i generally try to finalize to allow things to move along. but i don't stop trying to diplome if it seems like i have a chance at survival! and certainly no one is bound to finalize, it's always optional.

Tantris, yes

If I am already dead, I always graciously bow out. And I hope that others will do the same. This is only if I am already dead. Nobody likes a rotting corpse just hanging around.

Sorry. That was pootercannon who just wrote that.

I agree with FS and djbent... if you have 3 SC's left and are surrounded. Diplome, diplome, diplome... talk, talk, talk... connive, connive, connive... do not finalize (you aren't required to) and try to talk your way out of it.

If you just lost your last 3 SCs and are just retreats and disbands? Be a good sport, tell everyone it was a good game, wish them all luck, and finalize.

I agree... It kinda seems like a dick-ish thing to do. And the longer the phases are the more of a dick-ish thing it is.

FtF-you're a dick and you probably go home
12h-you kinda suck, but maybe you had a busy day
24h-you're probably a sore loser, but its not that bad
48h-you're a dick
72h-you should be shot with a harpoon

I agree that you should do the right thing to finalize and not stall the game just because you are going to be eliminated. But it's also dick-ish to have a winning player *tell* you to finalize like you *have* to finalize.

Three SCs left you are still a contender. Take the time you need. Games have been turned around due to last minute negotiations.
I would say the only time you should probably hurray up and finalize is when you have no options. But if there are options to consider (especially if those options require another players cooperation), then you gotta do what you gotta do, even if that means not finalizing.
I deliberately set the games I create to 72 hours. This is because it is not unusual for me not to be able to either check-in or properly consider my moves, for 48 hours. Lots of people have a life outside of diplomacy. If you want to play a quick game, join a quick game.

I should say that often I can't really participate for 48 hours or more - that is why I'll like 72 hours.

When all I'm left with are default orders to retreat and disband my last unit and negotiation has gotten me nowhere, I try to finalize immediately; however, I never get annoyed if someone else doesn't. We've all agreed to the full time of each round and I'm always happy to wait for the clock to run down.

Even with 1 SC or unit left on the board you are a contender in my book. That said, don't hold up the game either if no one is looking at your proposals. Do your best and go down fighting. If, on the other hand, diplomacy seems to be getting somewhere, take as much time as you need.

That said, never, ever let time expire just to be an ass. Especially if it's your last retreat/placement phase and there's nothing more you can do about it.

Is this democracy? The majority having the authority to force its will on the minority, at any time, in any circumstance? Regardless of the rules, which allow the minority to use his allotted time, or for example not to Pause when all others have?
If that is so, this reminds me about the two wolves and the one lamb who held a democratic vote about what would be on tonoght's dinner menu: Guess what: The democratic majority vote was for lamb chops!
This is what gets democracy a bad name in my book.......
We might as well also string up dissenting jury members in a "hung" jury situation and really make it a "hung" affair.....
What am I saying here? Respect and tolerance for the individual, non-agression at all times, humanism and libertarianism...... This is tho only way to solve all these inter-human tensions.

@Pantalone.

"Respect and tolerance for the individual, non-agression at all times, humanism and libertarianism"

Intentionally delaying one's last unit disband hardly deserves any respect. Yes, democracy is used exactly so that reasonable rules (laws) are agreed upon and the random prick gets punished.

Here, we probably don't need laws for this - but it would certainly be for the better if such behaviour was frowned upon and generally considered unacceptable.

By the way, what minority would that be in this case? :)

Pantalone is refering to a game where he is being chastised for refusing to pause, but is within his rights to do so as he hopes it will cause the player who just stabbed him and left him in a world of hurt to CD.

Note: I said within his rights. It's still a dickish thing to do. Not letting another car merge back in who cut into a turn only lane to run around traffic is within your rights to, but is dickish. That said, we all do it on occassion when that a-hole tries to skip around traffic and I love watching the futtbucker get stuck and LOSE his original place, ending up even farther back. Unless of course the a-hole is me. :-)

On the topic of pauses, I am much more sensitive. This is a game after all, and we all have real lives. I find it incredibly rude and obnoxious when someone doesn't pause when it is asked of them. Plus, where is the fun in winning a game because someone went CD?

You mean, I'm not actually commanding forces in parallel universes some 100+ years ago? I thought real people were dying and ships were being sunk when I crush a fleet and leave it no retreat. Damn! ;-)

Oh Draugnar, it's ok. _You_ are commanding forces in a parallel universe some hundred years ago. Men die, ships sink, children are orphaned and thousands left homeless when you send your forces across the board. For the rest of us it's just a game but for you it's real. That is your curse.
P.S. Two lambs and a wolf had a democratic vote on what was for dinner. It still turned out to be lamb chops.

Oh, good. I thought my window into alternate worlds and times on my lap was just a normal computer. :-P

It is. That's what is so terrifying. Every time you use your imagination you have an effect on an alternate universe. Your computer is just a standard issue (except for the compartment for the flame thrower you ordered from the Department of Defence - I don't think everyone has one of those) but your imagination is unique. I'm not sure you can be stopped

Draugnar, I apologize profusely; I hope I haven't destroyed your suspension of disbelief. I'll never ask you to pause a game we're in : )

No, it's time he realised the power he has. We all need to rally together now to help him through.

LOL Parallel and abgemacht. You truly brought a smile to those worn out face.