Diplomacy Games

Interview with Edi Birsan

We catchup with legend of the game, Edi Birsan, around so, so much about Diplomacy. Your head will spin! Plus the guys discuss their virtual WDC experience and webDip 2020 World Cup.

Intro

• The guys introduce today's venue and location before discussing their drinks (0 mins 10 secs)

Interview with Edi Birsan

• They start introducing the interview with Edi Birsan (3 mins 40 secs)
• Amby asks Edi how he got started in the game in the 1960's (4 mins 40 secs)
• Amby reflects on Edi's response about psychologists using the game to build resilience. Edi gives some further detail and touches on Kissinger playing Diplomacy and integration of schools in South Africa using Diplomacy (12 mins)
• Edi discusses the importance of younger people being open to the game during formative learning and intervening with a player about their behavior (16 mins)
• He discusses his mantra about Diplomacy (18 mins 15 secs)
• He talks about using the game as a tool for learning about trust (20 mins 30 secs)
• Note: around this point someone in Amby's neighborhood starts noisy gardening - takes about 20 mins for Amby to Google how to fix/mute it
• Amby asks about how Edi was able to find players for his first game and playing postal (23 mins)
• Edi discusses how Diplomacy helped him talk and negotiate in some of his first jobs (28 mins)
• Amby asks where the game sits in popularity/awareness now, compared to previous decades. Edi discusses how word about the game got out early on and goes onto discuss tournaments (28 mins 45 secs)
• He asks about how Diplomacy game style has changed over time (34 mins 30 secs)
• They talk about virtual games, introducing video but what you'd miss out (40 mins 40 secs)
• Kaner asks about Edi's advice for playing well. Edi discusses understanding player's motivations (44 mins 30 secs)
• Amby asks Edi about the first time he came up with Lepanto opening (48 mins 20 secs)
• Amby asks how the Lepanto opening got its name. You can read Edi's article on the Lepanto here (55 mins 45 secs)
• Edi talks about his interactions with Allan Calhamer (57 mins 45 secs)
• He discusses how Calhamer didn't design for stalemate lines, draws, game culture and balance of power (1 hr 2 mins 30 secs)
• Amby asks Edi about his personal experience with politics and how Diplomacy helped him (1 hr 8 mins 15 secs)
• He reflects on the current situation in American politics and brings it around to the game (1 hr 14 mins)
• They start wrapping the interview up, with Edi reflecting on his Diplomacy experience in Australia and when the pandemic is over, where are you going to go in the world for the game (1 hr 23 mins)
• The guys come back after the interview and reflect on it (1 hr 25 mins 20 secs)
• They talk about the Lepanto and Amby's ill-fated opening of Germany attacking Russia in spring 1901 (1 hr 29 mins)

News and chat

• The guys discuss the current Covid restrictions and short lockdown in Brisbane (1 hr 38 mins 45 secs)
• Their efforts to get the numbers for a face to face game continue to be an issue with people still a little freaky about Covid locally (1 hr 41 mins)
• They talk about state border restrictions and Amby discusses the Australian Lamb Board's annual Australia Day video - which beautifully explains the current situation in Australia, fast forwarded to 2031 (1 hr 42 mins 15 secs)

Kaner's Virtual World Diplomacy Classic experience

• We move onto the recent Virtual WDC and discuss how the guys went (1 hr 44 mins 15 secs)
• Kaner blames Amby on missing a game (1 hr 45 mins)
• Amby discusses his games, particularly his second game (1 hr 47 mins 30 secs)
• Kaner talks about his experience with technology and interface for his first virtual game (1 hr 54 mins 45 secs)
• Amby discusses his technical troubles and how to better use airpods when communicating on Discord (1 hr 58 mins 15 secs)
• Kaner talks a little more about his games (2 hrs 0 mins 30 secs)
• They talk about match ending times and how it impacts propensity to stab (2 hrs 2 mins 15 secs)

WebDip 2020 World Cup

• The guys talk about their Democracy Sausages team and how they're going (2 hrs 3 mins 30 secs)
• Amby reflects on the high calibre of the players and talking about future gameplay (2 hrs 5 mins 30 secs)
• Kaner talks about how he's preferring gunboat now when he's playing online (2 hrs 8 mins)

Wrapping it up

• The guys plan ending this recording, and next episodes to record (2 hrs 10 mins 30 secs)
• They finish the episode up (2 hrs 13 mins)

Venue: Brisbane Brewing Co., Brisbane

Drinks of choice:

Kaner:  My Shout stout from Brisbane Brewing Co.

Amby: Tropical XPA and Walker west coast IPA from Brisbane Brewing Co.

 

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, 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.

 

Happy New Year and holidays

Due to holidays our next normal episode will be out in two more weeks.

The Lying Interview

What makes a good Diplomacy lie and can you pick one when you hear it? The guys catchup with academics Jordan Boyd-Graber and Denis Peskov about their paper on lying and Diplomacy. Plus Sloth, a player in the study, also joins us. And don't forget Christmas 2020 and much more.

