Diplomacy Games

Interview with jmo from webDiplomacy

The guys interview jmo from webDip about all the great recent - and future - developments over there and how it relates to vDip. Chat also about Minecraft Diplomacy, playing Diplomacy in the navy and much more.

Intro

• Show introduction and discussion about Kaner and Amby’s drinks (0 mins 5 secs) 
• They are getting together before their first face to face game of Diplomacy in Brisbane. Amby suggests if trying to grow the game locally, perhaps reaching out to university board game clubs to facilitate a game (2 mins 40 secs)
• Kaner talks about his father’s Diplomacy experience in the Australian navy (4 mins 20 secs)
• The guys introduce their interview with jmo1121109 from webDip (7 mins 20 secs)

Interview with jmo from webDip

• The guys welcome jmo from webDip to the show and asks about his role there (8 mins 5 secs)
• Jmo talks about some of the recent changes at webDip and why these were made. He also discusses how the webDip code improvements can then be used by other sites like vDip, the Russian site etc (9 mins 20 secs)
• Amby asks about the new forum functionality at webDip (12 mins 30 secs)
• Kaner asks what else has been happening over at webDip. Jmo acknowledges the great coding work being done by squiggs44 to help  (16 mins 50 secs)
• Amby gives his thumbs up to the new rating systems for active players (18 mins 40 secs)
• Amby asks about other work at webDip. Jmo talks about tobi’s reliability/excused ratings and bringing that to webDip and then discusses the new tournament functionality now at webDip (21 mins 30 secs)
• Kaner explains the noise in the background, Amby flags with jmo whether the tournament functionality allows for a particular country allocation process (32 mins)
• Amby asks about the webDip Discord community and how its used. (34 mins)
• Amby asks jmo if people wanted to help webDip, what skill sets are needed right now. Jmo talks about the role of mentors and people with a technical interest. He touches in the positive impact doing technical work at webDip to help professionally when growing your career (39 mins)
• Amby asks about how the process works currently at webDip and what’s proposed in the future for supporting mentoring (45 mins 20 secs)
• Jmo talks about webDip’s School of War (48 mins)
• Kaner discusses how vDip incentivize people with little icons next to their names. Jmo likes what’s suggested and says he’s going to steal it (49 mins)
• Amby asks Jmo to give a quick overview about what ghost ratings are and what Squiggs44’ is doing to bring ghost ratings to webDip (50 mins 30 secs)
• Jmo discusses other future work planned on webDip like “dark mode”, how to see more live games, extended phase changes and bringing over vDip’s point and click interactive orders. He then mentions his final big change: a sandbox mode (54 mins 45 secs) 
• Amby asks about what communication is happening across the different Diplomacy site admins (59 mins 45 secs)
• Amby asks Jmo how can we grow the hobby more (1 hr 2 mins 30 secs)
• Jmo is asked about whether he gets to play much (1 hr 4 mins 30 secs)
• Kaner asks what the numbers after jmo’s handle mean (1 hr 6 min 30 secs)
• Jmo finishes up with a longer term project to improve the way misturn delays are handled (1 hr 7 mins 15 secs)

The guys return from the interview

• Kaner and Amby talk about a post-interview discussion about possible future developments at webDip  (1 hr 8 mins)
• They discuss their thoughts about the interview itself (1 hr 9 mins)

Diplomacy Minecraft

• They move onto a forum post at webDip about playing Diplomacy on Minecraft (1 hr 9 mins 30 secs)
• The way the discussions are planned for the Minecraft game (using Discord), Amby feels doesn’t resemble the nature of real Diplomacy which could be achieved inside the Minecraft interface (1 hr 12 mins 30 secs)

More post-jmo chat

• The guys return to the jmo interview and discuss the sharing and code between webDip and vDip (1 hr 15 mins)
• They talk about the rankings changes and possibly the future application of ghost ratings. They then discuss the “in demand” skills the online community needs right now (1 hr 18 mins)
• Amby talks about a mentor marketplace to match up new and existing players. Kaner talks about the positive real life career implications of participating in the community with coding and mentoring (1 hr 19 mins 20 secs)
• The guys wrap up the show (1 hr 21 mins)

Venue: Claude and Corbett, Brisbane

Drinks of choice:

Amby and Kaner - Claude and Corbett Lager, Brisbane

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 improve the audio equipment... or get the guys more drunk,  you can also donate at Patreon or you can also shop at Amazon using our affiliate link. It costs exactly the same to you, but Amazon give us a small cut and it doesn't cost you a cent more!

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 Baron von Powell, creator of 1900

The guys interview Baron von Powell, legendary Diplomacy variant developer of 1900, Ambition and Empire and the College of Cardinals. Plus an Around the Grounds and more. Enjoy!

Intro

• The guys are still at Felon’s Brewery in a back-to-back session. Kaner talks beer yoga (0 mins 30 secs)
• Amby switches to a Felon’s IPA while Kaner sticks to the Treehouse cider (1 min 30 secs)
• They move onto introducing the interview with Baron von Powell (2 mins 50 secs)

