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bo_sox48 (5202 DMod(G))
11 Feb 13 UTC
(+1)
Military Benefits
http://www.esquire.com/features/man-who-shot-osama-bin-laden-0313?click=pp

These are the things that bug me... these are the stories that say I have no reason to be a soldier and that I shouldn't enlist because I don't get any respect for it... these are the things that scare me away, not warfare.
68 replies
Open
randylubin (155 D)
11 Feb 13 UTC
Unpause request
We paused our game for a weekend break but now clicking 'unpause' doesn't seem to do anything. Can a mod please unpause?
Game: gameID=109269
2 replies
Open
Mencjusz (300 D)
11 Feb 13 UTC
Books you recomend
Post here books that you recommend reading in the subject of military history or current developments, strategies, negotiations techniques etc. If you wish you may elaborate on the book to make it more interesting.
7 replies
Open
SYnapse (0 DX)
10 Feb 13 UTC
WWII Variant Test game
Testing games being held at "http://lab.vdiplomacy.com/board.php?gameID=28"
2 replies
Open
At-Large Narwhal (135 D)
12 Feb 13 UTC
VDiplomacy
http://vdiplomacy.com/board.php?gameID=12423
0 replies
Open
SYnapse (0 DX)
10 Feb 13 UTC
(+1)
Hypocrisy
Hypocrisy, I think, is one of the worst human traits, because it violates the rules of rhetoric and deceives both the hypocrite and their listener, obstructing reason and acceptance in the way of subversion and blind authority.
50 replies
Open
Yellowjacket (835 D(B))
12 Feb 13 UTC
The atheist experience
Anybody ever watch this? These guys are absolutely brilliant. This is just one of many hilarious clips:

https://mail.google.com/mail/?shva=1#sent/13c64f84f236f8a2
1 reply
Open
orathaic (1009 D(B))
11 Feb 13 UTC
Proposed new Union Jack
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-IMECGFsgP1w/URkSBeZ9_NI/AAAAAAAAA-0/JvXZh77s8i0/s499/uk.bmp
14 replies
Open
NigeeBaby (100 D(G))
10 Feb 13 UTC
Question - how does this work?
Available points: 26875
Points in play: 0
Total points: 55199
I
13 replies
Open
obiwanobiwan (248 D)
11 Feb 13 UTC
Mission To Mars...Fun To Dream About...Make It Happen, You Science-Type People Here!
http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/tech/story/2012/09/12/manned-mars-mission-still-on-track/57767950/1 "If the time line holds, a manned test flight of the Space Launch System and Orion capsule will take place in 2021. If that's successful, an asteroid landing would be feasible by 2025, followed by a landing on Mars sometime in the 2030s." (If YOU could go on that trip, and leave one thing on The Red Planet, there until the last syllable of recorded time, what would it be?)
11 replies
Open
Colonel Saloh Cin (100 D)
11 Feb 13 UTC
Need People
A password world game was started with random people given the password. Only six have signed up and now the game is stuck at the same number of players with 5 days left. The game is "The Red Pill" and the password is matrix. Please join.
1 reply
Open
SYnapse (0 DX)
11 Feb 13 UTC
Cassus Belli Variant
See below
11 replies
Open
2ndWhiteLine (2736 D(B))
11 Feb 13 UTC
(+3)
Replacement Pope
#Thucy2013
12 replies
Open
krellin (80 DX)
11 Feb 13 UTC
(+1)
Russian Gold Buying Binge
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-02-10/putin-turns-black-gold-into-bullion-as-russia-out-buys-world.html

Thoughts? Russia is on a gold buying binge. Thoughts? Are they acknowledging something about the global economy and the potential demise of the US dollar?
3 replies
Open
bo_sox48 (5202 DMod(G))
10 Feb 13 UTC
Uncommon Alliances
A question I've posed many times in the past to specific people but never here... what are some uncommon press alliances that work as well as any juggernaut/WT/etc.? My favorite's the Mediterranean triple but nobody else seems to like it o_O
2ndWhiteLine (2736 D(B))
10 Feb 13 UTC
(+3)
Austria and Japan. Good luck pulling that one off.
Draugnar (0 DX)
10 Feb 13 UTC
FIR. You have to start by tricking England or Germany into joining it, but it isn't wrong before Russia and France have both crushed.
ghug (5068 D(B))
10 Feb 13 UTC
Draug, usually I can comprehend you through the autocorrect, but here I'm a bit lost.

