how about lots of small posts instead of a large one

that way it comes across as more of a conversation than you just talking to the person

You get complaints? I love lots of talking. When I write lots I never get complaints.

Is coherency the problem? I often break up my points into short paragraphs (or even single lines) to convey distinct ideas. It makes for easier reading I think. This message is an example of this btw.

"sorry - no time or interest in reading your novella - can i have a summary please?"

And in general I think it intimidates or turns people off. I make sure to make it as coherent as possible, but people just do not like to scroll here!

Some people just don't like to talk. They suck all the fun from a game for me. Even in a league I'm playing with 2 players that say almost nothing. I hate that. How can you play diplomacy if you won't talk?!

Can you explain to me what is a lepanto move ? several people have mentioned to me in some game messages and I start to feel like I'm stupid .

The lepanto is an Italian/Austrian opening in which they convoy an italian army onto Turkish land.

http://www.diplomacy-archive.com/resources/strategy/articles/lepanto.htm

To be honest, if you expect your long posts to be read thoroughly on this forum you are sadly mistaken. However, in game? I read everything super thoroughly. Why wouldn't you. If someone doesn't have time to even read your words I would attack them out of frustration. How disrespectful and undiplomatic.

Now if you are talking about your gf dumping you and how you are getting a cat, that might induce rage from me as well.

I hardly ever talk about anything but the game, I just find all these short and trite messages as annoying, but those players find my messages annoying.

As a reference, I average about 200 to 300 words per message.

Is there a reason you feel the need to waffle on at all?
Can u not be succinct?

My messages are always on point, there's just a lot to talk about!

You will find that when you get into higher level games talking more is a virtue, not a vice.

I'd rather a long drawn out message from an ally than one that says something like "True." True what!? True, you agree and will do it? Or true that it could work, but you don't want to tell me you are going to screw me over if I try? Go ahead and use the long messages with me Geofram. I'll read every word and analyze it to death. <grin>

Indeed.

What i like is talking in a 5 minute game
Some people don't say a word but others end having the phase change mid conversation. it can lead to some interesting things

I write long messages if the other person writes long messages.
I write brief messages if the other person writes brief messages.

Same reason you listen to a woman and then repeat back her interests later in conversation to make a "connection".

Geo, when you write 200-300 word messages, are they broken up into paragraphs? If it is one big block of text it can feel daunting and even make it hard to follow. Otherwise I have to agree with the others, more words is better than less as long as it is all on point.

I tend to write long messages when working with someone talking about we could do this set of moves, but they could do that so it might be better if we do this other thing.

And I also send that sort of message when trying to get someone to see things my way.

I also tend to write long messages, people at the beginning answer but as the game progresses and I get into their sphere they tend to respond less.
I tend to attack unresponsive people :P

Keep in mind the purpose of these messages: to get someone to do what you want.

If your messages are so long that people aren't reading them, then they aren't doing their job. You need to fit the message to the person, not the other way around.

C-K maybe they just dont want too talk to you. Or maybe they are talking to the others.

Yeah. I recommend playing with better people. Most good people don't mind reading the diplomacy. And that comment doesn't sound like the comment of a good player - even if he thought that, a good player wouldn't be that blunt. (Sadly, I often am that blunt, but I'm not the best player around.)

But it's possible to be too long winded if you keep saying the same thing over and over again.

@geofram - Continue the good work, it isn't you I'm sure.

Hibiskiss.... lmao

"sorry - no time or interest in reading your novella - can i have a summary please?"

Maybe INTEREST and not TIME is the keyword here? :)

Guess your relations with the other party were not that great at the time?

P.S. This sounds, and is written, the way I would have done it. But I'm positive this wasn't me, right? I always like it when there's incoming communication.

lol, I like how you think it might have been you Ivo

uncommunicative retards seem to be a big problem here

NEVER had a message that was too long; OFTEN had ones not long enough, or no messages at all

pretty boring site, really

So let me get this straight. Length matters?

