Re: Diplomacy, Grey/Black Press

From: fred_s@earwax.pei.com (Fred Scott)

Date: Wed, 23 Sep 1992 09:23:11 +0000

In article <1992Sep23.015726.26408@ll.mit.edu> shoham@ll.mit.edu (Daniel
Shoham) writes:
>Having read the Diplomacy judge instructions for the use of Grey/Black press,
>but never having played a game where such was allowed; it occured to me that
>it could easily be defeated by a carefull player.
>
>(For those unfamiliar with Grey/Black press: it is a modification allowed in
>some variants of Diplomacy where the judge can be instructed to fake the
>source of a message sent. Hence, Germany could send a letter to England
>claiming that it was sent by France)
...
(example of how to defeat Black press involving the use of passwords deleted)
...
>-Does anyone with Grey/Black Diplomacy experience care to comment on the
>above?

I think you may have misunderstood the purpose of "grey/black" press.  You
seem to assume that press is the only means of communication permitted in a
game moderated by the judge.  It is not, unless, the game is a gunboat game.

In a non-gunboat game, all of the players are identified (including by
E-mail address) at the beginning of the game.  Just send'em mail *directly*
and chatter away, completely free of listening ears and with no danger of
mistaken idenity.  In this sort of game, the only value press has is to make
some sort of an "announcement" simultaneosly and to multiple players (usually
all of them).  Even this you could do directly (sending E-mail to multiple
receipients, presuming your mailer supports that) but your mailer may be
subject to some suspicion that everyone on the receive line didn't necessarily
get the same piece of mail (or anything at all, for that matter).  However, if
press is set to black instead of white (the grey press option is compatible
with both; its existance or lack thereof dictates whether unsigned press can
be sent or not), then the judge may print the name of any country you chose on
its from line.  Essentially, I think that just makes white press to be
effectively like grey press, except for the psychological effects.  Trying to
defeat that problem will get a lot more complex.

In a gunboat game, of course, the identities of the players are not revealed
at the start (i.e., everyone is listed as "someone@somewhere") and press is
the only means of communication.  (And of course, it is supposed to be against
the rules and the spirit of the game to advertise your e-mail address or other-
wise compromise your identity via press.)  In this sort of game, your system
would work well if you could limit the distribution of your message.  However,
gunboat games on the judge use the "no partial press" option, meaning that
when you send press, you must send it to *everybody*.  I assume that would
sort of throw a wrench into your well-laid plans...

Fred

References

Diplomacy, Grey/Black Press
shoham@ll.mit.edu (Daniel Shoham)
Wed, 23 Sep 1992 01:57:26 +0000

Referenced By

Diplomacy, Grey/Black Press
shoham@ll.mit.edu (Daniel Shoham)
Wed, 23 Sep 1992 01:57:26 +0000