Diplomacy Games

The 2024 Asia Pacific Diplomacy Championship and Association

The guys talk about the 2024 Asia Pacific Diplomacy Championship and the creation of the Asia Pacific Diplomacy Association. And of course have a few drinks!

Intro

• The guys introduce their drinks (0 mins 15 secs)

The 2024 Asia Pacific Diplomacy Championship

• They begin talking about their attendance at the Asia Pacific Diplomacy Championship and Ken winning the Shane Cubis Award (1 min 30 secs)
• Gavin corrects the audio levels and talks about their venue (3 mins 45 secs)
• They get back to talking about the tournament and their games (5 mins 30 secs)
• Gavin shares some Diplomacy advice he got earlier (15 mins 30 secs)
• They talk about the Australian scene currently and how it is growing in quality and quantity (17 mins 30 secs)

Catch up with Max Row Banks, Asia Pacific Diplomacy Champion

• The guys set the scene for the chat, recorded immediately after Max found out he was the 2024 Champion (18 mins 30 secs)
• The interview begins with Max talking through his game (19 mins)
• Max talks about playing as Russia, Germany and France (20 mins 15 secs)
• They talk about Max winning the championship by one SC (22 mins)
• Ken asks about Max's favourite moment in the event (22 mins 45 secs)
• They talk about the competiting players (23 mins 30 secs)
• Ken asks where to next (24 mins 20 secs)
• Max also won Best Strategist in the tournament (25 mins 10 secs)
• They begin wrapping up the chat (26 mins 30 secs)
• Gavin hadn't relistened to the interview when he and Ken caught up and incorrectly says he hasn't played against Max, even though Max touched on it at the Cane Toad Classic when Gavin had to make numbers for a board (27 mins 45 secs)

Round table discussion on the new Asia Pacific Diplomacy Association

• They move onto a post-championship discussion around the earlier agreement to establish the Asia Pacific Diplomacy Association, a regional equivalent to what North America and Europe already has (28 mins 30 secs)
• Andrew Goff gives a brief overview of what's happening (31 mins 15 secs)
• Jamal Blakkarly provides his input into the discussion (33 mins 15 secs)
• Dominick Stephens reflects on how the New Zealand hobby could build from the association's approach (35 mins 15 secs)
• Shane Armstrong talks about where the hobby is at in Sydney and how the association can help (36 mins 50 secs)
• Andrew gives a hat tip to Lei Saarlainin in setting an original vision (38 mins)
• Ken suggests moving to a quiter location (39 mins)

Diplomacy chat

• The guys have moved to Gather for a quieter atmosphere. Gavin reflects on regular feedback - positive and negative - from listeners about recording in a bar. And other related reflections (39 mins 30 secs)
• They discuss some of his thoughts on the association and some of the benefits from it (43 mins 20 secs)
• Ken talks about the new Renegade Studios variant, "Era of Empire" (49 mins 30 secs)
• Gavin reflects on his repeated efforts to reach out to Renegade's media team about an interview on how they're taking the game forward - but unfortunately with no response (56 min)
• The guys ask if anyone has a connection into the people from Renegade Studios, please get in touch as we'd love to know the strategy they're taking the game (58 mins 45 secs)
• FYI - don't message us on X, as we don't go there anymore (1 hr 1 mins)
• Gavin is now on a Tscharke Shiraz from the Barossa and Ken is on a Balter XPA. Gavin gives his limited insights of the Russian language (1 hr 2mins)

Around the grounds

• Gavin's joined an unranked Divided States game and has actively encouraged the one guy who didn't stab him to walk into his SC's (1 hr 3 mins 30 secs)
• Ken moves onto his Imperial Diplomacy game where he's doing pretty good as Prussia (1 hr 5mins)
• They move onto Gavin's anonymous World War IV game where he's still doing well (1 hr 7 mins)
• Gavin asks Ken on tactics when it comes to convoys and movements to keep it legal (1 hr 11 mins)
• They start wrapping up (1 hr 16 mins)

Venue: Little Miss Sunshine and Gather, Brisbane

Drinks of choice:

Ken - Young Henry's Cloudy Cider and Balter XPA
Gavin - Little Miss Sunshine Breezy Pale Ale and Tscharke Shiraz

Just a reminder you can support the show by giving it 5 stars on iTunes or Stitcher. And don't forget if you want to help pay off the audio equipment... or buy the guys a drink, you can also donate at Patreon, plus you get extra podcast episodes!

