Diplomacy

[GenXopherus]

Well, the Avalon Hill game Axis & Allies was a good game designed for Gametableonline, so I would also like to see another one of my favorite games, Diplomacy (also by Avalon Hill) become an online version. The game itself is not that difficult to play; all you have to do is type your orders and have the computer read it so that it can understand and execute those orders. The only difficulty in order writing would have to be the composition of the order itself. For example there are many ways to write something like "Army in Munich move to Burgundy", but either the user would have to type the order in a certain format or the computer would have to be able to identify the order and execute it properly.

[Timlagor]

You could use an interface very like the one for A&A.

[JayAdan]

Have you guys ever tried any of the other online Diplomacy offerings? What were your thoughts on them?

[GenXopherus]

Where are these offerings located? I know that there is a computer game called Diplomacy, but its pretty bad if you ask me. I figured that since GameTable designed an Axis and Allies version, there would be some calls for a Diplomacy game as well. But yes, please send me the information about these other offerings for Diplomacy, I would like to try them.

[Grudunza]

From http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/483

Online Play

* DipWiki - the online place for all things Diplomacy. Community-driven wiki - information, strategy, discuss, play.
* Play Diplomacy Online - web version the classic Diplomacy board game (with graphics)
* http://www.diplomaticcorp.com (PLAY ONLINE) - A play-by email Diplomacy community - over 30 active human-run games.
* stabbeurfou (PLAY ONLINE) - a bilingual french/english site allowing free games online (regular, negotiations) and the "Diplomacy National World Cup"
* amarriner.com (PBEM)
* http://www.ludomaniac.de/ (PBEM) - a German site for play-by-email Diplomacy.
* http://www.dipbounced.com - online diplomacy community.
* http://www.redscape.com - A play-by-email Diplomacy community.

[JayAdan]

From http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/483

Online Play

* DipWiki - the online place for all things Diplomacy. Community-driven wiki - information, strategy, discuss, play.
* Play Diplomacy Online - web version the classic Diplomacy board game (with graphics)
* http://www.diplomaticcorp.com (PLAY ONLINE) - A play-by email Diplomacy community - over 30 active human-run games.
* stabbeurfou (PLAY ONLINE) - a bilingual french/english site allowing free games online (regular, negotiations) and the "Diplomacy National World Cup"
* amarriner.com (PBEM)
* http://www.ludomaniac.de/ (PBEM) - a German site for play-by-email Diplomacy.
* http://www.dipbounced.com - online diplomacy community.
* http://www.redscape.com - A play-by-email Diplomacy community.

And this is why we've gone back and forth about doing Diplomacy. There's already so much out there. Some of these sites have been doing it for years - and doing it well.

[andrewsvan]

I must point out that a GTO version of Diplomacy would have AI so that newbies like me can practice and learn.

[Drunkenduncan]

An Ai that just plays would be easy to code as the game rules are simple. The main challenge in diplomacy is exactly that: diplomacy, and you couldnt AI that. But for learners theres no need.

I think this is a great idea the only drawback is that diplomacy games take many hours to play

[mortus]

I have never played this game - don't know much about it either. But I'm a big fan of geopolitical simulation. Is this a political game or just another war game?

[JayAdan]

I have never played this game - don't know much about it either. But I'm a big fan of geopolitical simulation. Is this a political game or just another war game?

It's a VERY simple war game with a heavy emphasis on negotiations between players.

Every turn you secretly write down where you want your armies and navies to move. If the space is empty, you move. If it's occupied, you bump back to where you started. If you have support (another army backing you up) then you move into the space and the person who had the space is forced to retreat - or destroyed.

Since you have to frequently enlist in the aid of other countries to take territories you are forced to negotiate deals with the other players - which are not enforceable. In other words, you are free to break any deals that you might make with other players. This is why the game is interesting. What happens on the game board is only a reflection of your negotiation skills.

[Belisarius]

+1

I haven't played since college...would be a welcome change of pace!

[lanctot]

An Ai that just plays would be easy to code as the game rules are simple. The main challenge in diplomacy is exactly that: diplomacy, and you couldnt AI that.

Surprisingly, you can, to some degree. It was hard for me to believe at first but these people: http://www.daide.org.uk/index.xml have formalized a "communication protocol" and some of their bots actually do some level of communicating intentions etc. Of course it is still hard to get perfect communication like you have between two humans, but you can't deny that it's impressive.

[lanctot]

From http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/483

Online Play

* DipWiki - the online place for all things Diplomacy. Community-driven wiki - information, strategy, discuss, play.
* Play Diplomacy Online - web version the classic Diplomacy board game (with graphics)
* http://www.diplomaticcorp.com (PLAY ONLINE) - A play-by email Diplomacy community - over 30 active human-run games.
* stabbeurfou (PLAY ONLINE) - a bilingual french/english site allowing free games online (regular, negotiations) and the "Diplomacy National World Cup"
* amarriner.com (PBEM)
* http://www.ludomaniac.de/ (PBEM) - a German site for play-by-email Diplomacy.
* http://www.dipbounced.com - online diplomacy community.
* http://www.redscape.com - A play-by-email Diplomacy community.

And this is why we've gone back and forth about doing Diplomacy. There's already so much out there. Some of these sites have been doing it for years - and doing it well.

Jay,

These are all play-by-email games. We want a real-time Dip game.

Marc

[mmd1]

i think that diplomacy is much better suited to pbm than 'live' play on the internet. there is often so much to communicate to several other players that the delay between turns would have to be substantial anayway.