The number one thing you should make sure to do is to open up the big map and look for failed support orders. Sometimes people will make orders that have no hope of succeeding but serve as a communication device.

People can signal a direction they'd like you to head, a specific move they want to see you do, or simply show their peaceful intentions in this way.

But just like in press games - people can also lie/mislead you through these moves.

Otherwise, movements tell important stories. Try and figure out what the other powers are trying to achieve and from there figure out how you play into their plans and then pick the best moves for yourself.

Fair enough.
Thanks...
If anyone is interested in playing a beginners gunboat game, I'd be happy to start it up.

No chat, so less room for diplomacy.
"Diplomacy" is made by moves and specially by supports.
When you support hold or support move to another player unit, you are showing that you want to work with him or that you want him to do something.
This can get you to very strong alliances.
You should be extra carefull about the stabs because there are no words that can make you predict it.
I like to support obvious moves from other players if I want to work with them, even if there is no other reason for that support.
Example... it is not unusual for either russia or turkey support the other player's fleet to the black sea in Spring 1901... it would be the same if it that unit just hold, but by giving the support you are saying: "take the black sea, I want to work with you, let's be friends"... it's a big risk but it can lead to a good Jugg.
Also common Munich support Par - Bur in S01, for the same purpose.

Basic things... others can add more info.
Good luck ;)

Even if a move might be pointless, like ordering one of your armies to attack an enemy SC that won't move, it can at least tell potential allies, "Look at me, I'm doing this over and over! If you support me we can take it!" Repeated moves give people a chance to support you.

All this is great advice. What I'm experiencing is I think some people don't understand that how 1 country acts effects another. Ex. Italy attacks Austria, Turkey will love this. A/I work together this is bad for Turkey etc. It all depends on the players involved.

What about a SOW for new gunboaters? 1 advisor per player. I will take 1 youngling & mentor him though a game. Any thoughts about this?

I'd be a part of this.

What's SOW?

I would love to be one of the pupils for that.

I would be willing to help out as well.

SOW is School of War, where experienced players help/mentor newer players so that they can improve their game.

I'd love to be a teacher!

Something I think often gets overlooked in Gunboats is the tactical use of draw votes. Cancel and draw requests (and pauses, but those are just confusing) are only non-board communication in the game, so use them. If you're on top and you don't think you can win, but see a solo chance for someone else, throw a draw request out there. If you think you can solo but see someone else making a play for it that you think will fail, throw a draw request out there. Try to coax small players into thinking you'll leave them alone, try and get small players to attack the big player on the other side of the board not putting in a draw vote.

This is much more effective if you somewhere near board top, because I'll generally ignor draw/cancels from people who are about to be eliminated.

Also, if someone puts in a cancel or draw request after a s01 CD, I treat them warily, as they're more likely to be a quality player.

I would love to get taught in SOW.

So, so far we have SacredDigits, TheFlyingBoat, and myself as padawans and Tom Bombadil, Lando, and IKE as teachers.

Anyone else in?

If we don't have enough, I'd be happy to try play solo as long as we discuss it a bit afterwards.

Potential students:
Yonni
SacredDigits
TheFlyingBoat

Potential teachers:
IKE
Lando Calrissian
Tom Bombadil
Stukus

We'd need at least three more teachers and hopefully four more students.

I'd love to be a student

Mite i suggest a new thread be made for this, titled along the lines of "SoW Gunboat" so that people who want to teach or learn can find out about it, versus risking that someone sees it and says "im the best gunboat player ever, i need not look" (potential teacher) i think u get it

i could always use some tips

I would like to be a student.. I continue to overtrust people, and then get turned on when I am pretty big and get pwned by everyone in the game.. >.>

I would be interested in being a student if there's still room.

I'd like to be a student as well. I can't spend too many points on it, though. I've invested most of my points in games already.

We have our 7 students. I'm looking to find 3 more teachers. I'm thinking 5 wta 36-48 hrs. Time to get advice & then finalize your moves.

Sorry, on my phone now. If someone wants to make it look more official, I would appreciate it.

I can mentor someone. I would appreciate a 48 hour phase, so I could have time to collect my thoughts.

i will be in but my last gunboats didn't go well :(

in any case if needed i'm in :)

I'd prefer 48hrs. Just in case some like, ya know, life(?) gets in the way and I can't check WebDip every day.

Potential students:
Yonni
SacredDigits
TheFlyingBoat
Mongoose998
democ
Scmoo472
Shevek
basvanopheusden
(In order of sign up posts)
Potential teachers:
IKE
Lando Calrissian
Tom Bombadil
Stukus
gramilaj

Sub:
gantz

so mr Bas is #8 for students.
Gantz, You will prob get in as a teacher..

Should we try to sync up teachers-students in terms of play style? Like, have each teacher give a personal description and let students pick? How is the match-up usually done for these things?