Topic: Diplomacy (update: live game Saturday?) (Read 18047 times)

Slick · « **on:** 13 Apr 2009, 06:04 »

So, ages ago we played phpDiplomacy here, which is basically diplomacy implemented for your web browser. I thought it was a lot of fun. I was wondering if anyone was interested in playing again?
Instructions on the game are here if you are unfamiliar. You can pick it up quick and mostly you just need to know that diplomacy is the important part of the game. Think Risk but replace the dice with machiavellian alliances. Also no giant rolling armies of fifty soldiers. I think it is a lot of fun.
All you need to do is commit to placing your orders once every 24 hours. Some people like faster games but I can't really commit to more than once a day with exams on right now personally. If you kids are interested I will start a game. Or if you kids want to rebel against me and start your own game, that would certainly be in the spirit of the game.

P.S. guys read the rules they aren't that long to read

Ã¶de · « **Reply #1 on:** 13 Apr 2009, 06:17 »

Oops, I joined a few matches a couple of weeks ago and forgot about them.

Slick · « **Reply #2 on:** 13 Apr 2009, 06:25 »

I do that from time to time before realizing joining a match usually puts you in an awful position.

I have created a game. Password is 'dicks'. Join away.

Christophe · « **Reply #3 on:** 13 Apr 2009, 06:35 »

I am in this.

Let shitdickery commence!

JD · « **Reply #4 on:** 13 Apr 2009, 07:07 »

I'm getting in on this.

StaedlerMars · « **Reply #5 on:** 13 Apr 2009, 07:09 »

(there's a version of this on facebook, they're supposedly fully integrated as well).

Reed · « **Reply #6 on:** 13 Apr 2009, 07:55 »

dickHands has joined in the diplomacy!

the_pied_piper · « **Reply #7 on:** 13 Apr 2009, 08:33 »

Let the backstabbing commence!

Slick · « **Reply #8 on:** 13 Apr 2009, 10:17 »

Needs one more player before I can conquer Europe! I had never played before when this first came up but I picked it up quick so do not worry too much about that, just as long as you feel like you can commit to actually playing and not bailing on the game.

ruyi · « **Reply #9 on:** 13 Apr 2009, 10:19 »

Bluh, might as well.

Slick · « **Reply #10 on:** 13 Apr 2009, 10:26 »

excellent

Inlander · « **Reply #11 on:** 13 Apr 2009, 10:38 »

Wait, why is a game called Diplomacy played using tanks and warships?

Well I guess if it was played using guys with briefcases and ambiguously worded statements the game wouldn't go anywhere fast. "Your Guy With A Briefcase has entered into trade negotiations with another Guy With A Briefcase. In three days you will have an Ambiguously Worded Statement that you can use to gain control 0.37% of a foreign Supply Centre, but in return you will have to give up 0.28% of all productivity from domestic Supply Centre over a period of three years."

Yeah that would be a pretty frustrating game, actually.

Reed · « **Reply #12 on:** 13 Apr 2009, 10:40 »

It's because you need to use diplomacy to get other players onto your side. There's really no way to make significant gains in the game without neighboring countries helping you.

Dazed · « **Reply #13 on:** 13 Apr 2009, 11:11 »

Is it too late to get in on this?

If not, I'd like to!

Slick · « **Reply #14 on:** 13 Apr 2009, 11:20 »

So, the first game has started but you can still start another game. If there are not enough people to populate your game I would happily join but I think it is not so fun to be in more than one game with the same people at the same time.

Just create a game, put a password on it, and post a link here.

Jace · « **Reply #15 on:** 13 Apr 2009, 11:27 »

I hold the opinion that games like diplomacy don't work as well online because there is a lot more pressure when you are talking to someone, in person, on the other side of the table, making a deal. We played at the store and I ruled at the game. Basically, I made an alliance with one person that was public knowledge, but then I made a secret alliance with another player to stab my open alliance in the back, while I had a second secret alliance with my open alliance that I would be stabbing my first secret alliance in the back. It was fucking awesome.

