well hell, I'd be honoured to join that game...count me in, if you will. :)

A chance to play with Edi Birsan? Put me on the list.

I ask a lot of questions because that is my nature. I make a lot of suggestions because sometimes I can help and sometimes I can learn.
I like to think about doing things differently because that is the way we make changes to make things better or to understand the method by which things can be made better. It also helps to understand the thinking.
of different people,
What can be learned here that can be shared with the rest of the hobby?
What are the aspects of play here that can be enhanced or contributed to the hobby as a whole? What can the hobby as a whole offer to help you all here?

As for a reasonably happy community, I have no idea about that. Are you happy with games where people do not get orders in? Are you happy with the drop out rate? How do we know what happiness is here?
How many people post in the forum? Is the forum a view into the community or is it a reflection of 15-20 per cent of the more vocal people while the bulk remain simmering in silence on one issue or another?
As for self publicist...and Sicarius...hmmm don't think I have ever been called one of the Scicari (not so bad actually unless you really like Roman Occupation of the Holy Land but it did not work out so well, then again there are no more Romans in the Holy Land)... if you mean egotistical, overbearing, patronizing etc it would be uncharacteristic to not want to improve these things but we can always discuss this off line. Write to me Edi Birsan At Astound dot net.

I think you misunderstood the last bit. Sicarius is one of our better known users.

I am only new hear so please forgive my impertinence. But isn't asking questions and making suggestions a good thing? If the idea's are good we all benefit. But if not, at least we can explore them. Even if I believe something strongly I find it most enlightening to properly consider the opposing arguments.

I think it is the sheer volume of questions

As to the question about how many people post in the forum, I think that 15 to 20 percent would be extremely generous. Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't we have almost (over?) 10000 registered users here? So yes, it is only the most vocal people who post here.

Yes, yes, yes, but will you play a game with some of the very satisfied people who play on here regularly? I for one would enjoy that.

There, can't be more explicit than that can I?

As for Sicarius, not aware it was a 'handle' or nick name . The origin is from the assassins of ancient Roman and the Scarii were a Jewish Secret Society that tried to get the Romans out of Judea. We now return you to your regularly scheduled channel....

And a game?

We do take suggestions on board but we also recognise the hard work that went in to getting this site up and running. There are improvements in the pipeline and changes are regularly discussed.

We also quite often discuss drop-outs, meta-gaming, multi-accounting etc just as we try out variants: some well-known, others probably original...

The best games on here have been very very good as far as I am concerned.

Even face-to-face suffers from many problems that are hard to control: players dropping out at the last minute, layers turning up late (and drunk), players suddenly leaving because of a prior engagement... I have been in games where we waited and waited for someone to appear and, when he did, he deliberately made suicidal moves (as England). Nt funny given the time and trouble we had invested in the game.

Are we happy? Well, some of us play regularly and enjoy the experience, and some of us got together this summer for a face-to-face game in England: we travelled in from Estonia (Riga), Prague, Hong Kong and Stevenage for a game in Brandon UK. That was very enjoyable and a chance to put faces to names.

Regarding discussions and activity on here? It is a general forum and players are under no obligation to post. I have been a Moderator for a major site: sport, politics, religion and music in the main. Amazingly active and hard work to control everything. I have now stepped down from doing this. The phpDip forum we have here is nothing like that and I hope it never becomes like it. We are basically a small community who play Dip and chat a bit.

So, will you play?

I'll join that game. I think people have misconstrued the tone of flashman's post. He wasn't asking Edi to shut up. He was just inviting him to a game to show him how we do here at phpDip.

My own personal experience has been that it's quick to rise above the plague of NMR's in lower games and find others who have also risen above this plague and are eager and willing to pit mind against mind.

Birsan's input is welcome, since it's a take on the site from a very different perspective to most, and the FTF player is one which may be under-represented here so it's worth knowing which differences will turn them off

The last thing we need is schsisms in the the Diplomacy community (not like it was a huge one anyway). But I post on and moderate several forums and I do know the phenomenon where a settled community encounters a new person who likes to question everything. To him the 'settled community' appears like an arrogant clique and to them the newbie appears like a troll. It happens a lot and no-one's special....it's just human nature. I'm glad that Kestas has confirmed Edi's input is welcome... no-one with such a love of Diplomacy should feel unwelcome. The only thing I'd say Edi is that don't expect everyone to change just because you say so and if they are already happy. Think about it at work; does everyone change what they're doing on the day the new employee starts? And does the new employee go around telling all his new colleagues they are doing everything wrong?

Give the process of assimilation some time to work, you old rebel you.

I am happy with the previous comments. I would though, like to play a game with Edi... as I am sure quite a few of us would be.

I would offer to play online with Mr Birsan too. For a man who edits the Dip Pouch, it would be fantastic just for the sheer experience and knowledge.

Incidentally, having narrowly missed out on that f-t-f game due to being injured with a hard red leather projectile, are there any other plans to have a game in the UK, or does anyone know a few people who might play?

I could play at Christmas time... I should be around for a week (with wheels).

i could play depending where!

flashman, as far as I can tell, Edi Birsan is currently involved in another Dip Tournament and a bounch of Gunboat games.

He may want to join a game here, but time refuses him to do so. You don't need to prove anything to him. You are happy playing, that's the point, so discuss how we can help other players have fun as you do is more of value.

Even Edi played some games here, it will not help improve this site much.

Count me in if there's to be an orgainzed game with Edi Bisan!
It would be an honor to our dip community :)

flashman ...shame on You! Riga is not in Estonia :P ...but I realize Estonia is a small country after all :P

There are regularly scheduled Diplomacy Face to Face events all over the world. These would be ideal background drops to organize your face to face gatherings. After all the whole start of the DipCon movement was to provide a place for the then postal players to gather once a year to meet each other and play some games and have a good time with each other. The idea of a tournament never even entered into it for 3-4 years.
For example last month was the World DipCon Champion for this year and it was held in a Castle in Austria and was great fun.
the next World DipCon Championship will be held in Columbus Ohio June 2009. There will be players from all over the world there. That would be a good place to go. If you are interested in it write to me:
EdiBirsan at Astound Dot Net.

as for playing an invitational game here, sure why not, I can get my head kicked in anywhere anytime for the good of the hobby! I will write to Kestas.

If someone wants to set up a game and e-mail the chosen players the password then feel free. Perhaps discuss the length per phase here first though? But you shouldn't need my help, should just be a private game.

Not sure whether Birsan is at an advantage or not in a situation like this, but I expect at least it's a scenario he's used to so he knows what to expect

I would like to see a game with say 3 day deadlines for moves and 1 or 2 for adjustments and the ability to change the deadlines as time goes on to shorter.
I do not want to get involved in who may play or not, that is for the person(s) who sets this up.

Edi you're too complicated :-)

Rait... You did fly from Riga though? I believe that was the cause of my error.

Thanks Edi. I will set up a game, I need e-mails and will send a password when ready.

I cannot change the deadlines though, if t starts as 3 days, it remains as 3 days under the current coding. Perhaps best to make it 2 days from the beginning.

I will wait two days to get a line-up of players and then set the game up. I will call it: Dinner with the Borgias.

I will set up a thread under this name as well. So, if you really want to play with Edi, let me know. I will take account of any names already posted above.

If your e-mail is not in your profile, send it to me.