@MM and OT - General rule (MM asked) just don't discuss ongoing games or ask for detailed help in one. You can present questions regarding how a series of orders should play out or should have played out if you think there was a "bug" (not likely as this system has passed all the adjudication tests). But word the question in such a way that it is generic. Instead of saying a specific SC attacks another specific SC, say something using another part of the board or, if possible, using Generic terms like Fleet A1 attacks Army B1 on the (NC) of a territory with Fleet A2 support, but A2 can't move to the (NC). Can it still support? (the answer, by the way, is yes).

And don't ever discuss gunboat games at all. They are gunboat for a reason and getting outside help sort of invalidates the gunboat.

Don't spam the forum with lots of new posts, especially those that aren't related to diplomacy in any way. A few are fine. We have some word games going on right now and political and religious discussions pop up now and again, but don't over do it.

Beyond that, your pretty safe. We aren't always kid friendly. Some of us, myself included, can get passionate about subjects and revert to our 13 year old selfs of 30 years ago (myself included) when we get riled up.

Most importantly, enjoy your time here and welcome to the site!

Stab ya' later!

Draugnar

@Baron Samedi - I didn't mean to exclude you from the welcome. Welcome aboard oh most scary of all 007's adversaries! To an 8 year old, all the voodoo in "Live and Let Die" and the idea that Baron Samedi couldn't be killed is freakin' scary.

@majormitchell - in addition to draugnar's great comments, i would just add that getting stabbed by someone in one game doesn't mean they wouldn't be an excellent ally in another. shoot, sometimes someone who stabs you early in the game becomes a great ally later. then you stab him... =P

of course if across multiple games you play with another player, you start to notice a pattern (that they generally lie, generally are honest, etc) then that's fair enough to keep that in mind. but i would caution you to be careful about assuming that one "double-cross" means that person will always double-cross you. after all, the double-cross is a crucial part of the game.

as for me, anyone can tell you that i'm about as honest as they come ;D

Welcome orange.toaster! I'm new to the site as well. Maybe I'll see you in a game sometime, and that would be grand.

As far as getting stabbed by "blighters," djbent is absolutely correct. I would go on to say that the game of Diplomacy is designed specifically with the art of the backstab in mind. I could go on at length about the how's, why's and when's of a well placed stab, but the point is this: judging a person's reputation based on one game is a poor sample size to determine a pattern. And even then, the variables of timing, inviting attack with poorly defended borders, other alliances, and miscommunication may well influence the most honest of people to inflict a stab.

Everyone gets stabbed. Don't take it personally.

OT: your two wins are in private games with a bunch of players for whom this was a first game, and who haven't been seen since. Friends of yours?
I hope you are able to obtain similar results now that you are sticking to public games.

I guess I may as well mention I'm new too :P

I expect I'll suck for a while.. since the only game of diplomacy I've gotten to play was 2 player.. and when you control half the countries it's just a little different from when you only control 1..

I made a bit of a "throw away remark" about the "blighter" as a small part of a post without going into much detail. please note the good reference i gave to two other players. i will happily do my best to give the "blighter" what i consider to be the appropriate "medicine" in the particular game which is always the best way to deal with these things. Empming should have disclosed that he is a player in the particular game and currently in alliance with the "blighter". In deference to the indicated protocol i would prefer to leave any further discussion on my part until the game is finish'd

"when you control half the countries it's just a little different from when you only control 1."

It was worse for me. I had only managed to play by studying the tactical consequences of the rules by myself, so I actually controlled *all* the countries...

Fair enough MM. Until the game is over....

@Ghost: Sometimes, I play one-player games, just to try out new openings/tactics. Usually get bored around 1903, though.

The Draug queen reverting to a 13 year old when getting riled up...never, i wont have that!

So whats the point of a toaster of oranges when there is many a fine fruit about? Is there a whole range of fruit toasting?

I think that backstabbers must be brutally dealt with and eliminated at all costs. However, a back stab offense cannot carry between games. Does anyone re-ally with a stabber in the same game by common practice?

@ZombieDude
Ahh, but the other fruits lack the irony.

@Plastic
Yeah, they are friends of mine in RL. I think they may try playing public games after class has started. I also hope I can maintain my results in public games, however, none of them have been resolved as of yet.

>Does anyone re-ally with a stabber in the same game by common practice?

Of course. Don't be an armoured duck! (^_^)

@OT
Re-allying with a stabber in the same game is an interesting topic, and my answer to your question would be, "it depends." First of all, you can't very well trust them. So whatever they say to you has to be cast in a shade of doubt. After all, they betrayed someone else, or maybe they betrayed you. In practice, the onus would be on the stabber to regain lost trust and demonstrate good faith. Second, the politics and positioning in the game may well require at least talking with the stabber. You can offer a truce and draw lines in order to make gains elsewhere. Better yet, they may need your help, and you can use the betrayal as leverage for a better deal. Third, you never know the circumstances that prompted the stabbing to begin with. They may have been presented with an offer they couldn't refuse.

In short, I would say that re-allying with a stabber in the same game is tricky, but always worth consideration. Best to keep them outside of kicking distance, all the same.

"First of all, you can't very well trust them."

Yes, this is Diplomacy. :/

I never really got the opportunity to re-ally with a stabber before.
But I know I've presented that opportunity before. :)

OK, BZD et al. Draug queen is carrying it a bit far and getting old. I don't mind the Draugma Queen (or, as I said, I don't wear women's clothes, so maybe it shoul dbe the Draugma KING!), as that has a drama queen connotation, but Draug queen is going a bit far.

I respectfully request that, if you are going to use the nickname, be sure to include the "-ma" on the first part.

Thank You,

Draugma ...er... Draugnar

lol @ draugma. how draugmatic of you =P

i often ally with people who have stabbed me in the same game, or with people i've stabbed. situations change, and you should do your best to take full advantage of them...

Welcome orange toaster!

>Does anyone re-ally with a stabber in the same
>game by common practice?

Yes, if the situation is right. One game I played with Darwyn, that just finished, I was Turkey, and he was Austria. He NMRed on Turn 1, and then we allied. A short while later, he got nervous and stabbed. I took a couple of centres off him however, and we re allied. He proceeded to stab me six times, but, as he put it, he was "stabbing with tooth picks". It suited me to be super-patient and trustworthy, not so much because it gained me an ally, as it kept him from attacking me with any resolve (he would attack me 1 turn, withdraw the next etc.) I went on to get a 2-way.

It is particularly worth doing with good players. You already know that they have a tendency to stab at certain points, but not erratically, so when you're stabbed, that doesn't tell you anything about them, so you should be just as willing to trust them as before.

I'd agree with TGM - I played in the original SoW on facebook, and ended up in a strong alliance (and part of a draw) with a player I had stabbed on turn 1! It does require players with a similar outlook on the game to work though, and it's not going to work for everyone

I think you need to keep a cool head and try to think objectively in Diplomacy. By all means factor in the temperament of the other players, but I would say allying with someone who has stabbed you, depending on the current situation, could be the best option. So I would never rule it out.