Lastly, don't forget to subscribe so you get the latest Diplomacy Games episodes straight to your phone.

Thanks as always to Dr Dan aka "The General" for his rockin' intro tune.

Catching up

The guys catch up after a busy few months IRL and talk about aspects of their favourite game

Intro

• The guys introduce the venue and their drinks (0 mins 15 secs)
• They explain why the recording schedule hasn't been so great this year (2 mins 30 secs)

Diplomacy chat

• Ken shows Gavin the prototype trophy for the January 2025 Diplomacy tournament planned for Bangkok (3 mins 15 secs)
• The guys get some more drinks and discuss their upcoming attendance at the Asia Pacific Diplomacy Championship (13 mins)
• They talk about the "Toadiest Toad" award at the Cane Toad Classic (14 mins 30 secs)
• They come back to the Asia Pacific Championship and their aspirations for the tournament. Listeners - just so you know this episode is being released the day before the championship starts (16 mins 30 secs)
• They talk about the Canberra tournament being help 3 weeks later and the plan to have a top board (20 mins 20 secs)
• Gavin gives a couple of apologies due to the recording schedule being a bit lax (23 mins 20 secs)
• They discuss trying to get regular games going and what is the 'secret sauce' (25 mins)
• A small local football digression (27 mins 30 secs)

Around the grounds

• Ken asks how Gavin's online games are going (31 mins 45 secs)
• They talk about what happens when someone blocks your growth corridor off on a large map (34 mins 15 secs)
• Ken talks about his gunboat Imperial game against the big boys (37 mins 30 secs)
• They talk about the value of holding a build back (42 mins 15 secs)
• The guys start wrapping things up and remind listeners around our Patreon feed (44 mins)

Venue: Babblers, Brisbane

Drinks of choice:

Ken - Stone and Wood Pacific Ale
Gavin - Paratheon Silver Shiraz from the Barossa Valley

 

Just a reminder you can support the show by giving it 5 stars on iTunes or Stitcher. And don't forget if you want to help pay off the audio equipment... or buy the guys a drink, you can also donate at Patreon, plus you get extra podcast episodes!

Lastly, don't forget to subscribe so you get the latest Diplomacy Games episodes straight to your phone.

Thanks as always to Dr Dan aka "The General" for his rockin' intro tune.

Interview with Jamal Blakkarly & Jacob Traeger on Diplomacy & faith

The guys interview Jacob and Jamal from the A Christian and Buddhist Walk into a Bar podcast as a cross over episode. Plus Gavin discusses WDC in Milan and more.

Intro

• The guys open the show and introduce their drinks and venue (0 mins 10 secs)
• Gavin has a cough but goes into his experience playing at the 2024 WDC in Milan (2 mins 40 secs)

Interview with Jamal Blakkarly and Jacob Traeger from the podcast A Buddhist and a Christian Walk into a Bar about Diplomacy and faith

