Diplomacy zine -- Electronic Voting From: Eric_S_Klien@cup.portal.com Date: Tue, 20 Jun 1989 00:18:33 +0000 Issue #72 of ELECTRONIC PROTOCOL: Winter '08 of the game PANZER (BNC number 1989H) Whoops! I goofed up on some conditional orders. Last turn Germany disbanded A VIE not A SIL. Sorry about this. Spring '09 of the game PANZER (BNC number 1989H) AUSTRIA CONTINUES TO SURVIVE! AUSTRIA: A VEN-H ENGLAND: (A LON-BEL), F NTS CA LON-BEL, A HOL SA LON-BEL, F HEL SA HOL-HOL A FIN-H, A NOR SA FIN-FIN, (F SWE-BAL), (F DEN-BAL) FRANCE: F SPA-MAO, A PAR-H, (A TUS-VEN), (F ADR SA TUS-VEN), (F TYS-ION) F NAP SF TYS-ION, F TUN SF TYS-ION GERMANY: A MOS SA STP-STP, A STP-H, F GOB SF BER-BAL, F BER-BAL A PRU-BER, (A KIE-DEN), A SIL-MUN, A BUR SA RUH-BEL, (A RUH-BEL) A GAS-BRE TURKEY: A MAR-H, A TYR SA AUSTRIAN VEN-VEN, F TRI SF ALB-ADR, F ALB-ADR F AEG SF ION-ION, F EME SF ION-ION, F ION-H, A CON-BUL GM Notes on PANZER: France must retreat or disband ADR. ADR can retreat to APU. Press: The enlightened Henry "Hank" Arrah, Emperor of the Turkish People, would like to express his gratitude to the German monarch for allowing him to be a "guest commander" for his forces this turn. It has allowed the great people of our land as a whole to strike a resounding blow against the enemy pig dogs. Summer '05 of the game MAELSTROM (BNC number 1989AA) Here are the results for summer '05. One player is still having severe e-mail problems, but we will plod on anyway. France retreats A ROM-APU. Italy retreats F TYS-NAP. Note that Italy has moved F NAP-ROM, not A NAP-ROM. Unless I get requests otherwise, orders are still due by next Sunday at 10 PM Eastern time. Fall '05 of the game MAELSTROM (BNC number 1989AA) GERMANY AND TURKEY GET PRETTY BIG! ENGLAND: F EDI SF LON-NTS, F LON-NTS, F ECH SF LON-NTS (A PIC-PAR), (A GAS-SPA), F POR SA GAS-SPA FRANCE: (A APU-VEN), F TYS-TUN, F TUN-NAF, A MAR SF WME-SPA(sc) (F WME-SPA(sc)) GERMANY: A YOR-LVP, (F NTS-ECH), (A BUR-PAR), (A BEL-PIC), (F HOL-BEL) (F NOR-NTS), A STP-H, A SIL-BOH, A UKR-GAL, A SEV-H ITALY: F NAP SF TURKEY ION-ION, (A VEN SF TURKEY TRI-TRI), F ROM SF NAP-NAP TURKEY: A BUD-VIE, A BUL SA RUM-RUM, A RUM SA BUL-BUL, F TRI-VEN F ADR SF TRI-VEN, F AEG-GRE, F SMY-AEG, F ION-H, F EME SF ION-ION GM Notes on MAELSTROM: Italy must retreat or disband VEN. VEN can retreat to TYR, PIE, or TYS. If Italy retreats then Italy must disband another unit. Germany must retreat or disband NTS. NTS can retreat to NWS, SKA, DEN, HEL, or YOR. If Germany retreats than Germany only gets 3 builds. ENG: BRE EDI LON PAR POR = 5( 6) - FRA: MAR SPA TUN = 3( 5) -- GER: BEL BER DEN HOL KIE LVP MOS MUN NOR = 13( 9) ++++ SEV STP SWE WAR ITA: NAP ROM = 2( 2) TUR: ANK BUD BUL CON GRE RUM SER SMY TRI = 11( 9) ++ VEN VIE The serious e-mail problems continue, but we are still managing to muddle on. The person in charge of one of France's e-mail routes has been fired and that connection does not seem to be working. He recommends that you try ucsd.edu!hp-sdd!horizon!sweet. Press: CRAZY GERMAN HOUSEFRAUS STORM PARIS!? It was reported today in the Berlin Enquirer that hordes of crazed German housefraus stormed the famed Paris department store Macies' after that store announced their annual bi-weekly undergarment sale. Armed with Salad Shooters and Ginsu Knives they battered at the doors shouting. "Give us frilly underware, or give us death". The store manager was understandably shaken. "Sacre Bleu, he said, "I hav not zeen such madnez sence zee Engleesh Peeg Dogs brough zere vives over for zee veekend shopping last year". Spring '04 of the game RED STORM (BNC number 1989AB) (GM is MaryFW@cup.portal.com) England: <F NWY-stp>, F cly-NRG, F NTH-holds, A LPL-holds Germany: <A MOS-stp>, A pru-BER, <A rhu-bur>, <A HOL S F den-kei>, F den-KEI, <F SWE S *English* nwy-hold>, A <MUN>-unordered (hold) Russia: <F LIV-stp>, <F <BUL>-rum>, <A SER S F bul-rum>, <A SEV S A ukr-war>, A ukr-WAR Turkey: A rum-BUL, <A GRE-ser>, F AEG S A rum-bul, F con-BLA, A smy-ARM Italy: A kie-MUN, A BOH S kie-mun, F ion-EAS, A ven-TYR, A VIE S ven-tyr, F nap-ION, F adr-ALB, A TRI S adr-alb France: A lon-YOR, F eng-LON, F bre-ENG, F mao-NAO, F IRI S F mao-nao, <A BEL-hol>, A pic-BUR Orders inclosed in <> have failed. The final position of each unit is given in all CAPS. If the final position is inclosed in <>, then that unit must retreat. All retreats are due by 10:00pm Eastern time this Tuesday. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Press: Due to the lack of explination from the French, the German people have no choice but to defend themselves. The French Italian Alliance's actions are a decleration against the German people of WAR. We are saddend by this turn of events, but are prepared to fight to the last man. Russia - Turkey: I was not invading your country, I was coming in person to discuss our peace proposal, because normal methods failed. - Czar Elliott I ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Red Storm GM Notes: Major Email problems with one player were the cause of this last delay. While none of us want delays, this was at least one that wasn't anyones fault. He did try to Email orders. Due to the the fact that most of this week has gone by the retreats aren't due until this coming Tuesday. There's only 2 retreats. So if the results are late, we know who's fault it is. If it hadn't been for the Email mess these results would have been posted on time. So in spite of my upset with them being late again I'm still pleased with the way orders came in. IMPORTANT!!! We all have learned that I'm not perfect. Well, one more case of my lack of perfection has been brought to light. While I check what units people ordering around each turn this turn I missed one. An order was given for a unit when that unit wasn't in the space anymore. The German order for <A ruh-bur> fails not because of a bounce but because there is no A ruh. The A was listed in MUN for last turns results and this A was unordered. The results have been corected as shown above. While I did try to Email the results to each player I did find some of my Email didn't make it. However with the regular posting everyone should be getting to corrected positions. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Summer '04 of the game RED STORM (BNC number 1989AB) (GM is MaryFW@cup.portal.com) Due tommorrow Spring '06 of the game PEARL HARBOR (BNC number 1989AV) (GM is Adams@multiflow.com/Steve Adams) He sent them to me with a day to spare, but they haven't got here yet! They will be published in next issue. Spring '04 of D-DAY (BNC number 1989AW) Moves due next Sunday Spring '03 of NAVARONE (BNC number 1989AX) (GM is Pwoodruf@orion.cf.uci.edu/Peter Woodruff) The votes stood at 5-0 in favor of the delay, and 4-1 in favor of 10-day moves. Moves due next Sunday Spring '01 of BLITZKRIEG (BNC number not known) (GM is Dougi@astro.as.utexas.edu/Doug Ingram) Blitzkreig moves -- Spring 1901 Italy: F NAP-ION, A ROM-VEN, A VEN-TYR Russia: F SEV-RUM, F STP(sc)-GOB, (A WAR-SIL), (A MOS-WAR) Turkey: A CON-BUL, A SMY-SMY, F ANK-CON Germany: F KIE-DEN, A MUN-RUH, (A BER-SIL) France: A PAR-BUR, F BRE-MAO, A MAR-SPA Austria: F TRI-ALB, A BUD-SER, A VIE-VIE England: F EDI-NWG, F LON-NTS, A LVP-YOR Notes: Moves in () indicate bounce. **************** Supply Centers: Total Austria: BUD, TRI, VIE 3 England: LON, LVP, EDI 3 France: BRE, PAR, MAR 3 Germany: KIE, BER, MUN 3 Italy: VEN, ROM, NAP 3 Russia: STP, MOS, WAR, SEV 4 Turkey: ANK, CON, SMY 3 **************** Unit Positions -- Summer 1901: Austria: F ALB, A SER, A VIE England: F NWG, F NTS, F YOR France: A BUR, F MAO, A SPA Germany: F DEN, A RUH, A BER Italy: F ION, A VEN, A TYR Russia: F RUM, F GOB, A WAR, A MOS Turkey: A BUL, A SMY, F CON ********************************************************************** Press: It was not my intention to give that impression, but you told me! Didn't you? Yes, I know. But I still say that what he thinks doesn't matter. ------------- The Times of London, January 1, 1901 Grave Developments In Europe The situation on the continent looks increasingly poor for peaceful diplomacy. Civil disorder is rampant throughout many of the smaller states of Europe, and the Major Powers seem to be arming and threatening each other with increasing frequency. The Prime Minister, speaking from Number 10, asked for calm from the financial community in the wake of the collapse of the Belgian and Dutch financial markets. He also noted the increasingly chaotic situation in the Balkans, with ethnic strife between Moslem and Christian in Bulgaria, Greece, and Servia, and between Orthodox and Western Christians in Rumania, taking the ugly turns it has so recently. The recent uprising of the Palace Guard and Naval Officers in Tunis is cause enough for concern in the central Mediterranean, and even the ancient rivalry between Spain and Portugal over relations with South America seems to be resurfacing. Closer to home, the unfortunate events in Scandinavia continue to dominate concerns at the Admiralty, since many naval stores come from that beleaguered home of thrifty but dull blondes. The lutefisk riots over the new dietary requirements of the Swedish-Norwegian Lutheran State Church has resulted in widespread rioting in Christiania, Bergen, Trondheim, and Narvik, and the Norwegian longing for independence which was denied at the Congress of Vienna