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Dipsters.org Forum » Recent Topics http://www.dipsters.org/forum/ First please read the post, "Welcome! Using the Forum". en-US Sat, 31 Jul 2010 21:20:45 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 <![CDATA[Search]]> q http://www.dipsters.org/forum/search.php Mark Gallagher on "Testing my rss feeders" http://www.dipsters.org/forum/topic/testing-my-rss-feeders#post-227 Wed, 28 Jul 2010 22:14:26 +0000 Mark Gallagher 227@http://www.dipsters.org/forum/ Been playing with myyahoo and feedmyinbox.com in an attempt to find something to emulate the convenience of the yahoo group email alert and/or digest. Please disregard unless you are interested in having the best of both worlds (this forum and the yahoo group.) Jonathan Powles on ""Devil" observation game just started" http://www.dipsters.org/forum/topic/devil-observation-game-just-started#post-229 Sat, 31 Jul 2010 00:24:41 +0000 Jonathan Powles 229@http://www.dipsters.org/forum/ As you know, I've been running a re-staging of the famous "carebear" and "cut-throat" email games of 1993. See <a href="http://www.dipsters.org/forum/topic/new-very-old-games" rel="nofollow">http://www.dipsters.org/forum/topic/new-very-old-games</a> for more details. The carebear game, 'koala' on USAK, is at S1907 and, depending on who you listen to, is about to end in a solo (as did the original 'carebear') or, much more caringly, in a seven-way draw. If that seems like an odd sort of position for a Dip game, then I suggest you look at the history on floc.net at <a href="http://www.floc.net/observer.py?judge=USAK&game=koala&page=game" rel="nofollow">http://www.floc.net/observer.py?judge=USAK&game=koala&page=game</a> or, even better, sign up to the comments group at <a href="http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/koala_USAK/" rel="nofollow">http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/koala_USAK/</a> and look at the crucial press and EOG discussion as it unfolds. The partner game, played according to the 'cut-throat oath', is 'devil' on USAK. We're only in F1901, and a sea of intrigue awaits. Sign up now to follow all the press and commentary at <a href="http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/devilusak/" rel="nofollow">http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/devilusak/</a> Cheers Jonathan Chris Babcock on "TeachMe5 - Coaches Wanted" http://www.dipsters.org/forum/topic/teachme5-coaches-wanted#post-31 Fri, 14 Aug 2009 12:21:17 +0000 Chris Babcock 31@http://www.dipsters.org/forum/ Here's the full listing of the game: <a href="http://usak.asciiking.com/webtools/submit?orders=list+teachme5" rel="nofollow">http://usak.asciiking.com/webtools/submit?orders=list+teachme5</a> TeachMe5 is a regular partial press teachme game. I'm going to advertise for coaches on USAK as well as here. When I have 5 coaches, I will start to recruit players. Please use this thread or contact me via email if you are willing to coach. Chris Alan Mennel on "Help with Abandoned Dipsters Game" http://www.dipsters.org/forum/topic/help-with-abandoned-dipsters-game#post-224 Tue, 27 Jul 2010 10:22:35 +0000 Alan Mennel 224@http://www.dipsters.org/forum/ I need a replacement Ukraine for the abandoned Dipsters game, flyboy01 on usak. It is a 24 hour (weekdays only) No Press game - Modern variant with Wings: <a href="http://www.floc.net/observer.py?judge=USAK&game=flyboy01&page=game" rel="nofollow">http://www.floc.net/observer.py?judge=USAK&game=flyboy01&page=game</a> <a href="mailto:usak@asciiking.com">usak@asciiking.com</a> signon Uflyboy01 <pw> gunboat modern signoff Thanks in advance for your help. Alan Mennel Alan Lange on "USDD Judge" http://www.dipsters.org/forum/topic/usdd-judge#post-153 Thu, 28 Jan 2010 15:40:45 +0000 Alan Lange 153@http://www.dipsters.org/forum/ This judge was set up to have a restricted ALLOW list for only Diplomacy Direct members. Later, Dipsters were added to the allowed list. More recently there hasn't been much activity. There are no active games, and one game waiting (since August) for more players. Is a judge with a restricted list of allowed players something we need? Is the fact that games are only advertised on closed locations enough to keep non-members out? If folks believe that public judges (like USAL which runs on the same box) are sufficient for our needs, I'm tempted to close down USDD. Alan JK for USAL and USDD Alan Lange on "Replacement (12 unit!) Russia