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Spring has sprung upon this year of our lord 1901, the continent of Europe lies at peace..the nation-states of Europe have decided that shit just will not abide..

Diplomacy has begun..

Our players are thus arrayed:

IanC  - England
Rendakor - France
Strazos - Italy
Viin - Germany
Pagz - Austro-Hungary
Amarr - Turkey
Shannow - Russia

I'll give it a shot, but holy hell is that going to take a while.

We set time limits on turns , but it's definitely a slow play. Why rush when you are backstabbing people?

I'd be in. I've done some Diplo pbf games before using Realpolitik but that requires a neutral gamemaster to collect orders and update things.

Austria-Hungary: The Arch-Duke Diaries
Chapter 1: An Unexpected Promotion (http://forums.f13.net/index.php?topic=25404.msg1435629#msg1435629)
Chapter 2: Precipice of War (http://forums.f13.net/index.php?topic=25404.msg1435686#msg1435686)
Chapter 3: A Quiet Consolidation (http://forums.f13.net/index.php?topic=25404.msg1435787#msg1435787)
Chapter 4: The War Begins (http://forums.f13.net/index.php?topic=25404.msg1436500#msg1436500)

We'll teach you reaaaaal well.

Need 3 more.

I'd play.

I've also never played before but I'll give it a shot.

Okely one more and the war begins.

This site (http://www.ultradiplomacy.com/game-rules.php) has a half-decent primer for the game.

Game goes basically like this:

We talk, we submit orders, orders are executed simultaneously, we curse at each other, rinse and repeat.

Ill bite.

Ok folks head over to webdiplomacy.net, make an account, then join game "f13 Bat Country" (Im trooper76 over there)

password is 'batcountry'

 :popcorn:

Looks like we are waiting on Amarr and Rendakor. Once they join the first turn will start automatically. Turns are set for 36 hours, however if everyone submits before the deadline they'll automatically resolve.

I'm in. Working today and haven't had a chance to read the primer linked yet, so I won't be taking a turn until tonight or tomorrow morning.

I'm so ready to not know what is going on, I attack the darkness  :drill: :drill: :drill:!

No wait that's Switzerland.

Is this game set up to end after X turns or does someone have to get 18 supply centers to win?

IIRC, tbe players can vote for a draw if when the game bogs down into an interminable stalemate.

Will you be updating this thread with the game progress? I eagerly await the backstabbing and betrayals.  :grin:

Take the time to reach out to your fellow players with intros, offers and lies. Lots of lies.

I'll definitely be updating this thread with progress reports and maps.

The map to begin with...
(http://i.imgur.com/UEprJAQ.png)

Austria-Hungary: Spring, 1901

Dear Diary,
               This past season has been... tumultuous at best. Best to just write exactly what happened for now, just to show the full breadth of what is happening:
 
"The Arch-Duke is dead! The Arch-Duke is dead! Who will lead our glorious nation in it's most troubled hour?!"

Pagz: "Wait, doesn't that happen in another 13 years?"

"We have a volunteer!"

Pagz: "Wait, I'm Australian, not Austrian, how did this happen?"

"Well... frankly this country was being run by imbeciles, and we saw how well you handled the dwarves..."

Pagz: "I feel this is somewhat different. What's going on with all these little tanks? Is this ship in the middle of a province? What is this I don't even-"

"See? I'm glad you're finding this new job of yours quite comfortable, Arch-Duke, we will leave you now to sort out this hot mess. Also we're in the precipice of a full blown world war, bye!"

...It could have been an easier Sunday.

I spend most of my Spring sprawled out in the National Széchényi Library, pouring over the manuscripts of war and diplomacy trying to figure out the best way to defend my new country, like a new mother just wanting what's best. After the assassination of the previous Arch-Duke I can feel the eyes of my neighbors looking out at my new land, wanting to absorb my people into their industrial machine. I can only hope to stay alive long enough to not be the first to fall, and stall out my enemies to ensure a peace so my people may remain free. My goal is not victory, but an independence that will last into the ages. The death of the Arch-Duke will not disrupt our nation, and we will only be invigorated by new blood! Wait, ships can travel across land? I've got a lot of work to do...

What ho chaps! Sounds like you excitable foreigners have gorn and got yourselves into a spot of bother. Our brave tommies and jacks are standing ready. I'm sure it'll all be over in time for tea and we can all have a jolly good round of medals and spankings by matron after.

Sacrebleu! A war? Fire ze missiles!