would seem to indicate that the union of Sweden and Norway cannot last another five years. Of course, the akvavit shortage in Denmark has resulted in privations beyond compare, with poor Danes being forced to drink that country's lamentable beer. This instability must come to an end. England, in concert with the other Great Powers, must act within the next year if this kettle of cod continues to boil. Sir John Campion-Defoe, Foreign Office architect of English naval policy, then stated that The North Sea Fleet at Scapa Flow has taken steps to secure the vital trade routes in the North Sea against misguided attempts by the Norwegian or Swedish navies to seek a naval solution. He is sure that these maneuvers, which are of a purely defensive nature, will be understood in the proper light by all the powers. Sir John then summarized by stating that it was the fervent hope of the Foreign Office that, although the Great Powers might have to intervene to prevent unstable situations in small nations from degenerating into anarchy, the Great Powers themselves would not need to come to blows. -------- GM Notes: Thanks for your patience everyone! There will be no adjustments needed this season, so nothing is due on Wednesday. Moves for Fall 1901 are due Sunday night as usual. Spring '01 of OPEARTION OVERLORD (BNC number not known) (GM is Davisje@crd.ge.com/Jon Davis) Due next Sunday Spring '01 of GETTYSBURG (BNC number not known) (GM is Adams@multiflow.com/Steve Adams) Due July 2, 1989 GM comments: Four people have been knighted today for their major contributions to the health of this zine. Raymond_W_Setzer@cup.portal.com/Raymond Setzer for passing out flyers, Sccs6069@iruccibm.bitnet/Michael O'Regan for passing out flyers, Dougi@astro.as.utexas.edu/Doug Ingram for passing out flyers, and Davisje@crdgw2.crd.ge.com/Jon Davis for passing out flyers, providing me with the information necessary to advertise in three University newspapers, and providing me with the information to advertise in one magazine. To join the roundtable of Sir Raymond, Sir Michael, Sir Doug, and Sir Jon you can do one of five things: 1) Pass out flyers (particularly posting them in hobby stores) 2) Provide the information to place classified ads in a newspaper or magazine 3) Provide the information to place notices on other BBSes 4) Actually post ads or notices in newspapers, magazines, or other BBSes 5) Or, of course, find the holy grail. Also, here are the scribes that have offered their services to our republic: John_E_Murray@cup.portal.com/John Murray, Bruce_Eric_Bowers@cup.portal.com/Bruce Bowers, MaryFW@cup.portal.com/Mark Wardell, and Oliveb!intelca!mipos3!cadev4!jlitvin/John Litvin. If you would like a back issue, feel free to contact these royal scribes. Feedback from our royal citizens: From: sun!uunet.UU.NET!mcvax!cernvax!rmal (richard lucock) I was not particulary impressed with your anti-communist propaganda in Electronic Protocol #71. Point being that it is dictatorships in general that tend to have little regard for the lives of their citizens. Thus while communist China and Russia have certainly killed large numbers, so have people such as Pinochet (not exactly known for his left wing views), Duvalier (sp?), the Shah of Iran, Khomeini, and the rulers of pre-revolution China and Russia (plus the church in the middle ages, many European Kings and Queens ......). Agreed, Russia and China have killed many more of their citizens than other regimes, but this is a reflection of their historical situation rather than of the style of government. Partial truths do no-one any good, right ? Richard Lucock Paraphrased from: Eric Brosius <ebrosius@lucy.wellesley.edu> Not only can you vote in the Runestone Poll through the postal mail, you can also send ballots to me through e-mail! ((Any one reading this who does not have a copy of the ballott or has forgot what this important Poll is about, please send me e-mail!)) Taken from THE ZINE REGISTER #14: PENGUIN DIP: (#23 April) Stephen Dorneman, 94 Eastern Ave. #1, Malden, MA 02148 $15/10 issues ($20 outside of U.S.), open page, xerox, 18-20 pages, 5 weeks, circ. 85, est. Feb. 1987. Runs: Diplomacy (5) Openings: Diplomacy ($6) Penguin Dip is unique in postal Dipdom. It is as much (if not more) a sf fan zine as it is a dipzine, and also contains original cartoons (i.e., penguins on parade), as discussion on role playing games, computers and computer gaming, and general gaming. If you like this stuff (I like most of it), then you will like this zine (it remains one of my favorites). If not, it's simply not your flightless aquatic avian. Reader submissions and feedback make up much of each issue, so I am sure