I'm a fan of the FAT myself.
Tasnica (3366 D)
10 Feb 13 UTC
(+2)
Also known as the "Sucks to be Italy" Alliance.
ghug (5068 D(B))
10 Feb 13 UTC
(+1)
That's my general motto when it comes to Diplomacy, so I guess it makes sense that that would be an alliance of choice for me.
Alderian (2425 D(S))
10 Feb 13 UTC
@ghug, he means that FIR are allied, but one of Germany or England is strung along so those two don't pair up, eventually leading to both being crushed. Similarly in the south, Russia and Italy will crush Austria and Turkey but it helps to string one of them along.

My favorite uncommon alliance is E/R. If they can DMZ Scandinavia, it gives those two so much power because they can use those units elsewhere. The first time I did it, it ended up E/R/A but probably should have been E/R/I. The second time it ended up E/R/I but should probably have been E/R/A.
Scmoo472 (1933 D)
10 Feb 13 UTC
Uncommon but powerful? Four come to mind.
IT - A lot of trust needed as Turkey needs to go armies, Italy goes fleets.
TA - Swap of IT, Turkey goes fleets, Austria goes armies.
RAT - So many issues with this one, but Russia goes all fleets in the North, Turkey all fleets in the South, Austria all armies and the push begins.

I think my personal favorite is the Froggernaut. So many things that can go right on this one. Especially if France can convince E/G for a possible WT and that Belgium should go to France so that England can get positioning on St. Petersburg.
My favorite alliance is a very solid - but invisible - alliance between RI. I wouldnt call it uncommon, but it takes good players to milk it properly, so it rarely happens.
ghug (5068 D(B))
10 Feb 13 UTC
(+1)
I dislike all four of Scmoo's, with the possible exception of a Froggeraut if I'm France and one of them is an idiot (suddenly we're stopping Russia's solo and I just *have* to move into a position to help).

I will second support for the ER. I was the R in Alderian's second game, and I would have had a much harder time staying afloat had I not had a steady supply of German centers early. A, I, and T were all pretty awful in that game though, so I don't know how that changed things.

I also like the Wintergreen, but it usually ends with Russia making a play for a solo, so it's only really good if you're Russia.
Scmoo472 (1933 D)
10 Feb 13 UTC
Well in the IT/AT Turkey has the easiest stab ever. His/her natural progression is literally through them. Which is why I mentioned them as uncommon but powerful, because when working well the AT is quite hard to stop unless FG/EF/EG get their act together really quickly, because Austria is quite fast at going from home centers/Russian centers to knocking down Germany's door.

I personally dislike the ER because I always find that Russia has the largest chance of running away with it just because of his positioning and that his armies are on land already, and by having St.P and possibly Sweden he is already across the very common stalemate line, so his next goal is just to get into Italy and work backwards.
ghug (5068 D(B))
10 Feb 13 UTC
It works better when Russia has opposition in the East, I think. Russia runs away with any game where it has means to expand towards Italy and a piece of Scandinavia.
Scmoo472 (1933 D)
10 Feb 13 UTC
True. I would assume that the Russia would work with Italy and Turkey, then turn on Italy, and use his possible builds in Germany to launch himself into Turkey when the time comes. It all depends on diplomacy though.
Alderian (2425 D(S))
10 Feb 13 UTC
Ghug as Russia got the Germany centers because he struggled in the south. In my first E/R alliance, Russia did well in the south, helped kill Austria then stabbing Turkey, so England got the German centers.

In both cases, ultimately England has to take Scandinavia and StPete to ensure Russia doesn't solo.

What is Wintergreen?
Scmoo472 (1933 D)
10 Feb 13 UTC
(+1)
Wintergreen is Russia/Italy, which I don't find that at all uncommon. If it isn't a Juggernaut, normally it is Wintergreen.
Lando Calrissian (100 D(S))
10 Feb 13 UTC
(+1)
ET but people think I am making a joke when I suggest it in game.