Intro

• The guys have got the recorder working again, although they're trying something different so it doesn't cut out again. They discuss their drinks and venue (0 mins 10 secs)
• They throw around a couple of jokes (2 mins 20 secs)
• The guys set the scene for the interview today with Jordan Boyd-Graber, Denis Peskov and Sloth about their paper, It Takes Two to Lie: One to Lie and One to Listen. The paper discusses machine learning and the ability to detect lies through Diplomacy (3 mins 10 secs)

Interview with with Jordan Boyd-Graber, Denis Peskov and Sloth

NOTE: Amby tried recording this interview in stereo for something different. Not sure it really works. Gives us your feedback (either on this page's comments area or by contacting us)

• Kaner and Amby welcome Jordan Boyd-Graber, Denis Peskov and Sloth to the show before Amby asks Jordan to give the background to the paper and why it concentrated on Diplomacy as a means of concerted lying (4 mins 40 secs)
• Denis discusses the process around using identifying messages and whether the sender lied or whether the receiver thought it was a lie. He also touches on his discovery and now love of the game (8 mins)
• Amby tries bringing Sloth's perspectives into the game as a player in the study and his thoughts on lie detection (11 mins 30 secs)
• Amby asks Denis about player prediction of lies vs the artificial intelligence's ability. Jordan gives his perspective (14 mins 15 secs)
• Amby goes onto ask about factors to indicate more likelihood to lie or tell the truth (17 mins 15 secs)
• They explore whether there were points of time in the game when lying was more likely to occur (27 mins 30 secs)
• Amby reflects on the difference in physical presence to the game in face-to-face vs online, he asks about people blaming real life as a crutch for a lie. They also discuss people's perceptions of what is a lie. Sloth points out how people don't mind lying, they just don't want to get caught lying (30 mins 30 secs)
• Kaner asks about deceitful language online and its impact on machine language into the future (34 mins 20 secs)
• Kaner goes onto ask about whether anyone has approached some of the big Diplomacy websites about their datasets (40 mins 20 secs)
• Amby gives his thoughts about the methodology using both a combination of the words people use (eg a lie) and the ability to stab (42 mins 40 secs)
• Jordan needs to leave the interview. Amby asks if there were any zones people were more likely to lie about. Denis asks his own questions to Kaner and Amby on who gets stabbed the most, and also which country was more likely to stab (45 mins 50 secs)
• Denis discusses some of the lies sent through from Kaner and Amby in their recent games to see if the IA could predict if the lies were lies. You can view the questions and predictions here (49 mins 40 secs)
• Sloth asks about elements of truth. Denis discusses the data rather than the emotional aspects (55 mins 30 secs)
• Amby asks about future research plans in this space (57 mins 20 secs)
• Amby starts wrapping up the interview. Just a reminder, you can read the paper if you want to learn more (58 mins 50 secs)
• The guys return back and discuss what they got out of the interview (59 mins 40 secs)
• Kaner flags how good it would be if webDip and other sites had an option to be part of the lying research so players keep records on whether they lie/predict a lie. Amby discusses the possibility of league tables for Best Diplomacy Liar or Best Predictor of Lies (1 hr 7 mins)
• Amby asks about how could you apply the same Lying methodology beyond text based chat, extending to voice communication games eg on Discord, and whether their lying styles change (1 hr 11 mins)

It's Christmas time

• The guys keep their annual tradition of exchanging Diplomacy themed Christmas gifts (1 hr 13 mins 20 secs)

Around the grounds

• They talk about the bar they went to before recording and death metal (1 hr 16 mins)
• Kaner grabs a round of drinks (1 hr 20 mins 20 secs)
• The guys start talking about the virtual World Diplomacy Cup they're both in as team mates with the Democracy Sausages (1 hr 23 mins 15 secs)
• Kaner talks about his France vs Austria game where he's playing against Austria (sorry can't link to the game as its anonymous and part of the rules) (1 hr 26 mins)
• Kaner goes onto discuss his gunboat game a little (1 hr 34 mins)
• He continues with a bit of Lepanto discussion (1 hr 37 mins 10 secs)
• Amby starts talk surreptitiously about his full press game (1 hr 42 mins 30 secs)

Variant development

• Now that Kaner is on holidays, he's back to working on the Age of Enlightenment variant (1 hr 46 mins 30 secs)
• Kaner talks about developing it on the Russian lab. Amby wants to piggyback on this for his variants and after questioning from Kaner talks about the Ice Age variant (1 hr 47 mins 30 secs)
• The guys talk Squirrel Wars and coming up with a plan (1 hr 50 mins)
• Kaner plays with Amby, changing the global coast line for a variant map. Amby insists he won't change the Ice Age map, but has future plans for a Global Warming variant with sea levels rising (1 hr 51 mins 45 secs)
• They grab another drink before starting to wrap up, prior to our Patreon bonus recording and wish everyone a great Christmas (1 hr 57 mins)

Venue: Jolly Roger bar, Brisbane

Drinks of choice:

Kaner:  Four Pines pale ale from Sydney, Australia

Amby: Three Sheets pale ale from the Lord Nelson brewery in Sydney and Bleeding Heart cabinet sauvignon from McLaren Vale

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, 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.