Interview with Baron von Powell

• • Amby explores the nature of Baron von Powell’s name (3 mins 30 secs)
  • Baron shares how often he has played Diplomacy (4 mins 55 secs)
  • Baron talks about postal Diplomacy (7 mins)
  • Amby reflects on Baron’s views about Slack after his experience during the Tournament of Time at PlayDip  (8 mins 10 secs)
  • Baron discusses his fascination with the game going back to the 80’s (10 mins)
  • He goes onto talk about responding to an article in 1998 in Diplomacy World about improving Classic. He goes onto discussing how this became the 1900 variant, with now over 500 games played - you can play 1900 at PlayDiplomacy (premium account needed) and vDiplomacy (14 mins)
  • Kaner discusses his first exposure to 1900 and the concept of Siberian reserve army. Baron talks about his role and where he drew inspiration. He goes onto discussing how he tried improving the Classic map to better reflect the “powerhouse” nature of Germany. He talks about not radicalizing the game, but better reflecting the historical nature of the map for when the game starts at 1900 (16 mins 15 secs)
  • Amby agrees with Baron’s historical thinking (19 mins 20 secs)
  • Amby goes onto ask with the 500 games that have occurred, to what extent the balance is improved (21 mins 40 secs)
  • Baron talks about the rule changes of 1900 (24 mins 15 secs) 
  • Kaner asks whether territories in 1900 that are impassable in Classic (eg Iceland, Ireland) are used (28 mins 15 secs)
  • Baron mentions how stalemate lines are rarely used effectively in 1900 (30 mins 30 secs)
  • Kaner asks Baron about his other well known variant: Ambition & Empire. Baron talks about partnering with Jeff Kase on developing his variant and how its different to 1900 (31 mins)
  • Baron discusses the creation of the Diplomacy point and how they work (34 mins 20 secs)
  • They touch on the Tournament of Time and the nature of how the games worked out based on team strategy (37 mins)
  • They discuss the Dissolution variant and why Baron loves it so much (39 mins 45 secs)
  • Kaner asks about Baron’s latest project: College of Cardinals (10.3 mb PDF download), a variant he’s been developing for 9 years with Timothy Hayward. He begins by talking about some of the early difficulties designing the game (41 mins 20 secs)
•  
• 
• • He discusses the nature of the role of the Pope and the process of electing the Pope. He talks about the difference in complexity between a Classic game and highly detailed variants like College of Cardinals (44 mins 30 secs)
  • Kaner discusses his experience in previous Crusade variants and how difficult it is to get armies to the Holy Land. Baron talks about how the College of Cardinals tries to address this with the option of a Crusade being called and how it works (47 mins)
  • Amby asks about how Excommunication impacts on gameplay (48 mins 45 secs)
  • Baron talks about Crusade objectives and how convoys work: including effectively “land” convoys. He then discusses how Diplomacy points come into play (50 mins 45 secs)
  • They discuss the Islamic powers in the game. There are 7 Catholic players, 2 Orthodox players and 3 Islamic powers (53 mins 45 secs)
  • Baron says listeners can read the rules and view the map when he sends them through to Kaner & Amby (56 mins 20 secs)
  • Baron discusses Papal Bulls (57 mins 15 secs)
  • Amby asks about the process for electing the Pope (58 mins 50 secs)
  • Baron reflects how the variant evolved how the nature of the Pope changed over time (1 hr 0 mins)
  • Baron flags the variant is in hiatus currently, but says he’d love to see enough committed players play another game. Amby discusses how it would really suit a forum game at PlayDip.  (1 hr 2 mins 30 secs)
  • Kaner asks whether there’s a period of history that Baron feels is crying out for a variant to be made. Baron gives his thoughts (1 hr 5 mins 15 secs)
  • Baron leaves us with his passion: a strategic simulation of Lord of the Rings, a game he has been developing since 1981 (1 hr 9 mins 40 secs)

Note: There are two articles about College of Cardinals in Diplomacy World from 2013 and 2014 (http://www.diplomacyworld.net/pdf/dw124.pdf page 36 and http://www.diplomacyworld.net/pdf/dw126.pdf page 39)

Post-interview

• The guys are back in the brewery and reflect on the interview (1 hr 12 mins)
• They both express their interest in sinking their teeth into the variant although it has 60+ pages of rules and contents. If a test game happens it’s likely to be in 2020 (1 hr 14 mins 45 secs)

Sage of the Nine - Norse mythology variant being tested

• The guys talk about a new variant “Saga of the Nine” a Norse mythology variant developed by Alex Ronke with Chris Helwig that is being playtested (1 hr 18 mins
• Kaner walks on the wildside - committing to FOUR games (1 hr 21 mins)
• Kaner after NMRing in a game he was in with Amby, experienced the new reliability system over at vDiplomacy (1 hr 22 mins)
• The guys get back to the Norse variant with Kaner really interested in the Saga of the Nine variant (1 hr 23 mins 45 secs)

Brisbane Backstabbers face-to-face game coming up

• The guys have organised a local face-to-face game for Sunday 28 July at Vault Games. If you’re interested in this game or future games, please register (1 hr 25 mins 45 secs)

Around the grounds

• Amby touches on a Versailles game he’s playing at PlayDip - note since recording Amby has already been eliminated (1 hr 27 mins 45 secs)
• They discuss the Edwardian game at vDip that Amby was getting smashed in (1 hr 29 mins 50 secs)
• They get into trouble by mostly playing anonymous and gunboat games which limits clarity of the conversation in the podcast (1 hr 30 mins 30 secs)
• They get back to the Edwardian game “Smoking jackets and single malt scotch” and Amby talks about the nature of the game and the caliber of players he was trying to attract - note since recording Amby has surprisingly been included in a draw (1 hr 32 mins 30 secs)
• Kaner brings up how G-Man runs a similar “Cloak and Dagger” series of high end players (1 hr 34 mins)
• Amby discusses how the alliances in the Edwardian game are constantly flipping (1 hr 34 mins 45 secs)
• Kaner mentions - after recounting - he’s actually in FIVE gunboat games at the moment: three Europa Renovatio games and two 1898 Fog of War games (1 hr 39 mins)
• Kaner talks about one of these games where he is being absolutely destroyed (1 hr 39 mins 30 secs)
• They return to the anonymous gunboat A World at War 1937 variant game: WW2 Global Boogaloo which Kaner NMRed in (as Thailand). They talk about the game as best as they can, which is easier for Kaner as everyone now knows who he was playing (1 hr 42 mins 30 secs)
• Amby mentions how he’s waiting on two games to still start: American Funboat (Divided States variant) and Cry George for Harry! (Europa Renovatio variant) (1 hr 48 mins 30 secs)
• The guys start wrapping up the show, reminding folks if they want to support the guys getting drunk visit our Diplomacy Games Patreon page, if you want better audio visit our Diplomacy Games Amazon page and of course rate and review the show on your favorite podcast platform (1 hr 49 mins)

Venue: Felon's Brewery, Brisbane

Drinks of choice:

Amby - Felon's IPA by Felon's, Brisbane

Kaner - Treehouse Cider by the Granite Belt Cider Company, Warwick

 

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 improve the audio equipment... or get the guys more drunk,  you can also donate at Patreon or you can also shop at Amazon using our affiliate link. It costs exactly the same to you, but Amazon give us a small cut and it doesn't cost you a cent more!

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 Emmanuel du Pontavice about WDC 2019 in Marseilles

The guys interview Emmanuel du Pontavice about WDC 2019 in Marseilles, before talking about new variants including Technostar's latest massive map, Europa Renovatio, War in the Americas and 1898. Plus a bit of chatter about their current games.