ER is good, IT is good, FA is good. RA is the single strongest alliance tactically on the board.

Anything can work well, really, it just takes a good player playing the ally.
bo_sox48 (5202 DMod(G))
10 Feb 13 UTC
The I/T and the A/T both are trust-bent alliances. Without trust, it won't work. Good for metagamers >_>

E/T can be really really good, but it takes solid diplomacy (a juggernaut with the E/G is usually the way I prefer going about it).

Wintergreen can be very effective but hard to pull off because most people don't know what they need to do - i.e Italy starts going west or lepantos and Russia gets preoccupied in the north. If it develops, it is awesome, but it usually doesn't.

F/A can work; never tried it but seen it.

Never seen the F/I/R, likely for the reasons others have pointed out...

My favorite: Med triple - T/I/A. Turkey smokes on Russia, Austria goes up the middle, Italy can - hopefully - convince either Germany or England to assist with France and break that line open. Turkey waits for support into Scandinavia; Italy rolls around and takes England in the long run. Requires good players that know how to break stalemates before they come, but so do many alliances. Also requires a certain amount of trust and patience.
Octavious (2732 D)
10 Feb 13 UTC
Does anyone actually make their moves in spring 01 with any of these alliances in the front of their mind? I have been in several of the alliances mentioned, but pretty much all of them have just sort of happened rather than being nailed down in the open rounds of negotiation.

I may have even gone as far as mentioning them in the early moments, but I don't think I've ever really expected them to come into existance. Hoped for, yes, expected, no.
AviF (726 D)
10 Feb 13 UTC
What would an ET alliance look like? They are so far at the beginning. Is it mostly them ganging up on Russia?
orathaic (1009 D(B))
10 Feb 13 UTC
ET - take out russia, move on to dealing with germany-austria, then hit italy and france.

But you need careful diplomacy across the board to avoid those four later powers ganking you while you're looking at russia, and you can't help each other apart from diplomatically... tough alliance to hold together without a strong third, either italy or france.
bo_sox48 (5202 DMod(G))
10 Feb 13 UTC
@Octavious ... no, I don't. I usually have an intention in mind but I freely change it if something better shows up.
AviF (726 D)
10 Feb 13 UTC
That seems like a very tough alliance. A lepanto would probably mean the end of Turkey so Turkey would have to some how convince Italy to attack Austria. Then England would also have to get France on board which probably wouldn't be as tough as Turkey's job.
Rommeltastic (1208 D(B))
10 Feb 13 UTC
Not unusual, but I like the Key Lepanto opening. Italy enters an army into Triese in 01 only to have it supported into Serbia while doing a lepanto in the south. If Italy can convince Turkey that ROM-APU was because he was ORIGINALLY going to convoy to greece with support, but that it's not needed anymore, the Key Lepanto is only revealed with a flourish in the fall phase, often giving Austria Rumania and Greece with Italy nabbing Serba and Tunis, then Italy can build armies and fleets for France while A F ALB moves to ION to carry out the rest of the Lepanto. Meanwhile, their three armies crush Bulgaria (unless you gut unlucky and R/T agree to let someone into Black sea).
ghug (5068 D(B))
10 Feb 13 UTC
(+1)
Everyone sees through a Key Lepanto. It's just not effective.
Rommeltastic (1208 D(B))
10 Feb 13 UTC
I don't think Key Lepanto first thing when Italy gets an army in Trieste. Do you? It doesn't need to stay secret past spring 01.
StackelbergFollower (1463 D(G))
10 Feb 13 UTC
(+1)
I like France-Austria a lot.

And if I see Ven-Tri, Tri-Alb, and Rome goes somewhere that's not Tyrolia, my first thought is usually a key lepanto, too.
My problem with Lepanto variations is that if you try to use any of them, its completely ineffective because R and T know pretty much every combination in the book.
bo_sox48 (5202 DMod(G))
10 Feb 13 UTC
I haven't been able to successfully pull a lepanto in a long time... they are outdated.
krellin (80 DX)
10 Feb 13 UTC
Uncommon alliances....