RIP Recorder

The guys discuss their current and upcoming games, try finishing off their unbreakable Juggernaut alliance before the recorder packs it in.

Intro

• The guys discuss their drinks, venue and proximity to the train line (0 mins 10 secs)
• They flag there's no interview this episode. They talk about producing the show (4 mins 45 secs)
• Kaner starts a discussion on having a face to face game, but it looks like the numbers aren't going to be there for a full board (6 mins 45 secs)

Around the grounds

• Amby starts discussing a Europa Renovatio game he bought into and how he's not doing well. He goes onto discuss his Imperial Diplomacy game where he's also doing pretty ordinary (9 mins 15 secs)
• He touches on his Declaration of War game (13 mins)
• They move to another bar due to the train noise and discuss their new drinks and venue (19 mins 20 secs)
• Amby finishes up his last game: Winning is for Losers and describes how there's many games within the game. He goes onto discuss the nature of being able to win the thread game, allowing players to force one order of a player. Amby gives credit to gopher's gameplay (21 mins 45 secs)
• The guys move onto their Europa Renovatio team game that is starting, discuss the way the game works and first thoughts on gameplay (32 mins 15 secs)
• Kaner goes onto discuss one of his Europa games that he's dying in (40 mins 30 secs)
• They go onto discuss their local Brisbane based team being part of the webDip World Cup, participating as the Democracy Sausages. They go onto discuss the other players before discussing the tyranny of the Australia timezone (44 mins 40 secs)
• Amby goes on a rant about the Chinese punitive nit-picking against Australia in the latest round of trade wars (53 mins 30 secs)

Return to the Juggernaut unbreakable alliance

• The guys bring up their Russia-Turkey game where they're testing alliances to see how well they work. They reset the scene where they were last up to in Fall 1907 (55 mins 40 secs)

Fall 1907

• They do builds and enter spring 1908 before planning their moves and adjudicating (59 mins)

Spring 1908

• Next up is their planning for fall 1908, their moves,  adjudicating and builds (1 hr 10 mins)

Fall 1908

• Its spring 1909. The guys talk moves and then adjudicate (1 hr 20 mins 40 secs)

Spring 1909

• Onto fall 1909. Moves are planned before... (1 hr 30 mins)
• Something goes terribly wrong with the recorder and the guys have no idea how much was recorder (and lost.) As it turned out it was only about 5-10 minutes (1 hr 34 mins)
• They quickly wrap up the show (1 hr 34 mins 30 secs)

 

• If you want to help the guys with a donation to help get a new recorder, please seriously consider becoming a Patreon of the show.

Venue: Oche and Mr Chester Wine Bar, Brisbane

Drinks of choice:

Kaner:  Oche pale ale from Brisbane and Mornington draught from the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria

Amby: Balter XPA from the Gold Coast and Rossovero Primitivo from Salento in 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 improve the audio equipment... or get the guys more drunk, 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 David Hood

The guys catchup with David Hood and talk about his role in DBN's Deadline News and much more. Plus a bumper amount of Diplomacy news and an Around the grounds. Enjoy!

Intro

• The guys discuss their drinks and venue... which apparently they've drunk at before. They discuss their rule on not recording in the same venue twice and whether it counts if the bar has changed hands/changed names (0 mins 10 secs)
• They quickly jump into the interview with David Hood (3 mins 15 secs)

Interview with David Hood

• They guys welcome David to the show  before Amby asks about how he got into the game (3 mins 20 secs)
• Kaner asks about how David got involved in the Diplomacy Broadcast Network. David acknowledges the great work being done by Brandon Fogel, Zach Moore and Bryan Pravel and that he's just the recruited "talent" before he discusses his thoughts on the DBN (5 mins)
• Kaner asks how a typical Deadline News broadcast comes together (8 mins)
• Amby asks about David's suited up style on Deadline News before asking about the feedback on the show (10 mins 15 secs)
• David tells a story about getting the word out about the game (13 mins)
• He goes onto give his thoughts on the Virtual Diplomacy League post-Covid and why the separation between face-to-face and online players went on so long (14 mins 40 secs)
• Amby asks what keeps David's level of interest in Diplomacy so high for so long (19 mins 40 secs)
• He asks how people's approaches to the hobby has changed over the years (20 mins 50 secs)
• Amby asks what elements have had the greatest impact in the way the quality of players have stepped up (23 mins 45 secs)
• David discusses how the forward plan for DBN's Broadcast News comes together (26 mins 30 secs)
• Amby flags they're planning their first post-Covid face to face game hopefully in December. David talks about how DBN may have to approach coverage when face to face starts up again (29 mins 15 secs)
• Kaner asks about the editing done by DBN before asking why David became the news anchor (33 mins 40 secs)
• Amby asks why there's a lot of lawyers playing Diplomacy (35 mins 40 secs)
• Kaner asks David about playing online. He goes onto discuss how he's enjoying a few variants on vDiplomacy and what he likes to see in variants to make it a good, playable game (37 mins)
• Kaner goes onto ask about whether David has a favorite broadcasting moment so far. David discusses the "openings" discussion in October's Deadline News and its impact (46 mins 40 secs)
• They start wrapping up the show (49 mins)
• The guys give their thoughts on the interview (49 mins 30 secs)

