Could someone fill me in ...

absurddoctor · December 11, 2000, 20:55

On what exactly a diplo game is? I have gotten some of the gist of it from reading the board here, but would like the details.

Mercantile · December 11, 2000, 21:07

diplo games are civ usually on a premade map more for the storytelling than anything else, and done so that all players are around till someone reaches Alpha Centauri. There is war, but its not the traditional build and conquer civ game. Rules such as declaring war one turn before you attack to give the defender the advantage. No one is allowed to wipe someone out and the other civs will crush anyone who tries to. People try to portray themselves in diplomatic styles, ie creating personas and they use their vivid imagination in stories to talk of the other heathens with whom they share space. Very entertaining and i wish to be in one once my work schedual settles down a bit and the holidays are over. I have read the origional diplo games and they were amazing reads.

Someone fill in what i left out

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Do you shovel snow in your birkenstocks?

belinda9 · December 13, 2000, 03:42

thanks, absurd -- I followed you over to the "proper" place to see if I could find out what the deal with the diplo games are, too.

I think I got the concept, but specifics might be nice. For instance, I have played games kind of like that (well, along those conceptual lines)but mostly in hotseat mode so i got the part about it not being the usual hack 'n slash like duel or mp free-for-all. And I have read some of the "journal entries" on the forum here. so, specifically, I'd also like to know is this like where you play for awhile and keep your running notes, which you later post in between gameplay? Play and report? Report as play? is the actual game itself any different? or just your reactions and goals within the game?

I would assume this (and whatever rules like the "i'm attacking you rule")would all be discussed and clarified before an actual game actually got launched.

I wouldn't mind giving it a try as it sounds more like the type of game i enjoy playing, but you know I'd hate to be the worst lame-o newbie in the game, so

maybe a couple of us interested "virgins" could interest someone into easing us along in a trainer game of some kind? If you find one, and want to, let me know, absurd. I'll play the newbie with you, man

Wezil · December 13, 2000, 11:00

Welcome you two.

Mercantile gave a good description of the "Diplo" concept. Although each game has slight rule variations the game host will point these out at the start.

Belinda - Your concept of the game is pretty accurate. I think of it as adding a role playing element to what is traditionally "just" a game. The update posts in the game thread allow you to develop a persona for your civ leader and civ.

There are a couple of new Diplo games being arranged for January. I would recommend dropping in on one of the organising threads to see about being included.

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"These were giants [The ‘Hellfire’ Club]. They had standards - not like these whimpering mashers who keep fouling our headlines today."

Free the D**d Threads!!

cavebear · December 13, 2000, 20:52

The game play follows the normal civ rules and units. The posts about the game are reports of actual game play (as opposed to role-playing, where you make up some action and everyone is expected to accomodate their "version" of the story to the new "action"). The postings are to provide a background and sense of drama (and sometimes of explanation for game-actions) of events that actually transpired in the game.

In most Diplo games, there is a strong sense of World Leaders meeting to discuss needs and intentions (think Yalta or UN security counsel meetings). A Civ may feel it must have additional space or resources and declare an intent to move into a certain geographical area. Reasons are usually given, and other players will discuss it and agree or suggest negative consequences. Border disputes are routinely settled by negotiations and are sometimes settled by complex multi-player trades of anything valuable (cities, units, gold, trade routes, tech, etc).

Since it is all humans playing, virtually anything that people can agree to accept or give can be a basis for settling disputes.

A major part of the idea is that Civs should remain viable to the end of the game. That doesn't mean that all are equal, but it does mean that no one will be eliminated outright. And there can certainly be warfare. But a renegade Civ that makes unapproved war is almost certainly going to see a temporary alliance of all the other Civs (who will cooperate in punishing the offending Civ until the warfare gain is less than the subsequent loss).

Sometimes, real world maps are used to allow for commonly understood "natural borders", sometimes not. However, Vikings in the desert or Aztecs in polar areas can make for difficult reporting.

I hope this added some understanding of the purpose of Diplo games...

belinda9 · December 15, 2000, 01:59

actually, it rather sounds familiar somehow...
but wordier

and one would win the game by ?being the first one to Alpha Centauri?

absurddoctor · December 15, 2000, 04:15

Cavebear is organizing a game (given number of interested people, probably two games) on a thread on this forum, I am hoping to end up playing in one of those, perhaps you should sign up for that as well

<center><table width=80%><tr><td><font color=000080 face="Verdana" size=2><font size="1">quote:
<img src="/images/blue1.gif" width=100% height=1>
</font><font size=1>Originally posted by belinda9 on 12-13-2000 02:42 AM</font>
thanks, absurd -- I followed you over to the "proper" place to see if I could find out what the deal with the diplo games are, too.

I think I got the concept, but specifics might be nice. For instance, I have played games kind of like that (well, along those conceptual lines)but mostly in hotseat mode so i got the part about it not being the usual hack 'n slash like duel or mp free-for-all. And I have read some of the "journal entries" on the forum here. so, specifically, I'd also like to know is this like where you play for awhile and keep your running notes, which you later post in between gameplay? Play and report? Report as play? is the actual game itself any different? or just your reactions and goals within the game?

