Jamiet -

Much like any site, take the reputation with a large grain of salt. There are some great players here and some occasional high quality games. That said, much like on webdip, there are a whole slew of low quality players here too. It appears you've already met some of them. The best way to find those games you're looking for is recruiting the exact people you'd like to play against. It's worked for me in the past.

Agree with drano. Just like here, and maybe even more-so than here, there are a bunch of irresponsible kids in random games on vdip so any good games need to be based on reliability rating and/or organized through the forum.

My theory is that variants attract two types of players: those who get bored of classic and those who aren't good at classic. Neither are fun to play with because variants get boring quickly as well, especially if you don't draw the inevitable one or two powers that only ever win in variants.

Play some games over there with the current/old webDippers that know you to get a decent reputation and then the high-level players that play exclusively over there will get to know you too.

I play almost exclusively WWIV games over there. They are a lot of fun.

2WL -

I would have to disagree with your assessment. How you can claim that just because a player is "bored" with classic they aren't fun to play with is beyond me. There's a handful of us over there (that I know of) who play pretty much exclusively on variants, and while yes, a lot of those variants are unbalanced, we would all agree that the variety is indeed to spice of life. In high quality games, even the unbalanced maps that appear to favor 1 or 2 powers are much more balanced. It's when you're playing with low-quality players that those maps are not fun at all.

I also have to say, that when you join a new site, you have to build that reputation.

Like here, most great players won't simply join a game with you because you say you're an experienced player. You have to show them by proving yourself.

I also agree with the others that many of the players on vdip are simply looking to play variants. When I made my statistics of diplomacy, I looked at vdip's sample games as well to broaden my sample size. The number of qualified classic games that were there was so small, it wasn't worth using.

By the way, the game that ended in a 6-way draw after an early NMR was a game consisting of old and current WebDippers including goldfinger, Draugnar and Putin. It was Putin's NMR that caused a lot of moaning and then a draw because Draugnar refused to cancel.

lol

So it's not vdip at all but all the tired old webdip transplants that screwed you up.

@2nd: if you nmr in a variant, yeah, then it is boring ;)

Or abuse wait-for-orders for three months straight.

^^^ Thank you bo.

2WL, enter your damn moves already.

And yeah, sorry about that Jamiet. Everyone other than Putin was doing well in that game. I honestly don't think he ever sent any press for that game. I'm gonna start up a new one with someone more reliable.

There is a core group of really good players over there. Jamie, I think you should continue to give it a try if variants interest you. Feel free to let me know and I can help you find some of the better opponents to set you up with.

"I can help you find some of the better opponents"

That includes me, right?

lol, yes.

but alot of people over there don't bother with the forum at all.

actually, the forum there is pretty indicative of who alot of the good players are.

And who the current/former webDippers are.

I forgot about the game. Oops.

Sorry goldie, that game is for current mods and admins only.

Zultar is the only one you have to replace me, and we all know he won't dare play a game against quality opponents.

Hey 2WL, you gonna enter orders buddy? We kinda want to move on so that Italy can invade St. Petersburg already.

Holy shit he actually did it while I was typing lalalalala it's a beautiful day everyone!@

I think it's at least once a month that somebody has to mention how I am too cowardly to play Diplomacy anymore. :)

I think we should start a betting pool as to when this "zultar" character will play again.

Bo, it is clear that the British navy beat you to St. Petersburg. You can lend a support if you want though :)

And zultar, instead of betting, why not just join a game now?

I can still defend it. You aren't looking at the entire map, are you goldie?

Its my first ever Ankara Crescent, so give me a break :p

I'll just be mulling over my moves for the next three months.

When the liveliest thread on this forum becomes a discussion on vDip variants, you know this is the place to be, groovy, fab, cool
Can't we have more amusing anecdotes about our children, they are sooooo cute, I fear without them cutesy wutesy little stories the vDip gang may launch a takeover of WebDip ... the fight back starts here.
My little 6-year-old daughter has her hair in pigtails and she is so sweet, the other day she farted and it smelt like freshly cut flowers, she dreams of candy floss and cup cakes and puppy dogs.

I think three months may officially be a record.