Intro

• The guys are at Felon’s Brewery and start the show talking about Amby’s clumsiness and glasses (0 mins 10 secs)
• Amby starts with a Felon’s Australian Pale Ale while Kaner is on a Treehouse Cider from the Granite Belt Cider Company (2 mins 10 secs)

Interview with Emmanuel du Pontavice about WDC 2019 in Marseilles

• The guys start introducing their interview guest: Emmanuel du Pontavice, who is one of the tournament coordinators for the 2019 World Diplomacy Championship (WDC) in Marseilles, France from 30 August to 1 September (3 mins 30 secs)
• The interview begins with Amby asking about the details of WDC this year. Emmanuel points potential players to the website which is available in English, French and Italian (4 mins 20 secs)
• Kaner asks about budget and accommodation options (8 mins 30)
• Amby asks if there are any non-Diplomacy events planned for players (10 mins 10 secs)
• They then discuss the format of the tournament (12 mins)
• Kaner asks about the scoring system for the tournament. Emmanuel mentions the details are on the website (13 mins 35 secs)
• Amby asks about the language needs of players if they don’t speak French (17 mins 15 secs)
• Kaner asks about any other plans during the tournament (19 mins 10 secs)
• Amby asks about how many people have signed up, or are likely to be attending (21 mins) 
• Kaner asks about how Marseilles was awarded to host the WDC (23 mins 20 secs)
• Amby asks if there’s anything else Emmanuel would like to cover off (26 mins)
• The guys wrap up the interview (28 mins 20 secs)
•  

Face to face and new ways you can support the show

• Amby reminds listeners if they are part of a face-to-face community, or are trying to start a community, pop by our Google Map to register their community (36 mins 30 secs)
• He goes onto discuss plans for a face-to-face game in Brisbane for eitherJuly 27th or 28th. People interested can go to our Brisbane Diplomacy page to register. It will be held at Vault Games at 123 Charlotte Street, Brisbane (37 mins 25 secs)
• Amby discusses an email they received from Brian in Hawaii who is moving back to Brisbane in early 2020 and is looking forward to a game. They discuss the importance of sunscreen in summer downunder (40 mins 30 secs)
• Amby mentions that listeners have been able to for a while donate to our Patreon account to donate as a patron (usually to get us more drunk) can now by their stuff on Amazon via the Diplomacy Games affiliate account. It doesn’t cost you a cent more, but gives us a little kick back to help improve our audio equipment (42 mins 45 secs)

• The guys grab some new drinks. Amby has moved onto the Natural Ale. Kaner is still on the Treehouse Cider (47 mins 10 secs)

Around the grounds/new variants

• Amby reflects on probably the longest game he’s played, now onto its second year. This is Amby’s Divided States game (48 mins 15 secs)
• They touch on the other Divides States game “American Funboat” which hasn’t started yet (51 mins)
• Then it’s onto the latest massive variant at vDip: Europa Renovatio recently developed by Technostar (the developer of Divided States). It’s a massive 34 player map in the 15th century Europe (52 mins 20 secs)
• The guys give their thoughts on its unowned SCs - SCs that appear visually owned by a power but isn’t actually owned when it comes to builds (58 mins)
• Amby talks trivia and throws in a joke or two (1 hr 3 mins)
• They get back onto the map and talk about the sea lanes (1 hr 8 mins)
• The guys talk about their early experiences in their two games and where conflict is less likely vs where shit fights will happen (1 hr 11 mins)
• The guys get more drinks, with Amby switching to something different: a Raspberry Sour (1 hr 18 mins 30 secs)
• Amby learns about vaping from Kaner (1 hr 20 mins 20 secs)
• They move onto the 1898 variant: a Classic map but with just 1 SC and unit. The guys discuss how it’s similar - but a little different - to the Age of Empires rule in PlayDip. Created by Randy Davis but ported across to online Diplomacy by Flame (1 hr 24 mins)
• Amby brings up a 3rd new variant: War in the Americas, available over at PlayDip. The variant was created by Macario Reyes and moved across to PlayDip by Alex Ronke/nopunin10did. It covers 10 players and features conflict across North and South America. Amby joined the game even though it was in a pre-released test mode. Amby discusses how he’s really enjoying this variant playing as Spain in “USA!!” (1 hr 26 mins 45 secs)
• Kaner talks about the sea territories and rivers on the map, while Amby tells his stabbing story from the game  (1 hr 32 mins 40 secs)
• Amby retells Britain’s response to the stabbing. Kaner retells his response when he was stabbed in a WWIV game (1 hr 39 mins 45 secs)
• The guys wrap up the show (1 hr 43 mins)

Venue: Felon's Brewery, Brisbane

Drinks of choice:

Amby - Australian Pale Ale, Natural Ale and Raspberry Sour by Felon's, Brisbane

Kaner - Treehouse Cider by the Granite Belt Cider Company, Warwick

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 improve the audio equipment... or get the guys more drunk,  you can also donate at Patreon or you can also shop at Amazon using our affiliate link. It costs exactly the same to you, but Amazon give us a small cut and it doesn't cost you a cent more! 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 Ajax about Diplomacy Nexus

Kaner's work has him under the pump, so this episode is just a short intro from Amby and then an interview with Ajax about Diplomacy Nexus: a community bringing players together from the various online platforms to battle it out in cross-platform Dip tournaments.

Intro

• Amby introduces the show. Kaner is busy with real life stuff so no pub recorded episodes for a couple more weeks. Amby then introduces this episodes' interviewee: Ajax from the Diplomacy Nexus tournament  (0 mins 10 secs)

Interview with Ajax from the Diplomacy Nexus

• Ajax founder of Diplomacy Nexus describes what its all about and how it supports chat across multiple players from different Diplomacy platforms. It currently has 600 players enrolled from webDip, vDip, playDip, Conspiracy, Duplicity and Backstabbr  (2 mins)
• He discussed the current tournaments being played on Nexus - Cold War 1v1 and a seasonal classic tournament (2 seasons a year) (3 mins 45 secs)
• Kaner asks how countries are assigned. Ajax describes the basics behind players joining. Players can choose whether they use their normal Dip sites' handle or can create their own if they are worried others will pre-judge them (4 mins 30 secs)
• Tournament games are based on the sum-of-squares scoring system. Games automatically conclude after 10 game years. Amby asks about the proportion of games that end in solos (6 mins)
• Kaner asks about the cross-platform nature of tournaments, especially how moves are made and communication is done. Ajax digresses, discussing Australian "smooth" accents (8 mins)
• Amby asks about which stage players across platforms meet and battle it out, and how that works using Backstabbr (12 mins)
• Kaner asks Ajax why he set up this community. He discusses his early negative experiences with Droidippy and Conspiracy - see Kaner's discussion about Conspiracy in episode 26 (14 mins 30 secs)
• Amby describes the behavior in one of the classic tournament's finals, and how it is more similar to face-to-face gameplay, and asks Ajax's thoughts on this (21 mins)
• Kaner asks Ajax about the differences between face-to-face and online (23 mins 15 secs)
• Ajax discusses the challenges of various online platforms and the challenges of CD's or NMRs (26 mins)
• Kaner talks about jumping on the Nexus Discord server and the nature of players changing their handles (27 mins 30 secs)
• Amby discusses the nature of multi-player conversations in the Nexus and asks Ajax about it (29 mins 30 secs)
• Amby asks Ajax about extending tournaments beyond Cold War and Classic (31 mins 45 secs)
• Amby asks about the "Diplomacy for Popes" channel on the Nexus Discord and how it works (34 mins 15 secs)
• Ajax describes how the nature of the Discord server works for the Nexus (36 mins 30 secs)
• Kaner asks about how to play and get involved in the Diplomacy Nexus (40 mins 30 secs)
• Ajax talks about how new players usually get involved in Diplomacy and plans to better support this (42 mins)

Apologies again on the shorter than normal episode. Kaner should be over his hump at work in about 2 weeks, so normal service should be resumed then.

