# SDMB Diplomacy 2004. Shall we play a game? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 15, 2004, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-2004-shall-we-play-a-game/269291 "2004-10-15T00:13:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![garius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e19b73/32.png) [@garius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garius)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-2004-shall-we-play-a-game/269291/121 "2004-12-10T12:39:38Z")
I dunno, i don’t think you’ve come close to matching my stupidest opening moves ever earlier on in this game. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-2004-shall-we-play-a-game/269291/122 "2004-12-10T12:46:24Z")
> [@garius](#): > > I dunno, i don’t think you’ve come close to matching my stupidest opening moves ever earlier on in this game. It’s not that it was devastating, just so stupid. I mean, I had TWO fleets that were essentially free to support F Edi-NTH. One of them didn’t even do _anything_ else, just sit there. The other supported a move that could only have been opposed by me, ferchrissakes! I foiled me. Sheesh, just shoot me already. I blame it all on today’s media and my shortened attention span. ---
**Author:** ![grimpixie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecb155/32.png) [@grimpixie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grimpixie)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-2004-shall-we-play-a-game/269291/123 "2004-12-10T13:23:48Z")
> [@ShibbOleth](#): > > I blame it all on today’s media and my shortened attention span. Surely the communists must take _some_ of the blame??? 😉 This will be an interesting tangle to unravel… what the game needs is someone to shake off the baggage of lethargic thinking, grab the board by the scruff of the neck and shake it vigorously, striding purposely on to unanimous victory!! I volunteer… :wally ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-2004-shall-we-play-a-game/269291/124 "2004-12-10T14:45:01Z")
> [@grimpixie](#): > > This will be an interesting tangle to unravel… what the game needs is someone to shake off the baggage of lethargic thinking, grab the board by the scruff of the neck and shake it vigorously, striding purposely on to unanimous victory!! > > I volunteer… Great. To paraphrase our president, “Tyranny is on the march!” ---
**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:** [December 10, 2004, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-2004-shall-we-play-a-game/269291/125 "2004-12-10T15:48:59Z")
And so is A spa. French A spa retreats to por. Updated map: [http://www.wooleysark.com/dip](http://www.wooleysark.com/dip) ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-2004-shall-we-play-a-game/269291/126 "2004-12-10T16:03:48Z")
Wait a second-Shibb, what power are you again? ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-2004-shall-we-play-a-game/269291/127 "2004-12-10T18:51:09Z")
Hey! I hate these Dip announcements…I always find out about games 2 weeks late. However, I am bravely putting my name in for the postulated second game. I can still remember my last game as France, where 3 years in England, Germany, and Italy all attacked me, while Russia stood by the sidelines refusing to stab Germany. Bastards. But Hey! Who’s GMing the second game? How many players are actually interested in a second game? Who are those players? I’d prefer to play a standard game. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-2004-shall-we-play-a-game/269291/128 "2004-12-10T19:29:57Z")
> [@Weirddave](#): > > Wait a second-Shibb, what power are you again? I’m England, I’m not in a bad position, just PO’ed about my brain going into vapor-lock this round. **Lemur** , didn’t you (or your SO) have a kid some time recently? How’s that going for you? Or am I thinking of someone else? ---
**Author:** ![Wikkit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c0e974/32.png) [@Wikkit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wikkit)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2004, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-2004-shall-we-play-a-game/269291/129 "2004-12-11T00:22:16Z")
> [@Lemur866](#): > > How many players are actually interested in a second game? > > Who are those players? I posted a link earlier on this page, [here’s another one](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=5520406). I’ll go and drop out and nominate you two. **Shibb** , I hope I can live through moves like that in World Masters, because I know I’ll make one eventually. Most of my last comments on this game still stand. I’d like to retract the Austria-Italy comment, and reiterate the Turkey comment. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-2004-shall-we-play-a-game/269291/130 "2004-12-13T16:11:36Z")
I did have a kid, she’s two years old now. Has it been that long since my last round of Diplomacy? Wikkit, I’m responding in the other thread… ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-2004-shall-we-play-a-game/269291/131 "2004-12-13T16:14:50Z")
> [@Lemur866](#): > > I did have a kid, she’s two years old now. Has it been that long since my last round of Diplomacy? Wow, possibly. Time flies. ---
**Author:** ![grimpixie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecb155/32.png) [@grimpixie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grimpixie)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-2004-shall-we-play-a-game/269291/132 "2004-12-13T16:24:47Z")
> [@Wikkit](#): > > I posted a link earlier on this page, [here’s another one](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=5520406)I’d like to retract the Austria-Italy comment, and reiterate the Turkey comment. Apology accepted 😉 It’s madness I tell you!!! Insanity… Grim ---
