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?
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.
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 [, but to summarise you start with 7 countries during 1901 (England, France, Germany, Italy, Austria, Russia and Turkey). Each has 3 units (excepting Russia who starts with 4). Some of these are armies and some are fleets, the number of which vary by country. There are 35(?) Supply Centers. You get one unit per SC (so guess how many home SCs you have). There are other provinces/countries that start unowned with free SCs (but not all provinces contain SCs). If you order your army/fleet to go from one country to the next, and you obtain an SC in the process, and maintain control at the end of the year, in the winter you can build a new unit in an unoccupied home SC.
It’s a little more involved than that, and sounds more complicated than it is. But there is some learning curve.
[url=“http://www.diplom.org/”]The Diplomatic Pouch](http://www.diplomacy-archive.com/diplomacy_rules.htm"rules[/url) is another link that is a clearing house of Dip stuff, which you might find useful.
Damn, you miss one little bracket…
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.
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?)
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.
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.
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.
I’d love to play in a newbie game, only having one game under my belt.
I’ve played 3 games. Put me down as an alternate. If actual new players show up they can go first.
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?
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 
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.
OK, everyone email me [email=“ben.gabrielson@rcn.com”]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.
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.
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.
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.
Did I miss playing by that few of minutes?
I’m in. Where do I sign up???