# Players needed for Diplomacy, Aberration varient. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 15, 2003, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/players-needed-for-diplomacy-aberration-varient/213370 "2003-11-15T03:05:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2003, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/players-needed-for-diplomacy-aberration-varient/213370/1 "2003-11-15T03:05:07Z")
I want to GM another Aberration game. I GMd one a few years back here on the SDMB, and it was a great deal of fun, in fact we were down to a three power race when one of the players absolutely vanished off the face of the earth, and the other two didn’t want to continue with a new player. I’m throwing this open SDMB folks first, but I’ll draw fill ins from Cat-23 if we can’t get 9 players here. Basically, Aberration postulates a world where powers that “history passed by” had instead thrived. The game starts in 1901, but the [map](http://fff.fathom.org/pages/Walcher/Aberration/AberrationDefualt.gif) is different. Here’s the backstory on each of the powers: ```auto Burgundy The final confrontation between the civilization of the Seine and the Saone was no sure thing for the Parisian monarch. In this instance the victor was the Burgundian dynastic state, stretching from the Rhone to the North Sea. Byzantium This empire might have survived had the Turks failed to make a landing in Europe. The population of western Asia Minor was still basically Greek in the 1400s. Some strong emperors could have given the Greek state a new lease on life. Hungary She was a budding great power until the Turkish invasions. A strong Byzantium would have prevented that and Hungary, not Austria, could have become the great Danubian power. Eire If Irish missionary activity had been followed by political action on behalf of their fellow celts, the Anglo-Norman imperium at London might have been still-born. All the Irish needed was some real unity, which the almost achieved on occasion. Israel This could be a continuation of the ancient dynastic state under descendants of the Maccabees, or the Herods. More likely, however, it would be representative of the final victory of the Crusaders in the Middle East. It might therefore be called the "Kingdom of Jerusalem" Poland The Poles had many opportunities to overwhelm both the Russian and the eastern Germans. We must here assume that one opportunity finally worked. Sicily This island once had an excellent chance of gaining control of most of Italy under a powerful and aggressive Norman dynasty. These rulers died out, and Sicily became the pawn of others. Here we assume that the Norman dynasty did not die out. Spain The could be a Christian Spain which somehow remained powerful despite a long succession of cretinous monarchs. Perhaps they were spared the third-rate Hapsburgs and Bourbons which were thrust upon them. OR this is a Muslim Spain, which case we should refer to it as the "Caliphate of Toledo" (a change of capital from Cordova). Ukraine The original Russian state was centred at Kiev, and we suppose here that this southern centre remained dominant rather than losing out to the northern centres at Vladimir and Moscow. These people would, however, continue to call their land "Russia" or something like it. ``` So, who’s interested? ---
**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:** [November 15, 2003, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/players-needed-for-diplomacy-aberration-varient/213370/2 "2003-11-15T03:08:03Z")
Dear God! Have you gone mad? ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2003, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/players-needed-for-diplomacy-aberration-varient/213370/3 "2003-11-15T03:20:02Z")
Oh, what the hell… ---
**Author:** ![Mastema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/94ad74/32.png) [@Mastema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mastema)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2003, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/players-needed-for-diplomacy-aberration-varient/213370/4 "2003-11-15T03:20:16Z")
I think he has, but it looks like my favorite flavor of mad!! Bwahahaha!!! I’m interested. ---
**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:** [November 15, 2003, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/players-needed-for-diplomacy-aberration-varient/213370/5 "2003-11-15T04:10:11Z")
When are you planning on starting? I still have two or three weeks of school to go, and things are going to get busier before they get better. Looks like fun, though. ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2003, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/players-needed-for-diplomacy-aberration-varient/213370/6 "2003-11-15T04:27:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jonathan Chance \* > \*\*Dear God! > > Have you gone mad? \*\* Me? Who’s been running a Chaos game with 34 different players? I think you just don’t like the Aberration varient because the time you played, your first move was to order a fleet into the mountains of central Turkey. 😛 Johnny Bravo, it depends on how long it takes me to get 9 players, but figure at least a week or so before first orders would be due, maybe two. If school’s over in 2-3 weeks, you should be done with it before any of the real time consuming dipping starts. ---