Latest news

• Kaner starts talking about eCarnage and gives shout outs to Bill Hackenbracht and the other top players in the tournament (52 mins)
• He discusses the Bourse and how it was run on the top board at eCarnage with market game rules (55 mins)
• Kaner goes onto discuss how he's keen to run and play in another Bourse game and how he's thinking of running it (59 mins)
• They discuss the 2021 World Cup over at webDip about being part of a local Queensland team and including Peter McNamara as a player seeing he's from Queensland (1 hr 3  mins 20 secs)
• Kaner talks about the ghost rating system being introduced at webDip (1 hr 8 mins)
• He discusses his love of the Politics thread at webDip. Amby gives an update about the American presidential result. Kaner says he's pretty happy with how he performed in the write in candidate front (1 hr 10 mins 30 secs)

Around the grounds

• The guys get some new drinks before Kaner asks Amby about his Winning is for Losers game. He discusses his thoughts on when a player doesn't respond to your messages and how it can feed your suspicions (1 hr 17 mins)
• Amby discusses his Cloak and Dagger A Modern Europe game he's still in (which has since drawn with Amby as a 1 SC Germany) (1 hr 25 mins)
• Kaner then asks about Amby's Machiavelli game where he was also part of the draw as Austria (1 hr 26 mins 30 secs)
• Amby goes onto discuss CD'ing in an Imperial Diplomacy game due to being away camping and being outragously drunk 1 29 30
• Next is a North Sea Wars game (which he has since been defeated in) before discussing a Europa Renovatio game he bought into a vacant position, where all of a sudden he's getting his arse kicked (1 hr 30 mins 30 secs)
• Kaner asks about Amby's last game, a Declaration of War variant played on the Fall of the American Empire map (1 hr 33 mins)
• The guys flick over to Kaner's games, starting with a Europa Renovatio game (1 hr 35 mins 40 secs)
• Kaner plays a Hundred Years game with Amby (not to be confused with the Diplomacy game Hundred) testing Amby's historical knowledge (1 hr 36 mins 20 secs)

More Diplomacy news

• The Virtual Diplomacy Classic is being pulled together by Bill Hackenbracht 18-20 December, with five rounds being held around the world. Learn more about it on the Liberty Cup website (1 hr 44 mins 30 secs)
• They touch on the Foreign Policy journal and its article about Diplomacy and its applicability to real life politics (1 hr 46 mins)
• They talk about their first face-to-face game in Brisbane since Covid started. If you haven't put your hand up to play and you're around, let us know (1 hr 49 mins)
• Amby does another shoutout to try to find a friend of the show who can help with a little WordPress problem for the Diplomacy Games website (1 hr 51 mins 50 secs)
• They start wrapping up the show before giving a teaser for the type of content in the Patreon version of the show (you can listen for just $2 a month) (1 hr 52 mins 50 secs)

Venue: The Prince Consort, Brisbane

Drinks of choice:

Kaner:  Young Henry's pale ale from Sydney, Australia

Amby: Balter XPA from the Gold Coast, Australia and D'Arenberg Lovegrass 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 improve the audio equipment... or get the guys more drunk, 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 Legendary Tactics

The guys interview Legendary Tactics, receive a variant question from Brother Bored and continue their Juggernaut game.

Intro

• The guys discuss their drinks, the big draw card for recording the show and venue.  (0 mins 10 secs)
• They discuss the upcoming interview with Legendary Tactics and question from Brother Bored (3 mins 15 secs)

Interview with Legendary Tactics

• They guys welcome Legendary Tactics (LT) to the show  (4 mins 10 secs)
• Amby asks about what got Legendary Tactics into Diplomacy (4 mins 40 secs)
• He goes onto discuss the Legendary Tactics Youtube channel (6 mins 10 secs)
• Legendary Tactics flips the table on the interview and asks Kaner and Amby about what got them into the game and the podcast (7 mins 15 secs)
• Amby asks about who's behind the Legendary Tactics channel and discusses their involvement in Diplomacy (11 mins 40 secs)
• They discuss the Canadian Diplomacy scene and face to face (15 mins)
• Amby asks where LT finds the time (16 mins 45 secs)
• LT discusses what you need techwise to run a Youtube channel (18 mins)
• Amby asks what games have they covered on the channel that most resembles Diplomacy (20 mins 45 secs)
• Kaner asks about Twilight Struggle (23 mins 30 secs)
• Amby asks about which videos have proved most popular (25 mins 50 secs)
• LT asks aside from Diplomacy, what other games do Kaner & Amby play (27 mins 40 secs)
• They discuss having a Game of Thrones game before wrapping up the interview (32 mins)

