figle and I are both 18 and both reading/about to read maths.

I think debating will help as it trains you to express yourself, and I expect TGM and figle both did A levels like History/Philosophy where it is necessary to be able to make and lay out arguments. I don't know how much maths helps really though...

I'd be interested to hear to what extent studying phycology helps with Diplomacy...

Figle's A levels were Physics, Chemistry, Maths and Further Maths

Mine were the same, except I swapped out Chemistry for Philosophy. I also do a helluva lot of debating.

I plan on taking Senior psychology next year. Not just for the credit, but to help me in this game as well. Although, I doubt my small, public school has a good course to offer on the subject.

Believe it or not guys, but a class that I took this year, 'Creative Writing' does an amazing job to prepare you for communicating online.

BA in English (Advanced Comp and Rhetoric)

M.Ed. in Secondary English Education


although you wouldn't know it from how carelessly I wirte in this forum :-)

Mathsy type people will be better at the strategy and tactics side of things, which can also support the diplomacy.

I split the game into 4 categories:

Tactics: making the right choices about specific moves in turn-by-turn/year-by-year basis.
Strategy: Choosing who to attack and when, making sure that you don't corner yourself/leave yourself vulnerable, keeping room for expansion & messing up the strategies of other players
Diplomacy-Trust: Knowing who to trust and making people trust you.
Diplomacy-Convincing: Getting people to believe that they are best off allied with you in terms of strategy and tactics, given that you are trustworthy.

The Strategic and Tactical skills do a great deal to help with the Diplomatic skills, because a clever set of moves are convincing and they also suggest that a lot of thought has gone into it, which implies trustworthiness. In reverse, good diplomacy skills can overcome problems with strategy and tactics, particularly if you have an ally who is a good tactician.

Hey TGM, you're did the same A levels as me! Although I'm also doing history...

BA in Secondary English Ed, MS in Education Administration

BS in Computer Science
Masters in Business Adminstration

Also, I find the English descriptions of things like "A levels" interesting mostly because I have no idea what that even means.

Out of curiosity: how many of you are high school students? I know my education hasn't done much for me in Diplomacy. I'm just wondering if there are any decent Diplomacy players that are still in high school. I know no one my age in real life who would enjoy the game with me, or be good at it.

I'd predict that I'm younger than you ZaZa, and I'm 5th ranked on GR

BA in Communication Studies along with a second major in Music

Currently working on my Master of Divinity from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

geez dave - i'm going to have to play some more games and boost my win/draw percentage back up...you're right on my tail... All that since September..sheesh. You're a dip-playing fool!

I'm currently studying undergraduate Neuroscience with a minor in Economics. Despite my specific concentration being Neuropsychology, I can say that I don't apply any of it to playing Diplomacy.

It's important to note that the programs people take may not seem to directly benefit you in Diplomacy, at least in the causal sense, but there might be a correlation. Maybe math doesn't help much in Diplomacy but the people who take Math majors tend to have higher IQs and that might help them in Diplomacy. I'm pretty sure the community here has an average IQ quite above 100. I don't know what programs particularly socially adept or persuasive people might lean toward, perhaps business, law, or politics.

I think that me English degree has helped me. I am VERY well read on numerous topics and love to communicate.

@ZaZa: Someone should make a SurveyMonkey poll about age/nationality of players here.

@nola: I'm on this side of the pond too. I can only assume it is somewhat analogous to our SATs or ACTs.

I'm new here, but for what it's worth, I have a BFA in fine art (emphasis in photography), and an MS in management (information systems).

"Hey TGM, you're did the same A levels as me!"

GrammaaAAAAAHHHHHH!

BA in Philosophy (Comparative Religious Studies), minor in linguistics.

I did lots of debate/forensics speaking in high school and participated in Student Government Association and joined a social fraternity while in college. I also used to do quite a bit of political work in college (running campaigns and such) and was rather involved in that mess.

I'm 24, graduated a year ago this past December.

I'm 16, sophomore in high school, so no higher education for me. One college level class I'm in right now, but AP world history hasn't helped me much on here. I'd like to take some psychology and sociology classes, but as of yet nothing. Not sure I qualify as a good diplomacy player, but theres my stats, in all their juvenile glory:]

I do BA Politics, I'm in my final year and working on my dissertation.

BAs in English and Philosophy.

PhD, History. But it was a long time ago.

...which means there was less to cover.

:rimshot:

I gotta BA in Economics and International Relations (which is essentially a degree in Diplomacy) and I must say that has certainly helped. I'm currently also getting a Masters in Health Management---which isn't quite as relevant but you'd be surprised how helpful it can be as well.

BSC Mathematics, Statistics & Computing...but that was twenty somethings years ago.

B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering (Manufacturing Designation) - just completed my first year... so hopefully the next 3 go as well as the last one.

Manufacturing designation is where you pretty much deal with efficiencies and work processes. It is super cool!

@vamosrammstein - bad idea, you'll want to get into the sciences as soon as possible.

:-)