by the way, thanks you oli! i couldn't have done this without the awesome lab you set up... for my next trick, i expect to invert the supply center'd ness of each land territory... giving a totally different map.

A friend and I were discussing the same triple for a three-way game. We were trying to figure out how to deal with Russia's additional center... Personally I was thinking instead of adding centers to England and Italy, you make StP neutral... but you still have a problem with England physically not being able to build three in the first year if you do that.

@orathaic- that inverted map sounds totally awesome!!!!! can't wait. in the game I just joined of I+E+R, Greece seems to be an italian center. Is this intentional?

http://olidip.net/lab/board.php?gameID=187

The inverted map would kind of suck for Turkey, wouldn't it? Or are you going to redraw country borders so there are fewer players and some neutrals available?

@ Paulsalomon - that's a mistake, fixed in the newer vrison, i thoguht i had cancelled that game...

The inversted map sucks for turkey, but the only neutral supply centers are Albania and North africa - which actually sucks for everyone... though i don't think there are enough units to form any stalemate lines...

the advantage of giving england holland (other than williiam of orange originally coming from holland) is that it helps england overcome his natural weakness, ie being on an island - and with an army there gets right into the thick of the action.

Meanwhile not depriving Russia of his only north sea naval base (ie place to build fleets in the north) you keep the game open enough that all three can attack on land and sea...

It fell only to how to compensate italy, and trieste seemed a natural - though it starts with a fleet, very much restricting immediate advance in the balkans...

Let's play. fire up a new one!

too tired... maybe tomorrow.

alright. PM me about it.

The two 3-player variants from orathaic are now on the live-install on olidip too.

Oh, well the database-server went boom again...
I really need to switch my hosting provider...

thanks! Awesome, i must get around to setting up my own host i'm thinking of restricting it to 2/3 player variants on classic maps.

These Vs games feel like they're not diplomacy, but compared to actual gunboat it plays faster (so they cost less time while being as enjoyable) Also they are tactically interesting because you have an expansion phase and a break-the-stale-mate position phase... in any normal 7 player variant you are likely to be wiped out in early game and not get much out of all the time you put in (talking to the other players at the start) But in 2/3 okayer games you're don't run this risk of being wiped out....

i'm pushing for this as a genre of variants...

I am playing this (I vs E vs R) on olidip right now, just started though so I can't really comment on what I think of it yet