Post interview chat

• Kaner asks why Amby doesn't play many other board games (33 mins 30 secs)
• Amby asks Kaner about his games room (35 mins 45 secs)
• Amby reflects on the Legendary Tactics theme being three people. Kaner discusses being interviewed on their own podcast (38 mins 15 secs)

Brother Bored's variant question

• The guys deliver the intro to Brother Bored's question he's received on his blog (39 mins)
• Brother Bored reads Ryan's question and throws to Kaner and Amby for a response (40 mins)
• Kaner gives his thought on which variants match the spirit of the original game. He discusses Chaos. Amby talks about Classic Fog of War and Europa Renovatio.  Kaner also discusses Modern and Fall of the American Empire. Amby touches on Ancient Mediterranean (41 mins 10 secs)
• Kaner casts scorn on Fubar, before giving a big thumbs up to Greek Diplomacy (45 mins 50 secs)
• Brother Bored wonders what is meant by the "spirit of Diplomacy" (47 mins 55 secs)
• Kaner gives his views on variant trends and rules. Amby discusses David E. Cohen's Dawn of the Enlightenment's high seas zones. Amby talks balance with Hundred and Treaty of Verdun. Kaner talks about the historical narrative (49 mins 30 secs)
• Brother Bored discusses Kaner's thoughts. Amby talks about Divided States and Kaner brings up Haven (56 mins 15 secs)
• Brother Bored talks about striking what is and isn't historically accurate to achieve balance (59 mins 20 secs)
• Amby asks Brother Bored which variants does he play. He discusses Fall of the American Empire
• and touches on World Diplomacy IX  (1 hr 0 mins 10 secs)
• They start wrapping up the discussion. Kaner flags if you're interested in variants to try vDip, webDip, playDip, Diplicity and Conspiracy (1 hr 4 mins)
• Kaner post interview talks about Brother Bored's costume and Halloween (1 hr 6 mins 20 secs)

How good is the Juggernaut?

• The guys return to their game playing a Juggernaut against the bots at webDip, but quickly touch on eCarnage and playing a face to face game soon (1 hr 11 mins 45 secs)
• After some more drinks the guys come back to their game. Kaner gives his impressions of the game as they restart looking at the map in fall 1905. They remind listeners they can hear about a far more effective alliance played out in their Patreon feed. They go onto discuss their builds and upcoming strategy (1 hr 14 mins 40 secs)

Fall 1905's map

• After builds they put in their Spring 1906 moves (1 hr 21 mins 20 secs)
• They give a brief update on Kaner's unsuccessful bid for the American presidency (1 hr 24 mins)

Spring 1906 outcome

• After adjudication they discuss what happened for Spring 1906's moves (1  hr 29 mins 30 secs)
• They start planning their moves for Fall 1906 (1 hr 31 mins 40 secs)

Fall 1906 outcome

 

• The guys finalize their orders and check the adjudication for Fall 1906 (1 hr 39 mins 30 secs)
• They discuss the options for Kaner's build (1 hr 41 mins 20 secs)
• Some new drinks and new batteries later they guys return. Amby has dating questions for Kaner (1 hr 44 mins)
• They start planning their spring 1907 moves and reflect on the slog that is the Juggernaut (1 hr 49 mins 40 secs)

Spring 1907 outcome

• The guys ready up and go through the adjudication of Spring 1907 before Kaner makes a retreat (1 hr 57 mins )
• They move onto discussing their Fall 1907 moves. Amby has a Sean Connery moment (2 hrs 0 mins 15 secs)

Fall 1907 outcome

• The guys finish up their orders and walk through the adjudication for Fall 1907 and discuss build thoughts (2 hrs 8 mins)
• Looking at the time, Kaner & Amby pause the game and start wrapping up the show (2 hrs 15 mins )

Venue: Bloodhound Corner Bar, Brisbane

Drinks of choice:

Kaner:  Kenny porter

Amby: Mother's Milk 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 improve the audio equipment... or get the guys more drunk, 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.

 

Media Wars interview with Brother Bored, Legendary Tactics & CaptainMeme

The guys wrap-up the Media Wars game in an interview with Brother Bored, Legendary Tactics & CaptainMeme. They go onto talk about gender bias in the online game, broken websites and Kaner's final pitch to be elected President of the United States.