Venue: No pub this episode

Drinks of choice:

Amby - Regaleali Nero D'Avola from Sicily

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 improve the audio equipment... or get the guys more drunk,  you can also donate at Patreon. 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.

Creating a Face-to-Face community, variants, billionaires & democracy sausages

The guys squeeze a lot in a short time: Rebranding, getting the word out about diplomacy groups around the world, Amby shares his efforts to get a Diplomacy community going in Brisbane & how you can do the same, new variants, site updates, billionaires & the good ol' Australian democracy sausage.

Intro

• The guys stuff up the podcast entry and then get into an argument about pronouncing Toowong before talking a little about the Royal Exchange hotel, known locally as the RE (0 mins 5 secs)
• The guys introduce their drinks (2 mins 20 secs)

Face-to-face and old school wisdom

• Amby and Kaner discuss rebranding the podcast to reflect both face-to-face and online Diplomacy (3 mins 40 secs)
• The website now has a Google Map showing where people can find Diplomacy groups, or can advise their group/interest in creating a group (7 mins)
• Amby talks about his efforts to get a Diplomacy community up and running in Brisbane, and what you can do to copy their strategy. The guys have almost got enough people who’ve expressed an interest in playing a game face-to-face in Brisbane (10 mins)
• Amby has finished reading the Diplomacy chapter of “The Playboy Winner’s Guide to Board Games” written by Jon Freeman or… Byjon Freeman. He reads a couple of choice quotes and then discusses its strategies for playing each of the seven players’ countries (17 mins)
• Kaner reads up the Italian section and after some more drinks they discuss the strategy suggested for playing Italy (22 mins)

New variants, updates & democracy sausages

• Kaner discusses his anonymous games including the new 1937 A World At War variant by michael_b at vDip. They talk about the imbalances in the game and Amby puts on his history nerd hat. They find the approach to sea territories really interesting (26 mins)
• While talking vDiplomacy they discuss the coding changes to the site that came across from webDip. The guys both love the changes to the Hall of Fame that now includes a list for people who’ve played in the past 6 months and kick off a run through of the Top 20 (36 mins 30 secs)
• Kaner discusses forum conversation between the merits of sea lanes to break stalemate lines vs stacking. He uses the example of stacking proposed in the upcoming variant Dawn of the Enlightenment by David E Cohen. Amby mentions one of David’s variants - Conquest of the Americas - is currently being proposed over at PlayDip (40 mins 20 secs)
• After lunch the guys mention they had an off-tape discussion about Amby’s Divided States game. They both mention they signed up for the Funboat game. Amby discusses a story about the ship in the “Love Boat” TV series from the 70’s (52 mins)
• They talk about the idea of recording players in a game that could be used to give people an idea of gameplay. Kaner suggests doing this in an online game while Amby thought it lends itself to a face-to-face game (54 mins)
• SPOILER ALERT - The guys talk about the Game of Thrones TV show (1 hr 1 mins)
• They talk briefly about the similarities and differences between the Game of Thrones game and Diplomacy (1 hr 4 mins)
• Amby mentions a Forbes article about a Matt Calkins, a US software billionaire, who happens to be a Diplomacy player (1 hr 6 mins)
• Kaner mentions the upcoming Australian election. They discuss the Australian tradition of getting a Democracy Sausage and a politician promising to “Make Australia Great” (1 hr 11 mins)
• They then wrap it all up (1 hr 14 mins)

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 improve the audio equipment... or get the guys more drunk,  you can also donate at Patreon. Lastly, don't forget to subscribe so you get the latest Diplomacy Games episodes straight to your phone!

Venue: Royal Exchange Hotel, Brisbane

Drinks of choice:

Kaner - James Squire's Swindler Pacific Ale

Amby - Baily & Baily, Jump N Jive Shiraz

Thanks as always to Dr Dan aka "The General" for his rockin' intro tune. Never know, we may get him into a face-to-face game soon!

Settling back in

Kaner & Amby start settling back into the online scene but have started applying their face-to-face Dip ninja skills to online gameplay. Plus their current games and new variants. 

Intro

• The guys introduce the show and reflect the site and podcast album art probably needs to reflect Diplomacy as a whole - online and face to face (0 mins 5 secs)
• They’re drinking at Finney Isles in Fortitude Valley. They talk about their drinks and settling back in. (1 min)
• Amby says that family commitments in reflection will prevent him from going to the 2020 WDC in Vermont. Kaner still may go. But neither of the guys can swing Marseilles 2019 (5 mins)
• Amby brings up his (failed) Montana theory about Kaner’s online handle of kaner406 and talk a little about America (6 mins)
• Kaner talks about his thoughts on connecting in with local gaming groups and introducing Diplomacy. (10 mins)
• Amby discusses a little keyword research he’s done about potentially targeting people interested in the game to come along to a social face-to-face game in Brisbane (11 mins 15 secs)

Around the grounds

• Kaner brings up a now completed anonymous game, "Big Guns" that has just wrapped up where he stabbed Amby. The game ended in a draw with both of the guys surprised the draw passed (13 mins 15 secs)
• They talk about the decision to stab (15 mins 30 secs)
• <20:45 edit out pause bit>
• Kaner asks Amby about his PlayDip games - they talk about the now completed Versailles game (with fog of war) called “We have a Hulk” where Amby survived to the end which was drawn with Sweden, Poland, France, Czechoslovakia and Egypt (which Amby was playing as) (20 mins 20 secs)
• Amby’s also in a 1900 game which is potentially heading towards the end game. Its public press only where Amby discusses the importance of learning from face-to-face about the importance of communication. But its not working out as a public press game as half of the players aren’t communicating (24 mins 20 secs)
• Kaner discusses starting a game with grey press, global posting only, fog of war, written in a Newspaper style and then dropped through multiple translations (27 mins)
• Amby reminds new listeners that the way a Translation game works is covered in episode 4 of the podcast (29 mins) 
• Kaner asks about Amby’s anonymous Divided States game and how that’s going (30 mins 40 secs)
• They talk about a new World War IV Sealanes game that has started and why Amby didn’t join (32 mins 20 secs)
• After fresh drinks the guys talk hops and possums (37 mins 50 secs)
• They return to the WWIV game and discuss Kaner’s plan. Amby poses two questions to Kaner around this (42 mins 30 secs)

