By the way, your user name, not The Zman of Zman Games fame?

Hehe, no I am a different Zman. When I click on new games, nothing shows up. Is this a bug that will be fixed?

I found and joined your game. You sound experienced and that is great news. The game here is a little different from the face-to-face version, but you will soon adapt - no real disadvantage.

The main differences?

We don't get errors creeping into the written orders although you can press the wrong button; and

there is no way to stop people using diplomacy during the retreat/build phase - so that is accepted as normal.

Otherwise, pretty standard. The adjudicator is good.

Welcome Zman. This a great site. There are few bugs associated with the recent upgrade but I think will be fixed soon. This is an awesome diplomacy site. Have fun.

Hi guys, so i joined a game just now, 7 minutes before the signing up deadline ended. There were 4 people signed up. Now it says the game has started, but when I go to My Games, it says I am not in any active games. Also, the games I started (Killers and Killers-Slow) I cant seem to find in the new games section.

I just click on your games. You only have two games going: one by yourself (no-one else has joined - I suspect 12 hours is a bit short), and one with flashman (waiting on others to join). I would love to play that game (flashman is top notch) but 24 hrs is too short for me alas.

where are you finding these games, mate?

I expect the game which only had 4 people signed up failed to initialise, Zman. If a new game fails to get 7 players by the starting deadline, it gets cancelled. (You get your points back, though).

We should all play a game some time. We all have names ending in "man". lol

If you click on your own name, for example as it is listed next to your forum posts, it takes you to your profile where you can see the games you are actually in.

Just click your username in the top right hand corner of the screen.

Instead of creating games you can always join other games by going to "games" and the clicking "new". You can pick up CD positions of abandoned countries as well, but I don't recommend it.

Thanks guys. I now see the games I started. Only one person has joined. Join up! Also, when a game starts, do you get an email alert, or do you have to keep checking this site? And what is the minimum number of players before a game is initiated - 7? I find that some of the best games are with 6 players. We would then give one player both Austria and Italy, as in our experience, these two states, played individually, always get pummelled - unless either one can get Russia as an ally. But generally the smart move for Russia seems to be to team up with Turkey. We call this the unholy alliance of the south (the unholy alliance of the north being England and France).

Ive also seen some games in the finished games where Austria has ended up winning. Would love to follow those games move by move. Ive played at least 60-70 games and havent seen Austria win more than 3-4 times, and thats usually bc Turkey and Russia were played by newbies.

I'm new here too. I wish I were lucky enough to find players around here for FtF games. I personally think this site is top notch. It is nice to play with so many people this passionate about the game. There are some that have issues but for the rest I would jump at the chance to play/meet FtF.

Zman, using the arrows on the bottom of the map you can follow them move by move.

Tail, why not join my new game? (Killers).

I recommend this game for a look through:

http://webdiplomacy.net/board.php?gameID=10541

Im in the slower one. My job makes it difficult sometimes to get on every 12 hours. I can with my phone but currently am having issues on the game screens. The mods have contacted me and giving it attention. Just not sure what the problem is...

Woohoo, my first game just started! I'm France, and just put in my first turn moves. But how do you open negotiations with other countries? Obviously, as a preliminary, need to sort out the EC situation with the wicked witch of the north (England).

click on the country tab above the chat and type away. you have individual countrys and global (press)

Ok thanks. Nobody answered my question about the email alerts. How is one supposed to know when a game has started or when everyone has made their moves?

Also, I presume that others cant see that you are talking to another country online. but this was very useful in the FtF game. If im france, and I see England and Germany talking, Im not happy hehe.

@zman - there are not currently email alerts of any kind, but i know that is a feature people have talked about adding in the future at some point. this entire site is built and maintained by volunteers so changes happen but not quickly. you can always donate to help - look under the "help" section

and no, you cannot tell if other people are talking. but i would in general presume everyone is talking to everyone. if players are good, that's what will be happening anyway, even if they are fighting, they will be talking. plotting their next stab on *you* =P

Hello, im new also. I'm in the same game is Zman. And am also concerned about not knowing by when I have to make my next move. And Zman, yes we should talk about the EC hehe.

Muni, did you send me a message? I know its a bit inappropriate to be discussing an active game like this, but I havent gotten any messages. Where do messages from other players show up?

Yes I did. I sent it to you from your profile. I assume thats where it would show up?

I dont see any links to received messages on my profile page. Help anyone? How do i see recieved messages relating to a specific game?

If you send it from the Profile, it will show up in the page linked to by "home" at the top.

However

Go to the game screen. The grey box above the map is a message box. Click on the tab related to the country you want to talk to, and then use the text box to send messages to them.

Nice Ghost, thanks.

Muni, I just sent a message to the Queen of Engalnd and Empress of India. Did you get it?

Hello Guys. So am in my first game and negotiations are already heated. But heres an exchange on the global thread of that game. Was hoping someone could answer these questions:

I have a newbie question - the checks next to the countries names mean that they have finalized their moves? Once everyone finalizes, do the moves automatically get registered, or does the site wait until "next phase" count-down end?

09:05 PM Hi Muni, Ive been playing for 20 years (tho havent played for 5 years or so as a couldnt find enough people to play FtF). Just started playing online as well, so not sure what the answer to your question is.

09:09 PM Hi Zman. I am also wondering what the circles next to country's names (at the top of the screen) mean. I understand the little letter icon (means that country has messaged you), but not sure what the circle directly to the right of the country's name means. Sorry, this should probably be posted on the forums, but I feel I have a captive audience here hehe.

The game only moves forward if everyone finalizes. If you just one person puts in their orders but doesn't finalize, the game waits until the phase is over to advance. It is generally considered good sport to finalize quickly, but some people don't.

Some people might only be able to check the game once a day or something like that and want to have some control over the time they play. And I can understand that

The dot means that the person is online (but not necessarily looking at that game).

oh and

@ Zman, i just joined your slow killers game. I'm glad i saw this thread, cuz i just finished a game, and I want to join a good one next (during semester i've decided i MUST only play one game at a time). ha.

The green check means they have submitted orders and finalized
The grey check means that they have submitted orders but haven't finalized
The circle next to the country's name let's you know that the person has been actively logged on within the past 15 or so minutes.

If an order is a not finalized it will still be processed as long as the orders were complete ie you have updated all the way and finalize is your only option
The only reason to finalize is the speed the game up and continue to the next move if everyone is ready and finalized
Otherwise the game will wait for the turn duration to end before outputting the orders.

Well crap I'm slow :p

^its okay, i neglected to explain the green and grey check marks, which is important info :)

I believe that the website filters out games that you are already in when looking at the New Games and Open Games tabs. Note that there is a My Games tab as well and that is where you will see games that you have joined, whether in progress or still in the pre-game stage.

As for seeing people talk to each other in face to face and not having that ability with a website version of the game, just assume everyone is talking to everyone. Most experts here say that you should be talking to everyone every phase even if you are clearly at odds with each other. Because who knows, next turn you may be the tightest allies due to other things that have happened on the board.

Is Edi Birsan on vacation or something? I haven't seen him post in awhile. Usually when he sees a new person post and mention fact to face games, he'll provide links and other information about how to find other face to face players.

Also, just so you are aware, if you are in a game that ends and your total points (available + points invested in other games) is less than 100, the system will bring your total back up to 100. So losing a few games is no big deal when starting out.

I would kill for info on how to find FtF players.

Edi has taken leave from all internet diplomacy for a year or two.