Intro

• The guys discuss their drinks and venue. They talk about the amount of content being put out by the players, particularly Brother Bored, Legendary Tactics & CaptainMeme before kicking off an interview with them  (0 mins 10 secs)

Media Wars: Interview with Brother Bored, Legendary Tactics & CaptainMeme

Apologies from Amby, I thought my mike was muted at various stages, so if you hear cutlery on a plate, that was me... sorry!

• Amby welcomes Brother Bored, Legendary Tactics & CaptainMeme to the show. He mentions why he didn't include the other players due to how disorganised the interview would likely be (3 mins 30 secs)
• He reflects on whether the Media Wars game was meant to be winner take all, rather than allowing a draw (which Brother Bored, Legendary Tactics & CaptainMeme were part of), and asks them about their understanding (5 mins 10 secs)
• Amby asks what they felt the game was going to be about when approached by umbletheheep to be involved. Captain mentions how he suggested the idea initially to umble (8 mins)
• They discuss the media creation angle of the game before morphing into the game itself. They also mention Legendary Tactics' Archetypes video  (11 mins 30 secs)
• Brother Bored discusses the One True Style (17 mins)
• Amby reflects on Legendary Tactics' War Diary video (18 mins)
• He asks which content did they enjoy or learn the most from. LT mentions Village Idiot's advanced maneuvers post on Brother Bored's blog, CaptainMeme's 10 hour video and Zach Moore's videos rating players. LT also mentions Brother Bored's content (19 mins 15 secs)
• They discuss identifying who was who in the game. Amby asks using content to sway views of players (22 mins 50 secs)
• Amby reminds them how he was in it briefly. He discusses his plan and what could he have done better (24 mins 30 secs)
• He asks about trust and whether there was a chance of a stab between Austria and Russia (31 mins)
• CaptainMeme asks about Brother Bored's perspective (32 mins 45 secs)
• Lying is discussed, including CaptainMeme's trickery on Amby (34 mins)
• Amby asks about Brother Bored's efforts to break the Austria-Russia alliance (38 mins)
• He asks about their thoughts on key turning points in the game (39 mins 45 secs)
• LT gives CaptainMeme a hack to be able to go back and view press after a game has concluded (43 mins)
• He goes on to give a shout out to Village Idiot for his gameplay (44 mins 20 secs)
• Brother Bored discusses his thoughts on key turning points (45 mins)
• Amby asks if aside from Brother Bored, did LT or Captain think they had a real chance at winning the game (48 mins 20 secs)
• CaptainMeme asks a question about whether Austria had a chance for a solo. Brother Bored weighs in as they discuss soft power (51 mins)
• Amby asks for final thoughts, CaptainMeme asks Amby about what he planned to do if his janissary unit picked up an SC and whether he'd use the build to stab Russia back (1 hr 00 mins 30 secs)
• They discuss doing a Media Wars game again and who should be included next time around. The guys suggest Chris Martin, FloridaMan, Kaner & David Hood (1 hr 3 mins)
• The interview wraps up (1 hr 6 mins)
• The guys return and discuss their thoughts on the interview. Kaner suggests to find more Diplomacy media to go to the Reddit channel or the Nexus Discord (1 hr 7 mins)
• On media, Amby points out that Brother Bored has a podcast out now. Visit his site or search for Brother Bored wherever you get your podcasts: Brother Bored's Diplomacy Dojo (1 hr 8 mins 30 secs)
• Amby asks where you find the time at the moment to consume all this Diplomacy content out there (1 hr 10 mins 45 secs)

Gender bias & Diplomacy

• They return to discussion previous episode on the use of the word "dude" and the assumption often made in the online Diplomacy community of using the male pronoun for players (1 hr 12 mins)
• They discuss their face to face games they often get two female players, and once this other local female player joins (when we start up again) we'll have three female players in a game which is pretty awesome (1 hr 15 mins)
• When they restart local games (probably next month) they discuss live streaming the face to face game (1 hr 16 mins 30 secs)

WordPress callout / broken bit of the DiplomacyGames website

• Amby asks if anyone listening to the show has WordPress skills. The template the site uses is no longer supported and the latest podcast section on the homepage isn't changing anymore. So if someone can help the show fix it or help move the site to a new template please contact Amby by email or Twitter (1 hr 17 mins 30 secs)

Around the grounds

• Kaner has signed up for a new Europa Renovatio game which he's waiting to properly get started (1 hr 20 mins 45 secs)
• He talks about a new big map viewer app available at vDip created by JonasGarrigueMasaryk (1 hr 22 mins 30 secs)
• After some new beers they move to a quieter section of the pub's beer garden (1 hr 24 mins)
• Amby talks about his Winning is for Losers game, a classic game that is tied to a forum thread game. Players in the board game who win on the thread can force another player to make a move of the winning player's choice. Amby's taking more time thinking about the game and is finding this is helping (1 hr 26 mins 30 secs)
• They discuss how the game is going. The guys discuss whether a player dead in the board game could still win the thread and decide the forced move of another player. Kaner gives his thoughts on Amby's upcoming moves (which has since happened by the time the podcast is released)  (1 hr 32 mins)