New variants

• Kaner introduces two new variants to the vDip website, starting with Caucasia... which both he and Amby mistake the name of the variant and get into the usual argy bargy on. Then Professor Kaner gives a Geography lesson (46 mins)
• Then it’s onto Edwardian (3rd edition.) Kaner bitches about Christmas colors and why can’t Diplomacy maps be like Reader’s Digest maps (50 mins 45 secs)
• Kaner asks what the difference is in this variant to its earlier iteration. Amby discusses creating a big hitters game for Edwardian III and someone PMing about wanting to join. Kaner explains how moderators can force add people to games (54 mins)

Changes at vDip

• Large amounts of webDip’s code has moved across to vDip. The guys discuss what they like and dislike (58 mins)
• After discussing some of the changes in ratings breakdown for game types, they talk how Kaner has played more games than Amby and question the math behind total game stats and variant stats  (1 hr 1 mins)
• Amby discusses how with the changes his ranking seems to have got a bit of a boost. They also talk about removing non-active players from the rankings and Kaner’s chats to Oli about this. They discuss there being zero downside to this change (1 hr 3 mins 40 secs)
• Amby suggests how can Oli (or other Dip site admins) can reach out by email to non-active players about recent improvements and coming back to the site to play games again (1 hr 8 mins)
• The guys tease the audience about some prospective interview guests planned for the show (1 hr 11 mins)
• Amby recalls the Flight of the Conchords episode with their French language song… a MUST LISTEN for anyone going to WDC in Marseilles this year (1 hr 12 mins)

• The guys wrap up (1 hr 13 mins)

Venue: Finney Isles, Brisbane

Drinks of choice:

Kaner - Windblower IPA

Amby - Ochota Barrels Syrah (Shiraz) from the Basket Ranges in South 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 improve the audio equipment... or get the guys more drunk,  you can also donate at Patreon. Lastly, don't forget to subscribe so you get the latest Diplomacy Games episodes straight to your phone!

Thanks as always to Dr Dan for his rockin' intro tune. Used it as a segment segue this time around for something different.

Our first Face to Face Tournament

Kaner & Amby fly to play in the Melbourne Open Diplomacy tournament. They get schooled but can they come good in the end?

Intro in the airport

Venue: Brisbane Airport

Drinks of choice:

Kaner & Amby - 150 Lashes Australian pale ale by James Squire Brewery

• The guys are recording initially at the Brisbane domestic airport waiting for their flight to the Melbourne Open face-to-face tournament (0 mins 10 secs)
• They discuss their hopes to catch up with players outside of the games (4 mins 20 secs)
• Kaner talks about his return to the Melbourne “big smoke” talking about growing up in rural Victoria (6 mins 15 secs)
• Kaner discusses the recently completed Divided States game drawn 3 way’s between Technostar (Kansas - 128 units), EmpireStrikesBack (Vermont - 78 units) and Tobi1 (New Hampshire - 73 units). It’s generally considered this particular game probably had the most SCs/units controlled by a player in any Diplomacy game (7 mins 50 secs - if edited out the bing bing)
• They introduce their beers - more One Fifty Lashes from James Squire (11 mins 15 secs)
• Kaner discussed the player positioning on the board (11 mins 30 secs)
• By drawing the three players all got massive boosts to their rankings on vDip (13 mins 30 secs)
• They then move onto Amby’s Divided States game and provide a brief update (15 mins)
• Amby then goes onto discuss an anonymous game he’s in at vDip where he was doing well but has been massively stabbed (16 mins)
• He then discusses his games at PlayDip including his 1900 game and some of the differences for this variant (18 mins)
• Finally Amby moves onto his Fog of War game at vDip (25 mins 45 secs)
• Kaner brings up discussions at vDip about points and suggestions (28 mins)
• They touch on the Russian Diplomacy site moving web address (29 mins)
• Kaner gives a long interesting story about him and ferrets (30 mins 30 secs)
• They grab another beer and Kaner discusses how he hates plane flights (38 mins)
• Kaner flags the search facility at vDip has recently changed (41 mins 30 secs)
• Kaner is waiting on a Newspaper game to get going (44 mins)
• The guys’ flight gets called but its so quiet they can’t hear the details. They wrap up this part of the show (45 mins 30 secs)

End of Day one at the Melbourne Open

Venue: Hop Sing, Melbourne

Drinks of choice:

Melissa Call - Cockfighters Ghost Pinot Gris

Everyone else - Furphy’s ale

• Amby introduces the after-party - a table of 9 people at Hop Sing, Melbourne. 8 were players on Day 1 of the Melbourne Open tournament. Due to the size of the table the audio is  (48 mins)
• People at the table are: Kaner, Melissa Call, Shane Cubas, Peter McNamara, Peter Novacco, Amby, Amelia, Tim Jones (ATinCan) and Brett Chatterton. Everyone is having Furphy’s ale and Melissa is having a Cockfighters Ghost Pinot Gris  (49 mins)
• Peter is topping the board for Day 1 at 30 points, while Amby is a distant 2nd. Amby discusses the experience of playing face to face (51 mins)
• Melissa flags how new face to face players who normally play online usually have a lot of trouble with the deadline (52 mins)
• Amby raises the issue of misorders in face to face and spelling mistakes in orders (53 mins 30 secs)
• They discuss how the order pace was much faster than any other tournament players had attended (54 mins 30 secs)
• Amby learns about the importance of drafting your orders at the start of the turn rather than waiting to the end (55 mins)
• Brett brings up Andrew Goff’s previous Flying Dutchman move in an earlier game (56 mins)
• Amby asks about people’s learnings from the day (57 mins)
• Kaner discusses how he managed to pull off a Key Lepanto (58 mins 30 secs)
• Shane discusses Beer Diplomacy and its impact on the game (1 hr 0 mins)
• Kaner talks about the stress factor of retreats and builds eating into the normal turn’s discussion time (1 hr 1 min)
• Shane asks Amby and Kaner about their prior involvement in face to face (1 hr 2 mins)
• They discuss who got stabbed and who stabbed well (1 hr 4 mins)
• Tim outlines the Cricket scoring system for the tournament (1 hr 6 mins)
• Amby and Kaner are asked what they’ll do differently and the prospect of a top board on the final day (1 hr 7 mins)
• The group discuss the rules and what is ok and what’s pushing it too far (1 hr 8 mins)
• Amby flags the difference in the two boards he was on with openings and alliances in the games (1 hr 11 mins)
• Amby’s observations on the dynamics of Tim and Jamal and how they coordinated their gameplay with discussions (1 hr 17 mins)
• The group discuss Italy’s eventually placement in Denmark (1 hr 20 mins)
• Amby explains how the gameplay in face-to-face is often totally different to online where the communication lends itself to more dynamic moves. Kaner discusses how relationships in face-to-face games seem faster to form than online (1 hr 22 mins 30 secs)
• The table talks about stabbing (1 hr 26 mins 30 secs)
• Amby asks Amelia - as a non player - on what she’s expecting if she plays a game (1 hr 30 mins)
• The table shares their recommendations to Amelia if she’s to play. Tim shares the best Diplomacy advice he ever received from Andrew Goff (1 hr 32 mins)
• Mel suggests to Amelia that if she likes the game, to play some gunboat games with a 24 hour phase, to develop her skills and anticipating player moves (1 hr 35 mins)
• Apologies as for about five minutes there are two conversations going on at the table which may sound a little confusing (1 hr 37 mins)
• They talk about manipulation of players with Tim being asked his views (1 hr 42 mins)
• The table wraps up its conversation, only to be followed by a brief addendum from Tim about when he realised mid-game that Amby was one of those podcast guys (1 hr 45 mins)