that Stephen is always looking for new active subbers (not deadwood like me). KP I've only seen one issue of this Stephen Dorneman product. From what I could tell, its major focus was science fiction, with Diplomacy being a kind of sideline. What I saw were excellent articles and artwork on a variety of Sci-Fi topics, so if you're interested in that sort of thing, this one may be for you. DH (Eric's notes, I like the zine, will even be in its next gamestart.) Taken from ONCE UPON A DEADLINE, sold by Bruce Linsey for three big ones: I am publishing this article in honor of my first MNC number for a gunboat game in my postal zine, PROTOCOL... THE MILLER NUMBER CUSTODIAN AND THOSE FUNNY-LOOKING NUMBERS By Lee A. Kendter The MIller Number Custodian (or MNC) assigns numbers to variant games of postal Diplomacy such like the BNC assigns numbers to regular games of postal Diplomacy. The MIller Numbers themselves are different as they do more than just annually alphabetize the games. The most often asked question I get is, "What does that funny-looking number mean?". Let's look at a typical MN, 1985Zrb32. The first part, 1985Z is the same as a BN in that it tells you that this is the 26th (Z) game assigned a number for 1985. The rb32 also tells you that this is a game of "Gunboat" or no-negotiation Diplomacy. Where does that come from and what does it mean? This "designator" was developed by the North American Variant Bank and adopted by the MNC in 1981. The former system for classifying variants had become stale and unworkable. The rb means that is uses the Regular Board and the 32 indicates that it is the 32nd such variant on file. All variants are classified under their own specific type in the NAVB catalog. The rb category is just one of many types of variants on file. The simpler ones may involve just a few rules changes or the addition of a few new spaces and/or centers to the regular board. Others involve extensions to the board, more or fewer players, entire new boards, many pages of rules changes, and time periods farther in the past or even in the future. The MNC also keeps a permanent record of all variant games that have been assigned numbers and records of games that have concluded. These are published periodically in the MNC zine, ALPHA & OMEGA. The MNC works closely with the BNC as the BNC sometimes gets a request for a game that deviates from the norm. When these cases occure the BNC sometimes has to consult with the MNC and together they decide whether the game is different enough to receive a MN instead of a BN. Some players think that variants are more interesting than the regular game and play them almost exclusively. Others play a variant on occasion just for the different strategy involved. So when you're ready for your first variant game remember where the funny-looking number came from. (Eric's notes: would anyone be interested in a variant game? How about one that uses the original rules for Diplomacy?) Taken from ONCE UPON A DEADLINE, sold by Bruce Linsey for three big ones: A SPY AT CAMBRIDGE By Richard Sharp One of the most famous scandals ever to rock British Diplomacy occured at Cambridge in 1973. For some reason, Jesus College seems to attract Diplomacy players, and at that time it sheltered two leading lights, then and now: John Piggott and Andy Davidson. John was producing his Diplomacy zine ETHIL THE FROG, justly regarded then as Britain's best, and now in production again after a two-year layoff; Andy was playing in numerous games in ETHIL and elsewhere. The ETHIL deadline fell on a Friday, which meant most orders had been received by Thursday; and on Thursday each week John was regularly absent for a longish period attending a practical. On Thursday he returned early...to find an industrious Andy squatting on the floor of his room copying down the orders sent in by other players in the games he was playing in. Uncertain what to do, John applied for counsel to Don Turnbull, also resident in Cambridge and a traditional refuge for all GMs in a quandary. Don was adamant that Andy should be evicted from all his games, but John decided against this drastic action and merely stipulated that all Andy's units should stand unordered for the current season. Another respected British GM, Richard Walkerdine, commented that the affair "left a nasty taste". Well, I had my doubts then and have them even more strongly now. It seems to me that Andy was within his rights as a player (though obviously not in other respectes, as the college authorities would certainly have confirmed!). In a fact-to-face game there is certainly nothing to prevent players trying to discover orders by "espinoage"; the Rulebook