@chaqa: I have a hypothesis that having a lot of variants is actually bad for the number of games that get off the ground, and the site data appears to support this.

1v1 maps would ruin the game stats.

Which stats? We could exclude them from ratings.

The ones you see when you click on someone's name

I would tend to agree with ATC's statement. Too many variants and configuration options can really dilute your play base and end up with a tonne of pre-games just waiting in queue for players to join and the pool/variety of players showing up in certain variant games eventually get fairly shallow. I've seen PlayDip suffer from this a bit due to a lot of configuration options/variants.

And as mentioned 1v1 certainly should be excluded from stats or made exclusively unranked games. Those are intended to be just for casual fun (or 1v1 tournament once we build up a few more options).

I'm agreed with ATC too

This might be crazy, but could there be a separate set of stats for 1v1 games?

I think that's a good idea.

All three of those maps look quite neat! I wouldn't mind seeing them around.

I've played a lot of World games, and definitely enjoyed them. While hardly perfectly balanced, it's still usually an enjoyable experience. Of the three bugs I'm aware of, one of them is definitely annoying though. The second I actually quite enjoy, and the third is rarely seen.

World is just about all I play, and despite all of its problems, I would definitely be sad to see it go.

Big yes to 1v1, but I've gotta say my first impression of KW901 is pretty 'meh'.

I think that webDip should have a relatively low number variants, to keep the number of dead pre-games down. However, I think adding one or two more wouldn't hurt too much.

I like the idea of Pure, I've always wanted try it. But as for a 1v1 map... Duo works well, but I don't like FvA or GvI, because they're more of a rush to get all of the neutral centers as opposed to getting your enemy's centers. The big world variants I don't have much of an opinion on. The one we have now always seemed *too* big to play.

Fall of the American Empire doesn't seem like it gets as much play than Modern, so I say we replace that one if we're replacing more than World IX.

Duo is great. If you want a big map that is balanced and awesome, try Imperial II
http://vdiplomacy.com/variants.php?variantID=81

I should point out - Known World has neutral armies in every non-HSC at the start of the game. That's fairly important and makes the map as good as it is.

There are three good large maps on vDip - WWIV Sealanes, Haven, and KW901, and out of them KW901 is the best by far. It brings all the appeal of a large variant, but doesn't bring in the problems with overwhelming distance that WWIV and Haven have - I'm in a game right now and have solid communication with a bunch of players on the opposite side of the map. It also solves the Sea Stalemates that almost every large variant has, by bringing a map where the sea wraps around the main landmass like Classic instead of going between multiple continents, like most World maps do. If you ask most of the top vDip players what the best variant on the site is, you'll get KW901 as the majority answer. I'm very happy it's being considered for webDip.

Not much to say on the 1v1s other than that it's a great idea to introduce them. I used to think FvA was too unbalanced (in Austria's favour) to bring across, but I found a new strategy recently that makes France much stronger, so that complaint is gone.

Also, I'm not a fan of FotAE and I think that Europe 1939 would be a good replacement for that one, if variants are being swapped out. I get that it's probably good to have a map containing the US on the site to enable American players to be able to play a game set in their homeland, though.

Will you keep the transform option for KW901?

As someone who started at webDip, went to vDip and has started playing a bit of webDip again, I am flummoxed that there is such a limited number of variants here. Especially that World Dip IX one, it is so unbalanced its understandably not even on vDip! So my personal view is the more the merrier.

Let the market decide. If people don't join vague variant games, then so be it. They'll go on and play other games. No big deal.

Interested to see where this conversation goes.

I haven't played duo, so i can't really say, but i love vlassic map variants. So FvA and GvI both let you get a feel for classic end-game/stalemate positions without having to play a full game to get there...

I also like chaos (i think it is called) the 34 player variant where everyone starts with one SC. It is rare toget 34 players together, but is a lot of fun when you do!

I wake up and I learn I've been playing crappy variants my whole life. Way to let me down webdip.

Literally the only variant you need to add is classic chaos. I have never had more fun on the internet before than playing classic chaos public press.
Only people who have played it are allowed to argue against it. Everyone should go over to vdip and try it out.

I certainly vote in favour of getting rid of the currently World Dip map. It's buggy as hell.

I'm all for 1v1, and I don't usually play large variants but I would give the new option a chance over world for sure.

If we are adding 1v1 maps, I would suggest adding Cold War too. Here is a link: http://vdiplomacy.net/variants.php?variantID=91
Cold War is a relatively new map, but rigorously tested and well balanced.

There is also a 3-player variant on vdip that I especially like to play in gunboat. It's called Treaty of Verdun: http://vdiplomacy.net/variants.php?variantID=58

I would find it pity if WDIX were to dissappear, but I understand it's unfortunately not that balanced so I can understand it.

Can confirm that Cold War is tested a lot. I remember playing it on the lab way back when.

Verdun is a nice one too.

Fantastic ideas. The current World map is stunningly unbalanced, has tons of tribal knowledge known bugs, and results in CD's left and right.1 vs 1 as long as it does not count towards current stats would also be a great addition to the site and really help satisfy members as they try and get other games off the ground.

Zultar, I challenge you to the first 1 vs 1 game if you get it added to the site. Do you accept?

Agree with Jmo, 1v1 should not increase solo stats. I would play that live now and then, but any other variants meh - they are rarely balanced enough or have too many players to get a game going.

I loved playing the Chaos variant! The sheer insanity/terror of the first couple of rounds of press is something unique.

Chaos is great, I would be interested in seeing that on the site.

Chaos would be alot of fun.

I voice support for Chaos.