Diplomacy Part Deux: Spring 1909

[Saskwach]

Spoiler: Orders

England
f cly-lvp
f hol-bel
a den hold
f kie s a den
a par-gas
a bre s a par-gas
f eng-nth
f iri-mao

Italy
F Aeg S A Con-Bul
F Gre S A Con-Bul
F Mao-Spa
F Wes-Mao
A Tri-Ser
F Adr-Tri
A Ven Hold
A Gas-Mar

Russia
bla to con
con to bul
rum s tri to ser
gal to bud
sev s rum in hold
ukr s rum in hold
tyro s vie in hold
war to sil
ber hold
swe hold
nth hold
vie s gal to bud

And then there were three. This means bidding a fond farewell to Khedive Rex and Dastardos. Thanks for the tenacious battle against unbeatable odds, but Diplomacy can be a slippery slide when going down.

For reasons of brevity and laziness, assume that the French and Austrian units will be wiped from the map in the adjustments phase.

Adjustments:
England: +1
Italy: +2 (technically 3, but you can only build 2 seeing as Venice is currently occupied.)
Russia: +2

I'm looking forward to this three-way, so if you could get those builds in before the 28th, at least then we can see the shape of the map before the hiatus.

 

[dekkarax]

Woah, that was unexpected.

Nice Blitzkrieg Italy and Russia.

 

[Brett Alex]

*Akin to 'spring break' for high school finishers, with all the debauchery that metaphor implies. Just in case you internationals are wondering.

Sorry this interferes with the orders, but I'll be sure to raise at least one (or half a dozen) glass (or bottles, cans or jugs) to Diplomacy and the Escapist, and be ready to jump straight back in once I return.

Ciao all!

 

[Saskwach]

Adjustments are here, unfortunately after Armitage can have a skwiz.

The removals were just cleaning up dead empires. Ignore those except as a sign that France and Austria are no more.

 

[BoVinE]

what are the game win condition set to?

 

[Zemalac]

what are the game win condition set to?

Standard is eighteen, innit?

 

[Saskwach]

what are the game win condition set to?

Standard is eighteen, innit?

Yea verily.

 

[BoVinE]

what are the game win condition set to?

Standard is eighteen, innit?

Yea verily.

Spiffing.

 

[Saskwach]

Sorry I've been gone guys, but I was terribly sick for the last few days and since other family members had more important things to do on the PC than catch my affliction I was banned from the computer. Now I have Christmas shopping today and the opportunity to finally play, with a friend, the non-censored version of L4D2 that I managed to procure here in Oz. That it was cheaper than if I'd bought a shelf copy just goes to show that virtuous crime does pay. *SHHHHHH*
I also have to mull over a point of policy before I complete the moves. I should be back in half a day.

 

[Saskwach]

Goddamit, I give up. If you read last page you will see that I laid out a policy for corrections. But since it's simple I'll repeat: I will not correct your orders, and will take mistakes as written. However, a particular case is so grievous and tear-jerking that it's shaken my conviction, once a sturdy construction, to the foundations.
So I'm throwing it open to you guys: from this moment on, including for this turn, would you like me to correct all your orders - or at least ask you what you mean by them? When there were more players it seemed prudent to cut down on time wasting back and forth, but now individual moves count. Moreover, I'd personally feel bad winning because my opponent made a typo. My policy was in place so that players could argue with a straight face that they had made a 'mistake' when in fact their typo was deliberately placed to avoid some bartered move that wasn't to their taste. However, if your opposite's orders had been corrected just last turn it would be impossible to believe that.
So to put your choice more clearly: would you like this arguably niche diplomatic option open to you, or would you prefer it that your mistakes will be noted and corrected/investigated? This will apply to all players from now until the end of game.

 

[Zemalac]

Goddamit, I give up. If you read last page you will see that I laid out a policy for corrections. But since it's simple I'll repeat: I will not correct your orders, and will take mistakes as written. However, a particular case is so grievous and tear-jerking that it's shaken my conviction, once a sturdy construction, to the foundations.
So I'm throwing it open to you guys: from this moment on, including for this turn, would you like me to correct all your orders - or at least ask you what you mean by them? When there were more players it seemed prudent to cut down on time wasting back and forth, but now individual moves count. Moreover, I'd personally feel bad winning because my opponent made a typo. My policy was in place so that players could argue with a straight face that they had made a 'mistake' when in fact their typo was deliberately placed to avoid some bartered move that wasn't to their taste. However, if your opposite's orders had been corrected just last turn it would be impossible to believe that.
So to put your choice more clearly: would you like this arguably niche diplomatic option open to you, or would you prefer it that your mistakes will be noted and corrected/investigated? This will apply to all players from now until the end of game.

