I fear non talkers the most as they are the ones very likely to stab you.

Yeah but they don't say much. No but seriously, I've often wondered if this difference effects some players decisions during a game. Are you more likely to work with someone because their style is the same as yours?

Unless you are playing gunboat, talking is one of the main parts of the game. Therefore anyone who refuses to talk to you cannot be trusted. You must assume that anyone who does not respond to your in-game messages has hostile intentions.

I don't see how anyone could suggest that talking is a "distraction" - it's a fundamental part of the game.

that was so great about the game, is even more interesting when you get mixed messages about the intentions of everyone else..... is a good game and it keeps you thinking about what is going to happend next ....

"herefore anyone who refuses to talk to you cannot be trusted. You must assume that anyone who does not respond to your in-game messages has hostile intentions."

This pretty much. Unless there has been no communication at all, then I really fear non-talkers since they're probably working with someone else to get at me.

It's also been my experience that people who are actively engaged in conversation throughout the game are somewhat less likely to NMR or even CD. If you're not playing Gunboat, and you're still not talking, you're doing it wrong.

It's an extreme example, but I've been in a game where practically no one answered any press. It ended up causing a Central Powers alliance between Germany, Austria, and Italy because they were the only ones actively answering each others' press for the first few turns.

Agreed. Talking is what diplomacy is all about. Negotiations can not be held unless there is some communication and in depth at that...

I tend to attack those who don't talk. It's impossible for me to know what they're intentions are if they don't communicate, so why should I waste my time guessing. Especially if some other player is willing to talk.

Talking can sometimes be an indication of a stab, too. If you've been working well with someone who's quite and they all of a sudden start talking, it could be a bad sign.

I'm super frustrated in one of my games as I am England and France has just been utterly silent. We're going to lose to Turkey and he is just saying NOTHING

Stab him, then.

Yeah I agree. Players who don't communicate deserve to be taken out. I've found that they're usually the ones to get vendinctive and hold a grudge too. This isn't always the case but more often than not I've found.

talk talk talk

I've only played 2 gmes on this site. In one of them, I played Italy, and I originally wanted to ally with Austria. Even though it ended up that Austria, Turkey, and Russia had formed a triple alliance (I guess that is their little strategy for every game), it took them FOR-ever to finish me off. It was terrible.

More importantly, none of them would talk to me. I finally got a word out of Turkey and Russia, but Austria never responded to a single press I sent. It was terribly annoying!

I guess the point is, I learned that people who don't talk (in a normal game) on this site are generally up to no good. In the other game (which I actually won) Germany was my ally, but suddenly stopped talking to me. He decided to not help me into Denmark (I was England) without telling me, so I wasted a turn.

Merely two examples, yes, but I for one will assume that if someone isn't responding to press is against me, and I will focus all of my efforts to go after that person (unless that person is Turkey and I am England..then it'll have to wait).

Think about it, if we were playing this in someone's garage or whatever, and a player was ignoring your press, wouldn't you be looking at his face for signs of treachery?

;)

I've found that every solid alliance is nourished on a steady diet of communication. (Plus if you're going to stab somebody, it's far more effective if you continue to talk to them right up until the move goes through, so as not to tip them off.)

Speaking generally, the number of possible board configurations and moves, while large, is still finite. It's only when you add the infinite possibilities for communication into the mix that the game's potential becomes infinite as well. So it's always a shame when I see a player who doesn't seem to want to explore that.

And continue to talk after the stab as well! Can be even more important...

That's an excellent point Countess Tillian. I've managed to survive and get Draws after being utterly eliminated from early stabs. I'm also now finishing a game where I was stabbed early and jumped on as England. Then AH suddenly took a comanding lead and France,(one of my attackers) whom I had been talking to continuously finally listened to my offer of help. I helped him move on Italy, Ah's ally, and in return I got Tunis and Nap. I then used these to move on Germany by supporting France twice. France became a powere quickly but then reached a wall but I was then able to take out Germany. Now the 3 of us are about even in SC's but France and I are definitely in the position for a 17/17 draw. All because we continued to talk even when it looked as if he was going to kill me. Never give up and never shut up. That's my motto.

I love it when I stab someone and then they don't talk to me when I try to convince them to re-alliance with me.

Really? Why? Please elaborate. I'd love to hear more.

i'm more willing to work withsomeone who writes me a nvoel than a short word or two.

Ditto. The talking is what makes this game great. If I ddin't want to talk I'd play a Risk variant.

Talk is important, but too much text with no content makes me think they're hiding a knife to stab with.

I'm ok with a short word or two, as long as those words are "you can have belgium"

@OMGNSO

"you can have belgium" is a dangerous phrase :) you'll be eliminated by 1904

Talking, like others have said, is the most important part of the game. If someone isn't talking to me, I have a much harder time actualizing them. You got to have the otehr 6 pieces of the puzzle. If they aren't talking to me, i wonder who they ARE talking to...

B-U-M-P

Why are you bumping this? This discussion has run its' course. People who don't talk are either:

a) Out to get you.
b) A crappy player.
c) Being a dick.
or
d) All of the above.

End of thread.

As a "talker" I have toa agree with you Jamiet99uk, this game is all about communication, and quiet people come across as egoistic assholes.

Yup. Either that or they are just piss-poor players.

well, this was an effective thread, it quickly addressed and answered the theme, and came up with a happy consensus. Great Job everybody, and remember communication is key!

I never trust someone which isn't talking.

Unfortunately that is kinda killing me because I've been working long weeks/weekends for the past two weeks and will be for the next two until the National Championship I'm working is finally over.

So everyone thinks I am out to get them because my press suffers. :(

I think Hibiskiss is out to get me, even if I'm not playing in a game w/ him. Just because I'm paranoid does not mean I'm also not schizophrenic, which also doesn't mean I'm delusional, thereby meaning I may not be wrong if I'm correct.

Hibiskiss, play Gunboat

Negotiation is important, at the same time, sometimes I don't feel communication is necissary when there is a. trust, b. obvious non-trust.