If I don't have something to talk with an ally I move as soon as I can. And usually if some negotiation is necessary, I usually made the moves I want and then talk. I prefer to have some moves made than forgetting a deadline

You can finalize whenever you are ready, but you other players are entitled to take as much times as they need up until the end of phase. Some players never finalize.
The only time when it annoys me when players don't finalize is when it is the retreats phase of Autumn and a player has 0 SCs left. That player has only one option - disband. Why not just put the order through already?

Correction - not the retreats phase, the unit building phase.

I'd say it's good form to always finalize when in a build or retreat phase. Finalizing during the main phase is always optional, though when you get down to 2 or 3 players there's really not that much to talk about usually.

It's also annoying when the only retreat order waiting on the entire board is one for a unit that has nowhere to retreat to, and the player is online but just doesn't finalize the unavoidable disband.

...but I guess if that player hasn't seen his ally online in 5 days this is probably an acceptable way of extending the waiting period and preventing his ally to go CD. Still annoying though.

never, Never, NEver, NEVER finalize without talking to people in spring 1901. ;-)

I sort of disagree with the comments above.
I generally always finalize my orders as soon as I do them with the idea that I can always go back and change them. If everyone wants to rush things then I can deal with it mostly. On rare occasions I will not finalize because I am waiting for a specific answer.

As for Spring 1901, I sort of believe that here, you want to finalize your orders because it tells everyone that you are playing! You should also write to every single player the moment the game is set up as well as send a Global notice of introduction of yourself.
I just took over another stand by position as Italy which again had a player, never wrote to anyone in Spring 01 or Fall 01, however most shocking to me is that there was ONE message from another player in the game for two moves. Not even a so much as 'hey how come you missed your moves what's up with that'.
Players have got to remember that the name of the game is Diplomacy and that means that you talk to people....EVERY TURN.

I disagree Edi. Never finalize in spring 01. If someone sent me a message asking me for something like a bounce at galicia or a dmz at the channel and they have already finalised (I've gotten this before), it tells me they don't care what my answer is.

I UPDATE my orders with the same idea as you Edi. I can always go back and change them and if time runs out they go through like that. But if everyone finalizes then you can't go back.

If you talk to people every turn then people know you are playing, you don't need to finalise your orders.

Edi, you complain about this lack of communication alot but I'd like to point out a correlation. You pick up games with first year cds, they are by definition low pot, new player games. If you play with the "riff raff" than that is what you are going to get. If you would rather play with people that communicate, up the ante a little.

In general I don't finalize during the diplomacy phase unless its near the endgame. Builds and retreats should be finalized.

As one of the poor folks in Edi's game who hadn't bothered talking with Italy (as Russia)...

My bad. No excuse really for Spring 1901. For Autumn 1901? I didn't see any reason to communicate with a (soon to be) disordered Italy.

At least I've got someone to chat with now.

Austria, Turkey and France have no excuse, however.

I never finalize unless I'm specifically asked to. It's just a habit of mine because I like to be able to check my games at regular intervals. I also want to leave time for any further negotiations, and you never know when you finalize first and everyone else negotiates behind your back and finalizes before you can come back to re-assess the situation.

Thanks everyone. I just wanted different opinions, not a full-blown debate. I recommend that everyone shifts their attention to other threads.

I tried to say that as nice as possible. Sorry if I offended you.

Thanks,
diplomat1824