The Turkish state department announces the intent of the Middle Eastern Alliance to liberate the oppressed people of Europe.
“We will not rest until the Turkish and Egyptian flags are flown from Iran to Ireland. We can not stand idly by while it is within our power to ease the suffering of people at the hands of their own government. Egypt and Turkey stand united against the barbaric Crusaders, and will accept nothing less than immediate unconditional surrender from the governments of Russia, Poland, Germany, and England.”
Although Turkey has suffered what appears to be a recent setback in former Soviet territory, a representative of the Turkish defense ministry stated the choice to retreat Turkish forces in the area was a planned strategic maneuver.
“The people of Europe look forward to the progress of our armies, and eagerly welcome the arrival of Turkish and Egyptian liberation units. The time has come for the various European governments to surrender peacefully, allowing Turkey and Egypt victory without further bloodshed.”
Egyptian Prime Minister Melón, in Tunisia during a tour of the new Unified Republic of Africa (URA), announces to a cheering crowd his and the ruler of Turkey’s plan to unshackle the people of Europe from the chains of poverty and the petty squabbles of their warmongering rulers and unite them in a celebration of freedom. Melón promises the soon-to-be-liberated peoples of Europe a car in every garage and falafel in every pot.
Propaganda leaflets urging military enlistment circulate throughout Africa and the Balkans. Drafts are anticipated in west Africa and Italy.
And, by the way, the point of the game is to win. To quote Herm Edwards:
“You play to win the game… Hello?”
If you aren’t playing to win, what the heck are you playing for? Finding out that two players have a different idea of winning than what the game provides for is a bit annoying. It’s like finding out rival chess players in a tournament have agreed to draw so they can focus on beating other players. That isn’t the competition I signed up for.
My strategy was to take Spain and stalemate Egypt enough to make going after Turkey more attractive. Obviously that strategy had no chance of success. Not because I misread the board, made communication errors, or tactically failed. No. It didn’t work because Turkey and Egypt are/were playing a different game than I was.
You misunderstood. You said that the tie would be shared among all surviving players. I’m implying that Mosier and I will be the only two surviving players.
Are you surrendering? Like Sitnam said there isn’t much of a point to just keep slugging it out. But I’d be willing to oblige if you insisted.
I don’t recall any games of diplomacy ending in a solo victory. Even 2 way ties are pretty rare. Everyone plays for a solo victory at first, but the reality is the endgame is alliances.
Diplomacy games end in draws because there are stalemate lines on the map. Virtually every game gets to a point where there is no way for anyone to improve their situation. Players would just do the same moves over and over, and there is no possibility of anyone advancing. Everyone is still trying to win, but there’s no feasible way of doing so. That’s not what’s going on in this game.
Turkey/Egypt aren’t even trying to win. Their plan, apparently, is to split the 64 provinces with 32 going to each. Then I suppose ignore the multitude of opportunities to win the game. It’s like baseball teams walking off in the 7th inning because they don’t feel like playing anymore. That’s not how Diplomacy is supposed to be played. Ties in diplomacy are like baseball games ending because of dark. It’s only supposed to happen when there is no way to continue the game.
They obviously consider this a victory, but it’s not.
I’ll go ahead and provide a more complete explanation after the game has been called (either by us all agreeing or my and Mosier doing it the long way) but for now I’m done arguing with you, treis. Our knife fight in Spain was really fun.
The climax of the game has sort of passed for me so I’m hoping we can agree to end things now with a European surrender.
The equivalent of this is sitting down for a winner take all poker tournament and finding out half way that two players have agreed to split the pot and collude during the game. It isn’t how the game is supposed to be played, and not fair to the other players. My feelings are:
(1) This is bullshit, and I’m pissed at wasting time on the game and don’t feel like wasting any more.
(2) A willingness to continue provided that the rules and spirit of the game are followed. What that means is that the idea of a 2 way tie victory scenario is rejected. And the idea that this is a winner take all game, and that 2nd place is little more than first loser, is embraced.