• The guys start introducing the interview with Jamal and Jacob, co-hosts of the podcast A Buddhist and a Christian Walk into a Bar for a cross-over episode about Diplomacy and faith (9 mins)
• The interview begins as the four of them set up the nature of the episode for each of the podcasts' audiences (11 mins)
• Ken explains the game for the other podcast's audience (16 mins)
• They discuss the link between each of their religious and spiritual perspectives and Diplomacy (17 mins 30 secs)
• Gavin discusses Jamal's double stab on him during the Melbourne Open (22 mins 45 secs)
• They discuss the evolving nature of Diplomacy, its connection with your life and learning moments (25 mins)
• Gavin talks about inadvertantly injecting Diplomacy into the game of Monopolyn (41 mins)
• Jamal asks whether God likes Diplomacy (43 mins)
• The nature of the discussion turns towards Buddism and Diplomacy, and Jamal reflects on Catholicism in Italy (49 mins)
• Jacob asks about whether there's any place in the game of Diplomacy for some of the key aspects of the major religions (57 mins)
• Gavin reflects on the face to face nature of the game as a way of meeting great people and traveling to amazing locations (1 hr 5 mins)
• Just search Christian Buddhist bar on Google to find Jamal and  Jacob's podcast if you want to hear more of A Christian and a Buddhist Walk into a Bar (1 hr 11 mins)
• The guys reflect on the discussion with Jamal and Jacob (1 hr 12 mins)
• Gavin talks about how he enjoyed spending time travelling and visiting Diplomacy players during his trip, including Jamal, Bradley Grace, Chris Brand and John Avena (1 hr 16 mins 45 secs)
• He goes onto talk about WDC 2025 in San Francisco and WDC 2026 in Athens, with a shout out to Spyros, podcast listener and TD for WDC in Athens (1 hr 22 mins)
• Gavin discusses officially holding the Cane Toad Classic tournament in Brisbane the weekend of 24-25 August 2024. Register your interest at the Australian Diplomacy tournament form (1 hr 26 mins)
• They talk about a pre-game for the first weekend in August but since recording we've fallen short and won't be happening (1 hr 30 mins)
• The guys begin wrapping up the show, and Gavin does an extra Bradely Grace shout out on 3 words (1 hr 35 mins 15 secs)

 

Venue: Longwang, Brisbane

Drinks of choice:

Ken: Balter XPA from the Gold Coast, XXXX Bitter from Brisbane (during the interview)

Gavin: Balter XPA from the Gold Coast

Just a reminder you can support the show by giving it 5 stars on iTunes or Stitcher. And don't forget if you want to help pay off the audio equipment... or buy the guys a drink, you can also donate at Patreon, plus you get extra podcast episodes!

Lastly, don't forget to subscribe so you get the latest Diplomacy Games episodes straight to your phone.

Thanks as always to Dr Dan aka "The General" for his rockin' intro tune.

 

Interview with Davide Cleopadre about WDC Milan

 

The guys interview Davide Cleopadre, the tournament organiser of the 2024 World Diplomacy Championship in Milan, Italy.

Intro

• The guys open the show being recorded on Skype and introduce their drinks with a couple of stories along the way (0 mins 10 secs)

Interview with Davide Cleopadre, TD for the 2024 WDC in Milan

• They start introducing the interview with Davide Cleopadre, the tournament organiser (11 mins 50 secs)
• The interview begins and Gavin asks Davide why he nominated Milan as the host for the 2024 WDC (14 mins)
• Gavin talks about the culture in Italy and Australia and how they've very similar (16 mins 15 secs)
• Davide talks a little around the venue and eating too much (19 mins)
• Gavin asks what will people walk away remembering about this particular WDC. Ken bowls a curve ball  (21 mins 20 secs)
• He goes onto ask about the structure of the tournament... with a little lasagne and gnocci talk... and not to put any sauce on anything in Australia (24 mins 15 secs)
• They talk about the rounds in the tournament, the scoring system and gameplay (29 mins)
• Davide goes into how the top board is determined and Gavin asks about the Lingua Franca in the tournament (41 mins 40 secs)
• Ken asks about using new technologies to improve communication in other languages in tournaments (45 mins 10 secs)
• Gavin draws on his previous visit to Milan many years ago and asks about Davide's expeditations on travelling before or after the tournament (49 mins)
• They talk about the WhatsApp group for the tournament (50 mins 50 secs)
• Davide talks about the idea of betting and bottles of wine before a brief discussion on Spaghetti Bolognese (55 mins 30 secs)
• The guys discuss the interview (59 mins 30 secs)
• Gavin mentions the Team game concept being considered for WDC Milan (1 hr 6 mins)

