# SDMB Diplomacy - Here we go again! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 12, 2002, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-here-we-go-again/97833 "2002-03-12T13:15:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 17
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2002, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-here-we-go-again/97833/321 "2002-05-02T14:47:15Z")
Wow, that DIP 983 map is interesting. I can see that Diplomacy doesn’t factor in the French, Italian or Russian real life inability to win a war. If there are any history buffs out there you might be interested to read Alexander Solzhenitsyn’s _August 1914_ which documents what a real mess the Russian Army was in at the beginning of WWI. Interestingly, from his perspective, Russia was able to win some battles against the Germans because the German leadeship failed to believe how inept the Russians actually were and thought that it must be a trap. ---
**Author:** ![Abe\_Babe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3ab097/32.png) [@Abe\_Babe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abe_Babe)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2002, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-here-we-go-again/97833/322 "2002-05-02T14:51:26Z")
I dunno, Russia was doing pretty well by the end of 1943 in WWII. You gotta go with your strengths. A gajillion inhabitants and a totalitarian regime. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2002, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-here-we-go-again/97833/323 "2002-05-02T14:59:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Abe Babe \* > \*\*I dunno, Russia was doing pretty well by the end of 1943 in WWII. > > You gotta go with your strengths. A gajillion inhabitants and a totalitarian regime. \*\* I was thinking more contemporary to the game. France did pretty well in taming England once upon a time IIRC. And there was that short guy with the phobia of showing one hand, who did pretty well there for a while before the other teams ganged up on him. For Italians, if you go back long enough to before they were called Italy they had a pretty good winning streak going. ---
**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:** [May 2, 2002, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-here-we-go-again/97833/324 "2002-05-02T15:05:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Abe Babe \* > \*\*I dunno, Russia was doing pretty well by the end of 1943 in WWII. > > You gotta go with your strengths. A gajillion inhabitants and a totalitarian regime. \*\* Once again, he reveals his true nature… ---
**Author:** ![Abe\_Babe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3ab097/32.png) [@Abe\_Babe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abe_Babe)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2002, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-here-we-go-again/97833/325 "2002-05-02T16:08:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ShibbOleth \* > \*\*And there was that short guy with the phobia of showing one hand, who did pretty well there for a while before the other teams ganged up on him. \*\* Michael Jackson? ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2002, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-here-we-go-again/97833/326 "2002-05-02T16:22:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ShibbOleth \* > If there are any history buffs out there you might be interested to read Alexander Solzhenitsyn’s _August 1914_ which documents what a real mess the Russian Army was in at the beginning of WWI. Barbara Tuchman also goes through this, though probably in less detail, in _The Guns of August_, which is of course one of the most riveting nonfiction books ever. > [@](#): > > Interestingly, from his perspective, Russia was able to win some battles against the Germans because the German leadeship failed to believe how inept the Russians actually were and thought that it must be a trap. :eek: ---
**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:** [May 3, 2002, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-here-we-go-again/97833/327 "2002-05-03T11:14:23Z")
Ha! [Winter 1904 in Dip 983 has been adjudicated.](http://www.wooleysark.com/dip) HAH! Take THAT, RT! 7:12AM (by my clock)! And it’s done! Neener neener! ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2002, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-here-we-go-again/97833/328 "2002-05-03T12:22:23Z")
Hey, I had all of this morning’s builds and disbands on my board at home last night. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2002, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-here-we-go-again/97833/329 "2002-05-03T13:43:42Z")
Well, this is just great. Not only have you all sucked me into Dip 936 but now I am about hooked on watching Dip 983 to see what will happen next. Can the Russians hold on against the Italians and French? Do the Germans have a snowballs chance in Hades? Will Rachel go back to Ross? Yeah, I needed this, just _way_ too much spare time in my life. Not. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2002, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-here-we-go-again/97833/330 "2002-05-03T13:43:42Z")
Well, this is just great. Not only have you all sucked me into Dip 936 but now I am about hooked on watching Dip 983 to see what will happen next. Can the Russians hold on against the Italians and French? Do the Germans have a snowballs chance in Hades? Will Rachel go back to Ross? Yeah, I needed this, just _way_ too much spare time in my life. Not. ---
