Typically students take worst and TAs take best.

would love to be in one of these educational rounds.

Re JMo's idea: I like it. If the student's wouldn't mind, go ahead and let me know countries that (1) you have not done well with in the past, or (2) you haven't had the chance to play. We'll assign you nations based on that information.

Germany: played one game and won.
France: I have played them a fair amount. Although I would learn something. I think it would be better for me to play someone else.
Austria: This would be a good one for me
Turkey. I have almost no experience playing them at all. The only time I have ever played them. Is when I took over for a losing player just to get beat up and learn a lesson.
Russia: I have never played Russia in my life.
Italy: I'm playing Italy on droidippy right now. So I would prefer to play someone else in SOW. But I would learn alot playing them.
England. Have played a few times. Mixed results.

I feel like I know the western countries better then the east. I really think I should play Russia as I have never played them before.

In order of most to least desirable- I have not had a chance to play: Russia, Turkey or Italy. If those are all gone, then I'd like to play England, France, Germany, Austria.

Through most of my games I have stayed away from Austria So I don't know how to be successful as Austria.
With Turkey I get pinned in too easily.
I've won one game on droidippy as italy but it was a fluke. I didn't know what our how Idid it.
With England I can hold my own but not advance.
Russia is one that I have power but am a target. Half and half as Russia.
Haven't had to much experience as germany but I don't do to bad.
I won a gun boat game as France. France just seems simple to me

I played just couple of games here, and ten gunboat games with Albert AI. I don't think that I play any side better than other at that stage. So I am comfortable with any country.

On reflection, I would actually really like to play Italy, since I never have before, and it's supposed to be one of the harder powers to play. My corrected preferences are:

1) Italy
2) Russia or Turkey - I don't mind. Never played either.
3) England - I've played, but don't really understand how this country works
4) France - ditto
5) Germany or Austria - I've won with these before, but I think I got lucky in the early game.

Thanks. Still waiting on preferences from Enoch, RAZ000, and SpeakertoAliens. Hoping to restart the game at the end of the day so if you guys could hop on here and let me know which nations you have trouble with (or haven't played) that'd be great.

Maybe we should just start. The longer this takes the more likely it will be that we lose people.

I would prefer to play as Austria. They are right in the thick of things and require a lot of "international relations", which I perceive to be my greatest weakness.

I'm with dyager on this.

Please put me down for Russia. I have to most to learn about them.

"Hoping to restart the game at the end of the day..."

I've heard from all but one player. We'll get nations reassigned and will get things started this evening. Keep your shirts on. ;)

The following nation assignments have been made. The game will be altered to reflect the changes soon. In the meantime, feel free to contact your TA's for general beginning advice.

A_Tin_Can - Italy (TA: Mendax)
Scoggle - Turkey (TA: Achillies)
RAZ000 - England (TA: Halt)
Enoch - Austria (TA: Triumvir)
Duckofspades - Russia (TA: Dyager_nh)
SpeakertoAliens - France (TA: Abgemacht)
John Viva - Germany (TA: StacklbergFollower)

Thank you for your patience and best of luck to all players.

Great! Thanks. One final thing- I assume we are only allowed to contact OUR TA? No two-level diplomacy?

Correct! Students should only be speaking with their own TA and TA's should only be speaking with their own students.

Are we allowed to talk smack to the other TAs?

TA's are free to smack talk, but in all seriousness let's not have TA's talking to other TA's about their students. That's the Graduate Assistant coming out in me I suppose but the "Man, my student is going to beat the hell out of your student," or the "Boy, my student is a horse's ass," should be avoided.

In other news, nations have been reassigned. I will re-enable communication now and will reset the phase timer to 2 days. Game on.

I wonder which team has the largest time difference between player and TA? (Once actual diplomacy starts my questions will get far more interesting, promise)

Game has started. Players have been informed on the unpause and should be contacting TA's very soon.

Sorry for missing the prefferences note. Been at work all day (and still am) with my hands full. England works for me though.

Bump