Yes, sorry. I'm talking about Anonymous gunboat games. Must get up to date with the terminology. lol.

Well than yes. There are signals. Supporting certain countries moves or supporting holds are signs that you should always look at.

Either view the orders or view the big map to see exactly which supports where tried but failed.

To avoid this kind of situation, I don't even play gunboat to begin with. Waayyy to cheat-sensitive if you ask me.

Ow wait, you're talking about gunboat communication, not meta-gaming. My apologies. *bows, walks away backward never turns his back on the guests, exits room*

Yes, I'm talking gunboat. I'm watching a situation arise that seemed odd to me, but I'm realizing that there may be signals like Riphen said. I wondered why someone held my unit before I blasted them to oblivion. lol.

They where probably hoping that you would be kind to them in some way.

In a gunboat game, every order you make sends a signal. If I'm (for example) Italy and I order Ven - Tri, that sends a signal to the entire board that I want Trieste. It's probably going to be taken as unfriendly by Austria, and friendly by France, for example.

You get to do something similar with a unit you're not planning on using. As Austria, what message do you get from Ven S Tri? Probably that Italy intends to keep a unit in Venice, but that he does not want to fight you, and is hoping you will similarly choose not to fight him. Also, that he's okay with your keeping a unit in Trieste.

Similarly, as Austria, I might want Turkey to move Bul - Rum to help me against Russia. How can I ask him to do that? One way is to order a support for Bul - Rum, with the implication that you'll make the same offer next turn. As Turkey, if I see you order Ser S Bul - Rum, I'll probably believe that the support is available should I want it, and plan accordingly.

I've seen dodgy folk press DRAW in, like, 1901 or 1902.

Wow, had to open this cause I was like "Dude, anonymous doesn't mean you can't talk to the person!" but then saw he meant anonymous gunboat. Whew.

As far as the OT, you can do simple things like support hold a unit that clearly indicates you want to be friendly, or support another player against a third, even if he doesn't use it which is a good indicator you want to work with him or he with you. These are pretty much intuitive. No "secret code", but logic. Why would he offer you support if he didn't want to work with you? Well, he could be lying, but then that could be in full press too. Just look at *every* move to see who is offering what to whom, who built anti or pro for or against whom, etc. You *must* look at it all.

Gunboat is the one place where anon is almost a requirement. Otherwise there is too much risk of breaking the press rules.

I thank you for your comments. I think a light bulb has come on for me.