If you're interested I have some lucky charms for sale. There are several kinds to choose from an many offer very interesting prices.

Indeed, I do like the long phase games.

From what I've seen, Ivo_ is forceful and brazen. Rait is brilliantly persuasive. Jacob was really keen and would always respond to your message in detail... perhaps the difference is just that, being *different* in some way?

43% now.
I just wanted to say that I like your rating system much better than the point system and I've added it to my settings page in modal of yours and many other players. I like it. It makes the page look better having something there for players to see when they check you out.

Thank you

No, thank you.

;)

7777 posts btw.

Hrmm, I'm not on that list anywhere. I've got 3 wins and 25 draws, but here is the catch. All 3 wins have been CD pickups of 10+ center positions that were very strong positions. I've never won a game I've been in from the start.

So for myself, I feel I'm really on a 25 draw streak. And I've tried analyzing my problem and came up with the following.

To get someone to ally with me, I do two things. I make it clear I'm not going to put myself in a position where I can get screwed by them, but I'm also going to let them do what they need to defend themselves too. I make our alliance as stab-proof as possible. This is good for me from a safety standpoint, and is good at winning someone over. But it isn't good for winning.

Regarding what rhino86 has said about being willing to stab. In some games I've been in a position where I could stab. But I recognize that if I do it too soon I'll just get stalemated, so I wait. And then my ally stabs me and I arrange a grand alliance against them and we stop the solo attempt. But at the same time, I lost my chance to solo as well.

I don't think my "react to what happens" approach is "an indication of the way you should play", regardless of how you interpret my WTA record of 17 games finished in 2010 of 2 wins, 14 draws and 1 defeat. I think how we should all play is largely based on our unique personality because if you are true to who you really are I think it will serve you best, though for most of us we then need to figure out how to tweak that a bit to get wins. I have very little confidence in my ability to win a WTA game with people that know what they are doing and pay attention (e.g. no NMRs), so I'm very interested in tips from those of you that can win WTA games relatively regularly, though I don't really expect those people to give away their secrets either. (though I appreciate you asking, Ghost!)

Back in my heyday, when Rait was just up and coming on the site, I had a nearly 50% win rate. But that was because I mostly played random games, and there was no point system, and the players weren't nearly as skilled. Nowadays I find myself playing exclusively arranged games and my win rate has pretty much plummetted. Actually, it started suffering right around the time when we started the Mastermind-only games, which were the first hints of organized games on this site. I've been hard pressed to put together a win now that I am facing much more formidable opposition.

Perhaps I ought to start playing random games again. =)

@ EBAY I am not a bastard. I am a pastor!!! This is the only place I get to stab or lie. Please no morality lectures. God and I have talked and were good on me playing diplomacy :-)

@ Tom Bombadil Very well done. I just studied my first 60 games and found that I do better with short phases (there are CD's and missed moves). I do extremely well when allowed anonymously and when I can negotiate (not very good at gunboat). Therefore, I play to my strengths and join or start games that fit my life, my schedule and my strngth. MadMarx said it best. Be you! But, i am also a consumate learner. I learn something new in EVERY SINGLE game. I talk to everyone and work it hard. I am more interested in learning than winning. That goes for life as well as Diplomacy.

@rhino86. No worries. I forgive you. But stabbing and lying must feel good or you wouldn't play. All sins feel good. That's why they're considered sins I guess. After all, eating broccoli isn't a sin. Why? Probably because it sucks.

Yeah, I am with you on the whole Broccoli thing :-(

I'm not going to comment on what it takes to win as I'm only 11%, but it is worth noting that the aim of the game is to get the best possible result in the circumstances. If you are austria and Italy/Russia & Turkey attack you in year 1 - going for a solo win may be beyond the best diplomacy player. Try to get the best result you can and then strike out for the solo when conditions allow.

Hahaha the wall of shame

wall or hall?

I have noticed how in the php league games, you don't see too many solo wins (most of the time people draw so they still get points)... Thing that threw me off though was how many draws there were in the TMG's this year... Only 7 games did not draw (out of 49) yet, the only way to get points it to win it all. No points for tying... So why would people tie all the time only to get nothing out of it?

Because nobody wants to let someone else win, zscheck.

I am not going to pretend like I am that great at soloing (or diplomacy in general), but I have had some success recently, and I would say that the trick of turning a draw into a solo is to find the people who would not be included in the eventual draw and get them working for you asap. The problem is that usually by the time they admit they will not be in the draw, it is too late for them to be helpful (or too mad at you for stabbing them). That seems perhaps relatively obvious, but I do think that is almost the only trick. Whether through a silver tongue, deft manipulation, or strong tactics, or really all of the above, you need to make it so that all of the little powers are throwing their weight behind you.

In high level games, just the will to stab is never enough.

I'm #2!! Woohooo!!! Err... wait... ;)

I could have told you I'm probably high on that list. Haven't had a win for a very long time and it was against newbies (though I did have a win in an ancient med map a little bit ago against some mediocre opponents).
I play in games with elite players 99% of the time. My focus: To survive, then to draw. All out wins are too difficult for me, because once the draw looks solid, I'm not in position to nab those last 4 or 5 SCs I need for the win. Too many people keep up too good a defense to let someone win. Once someone gets double digit SC's, everyone is looking to stop the win...

I wish I was in a game where Ivo or Marx or some of those other high players won flat out, but all of them have been draws cause we are keeping out eyes out for that win and stopping it.

@fortknox Don't try and muscle in on my glory (such that it is).

@ all others Tremble in fear of my skills (or in laughter).

I'd suggest that the top seven players on the list all play a game together, in the hopes that someone will win and drop off the list, but I fear it would end in a seven-way draw! ;-)

ugh, seven-way draw. I have been in multiple games lately where people tried to force a draw without eliminating anyone! Why??

Ghost - if I may suggest... lets start with some real stats... include ONLY WTA regular games played since the new version (so gunboats etc are excluded). THEN lets see the win % of THOSE games for the top 50 players on this site. (maybe a 10 game minimum)

I would be willing to bet that with those parameters, no one has a higher than 15% win rate.

Babak, I'll take that bet!! How much money are we talking about here, I'm about to head out on vacation and have a few things to get...

Certainly Rait and/or TMG can beat 15%, they both have win %'s at/near 50%...

People will have more than 15% win rate I think... someone probably has won 2 games having played somewhere between 10 and 13 games at least.

Doing the stats now...

http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=0AseR-H0M2Ru3dGF0Q1pndzlQUWExa1ZSMng5dTYtekE&hl=en&output=html

I'm proud to be tied with the Ghostmaker at fifteen on the list :)

I have to admit, I'm *really* surprised my win rate is as high as it is on that list - excluding gunboats and such actually *increases* my win rate