Thoughts of a Depressive Diplomatist

I've been asked to give my views about the PBB Diplomacy game and explain some of the reasons behind Italy's moves.  Here goes...


This was my first experience with Diplomacy and I wasn't sure what to expect - what I got was rip-roaring fun!  That I’m sure was down to the spirit in which it was played, so I’d like to publically thank my opponents.  The greatest thanks go to Michael, for facilitating the whole thing and for his brilliant innovation, The Daily Dissembler.

So what went on behind the scenes?  The PBB mechanics worked well.  I received probably a dozen e-mails a week from my fellows (all blind via the Padre).  It was great fun deciding who to believe or not (I early decided almost that almost anything received from England or Russia was a lie!) and what was on the other side of the hill.  I dabbled a little in playing one power off another, but I think my opponents were too experienced to fall for that.


Despite what General Blatt might have thought,  I was never a member of any Grand Alliances.   Apart from taking part in the early land-grab for Austro-Hungary (gone before we got to know him!) everything I did was responsive to the actions of those around me.  That move on Hungary was, as far as I know, entirely un-co-ordinated – does Austria always suffer from having too many shared borders?  More experienced hands will say.

Early on in the game, I made a public alliance with France, promising him an uncontested move in the Iberian Peninsula if he withdrew from Piedmont.  I soon regretted that, feeling penned in in Italy (a more intelligent use of convoys would have prevented the Alpine bottleneck I suffered from).  My other alliance (more of an agreement) was a non-belligerence pact with Turkey, dividing the Balkans between us.  That was my downfall – I allowed Turkey to build up forces which could have no other purpose than attacking my territory.  In truth, I was charmed into complacency by Turkey’s private messages (a blessing on all his camels!).

There were two other things that I did wrong, both down to inexperience.  First, I was slow in taking Tunis.  Secondly, after capturing Vienna in Spring ’03, I pushed on to Budapest in the Fall.  Because I hadn't garrisoned Vienna I lost the Build that I would have otherwise gained: this, and having to double back onto Vienna. broke my momentum.  ‘What if’ that hadn’t happened?   I might have pushed on into Germany; the Kaiser wouldn't have made his Mad Teutonic Dash and Russia mightn't have fallen so soon – but then I would have been even more exposed to Turkey’s attack and might have bumped heads with England’s intentions.

Magnificent...

Several people have asked why when it came to it, I opened two fronts, attacking both Turkey and France.  The answer was that I was getting my retaliation in first.   The attack on Turkey was pre-emptive (in the event we both made our moves at the same time).  The one on France had two purposes: I didn’t like the positioning of his fleet and feared a strike on Tunis (he protested that it was due to Turkey’s build-up and declined to withdraw them); secondly, Marseilles was low-hanging fruit and fearing losses to Turkey I needed the Supply Centre.  In the event I seem to have caught France completely off-guard with this betrayal – I now suspect he had no offensive attitude to me at all.

Fall 04 - things get busy

The loss of Naples was a big blow.  I’d lost a Home Supply Centre and was obliged to maintain a defensive presence in Rome.  That meant that even if I did gain new territories (unlikely as I was on the defensive), I could only Build in Venice.  I’d peaked.  The withdrawal of my fleet from Tunis in our last move was an attempt to recapture Naples. I was also offering Turkey a truce if he turned his attentions elsewhere (though with little hope he’d go for it!).

A fine prize

A word about the Daily Dissembler. This was an inspired invention of Michael’s, particularly his use of period pictures. I’m honoured to receive the role-playing prize, stiffly contended with the Kaiser and Sultan, whose messages were always a pleasure (to say nothing of General Sir Erasmas Blatt, Ret’d!).

A hard-working hack

When I first submitted copy to the Dissembler, I’d expected Harrington (Our Man in Rome) to be my main voice.  He was to be a Hemmingway-esque hack working for Charles Foster Kane, getting the news by hard work, bribing officials and frequenting low dives (I resent the suggestion that he was corrupt and venal!).   Quite naturally he resented the gadfly existence of Miss Amelia Roosevelt!


De Graspi was meant to be a one-off interview, but he seemed to capture readers’ imaginations and took on a life of his own - especially among the Boston Ladies' Temperance, Suffrage and Peace Guild.  Equally, the story of his mystical awakening was meant to be a Halloween story (and explanation for the Vienna debacle) that would be retracted in the next issue, but events took over dear boy...

