A frequent complaint that pops up every couple of months in the forum. I heartily agree with you Baquack. Negotiation takes time, patience, and many messages. How on earth you can justify playing 15 games properly is beyond me.

A limit was discussed as figle suggests - the points system is supposed to limit it, and I don't think most people want to see a limit. There are some people, for example those at school, who may have lots of time in the holiday for more games, whilst the rest of us can only cope with less.

Keep pestering him, flattering him anything to get him to talk - it may work. If all else fails, take him out and explain why afterwards!

I used to have ~20 games running on average. Down to 10 now - but would definitely not consider 15 games to be abnormal. Takes an hour or so a day.
After all, you are not expected to write essays here - it's just chatting - if your work/life requires you to be online all the time it's the perfect thing during a cigarrette break, or when traveling.

So, I would humbly disagree with your quality vs. quantity analysis, using myself as an example :)

The exception that proves the rule...!

:)
What I mean was that it is much more likely to find 'dead souls' among people playing 1 game at a time, than people playing 15.
If it is 15 current games out of 50 total played that's ok
When it's 15 out of 15 is when you have a problem.
If someone starts with 20 games x5p I just feel they should be banned. Something like phpDip's Darwyn award.

With Darwyn's permission that is? :)

'The exception that proves the rule...' I must admit, I've never understood this adage, or else I've never seen it used properly, the above included.

I've seen plenty of people with 2 games who don't negotiate. And I've seen people with 10+ who do. Its the player, not the number of games that determines the amount of Diplomacy.

Baqack, I'm England to your Austria. How much is there to discuss at gamestart, really? I've communicated with all my neighbors adequately. If I'm not writing to you much, maybe it's because you're not saying anything worth a lengthy reply...

" Fowler's Modern English Usage gives the following example:

"Special leave is given for men to be out of barracks tonight till 11.00 p.m."; "The exception proves the rule" means that this special leave implies a rule requiring men, except when an exception is made, to be in earlier. The value of this in interpreting statutes is plain.

Similarly, a sign that says "parking prohibited on Sundays" (the exception) "proves" that parking is allowed on the other six days of the week (the rule)."

So the exception doesn't prove the rule in this case, unless the rule is 'You are limited to 10 games unless you provide a nebulous amount of 'sufficient' negotiations in each of your games, or if you name is Ivo.

I've noticed that a certain very highly rated player writes almost not all during the entire game. Does that mean you think he should be banned, or forced to play one game at a time?

How about you play and communicate the way that's best for you. And let others do the same.

Just so I understand, in spring 1901, pre-game, you are upset that England hasn't communicated sufficiently with Austria?

"
So the exception doesn't prove the rule in this case, unless the rule is 'You are limited to 10 games unless you provide a nebulous amount of 'sufficient' negotiations in each of your games, or if you name is Ivo."

Of all the players who are in over 10 games that I have encountered, only Ivo and Flashman were good negotiators who wrote press regularly, and responded to questions etc.

I'm in agreement with Dipper here - just because I don't communicate with you, it doesn't make me a bad player. It just makes me someone who's not going to bother my allies unless I have something worth saying. I'm in a few games here and over on FB and I get incredibly annoyed by people that essentially spam me and then get angry when I don't reply to their pointless messages.

I could be in 50 games, and if they're all 48 hour turns that gives me PLENTY of time to play properly. Hell, even when I've 16SCs in a game it doesn't take me any more than 10 minutes to play my turn and I reply to messages as and when I get them IF I've anything useful to say.

So basically if you're annoyed with people who can't shut up, ally with me and let's take the noisy types down!

Well, I wasn't the only person who was grumbling about lack of correspondance, but it's less of a personal vendetta and more of the fact that until I saw the gentleman's profile I never dreamed anyone would be capable of playing 15 games at once, it made my boggle a bit. dipdon, saying i haven't said anything worth replying to, that's a low blow man :(

Baquack, the game started in the middle of a workday. Usually I have time to dip during the day, but yesterday I didn't. I was very busy. You may have seen me logged on, but I wasn't even in the same room as my computer most of the day. Then I couldn't get back to you last night.

So, I prioritized my communications, and your Austria was a very low priority on a long list. Why? Well, because I'm England and you're Austria and its 1900. Also, maybe, because all you did was ask me to do xxxx and yyyy to help you, with no hint that there was anything in it for me.

So, get over yourself. I don't think I have an obligation to meet your needs for personal attention. Get a dog.

When I had more time I was active in up to 13 games at once. I only have enough time to effectively play in a couple at the moment. I'm only in one right now. I hold nothing against players who want to play in large amounts of games. If they find they are not doing well in them I'm sure they'll decrease the amount of games they join at once in the future. Everyone finds their own personal equilibrium.

LOL, thats a good point bugger. If someone is in 30 games, they must have enough points to do so, so obviously their style is working pretty well.

Restrictions are always problematic. I don't want to sound too capitalist here, but people should act in their own self interest.

If someone, like DipperDon or Ivo, believes they can handle it, then thats their choice. Personally my gameplay goes down and it makes me less likely to stab allies or make comebacks because i go through the motions. But thats my choice.

I think the current regulation, the points system, which limits players from joining too many games right away and thus getting over their heads without knowing what they are getting into is sufficient.

For the record, I found D.D. to be a good communicator in my games. Although he probably should have given a vague response to the query rather than just ignoring it.

I hope this thread isn't a cover to hide your england/austria superpowered alliance...

Very clever you two.

Darn, you figured it out. But I'll bet most of the others just thought I was stupidly making a permanent enemy with my last post.

Bacquack, I've created a new game. Long turns. I promise to write twice every season if you join. http://www.phpdiplomacy.net/board.php?gameID=9671

And every six hours if we're neighbors.

Every three hours if we're allies.

Every two hours if you agree to a 17-17 draw.

How much for 2nd base?

Something else to consider... if you are in 15 games with 72 hour turns, then there is PLENTY of time to play all 15... what if 3 or 5 of them are gunboat (hence thought, but no press needed)? You have to consider the game types, too...

I would think 15 games of 24 hour turns would be a bit much, but I am in 7 right now and contemplating taking another on, and I used to be a 5 game max person...

If you are eliminated but the game is still going on, I think that still shows up in your list of active games.

no

Actually, I was right. They DO show up in your list of 'Active Games'. But they don't show up in playing. But thanks for your contribution alamothe.

I often keep about 10-15 running. However, some would be variants with a gunboat here or there and some would be with long turn times, and one or two could be with those who just will not respond to communication and with whom I would not willingly play again. So, maybe 7 or 8 games that require significant input.

I am lucky, I get to look in on-line quite often during a day so I can manage the traffic.

i was answering to original post :-)