**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:** [November 15, 2003, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/players-needed-for-diplomacy-aberration-varient/213370/7 "2003-11-15T04:30:40Z")
Well, color me interested. I have most of a full game under my belt. Played France in the Newbie Diplomacy game and was in a pretty strong position before school forced me to cede to another player. ---
**Author:** ![Lockz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Lockz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lockz)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2003, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/players-needed-for-diplomacy-aberration-varient/213370/8 "2003-11-15T05:55:13Z")
I’m pretty interested; did decent as England in the Sophomore game (well, decent before I was about to be utterly crushed). ---
**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:** [November 15, 2003, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/players-needed-for-diplomacy-aberration-varient/213370/9 "2003-11-15T06:08:29Z")
Whoopee! Fresh off my win as Turkey in Dominatrix, I’m fresh for new competition. …and I’ve never played a variant. Should be tonnes of fun! ---
**Author:** ![anya\_marie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ebca7d/32.png) [@anya\_marie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anya_marie)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2003, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/players-needed-for-diplomacy-aberration-varient/213370/10 "2003-11-15T08:22:44Z")
Are you still looking for players Weirddave, or do you have a fiull group? ---
**Author:** ![Jonmarzie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/50afbb/32.png) [@Jonmarzie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonmarzie)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2003, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/players-needed-for-diplomacy-aberration-varient/213370/11 "2003-11-15T08:47:25Z")
I’d totally do it. It’ll be nice to start my own country. ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2003, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/players-needed-for-diplomacy-aberration-varient/213370/12 "2003-11-15T16:14:05Z")
If I’m reading this right, people who are definites are: ShibbOleth Mastema Soup\_du\_jour Jonmarzie Strong maybes: Johnny Bravo Lockz anya marie Can you three please decide yea or nay? If you’re all in, then we only need 2 more folks, I’m hopin’ some of the regulars will step up too. ---
**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:** [November 15, 2003, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/players-needed-for-diplomacy-aberration-varient/213370/13 "2003-11-15T16:17:23Z")
Ok, ok. I’m in. ---
**Author:** ![Lockz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Lockz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lockz)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2003, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/players-needed-for-diplomacy-aberration-varient/213370/14 "2003-11-15T16:22:03Z")
I’m in! ---
**Author:** ![The\_Mad\_Hermit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5ac83/32.png) [@The\_Mad\_Hermit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Mad_Hermit)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2003, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/players-needed-for-diplomacy-aberration-varient/213370/15 "2003-11-15T17:20:30Z")
Was I that lost third player, or did I give up before that? After some time to reflect, I might want to try this again, if I could ask for a second chance. Besides, I’m depressed about the Steelers’ season, and you can gloat a little more. (Just a little, though.) My email is the same as before. ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2003, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/players-needed-for-diplomacy-aberration-varient/213370/16 "2003-11-15T22:07:04Z")
ShibbOleth Mastema Soup\_du\_jour Jonmarzie Johnny Bravo Lockz Steelerphan That’s 7, who else? We need 2 more. ---
**Author:** ![anya\_marie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ebca7d/32.png) [@anya\_marie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anya_marie)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2003, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/players-needed-for-diplomacy-aberration-varient/213370/17 "2003-11-16T11:49:33Z")
If they are in, I’d love to play too. ---
**Author:** ![Chimpy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@Chimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimpy)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2003, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/players-needed-for-diplomacy-aberration-varient/213370/18 "2003-11-16T11:52:57Z")
im not sure what it is can i have an explaination please? ---
**Author:** ![VladAntlerkov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/c68b51/32.png) [@VladAntlerkov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VladAntlerkov)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2003, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/players-needed-for-diplomacy-aberration-varient/213370/19 "2003-11-16T12:17:53Z")
What the hey, I’ll try it. ---
**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:** [November 16, 2003, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/players-needed-for-diplomacy-aberration-varient/213370/20 "2003-11-16T12:54:35Z")
I want in, I’ll round out whatever roster needs filling. Count me as a definate. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/players-needed-for-diplomacy-aberration-varient/213370.md?page=2)