Ze missiles have not been invented yet? :ye_gods:

Diplomacy, HUH? What is it good for?...

Austria-Hungary: Autumn, 1901

Dear Diary,
                I am freaking out.
We are now on the precipice of war as all major powers swoop into the minors of Europe. We moved our forces into Serbia and Albania, trying to secure them before the full might of winter is upon us. Russia and Turkey too move their forces into the Balkans, gobbling up Romania and Bulgaria respectively. Now that we're the only major power in their way... I fear a war on this front is an inevitability.

Germany focuses north into Denmark, and with Italy taking one of their famous siestas all Spring, so at least our northern flank looks secure for now. Italian inaction is troublesome however, as I cannot guess what their planning. Germany moving one of their armies to our border from Berlin is also a cause for concern.

I worry that this may be my last entry in a time of peace, with an uncertain future ahead of us. The citizens and nobility shout "Hail the Arch-Duke for defeating our dreaded enemy Serbia who slew our previous Lord! This is certainly something we couldn't of done ourselves!", maybe so Austria-Hungary, but I fear the worst is yet to come...

It would go quicker Strazos if you'd put your orders in..:P~

Maybe that's why he said it  :grin: :grin: :grin:

You probably should have thought carefully about starting an Internet game with somebody who lives in a near uninhabitable desert hellhole on the other side of the globe.   :awesome_for_real:

Meh, as I said in-game, I thought I had more time. I'm on a pretty funky schedule right now, and this acid reflux is not helping.

So now, I'm the one waiting for the rest of the people to put in moves.  :oh_i_see:

36 hours is the schedule I set just fyi. No worries. Remember people to talk to your fellow empires and stuff..

TO: TURKEY

FROM: MOTHER RUSSIA

HAVE FUN IN SYRIA. STOP.

The joint French-English training exercise in the channel was a rousing success; I hope my tea sipping friends in Britain learned as much from it as we did. Our soldiers in Marseilles have had a good nap, and now have to decide if they'd like paella or lasagna for supper.

Winter is here...Nice try Turkey

(http://i.imgur.com/HQiESLF.png)

We decided that we wanted waffles to go with our paella. Now we will have a nap.

Austria-Hungary: Winter, 1901

Dear Diary,
               The last war report from the Greek front simply read: "Yes Arch-Duke, overwhelmingly Arch-Duke", something I fear may be the last time I see these words written. The annexation of the Balkan minors has given my troops the much needed experience for the wars to come, and I hear more are being trained at this very moment, waiting for winter to melt away before springing into action.

I hear Russia and Turkey's fleets are having open skirmishes along their borders in the black sea, and Italy moving theirs into the Ionian Sea. All concerning moves considering our lack of boats, and will be interesting to see how this naval war pans out. With most if not all minors already taken out of the war, I worry next year might not be so pleasant. Perhaps I should go to Tyrolia and see the Alps, I hear they're quite nice this time of year...

Christmas comes slowly in England I guess. Must be the royal mail.

Scrooge is buying up all the biggest Geese, you see.

End of turn 4.

(http://i.imgur.com/Q87U9kW.png)

How the fuck did those German tanks expect to cross the North Sea?

It doesn't look like a hell of a lot of diplomacy went on in this game.

I feel like the rabbits in Watership Down.

They are amphibious ..

Evidence would suggest they aren't.... :why_so_serious:

Austria-Hungary, Autumn 1903

Dear Diary,
                The War to End All Wars has begun. I am sorry diary for my silence of late, however my commitments on the front have made sitting down and writing difficult. We opened fire on Turkey in Spring of last year, and on Russia in the Spring of this year. In doing so, we have the entirety of the Balkans under our control, with their citizens all helping in the war effort. However is it going well? It's hard to say. The movements of the other majors are hard to predict, with some moves seemingly having no purpose. I see this though as a failure on my part, and must strive to find out the motives of my enemies. Russia has invaded my neighbor Germany through Denmark, with multiple skirmishes from two fronts. War of this magnitude so close to my borders is a frightening thought, as desperate men often make desperate decisions. England, however, seems to have done an Italy and decided to take a vacation from the politics of Europe this Spring, perhaps if we all did this we could just get along...

If only life was so easy.

We coulda been friends Austria...FRIENDS!

Come back Viin! The fatherland needs you.

Sorry about that. Went on vacation to MX and totally forgot to check in! (Wish it would email me when a turn ended)

Rendakor!

