NOTE: The function of this thread isn’t to create polemic. I only want to unburden myself. The mods said that there wasn’t multi-accounting or meta-gaming in that game, and I respect their decision. I can do nothing but accept my defeat... but I must write this!
When
gameID=128610 “To whatever end.” Started on 3 Nov, all was looking like an standard Diplomacy game. I was playing Germany and France opened MAO, Bur, and Bel. A bit threatening, but nothing serious. All was going fine, but in 1902 I knew that a F-E alliance was coming, and I tried a risky gambit in autumn to prevent France penetrate further in my homeland. A tactical mistake, and, in Autumn 1904, my last center, Berlin, fell thanks to a support to France by England.
Then, weird things started. France had 10 centers, England only 6. A huge difference, she only took Denmark from that war. I wasn’t angry about my defeat, and I though that the game was normal. How wrong I was!
In spring 1905, France left Holland and Belgium undefended. England had a fleet in NTH, well, a stab is coming... no. England never attacked him, and France never defended those centers again.
Wait, what? Yes, in an average game of Diplomacy, that border would have a lot of tension, but they ignored that, they simply continued their alliance, without stabbings.
In Spring 1907, France left Kiel and Berlin undefended, an English fleet was sitting in Baltic Sea, what the hell is this shit? Obviously, Austria and I reported the game to the mods. The English fleets in NTH and Baltic have done nothing but hold the whole game, touching four FOUR, undefended centers at once. ENGLAND COULD TAKE BELGIUM AND HOLLAND WITHOUT OPPOSITION FOR 8 PHASES!!!
At the end of 1907, France had 15 centers, England 8. Yes, France was seven centers up, and he hasn’t touched England in the whole game.
The phase that pisses me off the most is Autumn 1908, 7 English units hold, one supported a France army to Rumania. What the fuck is this shit? Then, France had 17 centers, England 9.
France won the game in 1910, they had time to convoy an army from StP to Syria. Was that just fun, or were they trying to humilliate dipplayer2004 (Austria)?
The mods replied to me that they didn’t find something shady in the game, but I can’t avoid being suspicious. Are you saying that England is losing the game deliberately because he doesn’t want to stab his ally? Is he an idiot or something?
In my opinion, this game has been boring, nasty and it didn’t follow Diplomacy’s spirit. Assuming that there wasn’t meta-gaming or multis there: what, you dear friends of the forum think about this? Is ethical to form an alliance and do nothing in the game but help the other to get to the 18 centers while you’re literally doing nothing but supporting, convoying, and holding French units, and hold the units that can be threatening your allie’s position? Is this an insult to those who want to play some good Diplomacy? Would you qualify this game as “fair”? Me neither.