Hmmm...

Benjamin Cisco and and Jem Hadar...
philcore (317 D(S))
11 Feb 13 UTC
(+1)
@Draug: " but it isn't wrong before Russia and France have both crushed"

Not cool draug, don't make fun of Asians.
cardcollector (1270 D)
11 Feb 13 UTC
I love AT alliance.

here's a beautiful one still in progress.
definitely needs lots of trust, and it helped that Italy dmr'd a few times, but can be quite successful if the trust is there.
http://webdiplomacy.net/board.php?gameID=109104#gamePanel
Watch out, cardscollector. Discussing ongoing games is strongly discouraged.
cardcollector (1270 D)
11 Feb 13 UTC
sorry. it was just the first thing I thought of. I guess I should delete it if there's an option... :/
bo_sox48 (5202 DMod(G))
11 Feb 13 UTC
Yeah, watch out... those pesky mods will get you... #callingallnigees
Shit happens, amigo.
cardcollector (1270 D)
11 Feb 13 UTC
:(
cardcollector (1270 D)
11 Feb 13 UTC
well I do have a legit question now: what is a lepanto?
orathaic (1009 D(B))
11 Feb 13 UTC
it is any set of moves where italy attacks turkey (instead of attacking austria) it was once a surprise attack as it is less than obvious that italy and turkey are that close on the map... now it is fairly well known
cardcollector (1270 D)
11 Feb 13 UTC
thanks.
orathaic (1009 D(B))
11 Feb 13 UTC
key lepanto is an italian attack on austria which turns into an attack on turke (after the italian army moves through trieste onto serbia in 1901)

it was a surprise attack version of lepanto, and also lacks surprise once everyone knows about it.. very risky for austria.
cteno4 (100 D)
11 Feb 13 UTC
I'd really like to see somebody pull off a reasonable T/F alliance. It'd be difficult to pull off, certainly, for at least a few of these reasons:

1. Italy and Austria would have to be at war with each other.
2. While launching an early siege of Italy, France would have to persuade Germany and England to honor DMZ's in 1901 and 1902 even while leaving herself open to their attacks.
3. Turkey would have to keep Russia from picking up too many Austrian SCs...

But the hardest part of all? Agreeing upon how they'd meet each other at a stalemate line that passes through Italy!
cteno4 (100 D)
11 Feb 13 UTC
Here's a powerful alliance that really should be played more frequently: the Central Triple (G/A/I).
-Italy and Germany take on France in 1901.
-Italy establishes himself as a naval presence in the Atlantic before England can block him from leaving Gibraltar.
-Germany and Austria keep Russia contained: Germany bounces Sweden while Austria establishes himself in Galicia.
-Without the threat of a Italian invasion in 1901, Austria can easily stop Turkey from gaining any Balkan neutrals except Bulgaria.

It requires all three countries to trust one another completely, but IMHO the payoffs are well worth the risk of a stab.
Scmoo472 (1933 D)
11 Feb 13 UTC
gameID=109607

Aside from my betrayal at the end it worked. (France being completely inept helped a lot too.)
Central triple is hard to pull off...it gets found out too quickly, and an E/F- Jugg combo can wipe it easily.

Much more stable is I/G/T. Can easily manipulate other alliances and has a very stable end-game scenario
ghug (5068 D(B))
11 Feb 13 UTC
I've found that the CPA is usually much more stable than an I/G/T. I think it's really the only long term triple consisting of two eastern powers that works at all.
cardcollector (1270 D)
11 Feb 13 UTC
It's more stable, but harder to succeed with since there's an easy crusher alliance to counter it.
philcore (317 D(S))
11 Feb 13 UTC
The creator of the Lepanto used to play here. Edi Birsan. Check it out:
userID=6710