needed F1910R" http://www.dipsters.org/forum/topic/replacement-12-unit-russia-needed-f1910r#post-222 Tue, 06 Jul 2010 20:08:05 +0000 Alan Lange 222@http://www.dipsters.org/forum/ Novice queue game. Turkey just stabbed Russia after long cooperation. USAL:halifax. Thanks, Alan Eric Hunter on "24-hr No-Press, 7 days per week game forming" http://www.dipsters.org/forum/topic/24-hr-no-press-7-days-per-week-game-forming#post-168 Sun, 07 Feb 2010 14:20:15 +0000 Eric Hunter 168@http://www.dipsters.org/forum/ A 'nooner' is now available on USAK. NoPress, 24-hour, 7 days a week, all deadlines at noon. Enjoy, Eric. Alan Mennel on "Dipsters Moderator" http://www.dipsters.org/forum/topic/dipsters-moderator#post-220 Tue, 29 Jun 2010 09:39:05 +0000 Alan Mennel 220@http://www.dipsters.org/forum/ Hi Everyone: Time to get serious. If you are interested in replacing me as Moderator of this Group and in taking this Group to the next level, please email me privately as soon as possible at: <a href="mailto:alan.mennel@dipsters.org">alan.mennel@dipsters.org</a> If you would like to nominate someone to replace me as Moderator of this Group and to take this Group to the next level, please email me privately as soon as possible at: <a href="mailto:alan.mennel@dipsters.org">alan.mennel@dipsters.org</a> Let's move this along promptly! Thank you in advance for your help. Alan Mennel Alan Mennel on "Dipsters - Revisited" http://www.dipsters.org/forum/topic/dipsters-revisited#post-215 Tue, 22 Jun 2010 16:35:06 +0000 Alan Mennel 215@http://www.dipsters.org/forum/ When I think of the many great games and the past camaraderie within this group, I have to say that Dipsters is a great group. Although most of our members are skilled in this game, virtually all of our members (whether skilled or not) are respectful of other members and just fun to play with. Still we do not seem to be as vibrant a group as we were. Is it the fault of switching to dipsters.org from YAHOO! Groups? I am not so sure. If you look at the number of messages on all the Diplomacy Groups on YAHOO Groups, you will see that the number of messages in every group is down dramatically from one and two years ago. In addition, the total number of games on all combined Ken Lowe judges has decreased as well. If you are looking for a reason why Dipsters is less vibrant than before, look at me. Unfortunately, the biggest negative about Dipsters is that it has and apparently still does rely upon me to move it along. Checking the hundreds of completed Dipsters games and Dipsters tournament games, you can see that I was the GM for probably 95% of all games: <a href="http://www.floc.net/observer.py?login=DipComplete&password=&other_public=&page=login" rel="nofollow">http://www.floc.net/observer.py?login=DipComplete&password=&other_public=&page=login</a> That's a problem because I have not had a good year. My mother had to enter an assisted living facility in August; my sister-in-law, with whom I was very close, suddenly lost her battle with cancer in November; and I have seen my own health problems become considerably worse this year. The bottom line is that I have had neither the time nor the inclination to work on this group as I had in the past. Only a few members have tried to help us out. Only a few have created or offered to Gm new games. And the one person who had offered to run our variant tournament has basically disappeared now that it is time to get the tournament running (I am ill and don't have time to do it myself so this will probably be a tournament that will never start). I admit that there are problems with the dipsters.org site because I have not had the time to work on it, but it still has advantages over YAHOO! groups. YAHOO! Groups is not really conducive to setting up: <ul> <li>showcase games</li> <li>tournament sites</li> <li>local F2F message boards</li> <li>game and tournament listings</li> <li>and more</li> </ul> We can certainly go back to YAHOO! Groups for our message board but I think that would be a backwards step and not really the right step to take. But if the majority of members want to do it, we will. I have to tell you that I was thoroughly disheartened by the response from some members when we switched from YAHOO! Groups to the dipsters.org message board. I had hoped that everyone would work with me during the transition. Some members actually gave me ultimatums about the change. That really took the wind out of my sails after devoting so