Board 8 > Diplomacy General Discussion Topic - The new era of virtual face-to-face play

(+) Yeah! (+)

This is a topic about the board game Diplomacy.

We've had a couple of these before, but they purged due to lack of interest HOWEVER -- as with everything, quarantine has shaken things up.

What a time to be in the hobby! From the tragedy of the covid-19 pandemic is born a new, game changing evolution. Tournament directors are taking to the Internet to keep their annual events alive. You can participate in live, 10-30 minute round Diplomacy over Discord etc., but from the comfort of your own ho-...er, wherever the hell you wanna be!

The first virtual tournament was Virtual DixieCon, run by David Hood. DixieCon is a tournament held every Memorial Day weekend in Chapel Hill, NC, and as of this year it's the longest continuously running tournament in the world, to my knowledge. That was a couple weeks ago.

Just this weekend was Virtual Boston Massacre, run by Randy something or other. An annual tournament held exactly where you expect it to be.

I've participated in these events and I'm having the time of my life. It's super definitely not for everyone, but if it's for you, you will know right away and you will be hooked!

Up next is Virtual Liberty Cup! Saturday, August 1. Two rounds of Diplomacy.

https://liberty-cup.com/2020-liberty-cup/

I welcome everyone to check this out and get plugged into the community. It truly draws in some amazing people.

The coolest part by far of all this, has been the tremendous effort from Brandon Fogel to set up regular live stream commentary of these events. He brings in a team of 2-3 veterans of the game to analyze the boards (handled via online adjudication engine - backstabbr) as they progress, but without being privy to the negotiations between the players. It makes for some wildly curious and funny moments, trust me.

Check out his new brand/website/thing - Diplomacy Broadcast Network

http://diplobn.com/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj88H0KNyakiUXuN7jSz_EQ

https://www.twitch.tv/diplomacybroadcastnetwork

https://twitter.com/DiploBN

There has never been a better time to join the hobby. Newcomers are flooding in due to the sudden spike in accessibility. The moment you join you can be playing with the likes of former world champions who are tickled to death to see so many new faces. Fantastic stuff!

I'm a little obsessed, as you can see.

Tag

finally finishing round 1 of the Boston Massacre

on pins and needles to see if Russia finishes the solo in your game, Puns

loved how you danced around the Black Sea and managed to stay alive so long

super stoked to start round 2 to see how you and Lea fared there

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also just made a backstabbr account.....lmk if you guys wanna set something up and play!!

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Leanansidhe posted...

Tag

I'm being interviewed on the wrap up show Wednesday sometime between 6 and 8 MST. I need to decide my interview persona now that I'm a ~real pro~. Do I go for the honest "people let me win because I was new" or do I go full heel???

Go with persona 1 but with an undercurrent of being incredibly predatory to where people won't believe you weren't in complete control the whole time.

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There is a friendly game being put together this Saturday, June 27 at 1pm eastern if anyone is interested in that. They're currently between 1-2 boards and looking for some more to round it out.

There's a popular discord server for web diplomacy called The Nexus, and the recent virtual f2f games have caught their attention. So someone from the f2f hobby has reached out to them in an effort to put together a game to give some of them a chance to try out the format. Newbies welcome.

PM me if interested and I'll send the discord link.

Interested

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Plum have you ever played before?

I've no idea how to play, and not sure if I could dedicated that much time to a game, but will definitely keep an eye on it

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S'all good. I just recorded a how to video. Exporting and uploading now.

https://youtu.be/jq2iELRoaq8

ta da

That was really well done! Appreciated!!

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turbopuns3 posted...

https://youtu.be/jq2iELRoaq8

ta da

Oh rad! Have a 14 hour shift today, so will watch it tomorrow. Thanks for the video!

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how much do you insult corrik in that video?

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I'm ready to see this recap show!

Aww yeah bringing Diplomacy back! Let's do it!

I only got a taste of it last time when I filled in for someone.

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We can't play with you Lea it would be unfair to the rest of us.

It'd actually be kinda neat to have a B8 match, feel like it'd be relatively laid back.

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Did y'all play it over the board, or through something else?

Also, puns gonna watch your video today so may come back tonight with questions.

*After spending more than .2 seconds on something, I have deduced that you can quite easily use backstabbr.

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Is the recap actually live or is he just recording and posting it later?

ViolentAbacus posted...

*After spending more than .2 seconds on something, I have deduced that you can quite easily use backstabbr.

I'm in 4 games right now lol it's a super easy to use interface

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I'm sure it's great! I am still hyped despite your suspiciously nefarious humility.

Leanansidhe posted...

4 games?!?!?!

one with 8 hour adjudication, two with 24 hours and one with one week lol

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I imagine Abacus has become a master of tactics at this point.

Oh yeah, re: B8 game, there is the notion of "Speedboat" Diplomacy which is a popular way to play where you still do the voice comms but it's 5 minute deadlines so it's just zany and fun like the dip equivalent of AIM mafia

That would probably be where we should start, imo. Do 5 minute deadlines and play for like 2 hours

Joined another 8 hour game >___>

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I've always wanted to play this game but it seems...
Big

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turbopuns3 posted...

I imagine Abacus has become a master of tactics at this point.

Oh, I have not

Your video answered any questions I really had for now. I'm sure in the game I'll mess some crap up/forget how things may work, but for now I think I have it down. I think I'd really like it after playing a match or two. I really like strategic games, even if I may be bad at them.

turbopuns3 posted...

Oh yeah, re: B8 game, there is the notion of "Speedboat" Diplomacy which is a popular way to play where you still do the voice comms but it's 5 minute deadlines so it's just zany and fun like the dip equivalent of AIM mafia

That would probably be where we should start, imo. Do 5 minute deadlines and play for like 2 hours

That actually sounds really fun, especially for a first match. Would help get the rules down quickly, and won't have to live with my mistakes for as long!

DoubleTangicide posted...

Joined another 8 hour game >___>

Time to make it another!

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Also, this may sound peculiar but Puns has a pleasant voice

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Useful for this diplomacy format, I guess! If I had a dollar for every time in my life that I've heard "You don't sound like you're from Kentucky!"...

turbopuns3 posted...

Useful for this diplomacy format, I guess! If I had a dollar for every time in my life that I've heard "You don't sound like you're from Kentucky!"...

I'm not sure! Country accents seem to be "friendly"

Also, in the last week I now know of two other B8ers who live, or are from, KY and that is two more than I expected.

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]


That's true.

Based on all zero times I've heard your voice

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Yep yep. I grew up in Richmond and went to EKU but I've been in Lexington since 2014.

Even more bizarre about your accent! Always heard it was a lot worse/stronger over that way.

Like I said, I'm close to Louisville in a small ass town called Brandenburg. Lived in Bowling Green for a while when in College. As soon as places are hiring a lot again plan on moving towards Lexington or Bowling Green.

Even more surprising we're like 2 hours apart! Nifty.

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My extended families are from Harlan and Letcher counties and...yeaaaaahhhh...you notice the difference lol

Yeah, that's what I've always heard. All my family is from the one area.

Anyway, I'd definitely be down for a diplomacy game if we can find the people for it!

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Yesss

Can't watch right away