Talk to everyone every turn. Although I'll admit I'm guilty of not following my own advice.

I like having good relationships with players across the board. For example. as austria/turkey If me and germany are on good terms I could possibly convince him to bounce sweden. If I could convince an english north opening that is also helpful. and if I can get France to open south well even better. All of that is possible when being diplomatic. Further I enjoy being the middle man on issues.

I'm admittedly very much a beginner. I certainly agree that communication with other players is critical in this game, but how do you be in communication with everyone and not feel as though you're double crossing everyone? Maybe that's just the point...

Having good relationships is one thing, and granted that always makes things easier, but what about when relationships are not so good for whatever the reason, i say keep sending press

Press is important. Always.
A note about languages...

Most players here have English as their native language. Even if it is not yours, KEEP TALKING. Probably keep talking more.

If someone goes silent or refuses to respond, I often assume that they are disengaged from the game and therefore are an easy target: They won't have any friends to help them out.

Conversely, if a non-English speaker tries to use press, but may have slight errors in English, I frequently *want* that person on my side, because I assume they may have a harder time allying with others due to any language barrier.

Even if the subtleties of language are missed, you can still have a factual conversation about DMZ's, orders, and specific phases for short-term agreements to start and end. It pays off in the long run, and the little additional work is worth it.

@thamrick --the name of the game is Diplomacy. Sometimes is better to be honest, even if you know that a country will not like what you are saying...this also lends itself to latter collaboration when and if the board circumstances change

@thamrick: There are usually only a couple people you'll have "hot" borders with which require intense negotiation. As for the others, talk about long-term plans. Figure out who they are working with. Keep it friendly, because hopefully sooner than later, you'll have the opportunity to work with or eliminate that player.

As non-native English speaker, I expressively encourage other non-natives to ask for clarifications, if something isn't clear (actually this goes for anybody – there are many native anglophones around whose written language is often illegible due to typos or slangs). Also ask the other players about their native tongue if you don't know it. They might turn out to be homolingual to you. You could also ask your partners whether they could switch to your native or second language (albeit most English speakers are not really in grade to do so, if they are, though, it is a very nice experience).

Another issue with language might well be slang. There is a specific Diplomacy slang (Juggernaut, WT, etc.), with which you can familiarise yourself through reading articles at diplomacy-archive.org . Further there is a webDip slang, which is not too important for press.

Don't expect your fellow players to understand real world diplomatic idiolect! Not all of them are trained diplomats or international lawyers or otherwise knowledgeable people! You could try to use for fun, though.

"Don't expect your fellow players to understand real world diplomatic idiolect! Not all of them are trained diplomats or international lawyers or otherwise knowledgeable people!"

their not?

are you?

i was kidding----but yes i am

Nice! I need to (1) explore the famous draugnar thread, (2) verify your famous car and (3) confer with you on how to make so much money as was recently insinuated.

Talk to people even if you are attacking them. You don't have to tell them what you're doing. You don't have to agree to any of their suggestions, you don't even have to deny you will attack (saying something like 'i bet i can take vienna this year ;)' can be very useful mis-information, or a double bluff)

You can lie and say someone else told you what to do (though this may only work for newbies) or offer them a chainsaw (see ref: chainsaw diplomacy) but whatever you do keep talking.

Also, if you stop talking, the only reason needs to be that you see you can achieve nothing from talking. In some cases people infuriate you to the point where you don't have the emotional energy to type a single character to them. If you can kill them off, all the better.

Orath is correct and I learn a few valuable lessons for him.

Whilst talking as a general rule is a great thing, one should always read your message carefully before posting. I have far too often sent a message out only to curse it later on for hinting at plans I should have kept utterly secret or proving that I'd lied when previously I was getting the benefit of the doubt. Always remember that once your message leaves you it is no longer your property, and can be shared between the other players of the game as they see fit.

Never shut up. Never surrender.

There's a lot more to being a skilled communicator then just talking lots and often, although that's definitely a strong aspect to it.

When you send a message, do it in a fashion that encourages exchange rather then just one-way dialogue. Ask questions, talk about things they would be interested in (their goals, their thoughts, even themselves). Two-way communication is a much strong bond then one-way and there definitely such a thing as too much verbal diharria. Nobody is going to sit there and read your hourly encyclopedia post in its entirety, they're just going to check out.

Talk to your enemies just as much as your allies. It's important, the game shifts all the time and it's good to have a head start on having other relationships pre-established.

Also helps to know when to shut up. If you stabbed somebody, by all means show a little empathy and possibly even explain why you felt you needed to but don't get sucked into a shouting match (same goes if you get stabbed). Many a game has been lost due to a bullheaded vendetta that needed to be settled at all costs. If somebody is a hot head all the more reason to keep your head down a bit, players often need that interaction to feed their anger and if you lay down enough it's possible somebody else could say something stupid and inherit that rage that should have been directed at you.

And very good point from Octavious, good idea to re-read what your typing and make sure there's no unwanted hidden context in there you don't want expressed. Many a time I've shaved a three paragraph message down to two sentences just after rethinking the can of worms it could have potential open.

Thank you to all who have responded here, I think those who are new or just wanting to hone their skills can learn from a lot of the words here. Please keep offering insights if you have them, and for those learning and would like to know more ask questions, most of us will offer answers if possible.
These are things that can help the greater community get better at the game.

Learn a lot from the words here^

Ask for what you want.

@uclabb. Love it.

Be honest with as many people as possible without conceding your security.

almost exclusively, my favorite friends that I just simply chat with about whatever the most on the site are people that I have previously stabbed but we kept exchanging press and jokes throughout the entire game and then afterward.

it probably comes from the fact that there's something which actually rel you can talk more freely now, when all the cards and chips are on the table, and suddenly you can talk more freely now

*let's you

Drop f bombs. Mute all. Art of Piss, by Al.

Great thread. I bet I know the genesis of it. I admit that when I don't hear from someone, I'm pretty content to play the game "without" them. The post-stab conversations is something I need to work on. It's hard though. Especially to keep it from degenerating into a "fuck you" tirade.

Always best to internalize that stuff, being able to bite your tongue can make all the difference in the world. I'm not flawless with that aspect but majority of the time I'm able to hold my venting until after the game is finished. Even then i only really take the stupid stabs to heart, if a stab was the right move for the person then kudos to them. Comes with the territory, right?

I'm not convinced that biting one's tongue is the most important thing in the world. I feel like I pretty much vent on people when they make me mad, and I won't say it is net positive, but I do think that it's not the worst thing to have a clear contrast in tone when you are trying to show that you are now eager to work with someone.

I second all the things the other veterans have said, and would like to add my favorite line, in response to someone stabbing me.

Actually, I have 2 lines.

If the stab will be ultimately ineffective, because you have things lined up with other players to take out your ally who just betrayed you, say, "I believe you have miscalculated."

If it's a genuinely good move by an ally to turn on you, because it puts him in a winning position, say, "Good move."