**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:** [December 14, 2004, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-2004-shall-we-play-a-game/269291/133 "2004-12-14T20:47:36Z")
You don’t really know what insanity is…yet. Cripes is Central Europe a Charlie Foxtrot or what? Map is at: [http://www.wooleysark.com/dip](http://www.wooleysark.com/dip) Retreats/Disbands: German A Kiel can retreat to Ruhr or OTB. French A Portugal has no retreats, disbanded. Italian A Trieste can retreat to Vienna or Albania or Venice or OTB. Those are due tomorrow, please. Schedule: Winter 1903 Orders due: Thursday, December 16, 2004 7AM Eastern US Time Spring 1904 Orders due: Wednesday, December 22, 2004 7AM Eastern US Time Fall 1904 Orders due: Tuesday, January 4, 2005 7AM Eastern US Time And the orders: Austria: F Adriatic Sea Supports A Serbia - Trieste A Bulgaria Hold A Galicia - Budapest F Greece Hold A Serbia - Trieste England: F Denmark - Kiel (_Bounce_) F Edinburgh - North Sea F English Channel Convoys A Wales - Brest A Gascony - Paris F Norwegian Sea Supports F Edinburgh - North Sea A Wales - Brest France: F Belgium - Holland (_Fails_) A Bohemia - Munich (_Bounce_) A Burgundy Supports F Marseilles F Marseilles Supports A Portugal - Spain (_Cut_) A Portugal - Spain (_Disbanded_) Germany: A Holland - Kiel (_Bounce_) A Kiel - Munich (_Dislodged_) F Norway Supports F Norwegian Sea - North Sea (_Void_) Italy: F Mid-Atlantic Ocean Supports F Spain(sc) - Portugal A Piedmont - Marseilles (_Fails_) F Spain(sc) - Portugal A Trieste Hold (_Dislodged_) A Tyrolia - Munich (_Bounce_) Russia: F Baltic Sea - Kiel A Berlin Supports F Baltic Sea - Kiel A Rumania - Serbia F Sevastopol - Rumania A Warsaw - Galicia Turkey: A Ankara - Constantinople F Constantinople - Aegean Sea A Smyrna Supports A Ankara - Constantinople ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2004, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-2004-shall-we-play-a-game/269291/134 "2004-12-14T21:20:23Z")
Hey, **Il Pixie** , did you mean to give Spain back to the French or was that your :smack: moment for this game? Word to the wise, don’t let your Admirals drink all of that port and sherry before sending orders in. ---
**Author:** ![Wikkit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c0e974/32.png) [@Wikkit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wikkit)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2004, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-2004-shall-we-play-a-game/269291/135 "2004-12-14T22:58:09Z")
I was wondering about that too, but the move actually makes sense. France would have the same number of SCs either way, because Italy couldn’t take both centers. This way, he forces a disband and can take Spain with less of a fight in the spring. Working with you, he can then get Mar in the fall. By the way Shibb, I told you so. ---
**Author:** ![garius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e19b73/32.png) [@garius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garius)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-2004-shall-we-play-a-game/269291/136 "2004-12-15T00:46:38Z")
Let it not be said that this game is boring. “Cowards may die many times before their death - the valiant taste of death but once.” I’ve the distinct impression several of the players here have been reading too much shakespeare 😃 ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-2004-shall-we-play-a-game/269291/137 "2004-12-15T02:30:00Z")
> [@Wikkit](#): > > IThis way, he forces a disband and can take Spain with less of a fight in the spring. Working with you, he can then get Mar in the fall. > > By the way Shibb, I told you so. The bastard’s still parked in my ocean… why would I help him take Marseilles? ---
**Author:** ![Wikkit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c0e974/32.png) [@Wikkit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wikkit)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-2004-shall-we-play-a-game/269291/138 "2004-12-15T04:00:04Z")
My standing policy is to only comment after winter turns, so recognize that I may be even more full of crap than usual. > [@ShibbOleth](#): > > The bastard’s still parked in my ocean… why would I help him take Marseilles? Have you heard of these “trade” things? He’s going to need the fleets to defend against Austria, who can easily spoil the game for him. F Por - Spa (sc) with F Mao support in the spring, then in the fall F Spa - Mar with Pie, F Mao - Spa (sc), and your A Bre, Par or Pic to Bur or Gas to cut the support of the army (wherever it is) all assuming France doesn’t disband it. He gets another SC, you both demilitarize MAO, and you go after Russia (nee Germany) like I told you to last year. And congratulations to Turkey, for making a move outside his home centers for the first time since spring '01. And a note to Nate, that 1903 typically comes before 1904. ---
**Author:** ![grimpixie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecb155/32.png) [@grimpixie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grimpixie)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-2004-shall-we-play-a-game/269291/139 "2004-12-15T08:23:07Z")
> [@Wikkit](#): > > Have you heard of these “trade” things? He’s going to need the fleets to defend against Austria, who can easily spoil the game for him. F Por - Spa (sc) with F Mao support in the spring, then in the fall F Spa - Mar with Pie, F Mao - Spa (sc), and your A Bre, Par or Pic to Bur or Gas to cut the support of the army (wherever it is) all assuming France doesn’t disband it. > > He gets another SC, you both demilitarize MAO, and you go after Russia (nee Germany) like I told you to last year. Oiiiiii - stop preempting my negotiations!!! And anyway, the Mid-Atlantic Ocean is demarcated as “public space” and “therefore” cannot be “owned” by “anyone” 😛 Yours maturely, Grim ---
**Author:** ![garius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e19b73/32.png) [@garius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garius)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-2004-shall-we-play-a-game/269291/140 "2004-12-15T08:25:30Z")
> [@](#): > > And anyway, the Mid-Atlantic Ocean is demarcated as “public space” and “therefore” cannot be “owned” by “anyone” You’re just after the fishing rights. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-2004-shall-we-play-a-game/269291.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-2004-shall-we-play-a-game/269291.md?page=8)