# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![CatInASuit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3be4f8/32.png) [@CatInASuit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CatInASuit)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-commentary/502057/61 "2009-07-29T17:25:47Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > I’m having trouble figuring out who’s screwing whom. Can I get a box score or something? Ok Italy screwed himself, which also resulted in him screwing a surprised Austria. But that’s not as bad as Turkey who got screwed by Russia who also participated in England screwing himself while Germany and France screwed each other to a standstill. I think that covers it. ---
**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 30, 2009, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-commentary/502057/62 "2009-07-30T21:04:07Z")
**France** says he’s moving into PIE, which seems logical to me considering his position. It doesn’t really do much, but it feels better moving a useless piece than letting it sit there. What really needs to happen is for that stupid fleet in BEL to get the hell out of the way. If French aggression towards Germany is done, who else can he possibly attack? **England** is in a stalemate position with little to gain or lose. Wow, that’s a shocker. I might try something really bold and stupid, just to make things less boring. Perhaps abandoning a weak France for a strong Germany is a good bargain. **Germany** holds many cards, IMHO. If an Anglo-German agreement can be reached, am English army can be in BEL on the next turn, but it would be better to wait til fall. This army would then be part of a German intrusion into France. Thinking out loud, am I. Perhaps a joint assault on Russia up north would be prudent if Juggernaut is starting to roll. **Austria** doesn’t believe France-into-PIE is a defensive move. I can’t tell how things are with Italy, but any bickering makes the Jug-heads more powerful. I suggest VEN-PIE with Italian support in the spring, then allowing Italy into VEN in the fall. **Italy** needs to get his orders in on time. That fleet in ADR is doing jack while it could be overpowering a single Mediterranean Turkish boat. I really don’t see how you survive, let alone gain anything, by aligning with Turkey. **Turkey** , don’t run with scissors, you’re liable to get an army cut off. **Russia** is schizophrenic (which is a mental illness dontchaknow). Juggernaut getting up to speed and then that? Keep that up and you won’t get to #2 on your to-do list (Go in against a Sicilian when death is on the line). ---
**Author:** ![CatInASuit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3be4f8/32.png) [@CatInASuit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CatInASuit)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2009, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-commentary/502057/63 "2009-08-03T08:02:45Z")
Well, with all that it looks like alliances are being broken and remade in double quick time. ---
**Author:** ![wevets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9a140/32.png) [@wevets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wevets)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2009, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-commentary/502057/64 "2009-08-04T01:38:36Z")
Wow. That’s certainly not what I expected to see when I left. Russia’s in serious trouble long-term from England, Germany, Austria, and Turkey. It looks like some quick diplomacy is called for to get one or more of those powers to switch sides. That’s a really interesting French-German/Italian-Austrian altercation underway, too. All because of abandoning the assault on Germany? ---
**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:** [August 4, 2009, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-commentary/502057/65 "2009-08-04T16:47:42Z")
Franco-Russian alliances ALWAYS work. ---
**Author:** ![CatInASuit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3be4f8/32.png) [@CatInASuit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CatInASuit)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2009, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-commentary/502057/66 "2009-08-06T17:13:56Z")
Well despite all the last day troubles, I have a full set of orders in from everyone. I was beginning to think I would have to extend the deadline again ---
**Author:** ![Tristan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tristan/32/18058_2.png) [@Tristan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tristan)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2009, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-commentary/502057/67 "2009-08-06T19:43:27Z")
Sorry for the delay… I guess I haven’t figured out the whole GMT thing. My poor aching Gallic butthole… ---
**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:** [August 6, 2009, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-commentary/502057/68 "2009-08-06T20:44:12Z")
You mean Austria Tri-Ven, not Ven-Tri, right? ---
**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:** [August 6, 2009, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-commentary/502057/69 "2009-08-06T20:57:50Z")
A crazy-cunning Italy would have convoyed from Venice to Tripoli via the fleet in the Adriatic. Did Turkey self-bounce in ALB on purpose as part of an agreement with Austria?? I missed that. Good thing Germany’s poorly-entered support order in Holland ended up being a moot point. Is Russia seriously attacking the heart of Germany with the situation in both the north and south the way it is? ---
**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:** [August 6, 2009, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-commentary/502057/70 "2009-08-06T22:18:11Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > Good thing Germany’s poorly-entered support order in Holland ended up being a moot point. Wasn’t poorly entered. England decided to get creative. He’s lucky France didn’t bounce him there or else we’d have been well fucked. > [@](#): > > Is Russia seriously attacking the heart of Germany with the situation in both the north and south the way it is? Curious choice, no? I’m not sure I even have to defend it, I could just wait until all his units get disbanded. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2009, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-commentary/502057/71 "2009-08-07T08:04:59Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > A crazy-cunning Italy would have convoyed from Venice to Tripoli via the fleet in the Adriatic. > > Did Turkey self-bounce in ALB on purpose as part of an agreement with Austria?? I missed that. Serbia, and yes it was - he wanted the centre covered, and couldn’t spare a unit for it. Nicking it would have been no real benefit for me, I need an ally more than I need a single centre. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2009, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-commentary/502057/72 "2009-08-07T15:46:56Z")
**Cat** , I have a request to throw out there for general digestion-I know it was my idea for open press-I thought we’d see a lot of lively banter back and forth, and letting the other players and lurkers see the various machinations all put forth out in the open would make for fascinating reading. But the fact is that open press carries with it a lot of potential negatives of various sorts, many of which we are now seeing played out in this game. I hence request a vote, unanimous or bust (7-0 ayes or no change), on whether we should switch it to regular press. A simple majority vote would understandably not suffice IMHO. You are the GM and it’s your choice to allow said vote or not of course. ---
**Author:** ![CatInASuit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3be4f8/32.png) [@CatInASuit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CatInASuit)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2009, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-commentary/502057/73 "2009-08-07T17:47:07Z")
In some ways, it is a shame as I am enjoying the open press game, other watchers may agree or disagree. I have no problem with a vote but you are quite correct in that it would require everyone to agree. ---
**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:** [August 7, 2009, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-commentary/502057/74 "2009-08-07T20:17:36Z")
I vote no. The game is still very young. The open press experiment will still be interesting to experience as it applies to the mid game and end game. ---
**Author:** ![wevets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9a140/32.png) [@wevets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wevets)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2009, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-commentary/502057/75 "2009-08-07T22:00:24Z")
I’m really enjoying watching/reading it. I know it must be very difficult for the players (it was difficult for me when I was in the game.) 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![History\_Geek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b19c9b/32.png) [@History\_Geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/History_Geek)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2009, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-commentary/502057/76 "2009-08-08T02:15:05Z")
I vote no as well, though I am soon to depart this world. ---
**Author:** ![CatInASuit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3be4f8/32.png) [@CatInASuit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CatInASuit)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2009, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-commentary/502057/77 "2009-08-10T17:13:20Z")
This could be a quiet turn. If I get all the moves in early and everyone agrees, I can always process the game sooner rather than at the deadline. ---
**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:** [August 10, 2009, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-commentary/502057/78 "2009-08-10T17:50:45Z")
I’m totally loving the clusterfuck that is the Italian peninsula right now. Germany seems in a bad spot. ---
**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:** [August 12, 2009, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-commentary/502057/79 "2009-08-12T20:26:28Z")
Get on with it! ---
**Author:** ![CatInASuit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3be4f8/32.png) [@CatInASuit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CatInASuit)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2009, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-commentary/502057/80 "2009-08-12T20:31:48Z")
Yeah I know and the sooner I get the moves the better. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-commentary/502057.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-commentary/502057.md?page=5)