hmmm, I have experience with peterwiggin and THM, but I'm not sure if I've had the pleasure of being stabbed by VI. Is he as suave talking or just so damn jovial about it as the other two?

So VI's version is:
Find the most dangerous player on his side of the board. Manipulate everybody else into stabbing that player. Then stab those players, which is pretty much like stabbing a bunch of innocent babies in the face!

To be fair, in our three games, in the first two, I never stabbed you because by the time we met, we were just openly trying to stop the other from winning, and in the third, MM decided to let me win because he's nicer than you!

I think I've only played you once, goldie, and you stabbed me!

Huh, was that England-France game the only time we've played together? I could've sworn I played you more than once. I have awful game memory haha. Well, just take the compliment.

THM I'm sure about though. He had me in stitches half the time while I was losing centers to him.

This is usefull, it helped me at least.
http://www.diplomacy-archive.com/resources/strategy/negotiation.htm

One of these days I'll get one of those two-way draws you keep promising me.

Thanks for that link, Nikola! That's certainly a helpful site. And the repartee between you guys is fun to read as well!

No problem LT!

VI, it's not my fault you won't cut out the other powers! And is that how you've been identifying me in games?

Apparently cutting out other powers is all I do. And I've been identifying you through that awful cologne you bath in, I can smell it through my screen.

@LeinadT - You started off saying that you can't understand why you just ganged up upon right off the bat in multiple games despite not threatening anybody and just aiming to clear up the neutrals yourself.

I want to reiterate what THM said in terms of communicating a plan effectively to your allies.

For example: I was Germany once in a recent game where England was very normal and friendly and basically said that he would open North against Scandinavia and inquired whether Bel was up for grabs. He didn't really offer me anything or a concrete plan of action.
Now, I personally don't like the Western Triple - and I had good opening convos with Russia, so I was trying to figure out who among E or F I wanted to act against early.
At this point France comes along and offers an alliance against E and sends strong, coherent messages that I felt indicated his desire for a serious alliance with me. Note that E has already revealed to me that the Channel will definitely be empty. Its an ideal opportunity to take advantage of and France pitches the SeaLion successfully to me and offers me 2 English centers in return for Belgium and Liverpool to him. I immediately accept.
We executed a textbook SeaLion and when England got screwed, he was crying saying - "What did I do to you? Why did you stab me etc etc - I don't know how I always end up getting pounced on so early" - exactly what you are saying.

And the reason was simple - England communicated no real plan to me. Instead, he revealed his weakness inadvertently and France indicated clear desire for cooperation, seemed to be an efficient and regular communicator and offered a clear plan of action, quick gains and quick elimination. It was too hard to pass up.

Communicating a clear plan, good advice, thanks!

@Sh@dow; I thought about this, and I have a question:

Let's say I'm France, and England merely offered an English Channel DMZ, while Germany did a brilliant job detailing our invasion of England. Let's say I move against England, but--uh-oh--Germany makes an aggresive move towards me, occupying Burgundy after he said he did not.

At this point, both countries would have preferable allies to me (probably each other) and I would probably be screwed.

So wouldn't it be better to have a more neutral/friendly opening, and then ally with who seems trustworthy, and attack who isn't?

I know this question wasn't to me, but i'll chime in anyways.

You are almost asking for being taken advantage of in that situation since you automatically make an enemy in England and have probably announced you intend to leave Burgundy open, both pretty awesome for Germany. When in doubt ask for a bounce and don't start so aggressive unless you are beyond a shadow of a doubt confident in your alliance (which is a challenge that first round).

That first year should all be about the courtship, there's no rush to invade a country since if you're on the right side of the two-on-one the victory over your side of the map will come sooner or later. No matter how great a player you are, if you end up without any friends that first year you have a strong chance of facing an early elimination.

And yet... if you can overcome that challenge in the first round and develop an alliance that acts aggressively right out of the gate, that's a huge advantage over a neighbor who is trying to play conservatively. So if you are pitching aggressive action in S01 (or being pitched), it comes back to how good is the plan and how good is the pitch.

I will add that there are certain countries very vulnerable to early ganging up.
Austria and France especially (though France has better defensive position). For France Bur is key. Galicia for Austria. Black Sea for Turkey, North Sea for England etc. Those are spaces you absolutely have to protect. Very few French players will leave Bur DMZd unless they have absolute trust in Germany right off the bat (very rare). Ask for a bounce, bounce yourself, force it etc. Lots of options.

Yup that (like most of diplomacy) is situational and a judgement call, but if the cards line up then sure an aggressive start can be great and really help cement a bond if done right. People love being part of a "moment" in a game so to THM's point if you can continually pitch plans that creates twists and turns in the game that'll certainly your ally around for a while.

Let's not forget this is a game and people do it for the enjoyment of it. Many an alliance has carried on past ideal stabbing points just because they really enjoy the banter and crazy antics they pull off with their 'fun' ally.

Sometimes getting on a player's nerves and being a.lightning rod for his aggression works too (as long as your defensive position is good). You can play it off as "look guys, I'm making him focus on me and you have a golden opportunity to open another front against him.

Anyone try the "ask nicely and offer a bribe approach"?

I mean, I'll be less likely to stab if you say 'pretty please' and offer to buy me a steak dinner.

Just because they buy you dinner doesn't mean you owe them sex, Tru.

Hmm. I've never been told that before. I'm gonna have to look into it before I believe it. Until then it's business as usual.

I dunno, THM, I kinda feel obligated when anyone buys me dinner

Man, I could have a lot of points back if I knew Tru was so cheap...

Why doesn't anybody ever buy me dinner?

Because they're done with you after the sex, pete. You have to ask for the dinner first.

Lols. I had to +1 several of these posts.

Kinda reminds me of the logician skit from Monty Python.

Would any of you stab-proof veterans or experts be willing to help me improove my stab-proofness in a slow fp anon wta game? With that amount of good hints, this might be the very first dip game with no stab at all! ( ... damn, that would be a scaringly boring scenario ...)