I'm not exactly sure of the question. You can retreat to any open spot on the board that wasn't moved to in the phase prior to the retreat phase. So yes, if your supply center was not moved to, and open at the time, a unit forced to retreat can retreat there and if it is the autumn retreat phase, you will lose control of that supply center.

there is NO mention of any retreating phase in the rules... or how they work... this needs to be fixed I've just been routed cause of this... :/

Dude! What game are you playing? I see that you've actually survived a game with 10 centres. How did you manage that if you don't read the rules first???

There's nothing that needs to be fixed, save your ignorance of the rules. If the rules on this site aren't enough, there are tons of sites where you can find the complete pdf. of the rules.

^Hell, this site even links to a full PDF (right?)

There is a link to the complete rulebook in the FAQ (see the help page)

Maybe kestas should consider putting a link to the full rulebook on the Intro to Diplomacy page? Because to be honest, I had no idea that we linked to the full rulebook and I can see how a newcomer might real the Intro page and assume that is all they really needed to know.

I shouldn't have to find the rules else where to. the rules provided dont mention retreating, so how am I supposed to know how it applies?'

hence me asking the question in the first place...

Fair.

I was just surprised by the demand that something be "fixed" before a serious attempt was made at understanding the "workings" of the game. If he intended to say that what needs to be fixed is what you suggest, Tom, then I agree: a link to the full rulebook could be made more readily available to the newcomers.

(The "fair" comment was directed at Tom.)

Good sir Azygous,

You "shouldn't have to find the rules elsewhere"? That implies that something is owed to you when you chose to play on this site. I therefore would like to ask you:
How much did you pay to play here?
What promises were made to you upon registering to play here?

I will readily assume that the answers to these questions are respectively: nothing and none.

So there is no way in which you would be correct in assuming that anything was due to you when you decided to play here. How are you supposed to know the rules? By providing them for yourself.

@Azygous: Calm down. If it screwed you in this game (which I can't believe. The best Diplomats should be able to talk their way back into a position of power!) then just join another. You've learned how the retreats work and are ready to play.

But I do really think the link should be placed on the Intro Page, or something easier to find for the newcomers.

He does have a valid complaint. When you go Help-->Rulebook, it does not meantion retreats as the OP said. For a new player, it's only logical to think that all the rules would be listed in the "Rulebook", and your first instinct would probably never be "FAQ". There should be a link to the full rulebook in that section.

However, the "Rulebook" is essentially the rules of the website, not the game. This should be better distinguished.

I agree with the idea that the full rules should be made more readily available.

I disagree with the idea that Kestas or the site owes anything to the "new players". We all were "new players" once, and if there was something we didn't understand, I want to assume that we either asked the community politely or we figured it out on our own (by reading articles, rulebooks, etc)

what I meant by "fixed" wasnt the game mechanics, but rather the intro explaining rules...

how do I know that an empty but owned country can be retreated into if I'm never told... aside from learning under fire...

I've gone from equal first in supply centers to dead last...

would have been nice to have the information at hand on the site and not have to go else where to find it is all I'm saying.

Like I said:
You've already played a few games and have even made it to 10 centres in your survival. Surely you've paid attention to what was going on during those games, no? Surely this was not your first retreat phase? And surely you've seen units retreat to.... lo and behold: empty spaces!
That a centre would be on that space changes nothing, and that could have been the root of your "misunderstanding". But that you have not understood the principle of a retreat after 2 games on this site (and, again, gaining 10 centres in one game) is baffling.

Diplomacy has its learning curve the same as everything. Fortunately the rules aren't too steep to learn but the diploming may take a lifetime to master. (it's why we love it) Don't worry about your first few games. just re read the rules a few times and you will soon be winning games i'm sure.

+1 Balaran.

I have to say... Looking at that one game of yours where you survived, I find it a touch suspicious...

boys boys....let's just play a live game :)

@ Cachimbo my first game I formed an alliance early on with the guy who won and we cleaned house. second game I wasn't online to play due to a power blackout, this is my third game.

so I haven't come across a situation where retreating has affected me in anyway...

that being said I now know where the full rules are so hopefully there will be no more WTF moments on my behalf (albeit from my lack of knowing about retreating in the first place)

Thank you everyone for the help.

*sits down and memorizes the rulles "cover to cover"*

I would like to see a mention of retreating in the intro somewhere so that newbies dont have this WTF moment like I did and dont rage quit, this is a solid community and I hope to become a very active member of it.

I don't think you were the suspicious player Azygous. I still think that the game is funny looking.

As for the rules: once you get the general idea, the rest quickly falls into place.

Have fun! This is indeed quite the community. Glad to have you on board.

AzygousWolf welcome to webdiplomacy
i really didnt notice it before but the rules say nothing about retreats
i am playing webdiplomacy for almost two years by now and only recently started to gain any points you so dont worry its only virtual points and every time you lose a game you gain experience,at the begining i was asking alot in the forum and players will answer every question you may have,its a very nice and pacient comunity
just remember not to discuss ongoing games

Azygous, the entire rules can't legally be posted by us because this is a boardgame owned by Hasbro so we have a link there to give the owner credit.

Disclaimer: I'm just a player like you. Please don't interpret my explanation as some claim of ownership.

I thought the rulebook was fine as is, I found it right away and it made good sense.

@YJ - As has been pointed out, it doesn't cover some very important topics like retreat restrictions and that a unit attempting to move, even if it isn't successful do to a self bounce, can't be support held. But that is why Hasbro has a 20 or 30 page rulebook.

Yeah the hasbro rulebook is the one I was talking about.

Ah! Gotcha. The OP was complaining that he had to go to a different site for the rule book. He assumed incorrectly that the Intro to WebDip was all the rules there was. Clearly he didn't know this is a boardgame from the 60s.

Hit the nail on the head Draugnar, I found this site by pure chance and it seemed interesting. hence not knowing there were more rules.

join this game and you wont regret it gameID=73423

Well, go through the PDF of the rules and you'll know all there is about the mechanics of the game and can start matysering the strategies and tactics and improving your diplomatic skills to get others to do your dirty work. Welcome to the site, AzygousWolf.