Let's Sperg Play by Post Diplomacy anyone? -

[Strelok]

Spoiler: OP

Looking to see if there's an interest in a play by post game of Diplomacy? I'd be willing to run it as the non-player arbiter moves must be submitted to, and there are online tools that will resolve all moves including some of the paradoxes that are possible in Diplomacy. We'd need 7 players who are willing to do this and comitt to a long term game, and a decision on how long turns would be.

Obviously negotiations would probably take place in PMs instead of the thread for obvious reasons. But general chatter and the resolves of moves would take place here, as well as the peanut gallery mocking all of your for betraying the wrong people at the wrong time.

So, anyone interested in this?

The game has started and we have our players. This post will instead list who has what country and the current state of the world now. Remember 18 centers are needed to achieve a solo victory, and there are a total of 34 on the board.

Current Nation/Players

France (7/1: @millais
England (7/1: @ActualKiwi
Germany (1/1: @exball
Italy (3/1: @KingGeedorah
Austria (6/1: @DuskEngine
Russia (6/1: @Dudeofteenage
Turkey (4/1: @WireSponge

Current Phase: Spring 1904 Movement

Deadline for Orders: March 18th

 

[Deadwaste]

What is this game?

 

[Strelok]

What is this game?

Diplomacy is a 7 player board game about alliances, deceit, treachery, etc. It takes place in the build up to WWI, when Europe was a web of constant short wars, swapping of allegiances, contradictory treaties, and such. Each player takes control of one of the seven Great Powers of Europe in the early 20th century (England, France, Germany, Austria, Russia, and the Ottoman Empire, usually referred to anachronistically as Turkey). There are no dice or RNGs, and everything is deterministic. Armies cannot be destroyed unless there is no possible retreat, and all turns are processed simultaniously.

The way it works is between each round negotiations can happen in open and in secret, and then everyone submits their actual moves in writing to the game arbiter, who works out what actually happened according to the rules. The Objective of the game is to control 18 of the 34 Supply Centers in Europe, each of which control of which grants you one more army on the board. Each year is divided into three phases, Spring Move / Retreat, Fall Move / Retreat, and the Winter Disarm / Rebuild. Only territory occupied at the end of Fall counts, so moving through a Supply Center in Spring does not swap hands.

Here's the actual rulebook, which explains some of the finer details a lot better than I can.

And here is the actual starting map We'd be using, provided by the jDip client. It's not the greatest looker, but it's exceedingly functional and clean looking compared to all the other desktop clients and online map images I could choose from. The way they've portrayed Denmark is a bit funky, but it functions the same way it does in more elegant looking maps.

c. SWEDEN AND DENMARK. An army or fleet may move from Sweden to Denmark, or vice versa. A fleet moving from the Baltic Sea to the Skaggerak or vice versa must first move to Sweden or Denmark. The common border with Denmark does not separate the coast of Sweden into two coastlines; and Denmark does not border on Berlin.

 

[Strelok]

I will add that if we do this I will be extraordinarily lenient about proper movement writing procedure, as long as players are allright with the subtext that if I incorrectly interpret an ambiguous order, it will stand as is.

 

[ActualKiwi]

I imagine this would get complex and frustrating very fast...

 

[Strelok]

I imagine this would get complex and frustrating very fast...

If by that you mean actual doing the game itself, nah, there's automated tools that help do everything for the judge as long as they have a vauge understanding of the rules.

If by that you mean "everyone will get really mad at each other and never want to speak again afterwards and will be fucking awful at forming and keeping alliances" then yes, that's why it'll be great.

 

[KingGeedorah]

DUDE!

My friend introduced me to this game last week and I've been yearning to play it for real. Just seems like a blast to fuck over everyone and take victory for the Italia Irredenta and reclaim her former lands!

 

[exball]

Only if I get to play Germany. Kaiser Reich best reich.

 

[millais]

I used to play a Diplomacy clone called "Supremacy 1914", though they added in some tertiary gameplay mechanics like real-time orders/unit movement and trade/economy. I'm up for Diplomacy if this thing gets off the ground.

