So what you're saying is, in the retreat hase, when these units are moving away from one another, they can no longer talk to one another, even if they could at the beginning of the phase?

Yes, I think so. There were some issue's, but it worked quite well.
In my opinion, I think it would be better if there was no issue with things with the coasts, but most of it worked quite well.
We also had a global allowance, 1 message of 200 characters per year or something?

I'm not quite sure what you mean Onar? If there has been a retreat, then surely the unit must retreat to an adjacent province, as it has been forced out by another unit(s). Therefore by implication, they will be in an adjacent province.

I guess if this is not the case, and an army captured a coastal province (e.g. Portugal) and forced a fleet into the MAO, then only the fleet could talk to the army, not the other way around.

We have played several versions of this, and the one with the global press message allowed once a turn from each country of no more than 200 words I think was better.

We crossed in the writing figle. I'm currently playing a version with no global press variant, and it's extremely frustrating indeed. The point about the global message is that everyone can read it, so you have to be careful about what you say in it.

You can use it to co-ordinate an attack on the centre leader, but of course, the leader can read everything you say, and respond!

thanks for the insight cg and fig - i hoped you might chime in b/c i saw both of you have played the variant several times.

but the question was more about the timing of when "touch" is effective - immediately? or at the end of the retreat phase? that's the issue more than the mechanics of what is defined as "touch" which we sorted out before we started the game. does that make sense?

so take cg's case from above, excellent example. if french A gas-spa displaces english F spa [nc], and england and france have not other location of "touch" there are two possible options: F spa-MAO or spa-por. these would have different "touch" implications. if MAO, then england can msg france but not vice versa, and if POR, then they can both speak. that won't be decided until after the retreat phase, so what happens during the retreat phase? and do others who lost "touch" immediately lose ability to communicate, or does it wait until end of retreat phase to take effect?

I believe we have played it that during the retreat phase, the army/fleet is effectively still retreating, so the 'rearguard' could talk to the advance elements of the other army! Or at least it sounds plausible anyway.

Once the unit has completed it's retreat, then the rules come into effect again.

Of course, theoretically, the official rules of Diplomacy state that no negotiation may take place during the retreat phase. However, I have never played that rule on this site, and I think only one player has every brought the issue up. It is too difficult to prevent, and so it's just ignored.

The variant is excellent, actually being one of my favourites, along with UN variant. I always try and keep a variant game going to ensure that there's a little bit of variety.

I hope I've answered your questions chaps?

great. this lady chap has one further question - so other units that altered their "touch" not b/c of retreat would also still fall under "touch" during the retreat phase, or no, in your expert opinion? :D

I think we did it based on what the map looks like at that time. ie, when you enter retreats, if units are bordering they can talk if not they cannot. So, units being dislodged could talk to those dislodging them.
Just to say, I'm not certain of this, my game was quite some time ago, but that's what I remember!