")
Well, there are pretty firm rules about NMRs that Rudi has set. I’ve had to NMR and replace a player already. A good way to deal with this is the confirm mailbox for the WM tourney. That gives a record of arrival of orders. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diplomacy-sdmbs-entry-in-the-worldmasters-2002-tourney/135323/170 "2003-01-22T17:11:43Z")
> [@](#): > > A good way to deal with this is the confirm mailbox for the WM tourney. That gives a record of arrival of orders. Agreed, Nate. I cc the ‘confirm’ mailbox on every set of orders I send in. It gives an auto-reply, so you have an undeniable record of your having sent your moves at a given time. And if you don’t quickly get that auto-reply, you know the screwup was with your own ISP, so it’s time to re-send, using a backup email account. But still…sorry you wound up in that situation, **Omni**. ---
**Author:** ![Abe\_Babe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3ab097/32.png) [@Abe\_Babe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abe_Babe)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diplomacy-sdmbs-entry-in-the-worldmasters-2002-tourney/135323/171 "2003-01-22T19:16:16Z")
I always try to send in provisional orders early, too. That way, they may not be exactlywhat you wanted, but you’re not NMRing. Good luck with the appeals, Omni. ---
**Author:** ![ppg\_shg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f19dbf/32.png) [@ppg\_shg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ppg_shg)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diplomacy-sdmbs-entry-in-the-worldmasters-2002-tourney/135323/172 "2003-01-22T20:01:40Z")
The whole thing is unfortunate and good luck. If this is going to be the way your game goes, you really have no choice but to use the wm confirm box. ---
**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:** [January 22, 2003, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diplomacy-sdmbs-entry-in-the-worldmasters-2002-tourney/135323/173 "2003-01-22T21:08:51Z")
Definately going to have to use that confirm mailbox. Total pisser. ---
**Author:** ![White\_Lightning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@White\_Lightning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/White_Lightning)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diplomacy-sdmbs-entry-in-the-worldmasters-2002-tourney/135323/174 "2003-01-22T22:56:09Z")
Man, if I NMR’ed in my WM game, I’d be _dead_. ---
**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:** [January 22, 2003, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diplomacy-sdmbs-entry-in-the-worldmasters-2002-tourney/135323/175 "2003-01-22T23:47:52Z")
**WL** , thankfully I am in very strong control of my game right now. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diplomacy-sdmbs-entry-in-the-worldmasters-2002-tourney/135323/176 "2003-01-23T00:18:43Z")
Oh, how confident they are… ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diplomacy-sdmbs-entry-in-the-worldmasters-2002-tourney/135323/177 "2003-01-23T00:28:56Z")
In _my_ game, the **last** thing I want to be is in full control. We seem to have a group of serious balance-of-power fanatics who are ready to jump on the front-runner at a moment’s notice. I’m passing up a chance for an extra build this move (Fall 1903) because I can go from 5 to 6 SCs and have some company, but if I went to 7, I’d be the leader. And I’d pay a price. I figure if I want to jump out front, 1907 should be about right. :rolleyes: ---
**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:** [January 23, 2003, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diplomacy-sdmbs-entry-in-the-worldmasters-2002-tourney/135323/178 "2003-01-23T00:48:20Z")
Well, I will point out that I’m in control…not the lead. A fine point in '02. ---
**Author:** ![White\_Lightning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@White\_Lightning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/White_Lightning)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diplomacy-sdmbs-entry-in-the-worldmasters-2002-tourney/135323/179 "2003-01-23T17:21:24Z")
**RT** , that kinda sounds like fun. Remember, though, that this game will end after 1908, so don’t wait _too_ long to make your move. My game… I’m not sure how to characterize my game. So far it looks like France and Russia are taking it away, and Italy, England, Turkey, and myself (Austria) are letting them. Germany should be first out. ---
**Author:** ![Abe\_Babe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3ab097/32.png) [@Abe\_Babe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abe_Babe)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diplomacy-sdmbs-entry-in-the-worldmasters-2002-tourney/135323/180 "2003-01-23T17:28:21Z")
I’m doing pretty well, but not _the_ front runner. I have 7 supply centers, but foolishly left only one open home center. I therefore only have 6 units. It may be just as good, since it may draw less attention to me. France is a strong ally, and Russia and I are pretty friendly as well. Austria is falling, and Italy may be hard pressed to fight off the Turk. My decision is whether to commit my Munich army to Silesia to help fight off the R/T alliance. I also have a new fleet in Berlin, that needs to move to either Kiel or the Baltic. I think I have to, however, to keep Turkey from running away with it all. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diplomacy-sdmbs-entry-in-the-worldmasters-2002-tourney/135323.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diplomacy-sdmbs-entry-in-the-worldmasters-2002-tourney/135323.md?page=10)