 

[ActualKiwi]

If by that you mean actual doing the game itself, nah, there's automated tools that help do everything for the judge as long as they have a vauge understanding of the rules.

If by that you mean "everyone will get really mad at each other and never want to speak again afterwards and will be fucking awful at forming and keeping alliances" then yes, that's why it'll be great.

Was definitely referring to the latter. There will be blood.

 

[Strelok]

Here's the deal, whoever wants to play, respond with the 7 countries ranked in prefrence as to which you want. Keep in mind if you start off with say...

England
Russia
France

Chances are you aren't getting any of your top picks. Try to pick at least 1 realistic backup.

Remember the choices are England, France, Germany, Italy, Austria, Russia, and Ottomans

 

[ActualKiwi]

Time for me to go read a spergtastic rulebook. Good reading for bed.

 

[Strelok]

We've got 3 confirmations and 1 probable. That means only 3 slots left and we can start this.

 

[Strelok]

To encourage new players to join, I'll point out that, mechanically, Diplomacy is an extraordinarily simple game. Below I'll outline the most barebones of the rules that give nearly all one needs to know.

1) Only 1 unit may occupy a province at any time

2) Armies can only move on Land. Fleets on Sea and Coasts.

3) All units can move 1 space per turn

4)A Fleet can Convoy a Unit past a body of water. This is expressed in long form as "Army in London is Convoyed by the Fleet in the English Channel into Belgium"

5) Units are all equal in strength. A unit attempting to move where another unit is will "bounce" off of it. Two units trying to move into the same spot will both bounce to their starting point

6) A unit can add strength by supporting a movement, as long as they are adjacent to where the actual action is happening. For instance "Army in Portugal Supports the Army in Marseille attacking Spain". The same is true for holds.

7) Any unit that needs to retreat must do so to open space. If no such space exists, it is instead destroyed. You may also voluntarily disband a retreating army, which is especially useful if you need to swap a army for a fleet, as you cannot normally do so.

A Supply Center only changes ownership in the Fall phase

9) The number of units you may have are equal to the number of Supply Centers you own.

10) In winter, you may build new armies up to your maximum in your (empty) home supply centers.

11) The first to own 18 Supply Centers wins, conversely, players may agree on a draw, and the GM can declare a stalemate if it becomes clear no progress can be made.

12) All orders are submitted to the GM in secret. They then are all resolved at once. Any unit that is not given an explicit order is assumed to have isntead held their ground, although you also may declare a unit to hold for organization's sake.

13) All is fair in love and war. You may lie, cajole, threaten, promise, hold steadfast, or anything in between. If it were possible on a technical level you could even steal other player's notes and messages, which makes more sense in a tabletop setting than online mind you. (As an amusing anecdote, the guy who invented the game actually had his orders stolen when he wasn't looking and thrown in a locked wastebin during a session, and thus had no orders for that turn. This was declared fair play.) That said, for the sake of everyone keep any anger contained to the game itself for obvious reasons.

That should cover the absolute bare minimum knowledge anyone would need to join. That said, we still need 3 more players.

 

[WireSponge]

As the site jihadi I demand to play as kebabland (even though I've never played diplomacy before and will probably just flounder about until I die first)

Top pick: Ottoman Empire

Backup 1: Russia

Backup 2: Austria

Backup 3: Italy

 

[Strelok]

Two more slots and we can get this started.

 

[WireSponge]

Can we get @bearycool to advertise/whore out the fact that more applicants are needed

 

[bearycool]

Can we get @bearycool to advertise/whore out the fact that more applicants are needed

Because of that, you don't get free advertisement.

You now owe me 10 autismbucks.

 

[WireSponge]

Because of that, you don't get free advertisement.

You now owe me 10 autismbucks.

You know I spent all my money on replica squirrel taxidermy figures you chode

 

[DuskEngine]

I would definitely be down!

1st choice: Italy

2: Austria

3: England

4: Ottomans