Wow!

In a surprise move, The Mad Padre has called an end to his Play-by-Blog Diplomacy game.  The closing situation was as follows

Prior to adjustment - France was about to loose two units, England and Turkey to build

We'd been playing blind.  Michael has just announced the players' names

• England (Score 12 and the Winner) -  Mark Haughey (owner of the Sun of York blog). 
• Turkey (Score 11 and Runner Up) - Tim Gow (owner of the Megablitz blog) 
• Italy (Score 7 and Third Place) - Me!
• France (Score 4) - Thomas Nissvik (owner of the Learning by Doing blog)
• Germany - Pat G (owner of the Irregular Warband Fast blog) 
• Russia - Robert Audin (owner of the Fiends in Waistcoats blog) 
• Austria - AN Other.

A rather dull week, I'm afraid...

Shinies

You may remember me complaining three weeks ago about the non-appearance of the Daleks I'd ordered from BTD.  Well they arrived today.

Hm, a little to big for the painting table...

A shed tidy...

This weekend I need to close the shed down for the winter - putting the over-wintering plants in there after first getting out everything I need for the Painting Challenge.

More Dr Who



For those of you in the UK, 'The Pyramids of Mars' will be shown on the Drama Channel tomorrow afternoon.

They're working their way through the doctors - I saw Hartnell in 'The Aztecs' (which wasn't as creaky as I expected), missed Troughton and last week enjoyed Pertwee in 'Spearhead from Space'.

PBB

"Infamy!  Infamy!  They've all got it in for me!"

Very little news on the play-by-blog front.  Last week I was knocked out of Clint's 'Blood, Bilges and Iron Balls' game as three Spanish ships blasted away at HMS Inconsistant.  She made a good account of herself, but in the end I took too many damage points to the crew.

I enjoyed the game, and will certainly play BBIB again should the occasion arise.  Clint has done/is doing a splendid job in running such a fine table.

The state of my progress in The Padre's Diplomacy game is a top secret, but suffice it to say that the knives are out now and the blood is flowing...

R.W. has published his draft rules for his Old West game, and they're looking good.

Welcome

Again I have been remiss in promptly welcoming a new follower.  So a warm Hola! to Alfons of Miniaturas Militares Por Alfons Canovas.

Diplomacy

To be viewed to the tune "Who Do You Think You Are Kidding, Mr Romanov?"

Austria-Hungary has been wiped off the map and despite predictions of a war in the Med, everyone has turned on Russia.

For commentary and reportage, go across to  The Mad Padre for the ever insightful and amusing Daily Dissembler.

Blood, Bilge and Iron Balls


Things are getting hot now, but it's very hard to say who's got the upper hand.

Having taken damage in the previous two turns, I made a swift exit from the cauldron, aflame and with a mast down, but that seems to have left HMS Badger in difficulties.  However, Capt Fearless has the Bosun's Mates starting the repair crews mercilessly in order to get us back in the fray as soon as possible.

Expect a more action in Turn 12 as Curt boarding action is determined and the second wave of ships engage...

Ironclads

Miles' game will probably start in December and will be a play-test of his Ironclad rules for his Big Project - linked games at Historicon15 (one naval and one land) on a British intervention in the American Civil War.  There are also rumours of French involvement...

Anyone who follows Miles' blog will be anticipating a high-level of inventiveness and eye-candy.  I'm certainly looking forward to it!

I know I've been a little quite on the blogging front, but here are some pictures to show I'm still about.

Santa is Coming!

And he means business!

I'm been remiss in not promoting the Secret Santa (send a £15.00 gift) and the Santa Clause (paint a £5.00 figure), both of which I've signed up for.  Final shouts are now out for people to sign up.

WWI Centenary

I had intended to write centenary posts for the First World War, but only six weeks in have fallen behind!  And it's not as if it'll be over by Christmas.

Those of you who follow my geekery on Facebook, won't be surprised to find I'm going to concentrate on naval actions.  Which brings me to...