many years to dipsters. The bottom line is that I am not going to be around as I had been in the past to push this group. Just switching back to YAHOO! Groups is not going to be the answer. The bottom line is that all members need to finally step up and do what is necessary to keep this group going. Asking everyone to GM just one game a year is not too much to ask...yet hardly anyone is doing it. And that is sad. I also think that it is time to select a new moderator, the sooner the better. If I were to pick a successor, it would be someone who is devoted to this hobby but who does not have a personal agenda. A few names pop into my mind but I am sure that this is not the complete list. People like Russ Blau, Yves Grosdidier, Ben Harris, Eric Hunter, Adam Lang, Martin Moore, Ken Navarro, and Jonathan Powles would all do a great job as the new moderator for Dipsters. Although any of our JKs (Alan, Chris, Millis, Sam, Todd) would also be excellent, I think that it is very important that the Dipsters Group treats all judges equally. Having a JK as the Group's Moderator would make that goal almost impossible to attain. Anyway I would like to get your reaction to these issues. All the Best! Alan Andre "Nick" Gumiero on "The dawn of dipsters" http://www.dipsters.org/forum/topic/the-dawn-of-dipsters#post-214 Mon, 21 Jun 2010 11:53:03 +0000 Andre "Nick" Gumiero 214@http://www.dipsters.org/forum/ It´s sad to see that there are only 3 dipsters games running right now, and one of them was abandoned by one player recently. There are a lot of forming games that can´t get players to start. The forum is almost silent. . Since I entered this group I´ve only played here and I love the concept of this group. How can we save dipsters from a slow death ? . My suggetion: - Return to yahoo groups! (at least the forum!) Let´s face it! Since the group moved to it´s own site, it´s declining! There is a lot of benefits from having a site, but, let´s face it, it didn´t work! I think that returning to yahoo groups may bring this groupt to life again. And I really hope it survives. Nick Mark Gallagher on "PP Gunboat Game Forming" http://www.dipsters.org/forum/topic/pp-gunboat-game-forming#post-209 Fri, 04 Jun 2010 00:04:25 +0000 Mark Gallagher 209@http://www.dipsters.org/forum/ Please keep an eye out for and join Monaco. Yes, the first of a series of great auto race venues, and also my first game as GM (?!?) Hopefully it will be a great experience for all. M Alan Mennel on "Replacement Needed for Abandoned Dipsters game" http://www.dipsters.org/forum/topic/replacement-needed-for-abandoned-dipsters-game#post-212 Wed, 16 Jun 2010 14:44:40 +0000 Alan Mennel 212@http://www.dipsters.org/forum/ I need a replacement Germany for the abandoned Dipsters game, Bendover on usal. It is a Partial Press 1898 variant standard (not gunboat) game: <a href="http://www.floc.net/observer.py?judge=USAL&game=bendover&page=game" rel="nofollow">http://www.floc.net/observer.py?judge=USAL&game=bendover&page=game</a> <a href="mailto:usal@dip.game-host.org">usal@dip.game-host.org</a> signon GBendover <pw> 1898 signoff Thanks in advance for your help. Alan Mennel Alan Mennel on "How to Create and GM Dipsters games" http://www.dipsters.org/forum/topic/how-to-create-and-gm-dipsters-games#post-124 Tue, 12 Jan 2010 11:45:05 +0000 Alan Mennel 124@http://www.dipsters.org/forum/ Hi Everyone: Near the top of any page on the dipsters.org site, there is now a navigation tab that reads, "Hosting Games". This contains instructions on how to host Dipsters games along with a number of game templates which you may use and modify in creating your games. Enjoy! Alan Chris Babcock on "Announcement: 7x7 Gunboat Tourney" http://www.dipsters.org/forum/topic/announcement-7x7-gunboat-tourney#post-99 Thu, 26 Nov 2009 14:43:13 +0000 Chris Babcock 99@http://www.dipsters.org/forum/ This is an announcement for the first annual Black Friday Gunboat Tourney, an open 7x7 tournament with no press and 24 hour deadlines. When the sign on game, bfgt10a1, fills then the tourney will start. This is an Open Tourney that is hosted jointly by the DipWorld player community and USAK. For tourney details, please see the listing for the game bfgt10a1: <a href="http://usak.asciiking.com/webtools/submit?orders=list+bfgt10a1" rel="nofollow">http://usak.asciiking.com/webtools/submit?orders=list+bfgt10a1</a> You can register for USAK at <a href="http://usak.asciiking.com/register.html" rel="nofollow">http://usak.asciiking.com/register.html</a> or