Post-tournament wrap up at the airport

Venue: Two Johns Taphouse, Melbourne Airport

Drinks of choice:

Kaner - Pirate’s Life IPA

Amby - atnook Founders Block cabernet sauvignon from the Coonawarra

 

• The final part of the show sees Kaner and Amby catching up in Melbourne Airport’s Two Johns Taphouse post-tournament. Kaner is drinking a Pirate’s Life IPA and Amby has a Katnook Founders Block cabernet sauvignon from the Coonawarra which he describes as “doesn’t taste like victory but it tastes pretty sweet”  (1 hr 47 mins 30 secs)
• Amby announces he came 3rd in the tournament out of 18 players. Kaner came in 5th. And they both far exceeded their expectations. They guys talk about what a great time they had and how much of a buzz translating online experience into face to face (1 hr 48 mins 30 secs)
• They talk about how online players who’ve played for a while know the rules and the game dynamics and makes it so much easier to come into the face-to-face scene (1 hr 50 mins 30 secs)
• Amby describes the journey towards face-to-face he’s had over the past six months. Both of the guys talk about the lessons they learnt from the open mike table conversation that they implemented (1 hr 51 mins 30 secs)
• Kaner also discusses how Amby won the tournament’s “best novice” award and how face-to-face DAANZ player scoring systems work and Master points. Due to the guy’s strong performance they’ve leap-frogged straight into Intermediate ranks (1 hr 52 mins 30 secs)
• Kaner discusses the face-to-face tactics used - including “sneaky peeks” which he’d never consider previously as an online player (1 hr 55 mins)
• Amby talks about how he worked up an alliance which knocked Andrew Goff off the board - although he was playing two boards at once, and running the tournament and wasn’t officially in the tournament so he wasn’t playing his normal game - so Amby didn’t get him at his best (1 hr 56 mins)
• Peter McNamara came first and Melissa Call second - you can read the results online. Kaner talks about the face-to-face tactic of tying up other players’ negotiation time (1 hr 58 mins)
• Amby talks about how he followed a tactic of supporting his allies to grab SCs to get them onboard and committed into an alliance (1 hr 59 mins 30 secs)
• Kaner discusses the speed of the games and the speed of player’s adjudication on the board (2 hrs 1 min)
• The guys thank Andrew for organising the tournament and those like Peter who helped (2 hrs 2 mins 30 secs)
• They talk about attending future tournaments and discuss attending WDC 2020 in Vermont (2 hrs 3 mins)
• They finally wrap up with a story from Amby about vivid dreaming of playing Diplomacy (2 hrs 5 mins)

Drinks & locations:

Venue: Brisbane Airport
Kaner & Amby - 150 Lashes Australian pale ale by James Squire Brewery

Venue: Hop Sing, Melbourne
Melissa Call - Cockfighters Ghost Pinot Gris
Everyone else - Furphy’s ale

Venue: Two Johns Taphouse, Melbourne Airport
Kaner - Pirate’s Life IPA
Amby - Katnook Founders Block cabernet sauvignon from the Coonawarra

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 improve the audio equipment... or get the guys more drunk,  you can also donate at Patreon. Lastly, don't forget to subscribe so you get the latest Diplomacy Games episodes straight to your phone!

Thanks as always to Dr Dan for his rockin' intro tune. Used it as a segment segue this time around for something different.

Being a Diplomacy Man of Leisure &amp; variant fun

Coming to the end of summer, Kaner & Amby grab some beers and dream about what it'd be like to be a Diplomacy Man of Leisure. They talk the upcoming face-to-face tournament they're attending, Amby's experience with Versailles at Play Dip, their other games, vDip's 5 new variants and using Diplomacy in the classroom. Phew! A lot packed into this episode!

Intro

• Kaner and Amby welcome listeners to the show and discuss their drinks (0 mins 10 secs)

Face to Face talk and being a Diplomacy Man of Leisure

• The guys discuss their upcoming attendance at the Melbourne Open Diplomacy tournament (0 mins 50 secs)
• Amby discusses the challenge of playing face to face for the first time in 25 years (3 mins)
• Kaner brings along some 3D printed armies and navies he’s made (4 mins 30 secs)

• Amby asks about what the scoring system is for the Melbourne Open (12 mins 15 secs)
• They discuss other upcoming tournaments around the globe (15 mins)
• They talk about the concept of being “Diplomacy Men of Leisure”, facial hair and what would a Steampunk Diplomacy variant be like (15 mins 50 secs)

Amby's experience with Versailles

• Kaner asks Amby about his Versailles games over at Play Dip. One game is anon, the other is non-anon so Amby can talk about that game in more detail: Versailles Virgins. Amby discusses how contacting players varied between his major and minor power. Kaner asks how do things work at the end of the with points for major and minor powers (18 mins 45 secs)
• Amby then goes onto talking about his anon Versailles game with fog of war, gunboat and age of empires (where you start with one unit). Kaner asks about the dinosaurs and sharks (26 mins)
• Amby discusses the “lessons for newbies” element of Versailles about what happens when one of your powers captures the other power’s SC (eg minor capturing your major SC, or vice versa) (27 mins 45 secs)
• Kaner asks Amby about the order interface at PlayDip and how he’s finding it. Amby touches on some of the difficulties using your phone with PlayDip and moving around the screen. He discusses how things in PlayDip are different to the php sites like webDip and vDip (29 mins 45 secs)
• The guys switch up their drinks (34 mins 45 secs)
• They clash on the ability to place illegal orders (36 mins 30 secs)

Around the Grounds, can Divided States be soloed and Kaner's geography lesson

• Kaner talks about joining the second Newspaper game and talks about how it works (39 mins 45 secs)
• Amby discusses a false start excited text he sent Kaner about his anon Divided States game (42 mins 30 secs)
• Kaner asks how he’s going in the game. They go onto show neither of them can count. (43 mins 20 secs)
• Amby discusses whether the Divided States board can ever possibly be soloed. this game which may be possible! > (47 mins 30 secs)
• Amby sees the light on using the interactive map in vDip and discusses his own vDip newbie moment using the interactive map (49 mins)
• They talk about what the end game is for this Divided States game and how long it could go for (51 mins)
• Kaner discusses his geography lesson from Mrs Kaner (52 mins)

5 new vDip variants!

