Oh, and you mentioned the GM... there is no GM in phpDiplomacy. All you have to do is fill out the HTML forms and hit Update or Submit or whatever, and the website's internal code will process it automatically. When all people have sent in orders or the phase time limit has been reached, the website's adjudicator (hand-programmed by Kestas, the webmaster) parses all of the orders and shows the results on the map.

To Mr. K-
Thanks much. So, just to clarify, there is no listing(as in my days of Postal) in Fall showing Aus: Tri, Vie, War, Mos, Nap with 3 units and 2 builds?
One more question. If I choose a new game, there is some cover charge which x7 becomes the pot which goes to the winner or split among drawers? And the deadlines are about 24 hours as normal now (as we used to have 3 week deadlines)

phpDip is designed to be mainly visual in it's representation, so there won't be any text listing. Your available builds will be listed for you when the build phase comes. All orders are displayed on the map and you can view the move history my using the navigation buttons just below the map. Also, a large map is available when you hit the middle button below the small map, which shows orders in more detail, including the failed orders that would clutter the small map.

When you create a new game you set the ante price, which is 1/7th of the pot. In winner-takes-all games, the pot is won by solo win, or split evenly between drawing players. In points-per-supply-center, when the game finishes by solo win, the pot is distributed on a 1/34th pot per supply center basis. You'll get used to the system fairly quickly.

The beauty of phpDip vs. postal play is that the games may progress much faster, since communication may be more or less instantaneous. Currently, when you start a new game, you can set the phase length up to 72 hours if 24 hours makes you uncomfortable.

If all players finalize their orders, then they are processed immediately, and the game progresses to the next phase. Orders do not have to be finalized, however, they can simply be fully updated so that the finalize button appears. When the phase ends of it's own volition following 24 hours, your fully updated orders will be processed. This may be used to allow the phase its full length for further negotiation. Otherwise, finalize when you can, but it is not imperative.

Thank you, Mr. C. I suspect I will figure it out. Just didn't like going into a game blind. My new copy of the game has shipped. I understand there are rules revisions since the 70's. I probably should read those over just in case.
Thank you both.

Just take a look at the help page of this site, and maybe take over a CD country in a game so you can get familiar with the interface. All the rule revisions are just attempts to resolve some of the paradoxes that come up rarely; phpDiplomacy's adjudicator does have specific resolutions for all of them. You can see more by looking at the DATCs, the link to which can be found on the help page.

actually if you look, there is now a link near the bottom to a text version of order which I particularily like.

There are no revisions to the actual rules of the game. but, yes, you probably should read the help section.

http://phpdiplomacy.net/doc/0.8-screenshot.png shows what the phpDip game interface is like

I just took over an 02 England in CD and am looking at the list.You were correct, the interface is simple. I got the press part and the negotions. I created a set of moves. Now there are blue check marks next to some countries and red stars next to others. Have to do with moves in or finalized? If I finalize moves, can't change. If I don't finalize and time runs out, the moves I have in stand?

The checks and X's are indeed related to finalization. Checks signifying the player has finalized, and X's denoting that they have not.

In fact, you can change your moves after you've finalized, just by hitting the un-finalize button. As well, if you have fully updated moves, such that you *could* finalize, then when the timer runs out, your fully updated orders will be executed. Finalization is really in place so that if all players choose to finalize their orders then the phase processes through immediately. That way, if all players are ready, they don't have to wait for the rest of the phase to run on. However, you are by no means obligated to finalize your orders, fully updating them will do just fine.

kestas... phpDip actually looks much nicer in Safari :-P