Diplomacy chat

• Ken asks what Gavin's doing with his online games while he's away (1 hr 11 mins)
• They discuss some of Gavin's vDip games (1 hr 15 mins)
• Ken asks about buying into games (1 hr 20 mins)
• The guys wrap up the show (1 hr 28 mins)

Venue: Skype because Ken has buggered up his hand, Brisbane

Drinks of choice:

Ken: XXXX Bitter from Brisbane

Gavin: De Bortelli Sacred Hill Shiraz, "Wine of Australia"

Just a reminder you can support the show by giving it 5 stars on iTunes or Stitcher. And don't forget if you want to help pay off the audio equipment... or buy the guys a drink, you can also donate at Patreon, plus you get extra podcast episodes!

Lastly, don't forget to subscribe so you get the latest Diplomacy Games episodes straight to your phone.

Thanks as always to Dr Dan aka "The General" for his rockin' intro tune.

 

Diplomacy weapons of choice

• The guys open the show and introduce the venue, Maniax, an axe throwing bar (0 mins 10 secs)
• Gavin mentions a Bizarre Map originally published on X, which explains what bits of Australia are like if they were American (6 mins 15 secs)
• They also discuss the old pronunciation issue for “Arkansas” (8 mins 20 secs)
• The guys flag there’s no interview this episode, and an update where they stuffed up an interview (9 mins 30 secs)
• Gavin talks about setting a regularly scheduled day each month so people can put it in their calendar eg second Sunday or the month (16 mins 45 secs)
• They get invited to throw axes and receive a safety briefing and before having a throw - apologies if it gets a little quieter at this point but there’s understandable a bit of space between the recorder and where we throw the axes (19 mins 45 secs)
• The guys give a wrap up of their axe throwing games (41 mins)
• They move onto a new bar and discuss the venue and their drinks (45 mins)
• Gavin talks about not acting his age. Read more about Australian school yard Hand Ball - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Handball_(schoolyard_game) - he also discusses swearing (50 mins 30 secs)
• Ken delivers some big news from Sweden (55 mins 15 secs)
• He asks Gavin about his thoughts on networking the board vs the strategy of the board - you can hear about this for less than $2 a month in our Patreon feed (55 mins 50 secs)
• Gavin cracks some news about his plans for May and June this year (57 mins 50 secs)
• They discuss the What the Dr Recommended segment (1 hr 6 mins)

• The guys kick off an Around the Grounds segment and start talking about some of their online games (1 hr 7 mins 50 secs)
• They start wrapping up the show (1 hr 20 mins)

 Venue: Maniax and then Brew, Brisbane

Drinks of choice:

Ken: Maniax Mead and Stone and Wood Pacific Ale

Gavin: Two to the Valley pale ale by Newstead Brewery and a Don Ramon tempranillo

Just a reminder you can support the show by giving it 5 stars on iTunes or Stitcher. And don't forget if you want to help pay off the audio equipment... or buy the guys a drink, you can also donate at Patreon, plus you get extra podcast episodes!

Lastly, don't forget to subscribe so you get the latest Diplomacy Games episodes straight to your phone.

Thanks as always to Dr Dan aka "The General" for his rockin' intro tune.

 

 

Melbourne Open 2024

The guys discuss their latest face to face tournament, the Melbourne Open and have an around the card table discussion with many great players. Plus Ken's shoe story. Enjoy!