• They talk about the new five variants on vDip: Brazilian, Croatia Egypt, Florence and Britain (53 mins 20 secs)
• First up they discuss the map, unit placement, rule and SC changes in the Brazilian edition of Diplomacy. They discuss who are the winners and the losers on this map (54 mins 30 secs)
• Next up is Croatia and the changes to that Classic map (1 hr 3 mins)
• Then they discuss the Florence variant. Amby discusses Apulia vs Apulgia (1 hr 4 mins 30 secs)
• And finally the other simple map and rule changes is the Egypt variant. They discuss how the corner power mentality is changed with access in the Atlantic bringing England and France potentially into early conflict with Turkey (1 hr 8 mins)
• The last variant has practically no map changes but a massive game play change. The variant Britain gives the UK 6 SC’s but it starts with only armies (1 hr 11 mins)

Joke time and Diplomacy in the classroom

• The guys get another drink and Kaner decides now is a good time to tell a joke (1 hr 16 mins)
• Amby discovers the recording device is flashing “battery low”, Kaner talks about using Diplomacy in the classroom based on an article from Boardgame Geek by Calavera Despierta (1 hr 19 mins 45 secs)
• The guys wrap up the show, giving a reminder about supporting the show on Patreon and also now able to be heard on Spotify (1 hr 26 mins)

Venue: The Charming Squire, Brisbane.

 

Drinks of choice:

Kaner - 150 Lashes Australian pale ale and the Runaway cream ale by James Squire Brewery

Amby - 150 Lashes Australian pale ale and a Malt Shovel Extra pale ale (XPA) by James Squire Brewery

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 improve the audio equipment... or get the guys more drunk,  you can also donate at Patreon. Lastly, don't forget to subscribe so you get the latest Diplomacy Games episodes straight to your phone!

Interview with CaptainMeme

Amby visits Edinburgh and interviews two-time interviewee CaptainMeme. They discuss deceptive tactics, the Tournament of Time and how Nuclear Diplomacy could work.  Then there's a post interview analysis with Kaner and Amby.

Intro

• The guys introduce the show and have moved to The Terrace, a rooftop bar in Southbank, Brisbane  (0 mins 10 sec)
• Both guys admit to being a bit freaky with heights (1 min 10 secs)
• Kaner is now drinking a James Squire Orchard Crush cider and Amby has a really enjoyable glass of Rusden Good Shepherd Malbec from the Barossa Valley (2 mins 10 secs)

Interview with CaptainMeme

• • The guys introduce Amby’s interview with CaptainMeme recorded in Edinburgh. This is the second time Cap has been on the show (3 mins 45 secs)
  • They are The Conan Doyle pub where Cap is having a Coke as he has a Java coding exam the next day. Amby is drinking a Lia Fail amber ale from Inveralmond Brewery (5 mins)
  • Cap discusses his accent and the origin of his handle “CaptainMeme” and Amby explains how he got his (8 mins)
  • Cap mentions how one of the top PlayDip players is under a different handle at webDip (10 mins 30 secs) 
  • They also talk about Carebear and how he manages his online versus face-to-face personas (11 mins)
  • Cap mentions his WDC analysis video on Youtube he did with Ezio (12 mins 30 secs)
  • He goes onto say that apparently the organisers of the 2020 WDC are planning on a Bourse game for the top board (14 mins)
  • Amby asks how long phases normally go and how are they managed in face-to-face games (15 mins 30 secs)
  • Cap explains how solos are very rare in face-to-face games (18 mins)
  • He gives Amby some helpful hints on what to watch for with Australian players in face-to-face games, and relays a story about another player’s subterfuge (19 mins 45 secs)
  • Cap asks Amby about whether he’ll be going down to Melbourne for an Australian tournament (22 mins 20 secs)
  • He talks about playing Versailles face-to-face at a convention in the UK (24 mins)
  • Amby talks about his recent joining of PlayDip (26 mins 30 secs)
  • They talk about the forum based Tournament of Time where Cap and Amby played with BigJoe on team Baratheon (29 mins)
  • Cap talks about the Dissolution game he’s playing for the team as at the time of recording (this has since finished) and why he really likes this variant (31 mins)
  • Amby discusses how Dipsy at PlayDip thinks he can bring Dissolution to life online, beyond just forum games. Cap says he would definitely buy a PlayDip membership for that (43 mins 45 secs)
  • Amby asks Cap about how the game differs between face-to-face and online (47 mins 45 secs)
  • Cap gives face-to-face games a big wrap for online players, and where they can find face-to-face games (52 mins 30 secs)
  • Cap talks about changes in his Top 5 variants (1 hr 00 mins 40 secs)
  • They discuss France vs Austria, the major stalemate line in the Diplomacy board and the France vs Austria tournament (1 hr 2 mins)
  • They go onto discuss Divided States and why its not in Cap’s Top 5 (1 hr 5 mins 15 secs)
  • Cap asks Amby about how he’s going in his Divided States game and the importance of getting behind player’s lines (1 hr 9 mins)
  • Cap asks Amby about unobtainable victory conditions (1 hr 15 mins 10 secs)
  • The difficulties of living in an Asian timezone when most players communicate when you sleep (1 hr 19 mins)
  • Amby discusses his Imperial game (1 hr 22 mins 30 secs)
  • Cap talks about variant map design and creating an unrealistic impression of who’s doing well (1 hr 25 mins 45 secs)
  • They talk about magnified regions in a map as a possible solution. Amby talks about this in the context of his proposed variant Nuclear Diplomacy (1 hr 29 mins)
  • Cap and Amby discuss how Nuclear Diplomacy would work (1 hr 31 mins 30 secs)
  • Cap suggests being able to potentially shoot down a nuclear missile, and how to technically code them as neutral units once in the atmosphere. He also talks loss prevention (1 hr 34 mins 15 secs)
  • Amby asks about the Mod space at vDip (1 hr 37 mins)

Post interview analysis and banter

• Kaner and Amby return post interview (1 hr 37 mins 45 secs)
• They discuss Cap’s “heads-up” about Australian player tactics (1 hr 41 mins)
• Next they reflect the idea of a Bourse running on the top board of a WDC and the logistics of managing bourse orders in real-time (1 hr 43 mins)
• The guys provide an update on Amby’s anonymous Divided States game (1 hr 50 mins)
• Amby reflects that he’s become more ruthless in his tactics in recent games (1 hr 54 mins)
• Amby asks Kaner about transforming units and when they can and can’t transform (1 hr 55 mins)
• Amby has a follow up question on the process in php-style Diplomacy sites for destroying units if the player NMR’s or CD (1 hr 59 mins)
• Kaner explains his new/old variant idea - a standard Dip map, but every territory - land and sea - have the “sea lanes” functionality added to them (2 hours 8 mins)
• They discuss the conclusion of the Tournament of Time over at PlayDip. Amby takes his hat off to team mates BigJoe and CaptainMeme. He then discusses how nopunin10did has taken the role of online tournament director up to the next level in concluding the tournament  (2 hrs 10 mins 30 secs)
• Amby discusses his follow up thoughts for Nuclear Diplomacy and whether it could work in a forum based game at PlayDip. He goes onto discuss issues of balance and why the World War IV map isn’t a good one to use (2 hrs 15 mins)
• The guys wrap up (2 hrs 23 mins)

 

Venue: The Conan Doyle, Edinburgh & The Terrace, Brisbane.

