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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hi Guys,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Myself and Several friends, friends of friends,
friends of friends etc... have gathered to together and organsied a game of
diplomacy played via email, using specific email address's and based about my
webserver.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The current game just finished but some progressive
screen shots of board action are visiable here : <A
href="http://www.users.on.net/~zoi/dip/currentgamehistory/">http://www.users.on.net/~zoi/dip/currentgamehistory/</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>If your not sure what Diplomacy is then :</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Basically diplomacy is played on a map <A
href="http://www.users.on.net/~zoi/dip/standard.jpg">http://www.users.on.net/~zoi/dip/standard.jpg</A> where
each area on the map has a name <A
href="http://www.users.on.net/~zoi/dip/standardfull.jpg">http://www.users.on.net/~zoi/dip/standardfull.jpg</A> though
these names are generally shortened to simplify ie <A
href="http://www.users.on.net/~zoi/dip/standardshort.jpg">http://www.users.on.net/~zoi/dip/standardshort.jpg</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Looking at the map, each of the seven initial
countries starts with 3 units (except Russia with 4).</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>All nations create orders and submit them to the
GameMaster, who will at the end of the turn finalise movements
and return new positions as an ' all-at-once ' move.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The Aim of the game is to own more than 50% of the
Supply Centre's. A Supply centre is an Area with a Black Dot, like those where
all units Start, and some extra Neutral ones, like Spain and Portugal. <A
href="http://www.users.on.net/~zoi/dip/standard.jpg">http://www.users.on.net/~zoi/dip/standard.jpg</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Taking ownership of a Supply Centre is done by
having a unit there at the end of a year, 2 turns make 1 year, so every other
turn.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Moving to different area's is done by commanding
your units with orders f</FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2>or Example :</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>France has 3 units Initially : PAR (Paris) BRE
(Brest) and MAR (Marsielles) and Frances first turn moves might be
:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>PAR to PIC <- (
Short for: Unit Currently in Paris Moves to Picardy.)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>MAR to SPA</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>BRE to MAO</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><A
href="http://www.users.on.net/~zoi/dip/standard1.jpg">http://www.users.on.net/~zoi/dip/standard1.jpg</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>in short Paris moves to Picardy, Marsielles moves
to Spain, Brest moves to Mid Atlantic Ocean. </FONT><FONT face=Arial
size=2>Assuming no-one challenges any of those moves (they cant challenge these
particular first round moves as no-one is close enough yet) then all
units move. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><A
href="http://www.users.on.net/~zoi/dip/standard2.jpg">http://www.users.on.net/~zoi/dip/standard2.jpg</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Second Round Frances orders might be :</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>PIC to BEL</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>SPA Holds <- ( Short
for: Unit Currently in Spain Holds ).</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>MAO to POR</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><A
href="http://www.users.on.net/~zoi/dip/standard3.jpg">http://www.users.on.net/~zoi/dip/standard3.jpg</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Basically as its the end of the Year, all units
over a Supply Centre take ownership of that centre and since Picardy moves
onto Belguim which is centre, France gains one, Spain holds which then
takes ownership as well, France gains two, and MAO moves to Portugal taking a
third new centre for France.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><A
href="http://www.users.on.net/~zoi/dip/standard4.jpg">http://www.users.on.net/~zoi/dip/standard4.jpg</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Now France Owns 6 supply centre's ; PAR, BRE, MAR,
BEL, SPA and POR, while only holding 3 units France is then able to build 3 new
additional units. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>At the end of every year, all countries balance out
the number of units they own VS the number of Supply Centres they own. Any
country with more Supply Centre's than Units may build additional Units on their
HOME Supply Centre's. Any country with MORE units than Supply Centre's must then
DISBAND the additional units until their country is balanced.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>In this case France has gained 3 additional Supply
Centre's and is therefore able to Build 3 new units in its HOME Supply
Centre's.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><A
href="http://www.users.on.net/~zoi/dip/standard5.jpg">http://www.users.on.net/~zoi/dip/standard5.jpg</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>In this senario France has moved without care for
it borders and without anyone else trying to move to the same end location. for
this example thou you can see how France Manages in two Turns to increase the
number of centre's is owns by 3.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>This however is not always the case, Often other
countries need to be guarded against, and units left forward to protect your
borders.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>It is highly possible that 2 units might try to
move to the same place, if this occurs and neither unit recieves support than as
its 1:1 both units fail and neither unit moves. If however a unit is supported,
then it becomes 2:1 and the supported unit moves in.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>A quick Summary of moves a Unit can
do.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>1) Move : moving from one area to another, (must
border), exceptions include Armies can not move to water areas, boats are only
able to move to water areas, or areas next to water. A special rule exists where
a Fleet in a water area can move to a land area, where that Land area has to
water fronts, an example of this is, The Mid Atlantic Ocean, It borders Spain,
but both above and below Portugal. In this case the Movement of a fleet have
have which 'coast' that it moves to defined. ie, Fleet in MAO moves to Spain
(NorthCoast). Having a Fleet in an area with a Coast then limits where it can
move and support to further.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>2) Hold : A unit does nothing but defends its own
area.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>3) Support : A unit may support another unit to
move or to hold, if the supporting unit could also move to that
area. Fleets can not support inland, Armies can not support out to
sea.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>4) Convoy (limited to Fleets) : A fleet can Convoy
an Army unit from 1 area to another. If Army (X) is on a land area (A) which is
next to Water Area (B), which is next to Land Area (C) and Fleet (Y) is in that
water area (B), then Fleet (Y) can convoy Army (X) from (A) to (C) even though
(A) and (C) are not next to each other. This convoy order can be carried on via
multiple fleets. ie Army (X) moves via Fleet (Y) and then Fleet (Z) from Land
Area (A) to Land Area (D).</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Although I'm not the best at explaining things,
(even though the pictures help tell the story), thats about all there is to
Diplomacy game play wise.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Otherwise the real trick is the ability to be a
good ' diplomat ' and curve possible enemies away from your areas but forming
alliances, lieing to your enemies, and basically trying to talk your way out of
any given situation.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>There's a ton of websites which support the game
and playing the game via email, but first have a good look at my website at <A
href="http://www.mydotnet.net">http://www.mydotnet.net</A> </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>We play using a java application called ' jDip
' (downloadable from my download area, and what I used to create those
screen captures), using this program is optional although very
helpful.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Otherwise heres a few sites I've had a look through
:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><A
href="http://www.diplom.org/">http://www.diplom.org/</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><A
href="http://www.diplomacy-archive.com/">http://www.diplomacy-archive.com/</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><A
href="http://www.juraj.com/diplomacy/email.htm">http://www.juraj.com/diplomacy/email.htm</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><A
href="http://daanz.org.au/">http://daanz.org.au/</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Certainly you'll find alot more using <A
href="http://www.google.com.au">http://www.google.com.au</A> as its a very
popular game worldwide.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>If your interested in joining our discussion group,
I can create an email for you on the mydotnet.net server, which will then
receive emails sent to all group players c/o the <A
href="mailto:players@mydotnet.net">players@mydotnet.net</A> discussion
group.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>We are looking to start the next game (or games) of
Diplomacy around the start of May.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Let me know if your interested at all</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Phil, NodeHPL. (the email server should be the same
one available via my Node sometime
soon).</FONT></DIV></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>