Intro

• The guys open the show discussing their drinks, Gavin's incredible rustiness and a little about the tournament (0 mins 15 secs)
• They mention DBN is having a chat also coming up blow by blow about the tournament  (9 mins secs)

Card table chat around Melbourne Open and player experiences

• The guys introduce the card table chat with various players from the Melbourne Open and Ken teases the tale of two shoes. Bear in mind that occassionally with so many people speaking it can be confusing briefly (9 mins 30 secs)
• The chat begins with Karthik Konath (USA), Craig Percell (New Zealand), Ken, Steve (Melboune), Peter (Melbourne), Jamal (Canberra), Goffy (Melbourne) and Robert (Melbourne via London), meanwhile Gavin discusses a skit in Aunty Donna and his poor consistent games at the end of day one (10 mins)
• They begin a debrief on their round 1 and 2 games and observations from the first day (14 mins)
• Sascha (Thailand via Germany) joins the chat and they discuss the international player's views on why they came to an Australian tournament and what they like about Australia from their visit so far (19 mins)
• They talk about the prospects of a WDC in Australia is a few years (26 mins 30 secs)
• Australian stereotypes (32 mins 35 secs)
• They eventually move on to each discuss their first day at the tournament (38 mins 45 secs)
• They move onto how things will change in their gameplay for day two and the additional role to the TD in supporting wellbeing (1 hr 23 mins 45 secs)
• The discussion wraps up (1 hr 53 mins)

Airport Tournament wrap-up (BONUS shoe story)

• The guys give their recollections of the chat (1 hr 53 mins 30 secs)
• They discuss their trip back from Andrew Goff's to their apartment and Ken's Ned the "Shoe Man" Kelly story (1 hr 57 mins)
• Ken announces he came third in the tournament (2 hrs 3 mins)
• Ken flags to watch his second round Turkey game when it airs on DBN (2 hrs 7 mins 30 secs)
• Gavin talks about his first round Italy getting an Italian army in Sevastapol in fall 1902 (2 hrs 9 mins)
• They discuss upcoming tournaments including the Hung Parliament Handicap in Canberra, getting a Canetoad Classic in Brisbane happening in August and another Melbourne tournament in October (2 hrs 14 mins)
• Gavin flags that our scheduling has been thrown out a bit before wrapping up (2 hours 16 mins)

Venue: The Taphouse (Melbourne Airport) and Andrew Goff's place, Melbourne

Drinks of choice:

Ken:  Stomping Ground red ale by the Taphouse and so, so many

Gavin: Stomping Ground pale ale zero alcohol and many, many more

Just a reminder you can support the show by giving it 5 stars on iTunes or Stitcher. And don't forget if you want to help pay off the audio equipment... or buy the guys a drink, you can also donate at Patreon, plus you get extra podcast episodes!

Lastly, don't forget to subscribe so you get the latest Diplomacy Games episodes straight to your phone.

Thanks as always to Dr Dan aka "The General" for his rockin' intro tune.

 

Interview with Zach Moore about NADF

The guys interview Zach Moore about all things NADF. Plus we talk our online games.

Intro

• The guys open the show talking about some recent off topic discussions (0 mins 15 secs)
• They discuss their drinks and initial venue  (1 mins 30 secs)
• Loser's round stuff (3 mins 30 secs)

Interview with Zach Moore about NADF

• The guys start introducing their interview with Zach, current NADF President who gives us a tour of his car (6 mins 30 secs)
• Zach explains how he took over the presidency of NADF from Siobhan Nolen, and his purpose in the role and the Code of Conduct (9 mins)
• He discusses the more proactive measures he'd like to see to get ahead of behaviours that cause problems and how the NADF Board is assisting (13 mins)
• They discuss improving diversity in the game (16 mins)
• Zach talks about this year's DipCon in Vancouver and his experience, including his game with Jamal Blakkarly (20 mins 30 secs)
• Gavin asks about why non North Americans didn't perform as well at DipCon (28 mins)
• They discuss how play style changes in a tournament where there is no top board (34 mins 30 secs)
• Zach talks about how Covid killed the local Minnesota club (37 mins 30 secs)
• Zach asks about the Australian "Snake Pit" virtual league on Discord (39 mins 15 secs)
• They talk about the concept of an International Diplomacy Federation (41 mins)
• Zach puts on the record about him winning his DBNI first round and top board, and how it'll happen (46 mins)
• They wrap up the interview (48 mins 20 secs)