I would assume this (and whatever rules like the "i'm attacking you rule")would all be discussed and clarified before an actual game actually got launched.

I wouldn't mind giving it a try as it sounds more like the type of game i enjoy playing, but you know I'd hate to be the worst lame-o newbie in the game, so

maybe a couple of us interested "virgins" could interest someone into easing us along in a trainer game of some kind? If you find one, and want to, let me know, absurd. I'll play the newbie with you, man
<img src="/images/blue1.gif" width=100% height=1></font></td></tr></table></center>

absurddoctor · December 15, 2000, 04:17

Thank you for all of the explanations. I did have the basic idea of it right from what I had read, it was nice to get more details. Reading up on some current diplo games has also helped a lot.

AD

The Capo · December 15, 2000, 12:27

I have been in a lot of Diplogames so I can probably help Iron out a few misconceptions people may have.

The first thing is that a Diplogame is not a straight up peace game. War is heavy in Diplogames, and is very strategic, usually in Diplogames one must consider international feelings towards their declaration of war before going into battle.

Diplogames are roleplaying games, but at the same time they aren't. In a diplogame you should try and explain your actions, when you post it isn't so much roleplay as it is an over exaggerated game event. For instance if you bribe an enemy city you could say...

"The Mamaluke Republic has aided Goomba rebels in Little Italy who were being oppressed by the Goomba Fundamentalist regime."

Instead of just saying.

"We bribed the Goomba city of Little Italy."

Thus it gives people a reason to read, and establishes where people are in the process.

The idea is that it is a more realistic version of civ than the Deul, and I think fleshes out what Sid Meier intended his original game to be, a strategy game rather than a straight war game.

I would love to break a few "virgins" in as Belinda has asked, nothing beats a virgin.

Well, maybe someone with a lot of experience, but then again, they could outperform you so who knows....

We are talking about Civ right????

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"We shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender."

-Winston Churchill

"Ceterum censo Carthaginem esse delendam"
"Also I think that Carthage must be destroyed"

-Cato the Elder, Roman Statesmen

One Love.

CapTVK · December 15, 2000, 14:54

<center><table width=80%><tr><td><font color=000080 face="Verdana" size=2><font size="1">quote:
<img src="/images/blue1.gif" width=100% height=1>
</font><font size=1>Originally posted by absurddoctor on 12-15-2000 03:17 AM</font>
Thank you for all of the explanations. I did have the basic idea of it right from what I had read, it was nice to get more details. Reading up on some current diplo games has also helped a lot.

AD
<img src="/images/blue1.gif" width=100% height=1></font></td></tr></table></center>

AD,

It might be useful if you check out some of the classics diplogames. Check out the diplogame FAQ thread on this forum for details. It also includes a link to a complete (one that was finished

) diplogame in PDF format for offline reading.

CapTVK · December 15, 2000, 15:04

It seems my ISP has suddenly cleared all websites on the server, including my PDF files!

And as I lost my originals during a HD crash a month back, I don't have them anymore!

I know some of you downloaded those PDF files. Could anyone send me a copy? Graugeist, Kenthur, SF, Cavebear any hope you can help me out?

<font size=1 face=Arial color=444444>[This message has been edited by CapTVK (edited December 15, 2000).]</font>

belinda9 · December 15, 2000, 23:46

Hey Cap, if I auction off my "virginity" you think I could get a game?
I know there are a couple being organized but some seem to require a certain minimal level of experience and everybody wants to play sunday afternoons.

any couple of you willing to round up a couple of virgins and have a deflowering? i've heard at least three or four the last couple of days comment on a desire to try it for the first time. course, I can only play nights Sun-Wed so I know it's kinda hard to find game then

I have been reading some of the diplo threads for awhile (I think my present favorite is those wacky Neanderthals) so I think I got down some of the "reporting styles". as for the manner of how one plays (i.e., keep juggling everyone off you until you can beat them into space) it sounds very familiar with the way I started playing this game with a couple others here in a hotseat format.

Wezil · December 16, 2000, 01:41

Just remember to be gentle Capo.

------------------
"These were giants [The ‘Hellfire’ Club]. They had standards - not like these whimpering mashers who keep fouling our headlines today."

Free the D**d Threads!!

The Capo · December 16, 2000, 10:26

Alright, here's the deal, I can ONLY play on Wednesday, and that's the day I play my Diplogame.

Belinda you no like da' European Union in UltraDip?

I thought my posts were wicked awesome, ah well.

I can start as early as four pm, but at six we gotta cut it short, anyone else can play. We will play on a small world map so I can show you stuff quicker.

Alright chumps, that's my offer.

------------------
"We shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender."

-Winston Churchill

"Ceterum censo Carthaginem esse delendam"
"Also I think that Carthage must be destroyed"

-Cato the Elder, Roman Statesmen

One Love.