Kaner's presidential campaign update

• Amby asks Kaner how his presidential campaign is going (1 hr 38 mins 30 secs)
• This is the last podcast before the US election so they try to get out the vote for Kaner (1 hr 40 mins)
• The guys can't get their heads around why Americans use so many systems when voting. They clash though when it comes to democracy sausages.  (1 hr 41 mins)
• They get distracted as a magpie attacks a drone in the sky. Kaner mentions a video where a magpie is attacking a kid on a bike  (1 hr 49 mins)

• They work out the plan for the next recording before wrapping up (1 hr 50 mins 30 secs)

Venue: Pig & Whistle, Brisbane

Drinks of choice:

Kaner:  Roger's by Little Creatures

Amby: Newtowner Pale Ale by Young Henry's

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, 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 Dave Maletsky about eCarnage and WDC

The guys catch up with Dave Maletsky about eCarnage and what's happening with the World Diplomacy Championship. Plus talk about Diplomacy news and discuss variant development.

Intro

• The guys discuss their drinks and venue. Amby mentions how he met well known Diplomacy player, Peter McNamara at the Fox very early on in the podcast (0 mins 10 secs)
• Amby introduces an interview with Dave Maletsky about November's Carnage - now eCarnage - and the roadmap ahead for the World Diplomacy Championships (4 mins)

Interview with Dave Maletsky about eCarnage and the WDC

• Amby asks about what's happening with this year's Carnage (6-8 November 2020) due to Covid (5 mins 20 secs)
• Dave discusses how this year's Carnage - being all online so called eCarnage - is running two rounds in the US and two rounds in the Asia-Pacific using different scoring systems, and how player' rankings determine a final ranking for the Top Board (6 mins 50 secs)
• Dave flags the need to formally register and the need for a small entrance fee (9 mins 10 secs)
• Amby clarifies the tournament play process (10 mins 50 secs)
• He asks what's happening with the World Diplomacy Championships (WDC) and Dave outlines (12 mins)
• Kaner asks about the logistics in the games (14 mins)
• He goes onto ask how the broader tournament organisers are managing Carnage (16 mins)
• Amby asks about the normal physical Carnage whether players walking around take an interest in Diplomacy. Amby asks about the relationship with Dungeons and Dragons (18 mins 30 secs)
• Amby asks about the round timings (22 mins 45 secs)
• Dave discussing the seeding aspects of the games (25 mins 20 secs)
• Amby asks about how participation in eCarnage is reflected in a broader rating system (27 mins)
• He goes on to ask about player numbers (29 mins 30 secs)
• Dave talks about the cross over being successfully achieved from online players being increasingly involved in F2F/virtual events (31 min)
• Amby asks about the cultural change happening in the game (32 mins 40 secs)
• He goes onto ask about the resolution process for adverse behavior (35 mins)
• Amby asks how many Carnages Dave has been director for (37 mins)
• Dave talks about some of the awards at Carnage (39 mins 50 secs)
• Amby asks about where players can find all the up to date info about eCarnage (44 mins)
• Dave talks about confidence and attitude in games (46 mins)
• The guys wrap up the interview (46 mins 30 secs)
• After the interview, Kaner mentions a Bourse is being run on the Top Board for eCarnage (47 mins 10 secs)
• Kaner & Amby quickly gives an overview about what a Bourse game is (48 mins 40 secs)
• They talk about the two different time zone competitions and what's happening with WDC (53 mins)

Latest news & shit

• The guys talk about the article in Popular Mechanics about Diplomacy and Andrew Goff (56 mins)
• Kaner asks Amby if he's going to play in Carnage before discussing Gary Gygax (58 mins)
• Amby brings up Legendary Tactics post about Twilight Struggle (1 hr)
• They talk about Trump being in hospital at the time of recording (1 hr 2 mins)
• Amby discusses how the Brother Bored interview on the show has been remastered to be in the Brother Board robotic voice (1 hr 5 mins 15 secs)
• Kaner discusses GoHornsGo's recent post about his Diplomacy collection (1 hr 8 mins)

Around the grounds

• Amby runs through the Media Wars game which has now drawn. Players in the Spring 1912 draw were: Brother Bored (Germany 14 SC's), Legendary Tactics (Austria 11 SC's), CaptainMeme/DiploStrats (Russia 8 SCs's) and Village Idiot (Italy 2 SC's) (1 hr 11 mins 20 secs)
• The guys talk about the Winning game that Amby's in. This is a cross over Classic game with a forum thread at vDip. If you win the forum thread that turn, as a Diplomacy player you get the GM to request another player to make a specific move that they must do. They discuss some of the duplicity in the game (1 hr 16 mins)
• Amby is also having a little opening joy in his Italian Stallions Machiavelli game. Kaner asks about the map (1 hr 25 mins)
• Last up is his Declaration of War Fall of the American Empire IV game (1 hr 28 mins)
• Kaner's Europa Renovatio game Lockdown Renovatio has just finished with him doing well, being part of the draw as Naples (1 hr 30 mins 30 secs)
• Amby reflects in the Winning game that another one of the players - Macca - is also based in Brisbane. They discuss about getting a face-to-face game happening (1 hr 36 mins)

