In the middle of the Aberration game, I purchased a used Dip game off of e-bay for $10. It was in decent condition, but all the pieces and some maps, etc. were there. Two days after I got it, I was talking to a neighbor across the street about it. He said “Oh, honey, don’t we have one of those in our basement? If we do, you can have it.” He had gotten it years ago as a gift, and never even oponed up the box. Now I got two.
Regarding the turns, if I may make a suggestion, JC’s schedule of one year per week seemed like a good way to do it, Perhaps after the first year, when everybody is writing everybody about why they should ally with everybody else. I believe he tried for Spring moves on monday, fall moves on thursday, and winter builds on Friday. That kept the game at a good pace.
A few questions for RT:
Is there a grace period for not getting moves in? Once in one of the prior games, I didn’t send them in because I dreamt that I already had. They were in within 3 hours of the deadline. If there’s no wiggle room, that’s fine, but knowing now could prevent hard feelings later.
Is there a concensus on whether we can discuss retreats and or winter builds before they are submitted? In the face-to-face arena, there is no diplomacy before retreats or between fall and winter. However, as JC pointed out, there is no way to enforce it with PBEM systems. I have no problem avoiding communications, but I don’t want to be the only sap. Does such a rule exist in PBEM, and are we going to follow it?
We just had a (boringly) long discussion of such on the Cat23 GM list. The consensus is that a GM could announce that such was verboten and expel players who were caught doing it. But that would just make sure that players who knew to keep their mouths shut would stay in the game.
I generally try to deal with it by making sure I only leave a minimal amount of time for retreats or they go off the board.
I’m gonna do it like this: Retreats: no discussion. You’re supposed to make your retreats more or less immediately on finding out that you have retreats to make. So your first email about retreats should be to me, telling me where you’re retreating to.
Builds/Disbands: The period between fall adjudication and the winter move is not technically a diplomacy period, so the occurrence of any diplomacy should be invisible to the GM. Which means there should be no reason for lateness with those builds and disbands, if you get my drift.
Grace period: If the moves aren’t all there when I wake up on the morning of the deadline, I’ll remind you of your faux pas by email, and hopefully you’ll get 'em in early enough to not slow down the game noticeably.
As a player, I got in the habit of submitting moves well ahead of time, knowing I could change them up to the deadline. While I wouldn’t dream of making a rule of it, I recommend the practice.
The night before moves were in, I had a dream about the game. the dream involved strategies and negotiations that were not totally out there, so I believed that they really could have happened.
Man, this waiting for country assignment is killing me.
I’m not sure I want moves on both Friday and Monday, btw. My thought is that then we’ve got to alter the schedule anytime someone is away for the weekend. I’d rather just assume that weekends will see less diplomacy action than the weeks. I don’t know how things are in Chicago or California, but here in the East, fall weekends are a great time to get away. (Of course, from the perspective of a DC-area guy, Nate and Dave already are ‘away’. :))
Um, is there any chance for a second game? I mean, I only saw this thread five minutes ago, and the game is already full? Would it help if I held my breath until I turned blue? Anybody?
You’re welcome to try, Lemur. Since I’ve never GMed a game before, I think my Dip activity for the next couple months will be limited to the game I’m running. So I’ll bow out, and let you have at it.
Given its title, I think we should let this thread be used for purposes of getting new games going, and move games that are up and running to the Doper Diplomacy - Fall and Winter 2002 thread, where those folks in the game I’m GMing will find their country assignments. (How’s that for an incentive to go to the new thread?)
Was that the game in which you were Turkey? The one where you quit when it became obvious where it was going?( ) the one where all of Turkey fell to Russia? ( me )? If so, then I can see the dream now…
*** Wayne’s World Dream Fade Sound Effect- Deediddledeet, Deediddledeet, Deediddledeet***
A messenger runs into the palace and throws himself prostate at the feet of Sultan Abe. “Master, we have the results of the latest moves from your vast armies and fleets.”
“Speak.”
“Your plan worked brilliantly! Together with the Austrians, we routed the Russians out of the Black Sea and sent them reeling back towards Moscow. Tsar Weirddave is reported to be near tears, as England has attacked him in the north as you desired. Your secret cables with the Kaiser have been equallly effective, together with the Germans, we managed to cut off and destroy the Austrian units which had been drawn out of position attacking the Russians. Your flag now flies unimpeded from the Urals through the Balkins to the Boot.”
“Excellent! Now send me Sheeba the Dancing Girl to rub my tired muscles as I plan the rest of my conquest. I think it is time for the arrogent Italians to learn the price they must pay for standing in the way of my destiny!” Deediddledeet, Deediddledeet, Deediddledeet
"It ws only a dream, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
If this game doesn’t start until the just-begun game gets into 1902 or so (to cut down on my potential confusion, if the first game gets into mid-game before I start another one), or if you play Aberrant, I’d love to play.
I also am thinking about GM’ing a game. Can’t lete Weirddave and RT have all the fun. If I did, it would probably wait 2 weeks or so till this game gets past the initial frantic diplomacy stage.
Although if Dave GMs an aberration game, I would certainly be interested in joining.
Re the dream - It wasn’t quite like that. There were two girls.
It killed me to end that game, as I had more centers than when I started, and was doing pretty well. Prolly not enough to stop Math Geek from winning, though.
OK, you heard Weirddave, people. With me and White, that means we only need five more. Abe, I wouldn’t worry about getting enough players for your own game…it always seems like there are more people who want to play than positions.
OK, who wants to play with me and White? I just thought I’d mention that I’m really really gullible, and I have these supply centers that I wasn’t really using that you could have if you need them…
If you start a little later out (after September) I’m sure I could convince my Florida friend to join in. Personally I’d want a little experience with how this game and my other priorities go before I’d commit to a second concurrent game. So count me as a maybe for the same time frame.
I know that games sometimes take a while to set up. Even if we start getting things organized now, it would probably take 2 or 3 weeks before we actually started anyway. So, starting Sept 15 we’ve got Lemur, White, and Abe. 4 more to go…
OK, we’re getting closer to the time when the others thought they might be ready. Anybody else up for a nice game of Diplomacy? Who’s ready? Step right up, step right up…
) the one where all of Turkey fell to Russia? ( me )? If so, then I can see the dream now…