**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:** [May 3, 2002, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-here-we-go-again/97833/331 "2002-05-03T14:57:37Z")
Well, that’s it gentlemen! He’s ours! And I, too, await the outcome of 983. That’s an interesting one. ---
**Author:** ![Abe\_Babe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3ab097/32.png) [@Abe\_Babe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abe_Babe)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2002, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-here-we-go-again/97833/332 "2002-05-03T15:29:45Z")
It’s all part of my master plan to appear weak, and then come back on glory to be crushed like junkyard car. > [@](#): > > _originally posted by ShibbOleth_ > Well, this is just great. Not only have you all sucked me into Dip 936 but now I am about hooked on watching Dip 983 to see what will happen next. One of us! One of us! One of us! ---
**Author:** ![celestina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/258eb7/32.png) [@celestina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/celestina)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2002, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-here-we-go-again/97833/333 "2002-05-04T01:14:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Math Geek \* > \*\*Farewell, brave English monarch of world 983…we hardly knew ye. > > I’m trying to exact karmic justice for you in 936, **Celestina**. Well not really, I’m just trying to win, but feel free to put your own spin on it. > > [Math Geek sits back and waits for the fight between France and Italy in 983 to start…] \*\* Awww, **Math Geek** , I didn’t know you cared. [giggle] Yes, I fought bravely to hold onto my crown and maintain my reign as Queen of England. But, alas, treachery and, um, well, my _very_ unskillful playing, did me in. :o 🆒 Though I am now in exile, I still retain the right to call myself the Queen of England. 😃 You go right on ahead and “exact karmic justice,” or as I like to term it, give them a good spanking, for me, hon. I’m rootin’ for you. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![White\_Lightning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@White\_Lightning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/White_Lightning)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2002, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-here-we-go-again/97833/334 "2002-05-04T01:34:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by \*\*ShibbOleth \*\*\* > Well, this is just great. Not only have you all sucked me into Dip 936 but now I am about hooked on watching Dip 983 to see what will happen next. Can the Russians hold on against the Italians and French? Do the Germans have a snowballs chance in Hades? Russia fighting France? They’re best buds. I only _wish_ Germany would respond to my emails. Sigh. Guess I’m on my own now. And, **RTFirefly** : Harrumph. I haughtily turn up my superior Italian nose at your filthy French fleets. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2002, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-here-we-go-again/97833/335 "2002-05-04T01:40:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jonathan Chance \* > And I, too, await the outcome of 983. That’s an interesting one. Isn’t it, though? There’s this aspect of whamming into someone, then wheeling around in another direction and whamming someone else (or getting whammed into from the blind side, depending on who you are) that reminds me of bumper-cars. And the fun lasts for weeks, instead of being over in ten minutes! _You can have a bumper car this amusement never ends I want to be your sledgehammer_ 😃 ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2002, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-here-we-go-again/97833/336 "2002-05-04T01:48:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by White Lightning \* > Russia fighting France? They’re best buds. I only _wish_ Germany would respond to my emails. Hey, he and I have been allies all game, and his replies to _my_ emails take laconic to the maximum possible while still qualifying as communication. > [@](#): > > Sigh. Guess I’m on my own now. It happened to Russia earlier, and he somehow survived. If you don’t like the way the alliances are lining up, just wait a move or two. > [@](#): > > And, **RTFirefly** : Harrumph. I haughtily turn up my superior Italian nose at your filthy French fleets. _Fetchez la vache!_ ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2002, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-here-we-go-again/97833/337 "2002-05-04T02:20:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RTFirefly \* > \*\* > _Fetchez la vache!_ \*\* _Quoi?_ ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2002, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-here-we-go-again/97833/338 "2002-05-04T20:52:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ShibbOleth \* > \*\* > _Quoi?_ \*\* _Fetchez la vache!!_ 😃 ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2002, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-here-we-go-again/97833/339 "2002-05-05T02:09:05Z")
_M-e-e-e-e-e-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-h-h-h-h-h!!!_ ---
**Author:** ![White\_Lightning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@White\_Lightning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/White_Lightning)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2002, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-diplomacy-here-we-go-again/97833/340 "2002-05-05T04:12:51Z")
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