Prettiest-Killing-Ship-Spotted-on-Facebook Of the Week





Iltis, a gunboat of the Kaiserliche Marine, launched in 1898 and saw service in Chinese waters.  She saw service during the Boxer Rebellion (taking part in the bombardment of the Taku Forts).  She was awarded the Pour le Mérite (the Blue Max), which is the decoration on the prow - the only ship to be so distinguished.




Play By Blog - Clint's Game

This week's turn (Turn Seven) of the 'Blood, Bilges and Iron Balls' finally saw some gun-smoke!  Clint's report can be found here.

I'll do my own report on my BBIB page.

Play By Blog - Michael's Game




This week was also a 'turn week' for Michael's Game of Diplomacy (Fall 1901).

The Movement results are here.  Coming soon will be the Retreat Phase (Austria has been forced out of Trieste) and the end-of-year allocation of troops.

There's a lot to digest (and I don't want to give anything away about my gameplay), so I won't write anything here.  Fortunately, Michael has devised an in-game newspaper, The Daily Dissembler - "We make sense of a complicated, far-off world so you, dear reader, can enjoy the Gilded Age".

Welcomes

Welcome to another new follower!  This time it Jon Yuengling of the always interesting Basement Games.  I must say, that Jon falls in that category of 'people I thought were already followers'!

Distractions

After getting distracted by the purchase of a Wallace and Gromet rocket-ship,  I saw some of  these being thrown out in Sainsbury's -



So, what do you see?  Craters?  Mars habitats?  Dino nests?  Enough stiff to make all of the above?

The problem is that it's quite flimsy.  Any tips on ways to get around that?  Would painting it in a PVA solution help?  Should I mix some filler in with it?

Playing By Blog

The business and tiredness I complained the other day was affecting my social networking is still here.

As far as Clint's PBB game of 'Blood, Bilges and Iron Balls' goes, this means that I only got around to adding last week's move to my BBIB Page this afternoon.  And the results of another turn will be announced tomorrow (the fleets will finally engage!).  I was actually two weeks behind updating my own game table, but I think Clint's photos are so good I needn't bother with mine.

Where I do need a map, charts, coloured pencils and a communications log is in making sense of The Mad Padre's PBB game of Diplomacy!

These turns are fortnightly, and I only just managed to get my orders in due to some heavy prompting from Michael.  I'm a complete newbie to this fascinating game, and I must admit that I hadn't then finished reading the rules!  Now I'm being bombarded with in-game messages from other players floating all sorts of 'understandings'.

Confusing, but fun!

In the on-line game Pirates Glory, I've decided that attacking other players isn't too good an idea (they're all bigger and meaner than me!).  On the advice of my Guild Master I'm sticking to trading and wooing governors' daughters.

 It's all a bit sexist really (you can only woo governors' sons if you  register as a female).  At the moment, I have romances with a Plain, a Cute and a Gorgeous; I also have an Exquisite wife!


Reminders

First, the HeroQuest expansions are still for sale.  I haven't yet put them up on the LAF, but will do so over the weekend.

Secondly, don't forget to enter the draw for the Prize Give-Away (and tell me if you qualify for a bonus!).  The draw will be made on Monday morning.

Secret Santa




Another sort of give-away has been announced.  Yes, it's that time of the year!  Ian over at The Blog With No Name has announced the terms for this year's Secret Santa and put a call out for participants.

I'm sorry to to have posted this week - I seem to have been too busy or too tired.

At some stage after midnight on Monday I placed two on-line orders, one with Amazon and the other with Wargames Foundry.  Yesterday there were developments with both orders: first I got an e-mail from Amazon telling me that they were just debiting my card; secondly, my order from Wargames Foundry arrived.  I've not ordered from WF before and I am very impressed with the speed (and lack of fuss!) at which this was done and sorted.

Before ordering, I had a sit down with The Wife, and we discussed gaming priorities and needs.

• Tiny little ships are too fiddly and too expensive.
• Old West figures, gangsters, pirates, dinosaurs and retro spacemen are fun, but would require some investment of time and money before there were playable

The best thing to do would be to concentrate on finishing the stalled Pulp in Egypt project.

Accordingly, I did a mental audit of what we've got and haven't got (I know I should do a proper audit and get pieces onto a table, but "too busy or too tired").  I've primed some terrain pieces and vehicles (yes - there will be a Paint-table Saturday post this week!).

The order from WF was two packs from their Egyptian Adventures range.

