I thought I’d be able to find it in “The Game of Diplomacy”, Richard Sharp’s book. You know, I often just look at the chapters on each power when I’m reading this but, having skimmed through it, I’m going to sit back one day and read it all. Pearls of wisdom doesn’t do it justice,Continue reading “Why online play needs longer deadlines”
Category Archives: DISCUSSION
Deadline Delight
It’s been a hard week. I get home on Friday after a week of catching up with work that someone else was supposed to do while I was away looking after my mum. I get a glass, pour myself too many fingers of whisky (yeh, it’s Friday, but it’s early), switch on the telly, andContinue reading “Deadline Delight”
The SIZE MATTERS Scoring System
Yeh, I know – another scoring system, and another of my designs. Well, if at first you don’t succeed… I’ve designed the Size Matters system to score tournaments. The idea is that it is a hybrid system (of which I’ve been pretty scathing in the past, but one which places draw sized scoring at it’sContinue reading “The SIZE MATTERS Scoring System”
The Beautiful Game: 2. The Perfect Setting
If you haven’t read how the Great and Good ABC invented Diplomacy, then it’s probably time you did. You’ll understand a lot more about the game by understanding what he was aiming to achieve. There are a number of places you can do this, but try this article: “The Invention of Diplomacy” or this one:Continue reading “The Beautiful Game: 2. The Perfect Setting”
The Beautiful Game: 1. A Unique Strategy Game
When the Great and Good ABC invented Diplomacy, he created a game that was completely unlike anything in the war-gaming or strategy-gaming world to that point. Even today, there is nothing quite like Diplomacy. At the time, strategy games tended to be 2-player games. There’s nothing wrong with 2-player games, of course, but Diplomacy wasContinue reading “The Beautiful Game: 1. A Unique Strategy Game”
The Beautiful Game: Introduction
I’m not talking about the board. The image above shows, in my opinion, the most beautiful board design available (and, possibly, the best pieces – it’s just a shame that the pieces are slightly too big for the board!). I do love the original European version of the board, though, enough to have mounted itContinue reading “The Beautiful Game: Introduction”
Openings: Seven Reasons to Think Again
Here’s a question a lot of Diplopups (novices) ask, and a lot of Dippyists (players with more experience) like to debate: What’s the best opening moves for each power? There is just one answer to this question, but it isn’t simple: Whatever are the best moves in your situation. There you go. Job done. Pfft.Continue reading “Openings: Seven Reasons to Think Again”
The Grantland Discussions: A Storm of Daggers
Diplomacy is designed to encourage betrayal, there’s no getting away from that. The game is meant to be played by people who communicate; who can forge alliances; who can maintain those alliances long enough to get close to the winning line and then, when that line’s in sight, who are prepared to stab their allyContinue reading “The Grantland Discussions: A Storm of Daggers”
The Grantland Discussions: A Dance with Diversity
In the previous post in this series, I looked at how one Dippyist, Dave Maletsky, felt new players were not finding their way into the Hobby. I think, if we look at the Hobby as a whole, it’s easy to see that it really isn’t very diverse at all. David Hill’s article about the WorldContinue reading “The Grantland Discussions: A Dance with Diversity”
The Grantland Discussions: A Game of Novices
If a hobby such as the Diplomacy Hobby is to survive, then it needs fresh blood. Regularly. It’s like a vampire, except – hopefully – without the killing. Killing new players isn’t going to help things. In his article “The Board Game of the Alpha Nerds” David Hill spoke to a number of Dippyists atContinue reading “The Grantland Discussions: A Game of Novices”
THE DIPLOMATICON 