Slick · « **Reply #16 on:** 13 Apr 2009, 11:44 »

See the online version is not the real-life version, because the social dynamic clearly plays a very important role in the game. However, I think the online version is still very interesting and relies on slightly different methods. Each player has a private channel of communication with each other player that no one else knows about, which I think is handy, because when playing in one sitting with a bunch of real people it is impossible/difficult to conceal who you are talking to.
I would argue that if you can not win online as well as offline then you are not actually that great of a player.

(in case you missed it, that last bit was a challenge)

Slick · « **Reply #17 on:** 15 Apr 2009, 10:05 »

Guys. Turn roll-over in ten minutes.

Jace · « **Reply #18 on:** 15 Apr 2009, 10:48 »

Most of our diplomacy games ended up with one alliance destroying the other players and us going "its 5am, lets just quit."

MrMonk · « **Reply #19 on:** 17 Apr 2009, 19:55 »

I am pleasantly amazed that this game is still around. We're talking about 30 years since I played in anonymous games . We negotiated and gave orders by postcard and received the results of each move by weekly newsletter. It took about two weeks per move, so it wasn't unusual to have a half dozen games going at any time.

ruyi · « **Reply #20 on:** 17 Apr 2009, 21:02 »

Hi MrMonk! Welcome to this subforum. How were these games organized? And what country was this taking place in?

negative creep · « **Reply #21 on:** 17 Apr 2009, 21:12 »

Man, I think I missed that one? It was fun back in the day, I think I'll do it again.

SirJuggles · « **Reply #22 on:** 17 Apr 2009, 21:25 »

I've never done this, but it sounds like tremendous fun. I'll host a noob game if anyone is interested in that? That way we all look like fools blundering our way through together, and we all know that makes for good times.

Spluff · « **Reply #23 on:** 17 Apr 2009, 21:32 »

I'll join that, apparently I missed this thread before.

SirJuggles · « **Reply #24 on:** 17 Apr 2009, 22:21 »

Alright, here is the link for the beginner game I created.

Password: ponydebates

Looks like we have 24 hours to gather players before it starts. Come on people!

the_pied_piper · « **Reply #25 on:** 18 Apr 2009, 06:31 »

That link won't load for me.

Slick · « **Reply #26 on:** 18 Apr 2009, 07:28 »

Shoot I didn't mean to join but I fixed the link then tested it and now I am in the game.

click this link and you will join the game
http://phpdiplomacy.net/board.php/?gameID=10180&join=on&gamepass=516058892c429d785368c5ed0e527fb9

you have to manually put the 'phpdiplomacy.net' in there.

Dazed · « **Reply #27 on:** 18 Apr 2009, 07:30 »

Uh, I'm apparently in this game now! Ok.

Slick · « **Reply #28 on:** 18 Apr 2009, 07:48 »

If you click the link you will join automatically.

JD · « **Reply #29 on:** 18 Apr 2009, 07:55 »

oh, whoops. well, i might do better at this one.

the_pied_piper · « **Reply #30 on:** 18 Apr 2009, 08:43 »

Ah, ok. Thanks james (slick).

GenericName · « **Reply #31 on:** 18 Apr 2009, 12:56 »

Hey so even though I have not posted here in like a month I have decided to join this game.

I bet no one remembers me considering no one knew me in the first place!

Patrick · « **Reply #32 on:** 18 Apr 2009, 13:06 »

I'm in the n00b game. I played a few games back when the first QC Diplomacy stuff was happening, but not a whole lot after that. I have never survived a game with more than 3 supply centers. So I count as a n00b I guess.

...fuck, I'm Austria. God damn it.

SirJuggles · « **Reply #33 on:** 18 Apr 2009, 13:17 »

Oh. Well, uh.... thanks a ton guys who sacrificed their joining to get that link to work. I didn't know how it worked, I just copied the link they gave me.

So... how does this all start? Do we just make some moves, and then see how things go? Or does the backstabbing and subterfuge come in from the very beginning?

Dazed · « **Reply #34 on:** 18 Apr 2009, 13:24 »

Aww man, TURKEY?

BLoo bloo bloooo.

Slick · « **Reply #35 on:** 18 Apr 2009, 16:22 »

Guys don't whine about your starting powers, it is in how you play the game and work with your opponents.

