# SDMB Diplomacy Commentary **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [July 6, 2009, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-commentary/502057 "2009-07-06T08:48:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2009, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-commentary/502057/21 "2009-07-13T23:11:10Z")
Ah, now we see the bitter sniping and accusations. ---
**Author:** ![wevets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9a140/32.png) [@wevets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wevets)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2009, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-commentary/502057/22 "2009-07-13T23:50:52Z")
… and soon I’m sure we’ll see the violence inherent in the system. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2009, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-commentary/502057/23 "2009-07-14T20:32:14Z")
Can we taunt them twice? Or do we have to wait until the French are in England? ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2009, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-commentary/502057/24 "2009-07-14T20:34:33Z")
Help! Help! I’m being oppressed! ---
**Author:** ![CatInASuit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3be4f8/32.png) [@CatInASuit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CatInASuit)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2009, 8:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-commentary/502057/25 "2009-07-15T08:21:37Z")
This game is beginning to heat up nicely. Not long until Autumn falls. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2009, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-commentary/502057/26 "2009-07-15T09:24:19Z")
Yeah, Diplomacy is like bridge - a bit boring without the arguing. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![CatInASuit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3be4f8/32.png) [@CatInASuit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CatInASuit)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2009, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-commentary/502057/27 "2009-07-15T20:29:57Z")
Well, I hope I got that right. Nice to see a full set of orders from everyone as well. ---
**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:** [July 15, 2009, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-commentary/502057/28 "2009-07-15T20:43:21Z")
Nope. You didn’t. You need to be using a better Judge if that’s what it told you to do ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2009, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-commentary/502057/29 "2009-07-15T20:51:42Z")
[Boos from the audience] ---
**Author:** ![CatInASuit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3be4f8/32.png) [@CatInASuit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CatInASuit)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2009, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-commentary/502057/30 "2009-07-15T20:54:19Z")
☹ ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2009, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-commentary/502057/31 "2009-07-15T21:25:46Z")
> [@Malacandra](#): > > Open press will make a difference, of course. Understatement or the year :p. Even more so when the players don’t know each other or haven’t Diplo’d each other before (which I assume). ---
**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:** [July 15, 2009, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-commentary/502057/32 "2009-07-15T21:31:13Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > Understatement or the year :p. Even more so when the players don’t know each other or haven’t Diplo’d each other before (which I assume). The number of players who seem to be taking the “don’t say anything” approach is amazing to me. Open press heavily favors strong, open alliances. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2009, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-commentary/502057/33 "2009-07-15T21:44:56Z")
What went wrong, Cat? Don’t take it too much to heart - there are plenty of players here who will pick up on minor misadventures like that North Sea thing, so it won’t spoil the game. (We used to think, back when I was at school, that if a piece was ordered to move then it couldn’t remain in the space it came from if something else moved in; but we were wrong - if it’s “bounced” it’s treated as if it Held, with no support, in the space it was trying to leave.) ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2009, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-commentary/502057/34 "2009-07-15T21:48:47Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > The number of players who seem to be taking the “don’t say anything” approach is amazing to me. Open press heavily favors strong, open alliances. The value of such alliances is often lost on inexperienced players, as well as players who expect to be stabbed on every turn if they trust anyone else. I admit I expected more of the, “Hi everyone! I am allied with [other country]. If he betrays me, you all will know of his duplicity,” shout-it-from-the-rooftops type stuff, rather than the current hedging of bets and ambiguous “promises.” * * * Russia seems rather full of bluster for someone so outmaneuvered and outwitted. Italy is TYR doesn’t seem to me to be unexpected. How else does an Italian have fun in the game? ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2009, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-commentary/502057/35 "2009-07-15T22:08:37Z")
Can I \*\*request \*\*either a substitute or a week’s pause? I’m off to the Lake District this weekend and have learned I will not have internet access until I get back (I know, and in 2009 already. Sorry, I thought it was like the place I went to at Easter where at least I could go to the site office). I will get builds and, if possible, Spring '02 orders in before I go, but it would help to brief a stand-in if I need one. ---
**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:** [July 15, 2009, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-commentary/502057/36 "2009-07-15T22:15:16Z")
> [@Malacandra](#): > > Can I \*\*request \*\*either a substitute or a week’s pause? I’m off to the Lake District this weekend and have learned I will not have internet access until I get back (I know, and in 2009 already. Sorry, I thought it was like the place I went to at Easter where at least I could go to the site office). I will get builds and, if possible, Spring '02 orders in before I go, but it would help to brief a stand-in if I need one. How long and what days will you be gone? I wouldn’t oppose a sabbatical for 3 or 4 days following a Friday/Saturday S02. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2009, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-commentary/502057/37 "2009-07-15T22:17:44Z")
I’ll be gone until the following weekend. May be back _late_ Saturday. ---
**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:** [July 15, 2009, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-commentary/502057/38 "2009-07-15T22:18:38Z")
Saturday to Saturday? ---
**Author:** ![CatInASuit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3be4f8/32.png) [@CatInASuit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CatInASuit)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2009, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-commentary/502057/39 "2009-07-16T14:21:52Z")
I have no problems with someone subbing in for you while you are away to keep the game going at it’s current rate. Failing that, it will be a weeks extra scheming for all concerned. Who knows, you may even find a net connection somewhere in the wilds. Builds and early orders for Spring '02 would be welcome. ---
**Author:** ![wevets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9a140/32.png) [@wevets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wevets)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2009, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-commentary/502057/40 "2009-07-16T14:52:32Z")
My apologies to all in advance, but I will be facing a similar problem - I have a vacation in the San Juan Islands scheduled for July 24th to August 2nd - I might have internet access for a day or two on either end, but I’m certain I won’t for the bulk of that week. I wouldn’t ask for a pause for that much time - that would be unreasonable. Do you think I could find a sub, though? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-commentary/502057.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-commentary/502057.md?page=3)