But is that the point?

Technically stabs are not needed.

Sounds like you need to play with better players.

Diplomacy is the name of the game. Negotiating a way to beat your opponents does not mean a stab has to take place.

I remember reading some quote about diplomacy "where you give all your SC's to some one and thank them for killing you"..or some shit like that. It is more famous and written better.

Technically stabs and not stabs are completely valid...so is lying, spilling yours plans to others, and remaining completely and utterly loyal even if it means your own destruction. If someone takes it personally than it's about them not the game.....this is so obvious it is just bizarre that it can be as common as it is.

But I understand you rage. Early on in the game or when someone attacks you when you are pretty much about to die but still somehow live are exceptions that people should step out of the rage a realize the bigger picture.

dipplayer
Perception is projection. You assume that you ally is going to stab you EVENTUALLY and that's why you play the way you do.
Do you use the same logic with your wife/girlfriend, get your betrayal in first because you expect her to someday have an affair, of course not.
What about this crazy idea, try being a great ally for once and see how that feels, sounds like that could be different for you, who knows, maybe you'll actually like it.
I think going into a game with a preset plan to stab your ally is a strange one. Sometimes actually staying allies throughout a game can be tougher but more rewarding than a cheeky stab, I only say that though because I'm nice, hahaha !!

@Nigee - The fact is, paranoia rules *this game*. Only an idiot fucktard would compare a do unto before attitude *in a game* to real life.

You are so right as always ........ only a fucktard !!

:-)

"idiot fucktard" you know I glad you included that in your argument because without it it would have failed miserably

@gresoni - Its an inside joke between Nigee and me. Relax dude.

oh ....got it

Is anyone ever completely sure of their allies, especially in gunboat? If you can manage to stay allies that's great, but I personally never hold a stab against anyone. It's part of the game. Even if someone stabs in one game, doesn't mean they will in another.

Sometimes and I'm not sure why I do this (probably because of the drugs) I just say 'friends 'til the end' and I ally with one country. Then if you attack my ally I attack you. My therapist tells me I'm making good headway despite this, but it doesn't stop me wanting to actually find out where some players live and hack them to death.....

If you aren't willing to stab to get the win, you will find yourself getting fewer wins.

I think we've been both allies and enemies before in game Nigee. Hopefully you never feel the need to hack me to death,

@the original post:
Isn't that real life?

@gresoni, Draugnar, Timur, abgemacht, Celticfox, I agree
@Nigee, I actually do maintain alliances for the duration, if that is what the game's situation calls for. I don't always stab.
@Riphen, you are one of the offenders, and I think you know this.

@Nigee: I hope your relationship with your wife isn't a zero-sum game! :)

More generally, if you're finding this happening occasionally, so be it, but if it's happening frequently, it probably does point to a weakness in your gameplay. 围师必阙.

Foreplay is said to be so important. I've found it very useful myself. Try it yourselves.

I dont care if I am one of the offenders. I can play how I want.

Where is it set in stone that you have to stab.

The game involves stabs not forces them to happen.

I've certainly soloed before without stabbing anybody, and I find myself lying surprisingly rarely in games I feel I've played well. 穷寇勿追.

The best tactic to deal with players who refuse to stab is to spot them early in the game, ally with them for as long as you need to and then stab them if you have a chance of a solo win.

Better that than letting them annoy you

lol OP must have played a press game with SplitDiplomat

Unless you can literally talk the other countries into ceding you ~15 of their own supply centers.. stab's are necessary to win this game.

But I agree with the OP, there seems to be more whining as of late.

Oh yes I agree a lot with something

If you can't talk the other countries into ceding you ~15 of their own supply centers ... you're going to have to stab to win the game.
(Poozer's phrasing makes the former sound almost impossible :-))

It is a mystery what the "Alliance until death and if you stab at me you are a psychopath"-people are getting out of this game.

Imagine that Calhamer back in the 1950s when he devised this game was thinking:
"I want to make a game that shall test true loyalty, that shall sift the bold champions of true love from the egoist cowards. It shall be two alliances fighting each other to the last drop of blood. Us-the good against them-the evil. I shall only play it with
a)people that I love and
b)people that I hate... and by the valour of my swordshand me and my loved ones shall prevail.

If that was the kind of game he had in mind, what a failure he accomplished after all his meticulous care.

If your notion of Diplomacy is "I'll ally with my wife/my brother/my little pony/whoever seems to be nice", you're not relishing the game of trying to find openings on a shifting board by negotiating deals that may suit all the parties involved (and shatter those not involved).

Come on... There are thousands and thousands of action games out there that must be more exciting to them guys than Dip...

@Sy, what a great post.