by the regular means. The judge address is usak at asciiking dot com. Once registered, join the bfgt10a1 game on USAK to join the tourney by replying to the registration with a signon command for the game or by using this link: <a href="http://usak.asciiking.com/orders.html?orders=signon+%3Fbfgt10a1+password+gunboat" rel="nofollow">http://usak.asciiking.com/orders.html?orders=signon+%3Fbfgt10a1+password+gunboat</a> At the above page, change the word "password" to an actual password -- That will become your site password on <a href="http://usak.asciiking.com" rel="nofollow">http://usak.asciiking.com</a> -- and click "send". Chris Babcock John Bush on "USAK down?" http://www.dipsters.org/forum/topic/usak-down#post-196 Tue, 06 Apr 2010 09:07:22 +0000 John Bush 196@http://www.dipsters.org/forum/ I *think* USAK seems to be having difficulty. I've had a few knockbacks when trying email orders and it seems that the website is down too. Could it be the domain asciiking.com? Chris - help! Cheers, John Alan Mennel on "Dipsters Spring Variant Tournament" http://www.dipsters.org/forum/topic/dipsters-spring-variant-tournament#post-201 Tue, 04 May 2010 15:00:15 +0000 Alan Mennel 201@http://www.dipsters.org/forum/ Now that it is May, it is time for the annual Dipsters' Group Variant Tournament. All tournament games are 24 hour no-press games with weekday (Monday through Thursday) deadlines. The tournament games start under a staggered schedule with the last game beginning approximately 12 weeks after the first game starts. This year we are playing a variant which we call 'Open Build'. There are two special settings for this tournament variant: 1) Players may build in any owned (home or non-home) center during a build phase. This is an interesting setting because it allows strong governments in exile even after one's homeland is overrun. 2) Players may disband any unit during a build phase (and thus gain the option to rebuild on a buildable center if desired). If interested, please join the queue right away: <a href="http://www.dipsters.org/dvt.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.dipsters.org/dvt.html</a> You may access the tournament rules through this page. Since we are starting this tournament a little late (as usual), please join right away as we may start as soon as we reach a quorum. To play in this tournament, you must - be a member of the Dipsters' Group, or - be a member of Diplomacy Direct, or - have an ontime record of 90% or better on the Ken Lowe judges with no willing abandonment. Best of Luck, Alan Mennel Rian Mitra on "Replacement France needed - newbie game USOS:Alberta" http://www.dipsters.org/forum/topic/replacement-france-needed-newbie-game-usosalberta#post-200 Tue, 27 Apr 2010 01:43:00 +0000 Rian Mitra 200@http://www.dipsters.org/forum/ <a href="http://www.floc.net/observer.py?page=game&judge=USOS&game=alberta" rel="nofollow">http://www.floc.net/observer.py?page=game&judge=USOS&game=alberta</a> Our France has gone abandoned, playable position. Appreciate the help Rian Russ Blau on "Replacement needed for newbie game 'india7' on USAZ" http://www.dipsters.org/forum/topic/replacement-needed-for-newbie-game-india7-on-usaz#post-199 Fri, 16 Apr 2010 16:13:13 +0000 Russ Blau 199@http://www.dipsters.org/forum/ A replacement player is needed for Italy in the game 'india7' on USAZ. This is a newbie queue game (Standard, full-press) that is now in F1911R. Italy has to retreat 1 of its 7 units. You can see the map and game history at <a href="http://www.floc.net/observer.py?judge=USAZ&game=india7&page=game" rel="nofollow">http://www.floc.net/observer.py?judge=USAZ&game=india7&page=game</a>. I suspect this game is near its end, but the position still has a bit of play in it. You do not need to be a newbie to take over this position. To join, send your SIGNON message to <a href="mailto:usaz.judge@cox.net">usaz.judge@cox.net</a>. Russ Blau (GM) Chris Babcock on "Six No Reveal Gunboat Games need Replacements." http://www.dipsters.org/forum/topic/six-no-reveal-gunboat-games-need-replacements#post-195 Tue, 23 Mar 2010 23:46:06 +0000 Chris Babcock 195@http://www.dipsters.org/forum/ Play every power but Austria in 6 of 7 games of a 7x7 *simulataneous* Gunboat event. Contact <cbabcock@asciiking.com>. Rian Mitra on "Replacement needed for newbie game USOS:Alberta S1902 Retreats" http://www.dipsters.org/forum/topic/replacement-needed-for-newbie-game-usosalberta-s1902-retreats#post-194 Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:52:55 +0000 Rian Mitra 194@http://www.dipsters.org/forum/ Need a replacement Austria, probably only have to play 2 seasons as Austria has no SC's and two lone armies wandering the countryside. <a href="http://www.floc.net/observer.py?judge=USOS&game=alberta&page=game" rel="nofollow">http://www.floc.net/observer.py?judge=USOS&game=alberta&page=game</a> Have a heart and help out a newbie game today. Thanks, Rian Chris Babcock on "Variant Support on USAK" http://www.dipsters.org/forum/topic/variant-support-on-usak#post-190 Wed, 10 Mar 2010 01:57:02 +0000 Chris Babcock 190@http://www.dipsters.org/forum/ I have added variant support to the USAK onsite mapper. I have tested 1989 so far and I should have testing done for modern and aberration done before USAK:flyboy01 and USAK:chimes start. Feel free to force the issue. :-) Jonathan Powles on "Observation game Carebear - 'Koala' starting" http://www.dipsters.org/forum/topic/observation-game-carebear-koala-starting#post-188 Sat, 06 Mar 2010 23:15:32 +0000 Jonathan Powles 188@http://www.dipsters.org/forum/ As you know, we're re-running the old "Carebear-Cuthroat" game experiment with seven able volunteers. Full details can be found at <a href="http://www.dipsters.org/forum/topic/new-very-old-games" rel="nofollow">http://www.dipsters.org/forum/topic/new-very-old-games</a> The first of the two games, the 'carebear' game, is about to start. It's 'koala' on USAK. The observation forum for the game will be <a href="http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/koala_USAK/" rel="nofollow">http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/koala_USAK/</a>. Signon and join in the fun. The other game in the experiment, the 'cut-throat' game, will start in a bit. Regards Jonathan Chris Babcock on "USAK and Social Networks" http://www.dipsters.org/forum/topic/usak-and-social-networks#post-187 Sat, 06 Mar 2010 19:56:58 +0000 Chris Babcock 187@http://www.dipsters.org/forum/ Become a fan of USAK on Facebook and follow USAK on Twitter: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Diplomacy-on-USAK/328122573511" rel="nofollow">http://www.facebook.com/pages/Diplomacy-on-USAK/328122573511</a> <a href="http://twitter.com/USAK_Diplomacy" rel="nofollow">http://twitter.com/USAK_Diplomacy</a> The Facebook page is a trial to promote the judge and see if any particular feature is a desirable for implementation on the local judge site. The Twitter stream is a feed of game notices - results for all hosted games and openings for listed games. I expect it to help fill openings faster and improve player retention. If it becomes widely used then I can add other features like authentication and individual notices. I've also tested XMPP notifications. One of the weaknesses of play by web Diplomacy is an inability to push notices when players forget to check the site. XMPP is a good push mechanism, especially for Gmail users, because it is almost as much a part of many players' online routine as email, but it does not depend on polling to deliver the message when the player is online. XMPP addresses take the form of xmpp:user@example.com, which matches the judge's definition of an email address. While XMPP can usually handle a message the size of a judge email, that can be a little inconvenient. The best way to play over XMPP will be to make reports and press available on the web site and send notices when new playing content is available. One advantage of XMPP and services like Twitter over play by email is that it is possible to know if the registered account is still in use. The judge can clean out unused accounts and publish abandoned positions the minute a player severs a reciprocal 'friendship' with the judge's bot and the timing of a player's decision to abandon can be taken into account in a judgekeeper's treatment of the account. A player who breaks contact with the judge after he has been replaced in a game has suffered from an accident or poor time management while a player who leave the judge when he sees games results has gone deliberately abandoned. Long term, I'm looking at using forensic social network analysis and lexical analysis to protect against collusion in games that are any-site. Forensic SNA compares real social networks with disclosed social networks to discover when users are trying to hide relationships - e.g. duplicates or collusion. Lexical analysis looks at streams of