Hello everyone!
While the board was down Dip Cecil 934 ended in a draw and Dip Adams 936 fell apart and has been restarted.
So the first turn for Dip 936 has been adjudicated. It can be seen at:
Enjoy.
Also, I’m recruiting for a second SDMB game. Currently Abe Babe and Celestina are in. That leaves a few slots open. You know how to reach me…
JC, I sent you my preferences several days ago. Let me try again…
OK, so that’s another one.
Who’s next?
OK, we’re up to four.
As it stands…
Russia: Abe Babe
France: RTFirefly
England: Sua Sponte
Turkey: Celestina
So there’s still Italy, Austria and Germany left.
Who’s in?
This looks intriguing. Where does one get all the rules to Diplomacy?
If Sua is playing, it must be good. 
The rules are pretty straightforward: crush your opponents.
But if you want a better breakdown you can find them at:
That’s the Diplomatic Pouch. They’re good news.
So let me know if you’re in.
I’d be hugely excited to play, if y’all don’t mind having someone in the game who’s never played before. Put me on the reserve list or something, and if you can’t fill up the game with real players stick me in a slot somewhere.
In the 936 game, I see a lot of really trusting relationships. None with Russia, unfortunately (for him)
You could give White Lighting Austria. Sort of a Trial by Fire.
OK, White Lightning, you’re in.
But familiarize yourself with the rules.
And go over things at the Diplomatic Pouch and choose which country you want, Italy, Germany or Austria.
Good luck!
I have one recommendation, White Lightning: avoid Austria. Austria is extremely difficult for a newbie to play - hell, it’s even a challenge for us veterans, who’ve snagged the ‘good’ countries on either end of the board.
Germany and Italy aren’t exactly prizes, but you’re more likely with either of them to at least last long enough to get a feel of how the game’s played, and will be more likely to enjoy the game enough to want to play again sometime. For a newbie Austria, the game can be quick and brutal.
But it’s up to you. 
I know and it pisses me off. I did exactly what I said, attacked nobody, and this is the thanks I get?
Anyhow, we need one more player in Aberration, Sicily had to drop out ( pffft! Reallife. :rolleyes:). Whoever takes me up on it, you’re in a pretty strong position, and have a build coming pryor to the start of 1903, please lemme know.
I’ll take Sicily if you don’t have a taker already, Dave. Oh, and sorry about the border thing.
I’d like Italy, please.
Any recommendations on good newbie guides? The one they have linked from the front page of the Dip Pouch is piss-poor as any sort of introduction for a rank amateur, and the sheer volume of available information is, at this point, overwhelming.
Additionally, I imagine it’d be helpful to get a real quick primer of what’s expected of me as far as etiquette in the game we’ll be playing? I mean, I take it that backstabbing is a pretty crucial part of the game, but to what extent is it accepted to tell bald lies and such?
Thanks. I’m sure I’ll have more questions as I learn more.
When does the game start?
Not sure how I missed Waverly’s post.
I will, of course, take your guys’ advice in avoiding Austria and opt for Germany. And you can disregard the request for a good site for newbies, as I’ve run across Richard Sharp’s book on the game, and it’s exactly what I was looking for. Thanks anyway.
I must say I’m getting pretty excited about this. Thanks.
God, this is embarrassing.
I must have noticed the first time through that Waverly was talking to Weirddave about his Aberrant game, and justly assumed that his post had no impact on my life. Subsequently coming back to review the thread, I suppose I somehow thought that his claiming of “Sicily” was some sort of jargonic reference to Italy in Jonathan Chance’s game.
I’m sorry. I’d like Italy again, please. I’m actually pretty happy about it because that’s the position I really wanted anyway. Thanks. I promise I won’t post again till someone else does.
Well, hell, I’ll post just to keep things moving.
White Lightning is now Italy.
WL, you’ll have to send me your email address. I’m assuming the ‘home.com’ address in your profile is deader than a doornail. Tell me if I’m wrong.
Yes, outright lying is a part of the game. It’s possible to play without it, but it’s not a deal breaker to do it.
I’m always available via email to answer rules questions and interpretation issues.
The only real ettiquette I insist upon as a GM is that your orders be coherent and in on time.
I followed your link, WL; I think he’s got some good things to say, altho he gets into highfalutin’ and rarely-used tactics a bit fast, IMO.
But one thing I’ve got to comment on:
The copyright date on this work is 1978. I was first stabbed by a female player in December 1971. I suspect it may not have been pure chance that he’d never been stabbed by a woman; it probably had something to do with the nature of the women who played Diplomacy in the circles he traveled in - which is not the same as chance. Suffice it to say that women who develop a taste for Dip are quite capable of stabbing.
I think Austria is a good country to play but the main problem Austria has, paradoxically, is when there are inexperienced players.
In my opinion, inexperienced players do not understand the importance of keeping the wicked witches (Turkey and England) contained. An inexperienced Russia likes to ally with Turkey and that alliance benefits Turkey more than Austria. Turkey and Russia attack Austria and Turkey heads West with fleets.
An inexperienced Italy does not understand the true, bad position they are in and does not try to work closely with Austria. Many times, in fact, Italy attacks Austria which seals the doom for both Italy and Austria.
Weirdly, Austria does better with experienced neighbors.
Blink
Why, in Dave’s aberration game, I was just stabbed by a woman not 10 days ago. I thought it might be enjoyable in a deviant, dom/sub sort of way.
It wasn’t.
It sucked.
Re: Fibbing
In Nate’s Dip 934 game, I didn’t to any large back stabs. However, I did promise things I didn’t deliver to Turkey and to Russia to ensure that I kept or took certain territories. (the North Sea and Warsaw/Moscow, IIRC).
My only piece of advice on that is that if you are going to stab somebody, do it big. Don’t break an alliance for one measly supply center.
No kidding. AbeBabe, I’m lookin’ at you…