Welcome to Thunderdome

Posted: **Thu Dec 09, 2004 7:49 pm**

Old-timers will recall that we tried Axis and Allies by email oncet or twicet. I thought it was fun, but it was kind of hard to coordinate battles, what with rolling dice and all. Also, we had a pretty shitty way to represent the board.

I propose that we try out Diplomacy. It has some advantages over AnA that make it more suitable for email play:

- No dice
- All moves simultaneous
- Fewer territories and pieces, so a paper map with pencil would work for keeping up with the board (there may even be some actual usable electronic tools

What do you say? Check out this site for some info/background:
http://www.diplom.org/

Edited By thibodeaux on 1102639778

Posted: **Thu Dec 09, 2004 8:52 pm**

I'm down.

Posted: **Fri Dec 10, 2004 11:22 am**

"Diplomacy?" Does that mean... like... no combat?

Posted: **Fri Dec 10, 2004 11:43 am**

No it means posturing while preparing for combat.

Posted: **Fri Dec 10, 2004 11:48 am**

Oh. "Buying time til you're ready."

Posted: **Fri Dec 10, 2004 11:50 am**

Diplomacy is a lot of fun in a big group, i'm in, and I have an old Win3.x game that I can run for everyone.

Posted: **Fri Dec 10, 2004 12:25 pm**

I'm in.

Posted: **Fri Dec 10, 2004 12:27 pm**

Well, now I'm interested in mbilderback's program. Got any info/details/etc?

Posted: **Fri Dec 10, 2004 12:30 pm**

Actually, there isn't REALLY any combat. It all boils down to who has the most units committed to a battle, and you don't lose a unit if you have an empty territory to withdraw to.

I'd suggest reading the rules from the "online resources" of that page I linked. The main fun in the game is backstabbing the other players.

Posted: **Fri Dec 10, 2004 2:42 pm**

Rules... bah.

Posted: **Fri Dec 10, 2004 10:54 pm**

Ok, I have the Diplomacy software, it's dos based. And not easily ported for JPG release, but it's saveable and such. Uh, I might be able to make it easy PBEM. If I can get this to work, I offer to run it whilest yous guys go at it.

Posted: **Fri Dec 10, 2004 10:57 pm**

Ok, I can make a save file that can be e-mailed out and loaded upon arrival so everyone can see what the responses are. Then you guys can just e-mail your orders to me. Viola. And I found some jpg maps that I can paintbrush modify to give updates on the site. Who's in?

Posted: **Mon Dec 13, 2004 9:43 pm**

Well, if you don't mind the hassle. Maybe we should wait until after Christmas, so peeps won't be distracted and traveling and stuff.

Posted: **Tue Dec 14, 2004 9:18 pm**

Depending on the planned rate of play and when the game is slated to begin, I'm in.

Diplomacy has a lot of pulling people aside for private convos in between rounds to make and break alliances. Much fun. Almost as good as Makiaveli (or however you spell that).

Posted: **Wed Dec 15, 2004 12:18 pm**

I figure we can start mid January and roll turns once a week, mebbe every Sunday? And you can turn in orders any time between Monday and Saturda? Kind of like you loosers and your NFL thing.

Posted: **Wed Dec 15, 2004 12:20 pm**

mbilderback wrote:I figure we can start mid January and roll turns once a week, mebbe every Sunday? And you can turn in orders any time between Monday and Saturda? Kind of like you loosers and your NFL thing.

Huh, direct quote, why is it removing my 'y' in Saturday?

Posted: **Wed Dec 15, 2004 6:52 pm**

Cuz you're a football hating queer?

Posted: **Thu Dec 16, 2004 9:35 am**

Aside from the peanut gallery, any ideas, Gordo? :p

Also, just to put a solid date on the start, what do people think of starting January 16th? That'll get peeps to finish the holidays. Also, Gordo, can you add us a forum for Diplomacy?

Posted: **Thu Dec 16, 2004 11:29 am**

I didn't know you were an Ayn Rand fan.

Posted: **Thu Dec 16, 2004 2:28 pm**

mbilderback wrote:what do people think of starting January 16th?

January 16th worked as a starting date for prohibition, and we all know how successful that was.