Around the grounds

• They move bars to the Dark Red Wine Bar and discuss their new drinks as a mid-game (55 mins)
• The guys talk about a "Big Hitters" game staring to form at vDiplomacy, currently planned on a Haven map (1 hr 1 mins)
• They talk about heading off to the Melbourne Open this weekend (1 hr 5 mins)
• They wrap up the show (1 hr 9 mins)

Venue: The Prince Regent & the Dark Red Wine Bar, Brisbane

Drinks of choice:

Ken:  Young Henry's XPA and Moretti Lager (from Italy)

Gavin: Balter XPA and a Primitovo from Apulgia, Italy

Just a reminder you can support the show by giving it 5 stars on iTunes or Stitcher. And don't forget if you want to help pay off the audio equipment... or buy the guys a drink, you can also donate at Patreon, plus you get extra podcast episodes!

Lastly, don't forget to subscribe so you get the latest Diplomacy Games episodes straight to your phone.

Thanks as always to Dr Dan aka "The General" for his rockin' intro tune.

Interview with Chris Brand about DipCon 2024

The guys interview Chris Brand about the upcoming 2024 DipCon/Cascadia Open in Vancouver. Plus we talk upcoming tournaments and our online games.

Intro

• The guys open the show about Gavin's wife's recent interest in Ticket to Ride and talk about a number of other board games (0 mins 15 secs)
• They discuss their drinks and initial venue which they last visited in episode 2 (4 mins 20 secs)
• Ken's been brewing beer (6 mins 20 secs)

Interview with Chris Brand

• The guys start introducing their interview with Chris Brand, WDC winner and tournament organiser for this year's DipCon/Cascadia Open in Vancouver (10 mins 15 secs)
• Gavin asks about the tournament from 3rd to 4th February 2024 and how it'll be different being run as a DipCon (12 mins 30 secs)
• They talk about the scoring system and player's from different locations' playing style versus the West Coast style (15 mins 30 secs)
• They go onto discuss responsibilities in organising the tournament (20 mins 40 secs)
• Chris talks about the rounds and the impact of online players increasingly attending face to face tournaments (23 mins)
• Gavin asks about Chris' drink (26 mins)
• Ken asks about how did the idea of combining DipCon and Cascadia come about (27 mins 40 secs)
• He then asks about the logistics of getting to the tournament (30 mins 30 secs)
• They talk about the social aspect of the tournament (32 mins 15 secs)
• Gavin asks Chris about whether he'll attend WDC in Milan (34 mins)
• Ken asks about how to register and get advice on getting to the tournament (35 mins 40 secs)
• They start wrapping up the interview before moving onto discussing the interview (38 mins)
• Ken gets up to some maple syrup smuggling (47 mins 30 secs)

Diplomacy chat

• The guys discuss the two upcoming tournaments in Australia: the Melbourne Open hosted by Andrew Goff in the first weekend of March and the Hung Parliament Handicap in Canberra hosted by Jamal Blakkarly on 12-14 April (48 mins 30 secs)
• The guys give their take on Renaissance Italy (57 mins)
• They discuss having a tournament in Brisbane during August called the "Canetoad Classic" and get into the trophy (1 hr 1 min)
• The guys move onto a new venue, moving to Rothwells and discuss their mid-game drinks (1 hr 7 mins)

Around the grounds

• Gavin talks about the last episode where the guys agreed to play the new South of Sahara variant, but Ken then CD'ed and left the game (1 hr 14 mins)
• They move onto Gavin's Europa Renovatio game as Portugal (1 hr 18 mins)
• Ken flags he hasn't got around to any Big Stick Diplomacy variant updates. They then talk about a few games broadly (1 hr 26 mins)
• Ken talks about how to flag in a gunboat how to flag to get on with it and draw (1 hr 29 mins 30 secs)
• The guys start wrapping up the episode (1 hr 32 mins 45 secs)

Venue: The Gresham & Rothwell's, Brisbane

Drinks of choice:

Ken:  Cooper's Sparkling Ale from South Australia and Wilder gluten free pale ale

Gavin: Capa Sigle Tempranillo from Castilla la Mancha in Spain and a 2018 Bordeaux

Just a reminder you can support the show by giving it 5 stars on iTunes or Stitcher. And don't forget if you want to help pay off the audio equipment... or buy the guys a drink, you can also donate at Patreon, plus you get extra podcast episodes!

