A Diplomystery: Tracking alliance patterns in a game to 1934

[flashthompson]

I thought it would be fun and rewarding to look at how alliances shifted in a game that lasted until 1934. By 1923, 6 out of 7 nations were still alive. This game really shows how important it is to be fluid with your allies. Let me know if you notice anything I didn't that led to this win.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIm0bF7EOTk

[Octavious]

Firstly, I'm a little curious over why you're using a flag that stopped being used over 200 years ago to represent England. The current Union Flag, or even the Cross of St George, are both acceptable options. A relic of the American rebellion is a distraction.

In terms of the game, it's still a mystery to me why Turkey won. There's no obvious reason why he should have. He's not managed to sneak a unit across the stalemate line or anything like that (although I find it very hard to tell on the Backstabbr map). Did someone missorder? Was there an unfortunate Civil Disorder? Did Turkey make a deal with someone to throw the game? Your comment in the end that Italy maybe joined forces with Turkey to end the game... what is that based on exactly?

[flashthompson]

Ha. I just went for the most recognizable flag. Totally inaccurate I know. I did the same for Russia. I also called them England / Britain interchangeably, which I know drives some people nuts. Oh well.

Turkey seems to have counted on the other powers squabbling and he pounced at the right moments. I would have predicted an English win based on board position. The second last turn had Turkey in Nap. The only other available place for him to secure a build would have been Mun. I'm guessing that England didn't want Turkey to win, and he had the power to stop Turkey. So, without seeing the final move, I think Italy, who was mostly dead, must have united with Turkey. I could be wrong though.

[A_Tin_Can]

I think the point Octavious was making is that you *didn't* go for the most recognisable flag:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_Jack

[A_Tin_Can]

Interesting analysis, though! I'm curious how you decided who was working together and who wasn't- there were some turns there where it's hard to say for sure - and in many games I've been in, I don't think the alliance structure is well represented from the moves.

Also, was this a game with press, or no press?

[A_Tin_Can]

> I would have predicted an English win based on board position.

Go on....

[Valis2501]

Apparently this was a gunboat game among F2F players for additional context.

[Durga]

Hey! I was France in this game. It was a no press gunboat tournament game.

[Durga]

Also Turkey did not win, we stopped him at 17.

[flashthompson]

Interesting analysis, though! I'm curious how you decided who was working together and who wasn't- there were some turns there where it's hard to say for sure - and in many games I've been in, I don't think the alliance structure is well represented from the moves.

Also, was this a game with press, or no press?

It was a Gunboat game, so no press. I mostly looked at whether a nation was actively attacking, passively waiting to attack, moving away from, or working to help another nation. That was my scale.

[flashthompson]

> I would have predicted an English win based on board position.

Go on....

There was no way that any nation would have gotten into the English seas which means they have a lot of protected builds without many forces needed to guard them.