Since I don't know Diplomacy all that well, it's really hard for me to tell if I can actually move from Country A to Country B if I don't already have a unit there. Sometimes its obvious, but with the coasts it gets confusing.

I found this 'web' of possible moves, maybe it will help someone else too:
http://www.playdiplomacy.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=321&t=21718

Can't wait for game two, where I can pay better attention to my moves and rules.

probably didnt help you were Italy. That's a hard one to play.

(http://i.imgur.com/t7ljzxA.jpg)

1906 is upon us. Germany has returned from Octoberfest. The English march through France likes its 1366. Austria Hungary decides its time for a little vacation on the Italian penisula. Italy wishes the Austrian would just go home.

Albion Prevails
(http://i.imgur.com/tx9Ygqf.png)

Aint done yet ya limey barstard!

Not a whole lot of Austria or Hungary left in the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

France :ye_gods:

Nobody expects the British tank invasion from the arctic circle!

They surrendered.

Final result: Draw between England and a Russo-Turkish alliance. There was a deadlock in Northern Europe that was going to take a while to break so we called it. I had 16 centres, the Russians and Turks had 18 between them.

(http://i.imgur.com/3oCj8Ro.png)

The last move was quite the blow to England who were exactly one SC from winning outright, unsupported Tunis being taken by surprise by Turkish u-boats. I imagine England saw our most likely path to dominance in the Med was to take Western Med, this was definitely an idea we toyed with, but we thought better to strike direct to the heart of their operations before reinforcements arrived.

The rest of the game would have been heavily dependent on how Russo-Turkey relations panned out, if we had kept loyal we could have slowly pushed England off the map, but it likely would have meant Turkey getting a major foothold and tensions between Russia/Turkey would have heightened along the way.

The turning point in the game for Turkey was when Russia helped us take Venice, that really allowed us to open up Austria occupied Italy and become a force. In doing so Russia had to put up an amazing blockade on the Eastern front to prevent English victory, unfortunately this consequently halted any Russian expansion. This was later repaid by Turkey agreeing to a draw, though they really fancied having a pop at aul blighty.

My diplomacy skills win out as I get the best possible result for Russia..:D

We could've kept playing but that would've been a little boring for everyone except for maybe the Turk. I think a draw was the best decision at this time. A draw is not infrequent in Diplo.

Game 2?

I saw the loss of Tunis as inevitable once Turkey could bring enough naval power to bear in the Med so I was more interested in setting up a blockade between Marseille and North Africa to defend Spain and then concentrate on the fight in the North of Europe. I was reasonably sure that I could roll up the Russians given time but it was going to be long and tedious where any mistake would set me back several turns.

Unless Turkey decided to hand me a win, it wasn't going to be a lot of fun.

I would have been interested to see how it panned out across the Med, but I think as Shannow said it might have been a bit boring for everyone else as it would have been a long drawn out process. At least at that stage we had more active players to move the turns along reasonably.

Good game guys, sure, sign me up for another.

It might've been interesting to sit down and game it out. The key Ian was to get an army into Berlin and be able to break up my wall of mutual support. Still taken a little luck, but maybe doable. Get an army into Prussia, overwhelm me in Munich etc. At the same time if I'm the Turk in West med, I force you out of Gulf of Lyons, (fleet goes back to Spain) by having fleets in Pied, Tyrenhian and Tuscany. There the question becomes, how do you hold Marseille or the Western Med? If you support Mar from Spain you risk losing Western Med, or from Burgundy and then lose the chance of taking Munich (cause by the time you have an army in Berlin he's pulled off his 3 fleets on Gulf of Lyon maneover). Turk did make his life a little harder by attacking Tunis from Tyr instead of Ionian but probably rectifiable.

I didn't originally intend to be running a full invasion of Germany/Baltic states so I mostly had fleets to lock up the seas between St Petersburg and Britain. That came back to bite me when it was clear that Germany was going to get popped, I moved in to grab some SCs and wall off France from Russia but I needed armies so that I could project support inland. Unfortunately the logistics of swapping fleets and armies while under pressure is tricky. I'd probably have had to concede a territory or two while I moved things around.

It was a very fun ride! Thanks to Shannow for creating and everyone who participated, I think I went ok for my first time :P. A draw though, for shaaammmeeee!

I wasn't last. :oh_i_see:

I would have had a similar problem in Piedmont where I would have had to swap in a fleet to take Gulf of Lyons and potentially losing it at the same time.