Lastly, don't forget to subscribe so you get the latest Diplomacy Games episodes straight to your phone.

Thanks as always to Dr Dan aka "The General" for his rockin' intro tune.

Catch up interview with Umbletheheap & a smidge of Christmas

After almost 4 years the guys bring back creator and publisher of the Diplomacy Briefing, Umbletheheap, to see where the weekly email newsletter is at and where it's going. Plus we award the end of year Best Player award between each other, the new South of Sahara variant and progress on the Big Stick Diplomacy variant.

Intro

• The guys open the show and discuss their drinks and initial venue which they last visited in episode 14. They discuss why Russia doesn't open Warsaw to Silesia more often. (0 mins 15 secs)

Interview with Umbletheheap

• The guys start introducing their interview with Umbletheheap, creator and publisher of the Diplomacy Briefing (6 mins 15 secs)
• Umble gives a quick overview about what the Diplomacy Briefing is and its initial beginning (8 mins)
• He discusses the increasing role of many other great people contributing to the Briefing (10 mins 15 secs)
• Gavin asks about the professionalisation of the newsletter (14 mins 10 secs)
• Umble discusses his role in Ministry as a pastor yet being someone who loves the game Diplomacy which has a certain reputation (17 mins 45 secs)
• They discuss the role of AI when assisting the Briefing (26 mins)
• Gavin gives a shout out for anyone listening to the show who wants to step up, give back to the community and be recognised for their work re-using podcast conten in other areas eg Youtube (31 mins)
• Umble shares two secrets, one on starting the Briefing and getting Captainmeme back into the game (32 mins)
• He discusses winding things back a bit, while still ensuring the Briefing will keep on going (39 mins)
• Umble discusses old Diplomacy zines and how in the past it impacted on relationships (44 mins)
• He finishes up by discussing their Diplomacy awards coming up (47 mins)
• The guys return - this time in a new venue - and discuss the interview (52 mins)

Diplomacy chat

• They discuss the new venue - an 80's rock bar called Alice - and their drinks (57 mins 30 secs)
• Some 80's pop culture banter (59 mins)
• Ken awards the trophy between the two of them on who is The Better vDip player, with Ken still beating Gavin (1 hr 0 mins 40 secs)

New variant - South of Sahara

• The guys discuss the latest new variant on vDip "South of Sahara", created by David E Cohen and brought to vDip by Enriador and Tobias Florin (1 hr 3 mins 30 secs)
• They discuss this new 5 player variant. Gavin shares a conversation with David about the variant and some of his new upcoming variants (1 hr 5 mins)
• Ken shares a story about transforming units in Known World 901 and they agree to playing a South of Sahara game together (1 hr 12 mins 30 secs)
• Due to the very dark lighting they decide to switch drinking venues (1 hr 15 mins)

Variant development update: Big Stick Diplomacy

• The guys have moved to Red Queen Gin and begin planning further their Big Stick Diplomacy variant (1 hr 15 mins 45 secs)
• Ken gives Gavin a geographic history lesson (1 hr 41 mins)

Henry Kissinger update

• The freaky Henry Kissinger moment (1 hr 47 mins)

Bronze Age Diplomacy play testing

• Gavin bought into this variant being play tested. You can view the game at vDiplomacy with the opening positions viewed on the variant page (1 hr 54 mins 30 secs)
• He goes on to discuss what he felt coming towards the end game and why as a variant creator he felt the need to stab his long term ally (1 hr 57 mins 15 secs)
• The guys start wrappin up the show, but have a mea culpa for our Patreon supporters. Gavin's slightly misplaced the recording from last episode and is looking for it. It'll come out soon (2 hrs 7 mins)

Venue: Embassy Hotel, Alice and Red Queen Gin, Brisbane

Drinks of choice:

Ken:  Black Haze stout infused with egg nog, Sundance Surprise, Ritual and Ceremonies
Gavin: Black Hops Goat hazy IPA, Buffalo Trace on the rocks, barrel aged Negroni

Just a reminder you can support the show by giving it 5 stars on iTunes or Stitcher. And don't forget if you want to help pay off the audio equipment... or buy the guys a drink, you can also donate at Patreon, plus you get extra podcast episodes!