text, like press or orders, to flag those that have certain characteristics that do not necessarily need to be very well defned - e.g. lacking organic development, i.e. game development that too neatly exploits a nominal opponents' mistakes or press contrived to mask a predetermined alliance. At least those are the things that I would like to work on if I can get some help with user interface elements. Statistical methods depend on having enough players for statistics to become meaningful. I'm sure it will happen, but the issue is whether it takes 3 years or 10. Chris Alan Mennel on "Abandoned Dipsters Game" http://www.dipsters.org/forum/topic/abandoned-dipsters-game-2#post-185 Thu, 25 Feb 2010 05:19:15 +0000 Alan Mennel 185@http://www.dipsters.org/forum/ Hi Everyone: I need some help in restarting another Dipsters game, flyboy00 on USOS. This game was "open" to Dipsters players as well as non-Dipsters with good ontime records. Our non-Dipster Tsar couldn't stay around. This is a 24-hour No-Press Modern game with deadlines on weekdays only. Please read the Gamelisting before joining. <a href="mailto:usos@onesite.org">usos@onesite.org</a> signon Rflyboy00 <pw> modern gunboat signoff Thanks in advance for your help. Alan Alan Mennel on "Abandoned Dipsters Game" http://www.dipsters.org/forum/topic/abandoned-dipsters-game-1#post-140 Tue, 19 Jan 2010 11:40:52 +0000 Alan Mennel 140@http://www.dipsters.org/forum/ Hi Everyone: I need some help in restarting the Dipsters game, wildone3 on USAL. Although I had to eject the Kaiser for excessive lateness, the game is moving briskly. This is a 24-hour No-Press game with deadlines on weekdays only. It is also an "Open Build" format game (AnyCentres AnyDisband AutoDisband). Please read the Gamelisting before joining. <a href="mailto:usal@dip.game-host.org">usal@dip.game-host.org</a> signon GWildone3 <pw> gunboat signoff Thanks in advance for your help. Alan Chris Babcock on "March Madness Open Mini-Tourneys" http://www.dipsters.org/forum/topic/march-madness-open-mini-tourneys#post-183 Tue, 23 Feb 2010 23:33:21 +0000 Chris Babcock 183@http://www.dipsters.org/forum/ The first draw of the Black Friday event closed this week. The event as a whole was well attended and received, so I'm doing something special for March. Now open to join... mm3w10a1 list - <a href="http://usak.asciiking.com/webtools/submit?orders=list+mm3w10a1" rel="nofollow">http://usak.asciiking.com/webtools/submit?orders=list+mm3w10a1</a> join - <a href="http://usak.asciiking.com/orders.html?gamename=mm3w10a1" rel="nofollow">http://usak.asciiking.com/orders.html?gamename=mm3w10a1</a> mm7e10a1 list - <a href="http://usak.asciiking.com/webtools/submit?orders=list+mm7e10a1" rel="nofollow">http://usak.asciiking.com/webtools/submit?orders=list+mm7e10a1</a> join - <a href="http://usak.asciiking.com/orders.html?gamename=mm7e10a1" rel="nofollow">http://usak.asciiking.com/orders.html?gamename=mm7e10a1</a> Each game listed represents an entry point for a different mini-tournament. See the game listing for tournament details. If you accidentally break gunboat by publicly showing interest in the series then you cannot join the draw forming at the time you break gunboat, but you may join one of the later ones. The 7x7 format avoids matching players in critical pairing when they are paired in a different game. The 7x3 format tries to balance positions that require different skills or that have more or less prosperous histories. This represents the current state of development of the nJudge Tournament Director. The TD uses the master's game start message to automatically seed subsequent games of that draw. The result is that all players are automatically joined to all their games within ~60 emails and a few seconds of the start of the registration game. Chris Chris Babcock on "Replacements needed in USAK games" http://www.dipsters.org/forum/topic/replacements-needed-in-usak-games#post-182 Fri, 19 Feb 2010 15:41:51 +0000 Chris Babcock 182@http://www.dipsters.org/forum/ xp000016 F1901M Standard, Moderated (Cbabcock), Press:W-P-. USAK House Game for eXperienced Players Openings: Austria (3/3) <a href="http://usak.asciiking.com/webtools/gamelist/xp000016" rel="nofollow">http://usak.asciiking.com/webtools/gamelist/xp000016</a> ns000040 S1909M Standard, Moderated (Cbabcock), Press:WGP-. USAK House Game - Novice Standard Openings: France (7/7) <a href="http://usak.asciiking.com/webtools/gamelist/ns000040" rel="nofollow">http://usak.asciiking.com/webtools/gamelist/ns000040</a> ns000044 