This is a very disturbing question. Hang on for a moment, I need to check and make sure my orders are good.

That said, I'd say don't ask. I know I've been saved by you asking me "Did you mean ___" or "you do know you can't ___" when I've sent in orders, but that doesn't change anything. At this point we should know enough of what we're doing to avoid most mistakes. If there's a mistake in my orders, then that's my fault because I didn't check them thoroughly enough. Having a second set of eyes (yours) check them for mistakes would be a nice thing to have, but I don't think it's something you should have to do.

EDIT: I'm mostly talking mostly about misunderstandings of game rules here. Typos are less of an issue.

 

[BoVinE]

I'd like to stay out of this, I have feelings for both situations. One one had hand, God's not gonna pop down and say "hold on there, that's Australia you're nuking, not Austria!", But it also stands to reason that an imaginary country(miss-spelled) is not going to be the subject of attack.

 

[Saskwach]

A new policy has been formed (and about time too. I'm really rather angry at myself.). Typos will be corrected, but stupid moves or rules mistakes will not. If you pressed the wrong key, I will check; if you don't know how to move across the board, no correspondence will be entered into. I'll have them up tomorrow, and from here on I will be punctual.

(I will be punctual. I will be punctual. I will be punctual. I will be punctual. I will be...)

 

[Saskwach]

Spoiler: Orders

England
a gas-bur
a bre hols
f bel-nth
f eng s f bel-nth
a lon-yor
f kie-bal
a den-kie
f iri hold
f lvp-nao

Italy
A Ven-Pie
A Rom-Tus
F Nap-Tys
F Spa-Por
A Mar S F Wes-Spa
F Wes-Spa
F Gre-Ion

Russia
sil to mun
war to sil
ukr to gal
sev to ukr
remaining hold

There we are! Some bad news though: for the next couple of days I have to be checking and rechecking a couple things while that thing called life also happens. I'll message you guys to set a date. Until then, continue scheming.

 

[BoVinE]

Have things quieted down enough to start this again?

 

[Saskwach]

Right, hiatus over. Bovine has retreated to Denmark, and we're back on track. I'm giving everyone a week on the next turn's deadline (until 10 AM 1st February) to allow for warming back up and me sending out notice messages.

 

[MasterSqueak]

Hey! Why am I posting in a game I am not part of, you may ask? So I can ask if I can be in the third game. If you make a third, of course.

 

[Saskwach]

Hey! Why am I posting in a game I am not part of, you may ask? So I can ask if I can be in the third game. If you make a third, of course.

Well, seeing as you've shotgunned it, I can't see why not. Whether a third game is run will depend on two types of interest: the interest of players; and the interest of someone in running the thing. It's certain that seven people will put their hat in the ring for a game; whether someone wants to run the thing is another matter. Perhaps Zemalac will do it again. Maybe some newcomer will volunteer. If all else fails I can run it (just be aware that I have...moments...extended over long periods).
What's interesting is the possibility of making this thing a real going concern: two games at once, perhaps. At least then the runners will have something to do on the off game. All I can say is it's been lonely. I get hardly any goss. I'm good for it, I swear! *sob*

 

[BoVinE]

It seems to me that the winner of the current game should usually win the next. Not sure how this would play out if no one wants too, but it seems reasonable.

 

[Saskwach]

So while we're waiting, you guys should know I found something.

Neptune's Pride: http://np.ironhelmet.com/

A write-up here: http://www.gamesetwatch.com/2010/02/column_battle_klaxon_the_i.php

Read that and tell me it doesn't send like a nifty evolution of Diplomacy. IN SPAAAAAAACE! There's a free trial, it's browser-based, and its pacing might work for those of us who exist in the real world. Perhaps not for you studyholics, but you can be the judges of that. Needless to say, I'll be recruiting after this game. Maybe even before that. Who's with me?