Arab diggers

The Resurrection Party

Good stuff!


Playing at a Distance

Clint's PBB game of Blood, Bilges and Iron Balls goes on great guns (ha-ha!).  The events of Turn 5 will be announced tomorrow and there's the possibly that we'll see gun-smoke.  My take on events will be here.

Tomorrow is also the deadline for the first round of orders the Padre's game of Diplomacy.  Now, despite my moniker I know nothing of Diplomacy and I'm up a tree - I haven't even finished reading the rules yet!  Given the nature of the game, I won't be giving a turn-by-turn report (I'm not even going to let on as to which nation I'm playing).

And on-line, Pirates Glory is proving interesting.  I had a bit of a run-in with a guild of zombie pirates who are a little too happy to place voodoo curses on anyone who upsets them.  On a happier note, I've liaisons with three Governors' Daughters - and I feel a proposal coming on!

Selling Stuff

Just a heads-up that I've got a couple of HeroQuest expansions (Kellar's Keep and Return of the Witch Lord) that I'm selling.  I just need to check everything's in good condition and complete, and then take some photos.  I put them up for sale here first and a day later on the LAF.

And, of course, there's always Diplomatist Books...

Apart from adding new stock, my main task this week will be to make the Military & Naval History list more manageable by separating and re-arranging the WWII material.

I'm expecting a shipment from a supplier of remaindered books, but no sign of it yet.  Sign-up to the FaceBook page for announcements and updates - and the occasional special offer!

I've been a little under the weather for the last couple of days, which is why I haven't blogged as much as I'd intended.  So today's post is by the way of a catch-all round-up.

Bloggers for Charity


The end of the BfC auction means the end of active fundraising for BfC 2014.  I was able to post an announcement that the total raised for Help for Heroes was £718 - a very nice sum indeed!

It looks unlikely that there will be a BfC 2015.

A Mile-Stone

Ste over at Monty's Caravan this week hit the 100K visitors mark.  He promises prizes, so perhaps now is a good time to visit this excellent blog!

Wargame Bloggers' Quarterly



As surely everyone whose interested in this field now knows, a new e-zine, the WBQ was launched last weekend.  It's of very high quality and has already had over 1,000 downloads.

I'm sure anyone who follows hobby blogs and forums realises that the growth of self-publishing on the internet will be the death-knell of hobby magazines unless they change their act drastically.  Because of the visual aspect and potential for instant feedback this seems to particularly likely in the wargaming world.  It would be an interest subject for someone with more knowledge than me to blog about.

Anyway, I wish all involved much success and look forward to future issues.

The Dawlish Chronicles

A bit French, bu you get the idea...

A blog I've recently started to follow might be of interest to readers.  The Dawlish Cronicles is a blog by Antoine Vanner, author of the series of books of the same name (two so far) that chart the career of Nicholas Dawlish during the transition of navies from Age of Sail to that of the Ironclads.

We already have the following teaser about how the series will end:

Admiral Sir Nicholas Dawlish is probably best remembered today for leaving retirement in 1914, at the request of his friend and sometime rival Lord Fisher, to assume responsibility for Unconventional Naval Operations. 

His imaginative filling of that role, and his death at the age of seventy two on the Zeebrugge Mole, where he fell in a hail of machine-gun fire on St.George's Day 1918, (making him the oldest serving officer to fall in action in either World War), ended an illustrious career in a manner which he would have found wholly appropriate...

The blog isn't about the books, but is the history behind this period of transition.  It's great stuff and well-researched.

The PBB BBIB Game


Clint's Play-by-Blog game of Blood, Bilges and Iron Balls continues.  He published the results of Turn 3 today and, though we're still a fair bit from any action, things are beginning to mix up...

I'll update my PBB page once I've worked out the ramifications and transcribed the relevant section from Capt Fearless' memoirs.

Other Games


Given the success of the BBIB game, I've signed up for another play-by-blog one.  This will be the famously devious board-game Diplomacy being run by The Man Padre.

It may be the worse decision I've made in a long time!



I normally avoid playing on-line games (because it then becomes difficult to pull myself away from the computer!), but suffering as many are from Piratitis, I found it difficult to resist Pirates Glory, a trading and plunder game.  I'm actually enjoying it so far.