Lastly, don't forget to subscribe so you get the latest Diplomacy Games episodes straight to your phone.

Thanks as always to Dr Dan aka "The General" for his rockin' intro tune.

 

Kissinger & Diplomacy + Interview with Sascha Heylmann

The guys interview Sascha Heylmann who they met and played at WDC. Plus we address the myth of Diplomacy being the favorite game of Henry Kissinger... unfortunately surprisingly timely.

Intro

• The guys open the show and discuss the venue and their drinks before they introduce their interview with Sascha Heylmann, one of the behind the scenes organisers at WDC in Bangkok (0 mins 15 secs

Interview with Sascha Heylmann

• The interview with Sascha begins (2 mins 45 secs)
• How Sascha got into Diplomacy: both in Europe and in Bangkok. He discusses recent organising of games in Bangkok (4 mins 30 secs)
• They talk about the challenge of getting local players instead of ex-pats and more women involved into the game (9 mins)
• The guys talk about the challenge of playing a pre-dominantly a game communicating in English vs Thai, culture in the ex-pat and Thai communities and improving diversity in the game (15 mins)
• Sascha talks about upcoming steps in Diplomacy coming up for Bangkok and more broadly for southeast Asia (26 mins 45 secs)
• Ken asks about Sascha's takeaway thoughts on what went well and what could've been done differently for future tournaments (31 mins 30 secs)
• They talk about long term thinking for a tournament circuit concept. Sascha reflects on this in the southeast Asian context with the idea of it being somewhere like Denang in Vietnam in August 2024 (36 mins 30 secs)
• If you want to find out more and join Sascha's Whatsapp group for the New Years or Southeast Asian championship, use our contact us link and we'll hook you up! Or private message Vaultboy on vDiplomacy (45 mins 30 secs)
• The guys wrap up the interview (52 mins)
• The guys return and give their thoughts on the interview (52 mins 50 secs)
• Ken and Gavin move bars to the Press Club (54 mins 50 secs)

Diplomacy news and chat

• Brother Bored’s Diplomacy Dojo podcast is back after a bit of a hiatus (56 mins)
• They discuss PlayDip recently being hacked and give their thoughts about the massive amount of gambling advertising on the site (58 mins)
• Ken announces that we’re going to be part of trying to get a face to face scene happening on the Gold Coast (about an hour south of Brisbane) (1 hr 2 mins)
• Gavin announces a small development in the urban legend about Diplomacy being the favourite game of Henry Kissinger. Note: this was recorded prior to the announcement of Henry Kissinger’s death (1 hr 6 mins 30 secs)
• The guys turn to their new proposed variant across multiple theaters of war at the end of the 19th Century and have an update for listeners (1 hr 20 mins 15 secs)
• Gavin resets expectations on a Christmas extravaganza for the next episode (1 hr 37 mins)
• He goes onto discuss a suggested title for this variant (1 hr 39 mins 15 secs)
• They talk about a name for the variant and coalesce on "Big Stick Diplomacy" (1 hr 47 mins 30 secs)
• The guys begin wrapping up the episode (1 hr 49 mins)

Venue: Press Club, Brisbane

Drinks of choice:

Ken:  Valley Hops hazy IPA
Gavin: The house cabernet sauvignon.

Just a reminder you can support the show by giving it 5 stars on iTunes or Stitcher. And don't forget if you want to help pay off the audio equipment... or buy the guys a drink, you can also donate at Patreon, plus you get extra podcast episodes!

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Thanks as always to Dr Dan aka "The General" for his rockin' intro tune.