Sorry, that was completely inappropriate and I was ashamed the second I sent it. I am currently hitting my head with a small wooden board while doing Gregorian Chants as penance. That will never happen again. Long day...I mean stressful day and as such I'm feeling a bit slap-happy. Hopefully this will not carry into any of my current games so as not to offend allies or foes. Thank you for your patience and understanding. Sincerely, Lan.

SHHHH SHORTER POSTS PLEASE SOME OF US ARE ILLITERATE

Damn, more penance then. Sorry.

I CAN'T READ WHAT YOU WROTE IS IT HUMOROUS

I can only assume that was sarcasm Lan, as that message sounded nothing like you, and you're not currently in any games with him, unless they're anon...

@Acosmist - "pretty boring site, really" What does that mean? I find this site very entertaining, especially the once a month decent conversation that sparks. Just not the once every other day I want to try to be that conversation threads :P

lul

well-played, Corleone

@ rlumley - yeah, I was trying to be punny, and my humour took a very juvenile turn:)

Haha I thought it was funny Lan

I have found playing fewer games may be in my best interest. I have limited time on some days and too much on others. It gets depressing when I have lots of time and I get little communication.
Longer phases help too. I prefer some longer messages at times. I have seen too that I do not always get responses. It is hard when frustration from one game rolls over to another.
I doubt I am the only one that has this phenomenon happen to them.

@GeoFram - could you try posting one of your actual 200-300 word in-game messages, from a finished game, and perhaps I (and others) could suggest how you could have written it in a tighter, more concise form, using fewer words?

I just have one tiny recommendation so that I can pass a little advice, which will perhaps provide some iota of wisdom regarding the matter which you have brought to mind on this forum where people can bring up topics that they would like to discuss. I wouldn't beat around the bush when communicating thoughts or ideas regarding things that are occurring in various games that you play, no matter what season it is in the aforementioned games, such as spring, autumn or even builds and retreats which should comprise most of the various phases of Diplomacy, the game that we are currently discussing on this place where discussions occur. It is best to use as few words as possible, similar to what J99uk mentioned in a previous post on this very same thread, in a manner that should not have caused offense, that is not to say offense was taken, just saying, that is all. The last thing you would want to do is be redundant, or repeat yourself over and over again where it becomes repetitively deja vu-like. The only thing worse would be to take forever to get to the point or carry on all willy-nilly without really saying anything. That could be viewed as annoying to those whose perceptions cause them to not look at it in a positive, kind or jocular manner if they see it otherwise - not that they would, but you never know unless they tell you, which could be a lie since people have a tendency to be deceptive, in a nice way of course, when actually playing this game - Diplomacy, which has multiple phases each year. That being said, I wish you the best of luck as you play future games, and I hope to see you in a game sometime down the road, later where we can diplome again - the light willing - in a manner that we both find hunky-dory sometime in the future, or at least later than now. What the hell was the question again??

Lan +1 I can't even get through the message, I am laughing too much AND bored at the same time!

LOL...
I am not exactly sure where to go with that one...

I usually write long messages just to not get any response or a one word response

I'll respond, I promise.

I hereby vow that I will use only 1-2 word responses in a future, non-league game. In that very same game, I will also make no attempt at humor on the global tab, nor say anything silly for the entire game to any other country. Perhaps I'll do it over lent, albeit I don't actually practice lent, but it sounds like the right time to do it. I cannot imagine how painful this game will be, and I'll probably get killed very rapidly, but I'm still going to give it a shot. So if someone sends me a two paragraph message, I will simply reply - yes, no, maybe, sounds good, nice job, ok, what?, really, that's possible, or some other very descriptive message of similar ilk.

really? that's possible...

That is possible*

Fail.

You have to underline it to fail

No, hellalt, you have to put a slash before it, like this:

/fail.

/fail.

(the second fail was for you)