Luke C · « **Reply #36 on:** 19 Apr 2009, 03:34 »

Judging by my past QC-related Diplomacy performances I think I will give this a miss. There is only so many times I can get my ass kicked before I get bored.

SirJuggles · « **Reply #37 on:** 19 Apr 2009, 10:41 »

Forgive a beginner question, but... how exactly are territories captured? I just moved into an unoccupied territory, but all I have is a small colored box around my unit. Does this mean I have in fact captured it? Do I need to hold for another turn? Or can I just move away and have the territory become mine next turn?

Ã¶de · « **Reply #38 on:** 19 Apr 2009, 10:59 »

You need to hold it for another turn.

Slick · « **Reply #39 on:** 19 Apr 2009, 11:00 »

If it is NOT a supply centre the colour changes automatically to yours and you've captured it. If it IS a supply centre, you get that little box around it. The reason is you only capture a supply centre if you hold it after the Autumn phase when the building happens, so if you move onto it in Autumn you will take it, in Spring you will have to hold it.

Slick · « **Reply #40 on:** 19 Apr 2009, 16:07 »

I'm just going to post this a little late, but if you want to play, please familiarize yourself with the rules. This isn't an internet flash game with an in-game tutorial, it is just an internet implementation of a board game that has been around since back when people used to use the postal service. The rules are not very lengthy to read through.
I do not want to discourage people from playing, but if you do not know how to play it will not be very fun and you will just be gobbled up by a neighbouring power fairly quickly. So read the rules or you will be sad!

Rules link 1
Rules link 2

If there are still people not in a game who would like to be in a game, go ahead and make one. I would make one for you but I do not want to be in every game, so just make one and post the link here.

MrMonk · « **Reply #41 on:** 19 Apr 2009, 19:56 »

Quote from: ruyi on 17 Apr 2009, 21:02

Hi MrMonk! Welcome to this subforum. How were these games organized? And what country was this taking place in?

The games were hosted by the fellow that ran the newsletter. My games were in "Claw and Fang". I think it was based in Sacramento, CA, although there were other newsletters that I had heard about. There was a small entry fee for each game to cover costs. IIRC, countries were assigned randomly, with players taken from the top of a waiting list. All players were in the 48 states, maybe Canada, too. I don't think overseas mail traveled quickly enough for the game schedule.

I would play here, but I can't keep to the schedule.

Slick · « **Reply #42 on:** 19 Apr 2009, 20:07 »

So what was this newsletter? Was it only a bunch of Diplomacy games or was it a newsletter on other things that happened to feature diplomacy?

edit: I totally found your old games! They are online here.

MrMonk · « **Reply #43 on:** 19 Apr 2009, 21:04 »

Amazing! (the stuff that people will keep). Most of my moves, and all of my endgames, are missing from the archive. I actually remember some of the names: Mike Hudec, Eva Lydick (the only woman in the C&F games), Sheldon Kahan, Ed Karlinski. I've also effectively dated myself.

Slick · « **Reply #44 on:** 19 Apr 2009, 22:01 »

It is OK Paul is all kinds of old and everyone loves him.

I am kind of jealous of a time when someone would have to be that dedicated to print and mail out a little newsletter about a game regularly. I guess there are people dedicated to coding and debugging phpdiplomacy, but that seems much less romantic.

GenericName · « **Reply #45 on:** 23 Apr 2009, 15:18 »

(Nevermind Zombiedude came back)

JD · « **Reply #46 on:** 23 Apr 2009, 15:25 »

Man, I suck at world conquest.

GenericName · « **Reply #47 on:** 30 Apr 2009, 14:23 »

Man you left again

Patrick · « **Reply #48 on:** 30 Apr 2009, 14:51 »

For the record, when you leave, it takes the full 24 hours for each phase to end. And then when you come back, it keeps you from going into civil disorder, which would allow the game to progress as quickly as the players can all make their moves.

In civil disorder, people can also take your place and attempt to smack the rest of us down.

JD · « **Reply #49 on:** 30 Apr 2009, 16:40 »

I think its pretty clear I suck at the game. oh well

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Author Topic: Diplomacy (update: live game Saturday?) (Read 18047 times)