S1904M Standard, Moderated (Cbabcock), Press:WGP-. USAK House Game - Novice Standard Openings: Austria (4/4) <a href="http://usak.asciiking.com/webtools/gamelist/ns000044" rel="nofollow">http://usak.asciiking.com/webtools/gamelist/ns000044</a> Ken Navarro on "Time for a QUICKIE!" http://www.dipsters.org/forum/topic/time-for-a-quickie#post-156 Fri, 29 Jan 2010 20:18:29 +0000 Ken Navarro 156@http://www.dipsters.org/forum/ In order to adhere to the new membership requirement to host at least one game a year, I have created a game on USAK called QUICKIE (standard no press with deadlines every day). Well, at least I *believe* I have created it. I do not see a listing for it on either our Dipsters game list (<a href="http://www.floc.net/observer.py?login=dipster&page=login" rel="nofollow">http://www.floc.net/observer.py?login=dipster&page=login</a>) or on the generic judge openings list (<a href="http://www.diplom.org/openings/openings.html#USAK)" rel="nofollow">http://www.diplom.org/openings/openings.html#USAK)</a>. I am hoping that someone will advise me if I have skipped an important step to make this game available? Chris Babcock on "Feed the Face to Face Hobby" http://www.dipsters.org/forum/topic/feed-the-face-to-face-hobby#post-13 Mon, 10 Aug 2009 09:18:17 +0000 Chris Babcock 13@http://www.dipsters.org/forum/ I would really like to start seeing the online Diplomacy leading to more face to face games. Right now there's a couple obstacles to this. The biggest are these: On play-by-email servers, in which category I include DPjudge and the nJudge wrappers on USAK because neither platform allows you to play without a valid email address, people don't network because there is no social structure set up around the games... yet. On play-by-web servers, the social networks exist, but conversion to face to face play is restricted by a misguided notion of privacy that asks people to use names like "HellR@zor" and "swift2plunder" as opposed to real names. I'm hoping that efforts like my own on USAK and Alan's here will lead to a new best of breed of Diplomacy communications - a social network for the hobby that uses real names and where privacy is best served by not behaving regrettably. It's not that far off, really. I'm hoping that one outcome of this might be the ability to get together some face to face games. Chris Jonathan Powles on "A story, a question, and invitation and a challenge" http://www.dipsters.org/forum/topic/a-story-a-question-and-invitation-and-a-challenge#post-143 Wed, 27 Jan 2010 10:16:21 +0000 Jonathan Powles 143@http://www.dipsters.org/forum/ Those of you who are playing in or watching 'balance'will know the story: Last Saturday, after six years playing online, I finally took the plunge and played my first game of face-to-face Diplomacy. I went to Sydney and entered the Australian Diplomacy Championships. I had lots of fun, lots of luck, quite a wrestle with the current Australian and [cough] World Champion, and ended up finishing second in the tournament. Even better, even though I finished second, I won the first prize ... ?!? ... The tounament director, Thorin Munro, ended up winning with the only solo of the tournament, even though he was technically filling up the numbers. So, according to the rules that say the TD can't win the prizes, while he is new and deserved Australian Champion, I win the prize - a free trip to the World Diplomacy Championships in Den Haag, Holland, in August. How come we don't have these sort of prizes for Dipsters games, Alan? ;-) So, now the question: are any of you going to the WDC in The Hague, August 19-22? If the answer is yes, then here comes the invitation. As many of you who have played with me in Dipsters press games will know, I have often made rash promises to buy my opponents a beer in return for a favour - a good stab; support to Munich ... I have made these promises safe in the knowledge that we are a hemisphere apart. :-) Well, August 22 is my birthday, and Dutch beer is the best, so anyone from Dipsters who is going to the WDC who wants to turn up to the pub in Holland and who can make a case that I owe them a beer, will get one. If not, I'll buy them one anyway for reading this far. :-) And now the challenge. I have posted this on the dipsters.org forum and on the yahoo forum, with one crucial difference. The challange is to spot the difference. It's in your interest! Proost! Jonathan