Drinks of choice:

Edinburgh:

CaptainMeme - Coca-Cola

Amby - Lia Fail amber ale from Inveralmond Brewery, Scotland

Brisbane:

Kaner - James Squire Orchard Crush cider from Australia

Amby - Rusden Good Shepherd Malbec from the Barossa Valley

Just a reminder you can support the show by giving it 5 stars on iTunes or Stitcher. Or if you want to help improve the audio equipment... or get the guys more drunk,  you can donate at Patreon. Lastly, don't forget to subscribe so you get the latest Diplomacy Games episodes straight to your phone!

 

Interview with Super_Dipsy from PlayDiplomacy

Amby visits London and interviews the code guru and go-to man at PlayDiplomacy, Super Dipsy (known at PlayDip just as "Dipsy".) They talk about changes down the pipeline and afterwards Amby's toe in the water at PlayDip.

Intro

• The guys introduce episode 40, recorded the same time as episode 39, their new drinks and Kaner tries to get his head around the name of where Amby interviewed Super Dipsy (0 mins 10 secs)

Interview with Super Dipsy from PlayDiplomacy

• Amby learns about glass clinking protocol from Dipsy (4 mins)
• Amby mentions this is the first time we've interviewed someone for the second time, before mentioning who's next up in the interview schedule (5 mins 30 secs)
• Dipsy and Amby talk about having real politicians play Diplomacy (7 mins 30 secs)
• Dipsy introduces some of the upcoming changes at PlayDip, including steps to make it better for the players based on their recommendations in the forum such as mobile phone notifications (8 mins 50 secs)
• He discusses moves to hunt for cheats (13 mins 50 secs)
• Dipsy talks about the real challenges to keeping the hobby alive and growing (16 mins)
• They talk about player behaviour (17 mins)
• Amby asks about whether PlayDip allows you to ban players you have had a run-in with (19 mins 10 secs)
• After a quick break in recording, Dipsy discusses Friends games at PlayDip (21 mins 15 secs)
• He then discusses PlayDip's Player Classes and how they try to maintain a certain level of game for hardcore players (23 mins 10 secs)
• They talk about the size of the PlayDip community (24 mins)
• Amby reflects on the PlayDip ratings system (25 mins)
• Amby asks about PlayDippers and face-to-face games (27 mins 45 secs)
• Dipsy discusses his professional background which resulted in him becoming PlayDip's resident coder. He goes onto discuss his role in the broader PlayDip community (28 mins 40 secs)
• Dipsy talks about the different types of variants at PlayDip and what goes up (30 mins 30 secs)
• Amby belatedly does the drink pairings and his time previously living in the UK (34 mins 50 secs)
• Dipsy teases Amby on a possible artificial intelligence (AI) solution to take over CD'ed positions/surrendered countries or if you have a "friends" scenario but are short of players and AI could significantly help (36 mins 30 secs)
• Dipsy discusses how player suggestions can help make things easier in the game (41 mins 40 secs)
• Amby is reminded by the Escalation variant element at PlayDip (43 mins 45 secs)
• Amby asks about whether adding more and more functionality detracts from the user experience (45 mins 50 secs)
• Dipsy talks about what new variants may be coming down the pipeline for coding at PlayDip (47 mins 10 secs)
• Dipsy - wash his mouth out - says the game he'd most likely to see brought online is a railway game! Although there IS a Dip connection (49 mins 20 secs)
• Amby asks how Dipsy got into Diplomacy, before they discuss Dip in schools and its impact on the community (50 mins 50 secs)
• They discuss functionality to make it easier for online tournament directors (53 mins)
• In wrapping up the interview, Dipsy discusses the prospects of using the large datasets on PlayDip for someone to do a heavy statistical analysis (54 mins 45 secs)

Discussion about the interview

• Kaner and Amby return to talk about the interview, jumping straight into the AI concept - apologies on the wind in the background. Kaner channels his inner Terminator (1 hr 2 mins)
• Amby discusses the concept of phone based notifications and his thoughts (1 hr 6 mins 30 secs)
• Between eating they turn to Dipsy's idea about the Dissolution variant being coded up (1 hr 8 mins 30 secs)
• Amby talks about how he has signed up for a PlayDip premium membership and is waiting on two Versailles games he has joined to begin (1 hr 12 mins 30 secs)
• He discusses the normal standard press experience he's craving in Versailles and the flip side of Versailles but with other variant options in PlayDip like Age of Empires and Fog of War (1 hr 13 mins 30 secs)

Around the grounds

• Amby asks Kaner talks about his whole one game he's in at the moment. Kaner ignores this and instead talks about a die-off variant he has kicking around in his head (1 hr 16 mins 45 secs)
• Kaner touches on the gunboat anonymous Youngstown game he's joined. Amby quickly works out he's in the same. They agree to keep mum on the topic (1 hr 20 mins 45 secs)
• Kaner asks Amby about his Divided States anonymous game, before agreeing to talk about that next episode (1 hr 21 mins 30 secs)
• Amby touches on a standard anonymous Classic gunboat game he's in. Without giving detail about who he is, he talks about an aggressive opening strategy which while it has worked in the past, failed him now (1 hr 22 mins)
• Kaner talks about improving his Classic experience before they head to Melbourne for the March tournament down there (1 hr 24 mins 30 secs)
• Kaner discusses putting together a Sopwith game. Amby brings up having a Google Translate game (1 hr 27 mins)
• Amby discovers his unrated Imperial Diplomacy game where he was playing as Russia just finished in a draw (1 hr 28 mins)
• Amby closes the show with a joke (1 hr 32 mins)

Venue: Museum Tavern, London & Little Big House, Brisbane.

Drinks of choice:

London:

Super Dipsy - Sambrooke's Junction from London, UK

Amby - Greene King IPA & Sambrooke's Junction from London UK

Brisbane:

Kaner - Bulmer's cider from United Kingdom

Amby - Tequila from Mexico, fresh lime juice and soda

Just a reminder you can support the show by giving it 5 stars on iTunes or Stitcher. Or if you want to help improve the audio equipment... or get the guys more drunk,  you can donate at Patreon. Lastly, don't forget to subscribe so you get the latest Diplomacy Games episodes straight to your phone!