doesn't mention the subject, though perhaps it should. Arguably a rule should be made whereby once orders have been handed to the GM they are sacrosanct; but at present this rule does not exist, and has not been written into any houserules that I have seen. (Editor's Note: Richard never saw THE VOICE OF DOOM's houserules, which did (eventually) ban player raids on the GM's files. Before adding that rule, I'd have had no grounds for game action against the offending player: while I would have had him arrested for breaking the real-life laws against breaking and entering, he'd have been more than welcome to continue playing from his jail cell.) Postal Diplomacy players are a friendly lot, and many of the players in my games have visited my house from time to time, either by invitation or just "passing through". Only one to my knowledge has tried to profit from his opportunity. This was Duncan Morris, and any GM entertaining Duncan would take some precautions in advance, which I did! The question remains an interesting one. If a GM takes a completely free-and-easy line, perhaps he will find his life made a misery by characters in false noses climbing up his drainpipes in the middle of the night, calling to read his gas meter three times a week, and so on. Majority opinion is that an offense against the law of the land (housebreaking, for instance) is not a de facto breach of the rules of the game, and with this I agree. Still, a GM has to protect his privacty to some extent like anyone else.) (Editor's Note: I concur with Richard that Andy was totally within his rights as a player, since there was no houserule banning what he did. John Piggott erred on two counts: failing to secure his GMing files against such an occurence, and NMRing Andy's units for that season without legitimate justification! How would you, as a GM, prevent such a situation? How would you handle it if it happened anyway? What houserule will your write to deal with it?) Taken from Diplomacy World #41: DIPLOMACY WOODY STYLE By Kathy Byrne Many years ago, one Stephen G. Arnawoodian (a.k.a. Woody) was inflicted upon this poor unsuspecting hobby. Woody's claim to fame has to be that he gave a new meaning to the word "diplomacy." Normally when you join a postal game of Diplomacy, you receive letters of goodwill, offers of alliance or at least neutrality. However, when Woody is in the game, that all changes. Woody doesn't believe in wasting time writing letters. Pity the poor novice who wrote Woody a nice friendly letter. Bob told Woody that it was his first game, and that he'd heard Woody was a good player. He said he hoped to form an alliance with Woody. Since Bob wanted to make a good impression, he told Woody all about his car which he was so proud of. Woody sent a typical response: "Dear Kid, I love novices, they are so easy to stab. The guy who told you I was a good player is probably lying to you in the game too. Your car sounds like a hunk of junk... Woody" You might think that this letter is the exception rather than the rule, so I'll give you another example. Don Williams managed to get an alliance with Woody over the phone. In Fall 1901, however, he made the mistake of writing Woody a seven page letter. Woody's response was a classic. "Dear Jerk, If you ever send me another long letter, I'm stabbing you. I don't have time to waste reading long boring letters. Woody" You have to admit that Woody doesn't beat around the bush. You might wonder how Woody ever manages to do well in a game, well it is very simple --- he uses bribery. I was in a game with Woody, and he and I were at war. So, he calls me up, and says, "What will it take to get you to pull off me?" I told him that he didn't have enough money. So he said, "I'll tell you what, I'll take your son, Frank, for two week sduring the summer." For two weeks of peace and quiet, even I would ally with Woody. By the way, this year he needed a lot of favors from me, so he had Frank for five weeks in the summer, and my son will be spending his Christmas and Easter Vacations with Woody also. Woody once needed an alliance with Tom Mainardi, so knowing that Tom is an avid wrestling fan like himself, Woody convinced Tom to ally with him by getting ringside seats to one of the biggest matches in the WWF. Woody said it was no big deal, the scalper only charged him $50 per ticket, and as Woody pointed out, that was a lot cheaper than what it costs him to feed my son for a week. As Woody will tell you, everyone has their price, and he doesn't mind paying to get into a few draws. After all, he is a legend with an image to live up to. I am enjoying moderating this zine, keep that mail coming! Eric Klien Up