Thanks to all for waiting. I have joined - and am apparently not the last. Good luck all and I look forward to the coming challenge.

@babak
"manage to provide great strategic insights about the game... insights that even the most experienced of us on this site currently lack when it comes to the World Map.

what interests me is in fact seeing what other GOOD players who are NOT in the game have to say about how the game is developing and what options might exist when I myself have in-game blinders on about those strategic points."
That's pretty much my argument in a nut shell, have your own insight. I'll play it your way if that's what you want.

@Ivo
"Stating "I'm out if..." is a bit too much - surely you realize someone can say "I'm out if not..." - and then what???"
I said that it was hardly a threat,since there are at least 3 other players who can quickly fill my spot, it's not lack my absence would slow down the game, but for that yours is the first ass I kick! :P

On a side note anyone know who hasn't joined?

You won't know who I am :P

alright... i'm going to make another executive decision.

we've heard 3-4 comments in favor of the idea, and one in opposition. but i am hopeful that even Serioussham has bent a bit on his point ("I'll play it your way if that's what you want.") and I'm looking forward to hearing his take after the game...

SH - if you are still drastically opposed to the idea, you have time to pull out, and we can include one of our 'subs'. that said - I really do hope you stick it out and give this a try, would love to see if your opinion has changed after experienceing a commented thread.

I will advertise for commentators.

He has to stay - promised to kick my ass :)

So, I see we just need 1 more :)

Hmmm, who is the odd man out?

Burn him I say, remove him first!

On a side note, I have revised my assessments of countries. I still think that China is a bad draw but South Africa in gunboat is appalling: the split centres mean that even after early builds you cannot have enough in either site to survive a direct assault. Just no way to resist a committed attack...

The lesson? Don't play gunboat on the world map. Russian Roulette for the country assignment...

I agree SA is a nightmare, Gunboat or not, but then I've only played 2 World games (1 as SA unfortunately!)

As for commentary; as a graduate of School of War, I must say, the commentary really enhanced the experience, and I think since this will be anonymous, then I don't think it can do much harm. My experience is it is very enlightening and sometimes very amusing, as the commentators have no idea of the underlying diplomacy afoot, and on a world map, in my very limited experience, I think long term alliance count for a lot more than the standard map, as it's a longer term game with more enemies on every side!

I'm all for it.

So who hasn't joined yet?

Well, I have no problems with commentary, even if they show my very poor play on this map.

Commentary is a bad idea unless the players cannot read it. The possibility exists of introducing an idea, like a potential stalemate position, that someone playing in the game mat not have considered. Then afterwards will come the accusations. You wouldn't have done that if xxx hadn't mentioned it. Sure I would, the move was obvious. Etc, etc.

Oh, yes, we should definitely have commentary hidden somewhere - so that noone can read it. That is clearly the best solution :)

I'm interested if players read strategy articles, take advice from their peers, etc etc... Sure, the commentary may disadvantage you, but it may also give you an advantage. As Babak said, it is often not informed as to the diplomacy and any given advise can often be ill advised in light of secret dealings and alliances. It can also be used by the cunning diplomat in their favour!

In the case of stalemate lines; if it gets to that point, perhaps players should find them for themselves. Even if someone does point out a stalemate line, so what? Aren't we all happy to know where they are? Do we all presume to know so much that we can't learn from a bit of commentary? After all, it is a new map and how many good players on this site have much experience on it. We may all learn something.

Having said all that, Babak still hasn't found commentators so it may not happen at all. It would be a tough job in a long game!

If there is objection, I'm not fussed. I just think it would add another element. But having been through SoW I know it would be a big role to take on for any member of this site! Commenting on the World Map! 17 players initially! Whew!

Now where's that last player?

"Loud scream!"

Come in Number 17, your time is up...

Would live commentary be allowed for a Chess match?

I am ambivalent on this one. I can see the concern that a player might adopt new tactics simply because of what he reads about the game from someone outside the game. Then again, it is probably fun to watch a commentator completely miss the bus.

Right now, the only commentary that seems applicable is,

"Where is our missing player?" We were waiting for Napoleon and he has already joined. So, who is the procrastinator?

Based on the posts in this thread confirming joining - I think the missing player is one of Braveheart, Dunecat or ZaZa.

The deadline has passed for the original 17 to joins so lets please open it up to subs and others. Lets get this game going right now before the weekend!

Does someone want to PM the three of them to get confirmation? Or, as Crazy says - let's open up to the next in line.

I should be perty near close to next.

I have e-mailed Braveheart as I actually know him... I suspect it could be him who is missing as he does a lot of travelling and might have missed the messages telling him to log on to the game.

Braveheart has joined! He reckons he was Number 15.

So, Dunecat or ZaZa.

My money is on Dunecat as ZaZa has been posting in the Forum recently (I seem to recall) and should have had his eyes on this thread too.

As far as I can tell, the deadline has passed for the original 17 to join (and it's been a week or so I think since the game was created!) so I believe Amon Savag gets next preference.

I'll send you the link and password Amon Savag.

Hope that's ok with everyone. I'm going on Babak's post for the Tuesday deadline, and we want to get this game going before it cancels itself!

(Except I totally forget the password! Can someone in this game send Amon Savag the link and password? It dropped of my message list!)

Don't worry, I worked out how to get my old messages :P

And it begins again. Good luck all.

good luck all.

I dont think we'll get the commentators, so probably no analysis ;(

if we do... thats even better ;)