46 replies
redhouse1938 (429 D)
10 Feb 13 UTC
(+1)
Why is the west supporting Muhamed Morsi again?
He's an anti-Semite (no, we're not going to argue the word anti-Semite and I use it in the colloquial sense where it means anti-Jewish) reactionary woman-repressing islamist. He's not our friend. Discuss.
36 replies
Open
redhouse1938 (429 D)
08 Feb 13 UTC
(+2)
Looks like the EU leaders got the message..
Great news, the EU budget is going DOWN! Look at the agricultural budget! Yummie!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21386818
59 replies
Open
Fasces349 (0 DX)
11 Feb 13 UTC
lead paint causes crime
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jan/07/violent-crime-lead-poisoning-british-export

Another factor of socioeconomic theory that is rather interesting.
0 replies
Open
goldfinger0303 (3157 DMod)
03 Jan 13 UTC
(+1)
Masters Interest
This is just a thread to judge if there is enough interest in the community to start another round of the Masters. Note that this tourney does take more than 40 players to start, and will take 6-8 months to complete. I'm gonna try to keep this to top 200 GR, due to complaints about the quality of the last round.
364 replies
Open
jimgov (219 D(B))
10 Feb 13 UTC
Brand new stupid question of the day
I've been looking back on some of my previous games and I see that there are several people who I've played with that have a big red x next to their names. Is it safe to assume that these players were banned for something? Or am I completely wrong on this?
7 replies
Open
orathaic (1009 D(B))
10 Feb 13 UTC
Free market pharma?
see:
1 ) the problem http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPf8vwnoEtU
2) the solution? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qx8FWdMTkrM
discuss
0 replies
Open
Mencjusz (300 D)
09 Feb 13 UTC
Austria issue
I have searched the forum for similar topic, haven't found any. However if the issue was somewhere discussed just delete the thread.

Playing Austria is very difficult in most of the cases. Moreover, players usually tend to play a pattern of "lets kill Austria first." Although you may say it is a natural fate of nations that some are stronger other are weaker, personally I think that in the game Austria should have a more equal chances (...)
30 replies
Open
bo_sox48 (5202 DMod(G))
10 Feb 13 UTC
NCAAM...
... one of the most exciting seasons in recent memory up to this point. The top teams can't stay at the top; the bottom teams come out of nowhere; top-five teams go down like flies; and, oh, by the way, 5 OTs...
0 replies
Open
gnuvag (621 D)
10 Feb 13 UTC
One player needed for Classic game
One player needed for a Classic game with 24-hour phase starting in about eight hours. Six people in the game currently, all friends, all relatively new to the game. Looking for someone with under 20 games played to join and make up the numbers. PM me or reply below and I'll send the password.
http://webdiplomacy.net/board.php?gameID=109951
1 reply
Open
GunsDK (302 D)
10 Feb 13 UTC
LIVE game
Anybody up for a quick live game? Starts in one hour. gameID=110264
0 replies
Open
NigeeBaby (100 D(G))
10 Feb 13 UTC
Raymond Towler - a true inspiration
Asked on radio whether he was angry after being wrongly imprisoned for so many years he said "anger only consumes the vessel that contains it".
If you have forgotten his story see below
1 reply
Open
2ndWhiteLine (2736 D(B))
05 Feb 13 UTC
Gunboat for Idiots
Anybody interested in another idiot's game?
61 replies
Open
yebellz (729 D(G))
06 Feb 13 UTC
Pretty good satire from Reddit
Explain the gay marriage debate like I'm an alien whose race has seven genders

http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeIAmA/comments/17u14o/explain_the_gay_marriage_debate_like_im_an_alien/c88ysj6
32 replies
Open
obiwanobiwan (248 D)
10 Feb 13 UTC
Borderline Movies
List films you're not sure if they land on the happy side of par...or just barely fail...or just hit the line...Mine's "Bladerunner"--I STILL can't tell if that's the best bad movie or worst good movie I've ever seen...it has some of the best stylistic and atmospheric elements of any even partially-action film I've seen...but even with the PDK book's ideas and the VK test...so DULL, and plodding, with a plot heavier on conceptualization than payoff, until the very, very end...I dunno.
73 replies
Open
glomek (0 DX)
10 Feb 13 UTC
1 More Player Needed - 3 hours to go (not a Live game)
0 replies
Open
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