Variant development update

• After some more drinks, Kaner discusses a message we received from Amuzet about drawing maps (1 hr 38 mins)
• Amby gives an update from Flame about whether his Lab would be available for variant development (1 hr 41 mins)
• They discuss what you need to do to set up a server, or whether its better to just sit on it until Kaner's next lot of holidays. They go onto discuss getting Kaner prepared to play a virtual game: Tempest in a Teapot (1 hr 43 mins 20 secs)
• Amby get a message from David E. Cohen about a Classic variant but where some of the water is frozen. Kaner talks about it. Amby reflects on the Ice Age variant he started creating. He has the territory map and names/SCs maps done, but can't remember who the players are meant to be and whether there are any additional rules - pretty sure there aren't any beyond the additional impassable areas due to glaciers (1 hr 46 mins)
• Amby discusses Fake Al's Tiglath-Pileser variant set at the time of Solomon in the bible (1 hr 50 mins 40 secs)
• Kaner got a message from Major Mitchell at webDip and does a shout out before they wrap up the show  (1 h 56 mins 30 secs)

 

Venue: The Fox, Brisbane

Drinks of choice:

Kaner:  Two Suns Pale Ale and Grappler lager by Green Beacon

Amby: Marty's Block shiraz cabernet

 

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, 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 David E. Cohen

The guys interview renown Diplomacy variant creator David E. Cohen before they test out an alliance for the ages: The Juggernaut.

Intro

• The guys discuss their drinks and venue (0 mins 10 secs)
• They introduce the interview with David E. Cohen (3 mins 40 secs)

Interview with David E. Cohen

• The interview starts badly with lots of technical issues - both in the initial connection and also the quality of the recording. Bear with us listeners, slightly normal service soon returns. That said there are chair squeaks and other background noise throughout the interview at our end (4 mins)
• Eventually their perseverance pays off as David explains his process for creating variants (7 mins 30 secs)
• Kaner asks where the idea for Known World 901 came from. David explains where it came from and how it fitted in with Western World 901  (8 mins 20 secs)
• Amby asks about the process of bringing together multiple maps into a single new game eg Maharaja coming together with Spice Islands to create an East Indies variant (9 mins 45 secs)
• Kaner brings up the Mandate of Heaven variant and how to port it across (11 mins)
• Kaner asks David about his first variant he created (16 mins 20 secs)
• He goes onto ask about his latest project, Dawn of the Enlightenment (17 mins 30 secs)
• David discusses his approach to breaking sea stalemate lines: High Seas provinces. They are similar to sealanes but allow multiple units in the same geographic space (19 mins)
• Amby asks about what feedback David has received during play testing (26 mins)
• David talks about the differing victory criteria for players and the timing of the variant (27 mins)
• Kaner asks about whether anyone is planning on porting Dawn of the Enlightenment to an online Diplomacy platform (29 mins 45 secs)
• He asks whether David has a rule of thumb for variant creators (30 mins 40 secs)
• David touches on his new variant he's started working on, Unconstitutional (33 mins 20 secs)
• Amby asks an Australia based question for Dawn of the Enlightenment (36 mins 50 secs)
• David covers off what variant developers need to avoid (38 mins 30 secs)
• Amby asks what pitch would David give to a classic player on why they should try playing a variant occasionally (40 mins 45 secs)
• Amby double checks about adjacency between the North and South Atlantic High Sea provinces (44 mins 20 secs)
• Kaner discusses how he'd approach porting the map across to vDiplomacy (46 mins)
• Amby asks about whether Kaner should put his effort into Dawn of the Enlightenment or Squirrel Wars (48 mins)
• Amby asks David who else's maps does he like when it comes to variants (49 mins 20 secs)
• They discuss the backing up of variants over at vDip (51 mins 30 secs)
• David discusses how much would be needed to buy the rights to Diplomacy (52 mins 30 secs)
• The guys start wrapping up the interview (53 mins 30 secs)
• After the interview they give their thoughts & Kaner announces he really has started working on Dawn of the Enlightenment. They discuss how maps are constructed and displayed in the online Diplomacy environment (54 mins 45 secs)
• They discuss trying to get access to the variant Lab with Flame. They talk about thoughts on the winning conditions, the High Seas provinces, the spread of SCs on the map and avoiding determined moves (58 mins 45 secs)

Alliances that work: a Juggernaut case study

• The guys get some more beers while Kaner sets out the Diplomacy map on the table (1 hr 11 mins)
• They talk about a recent Patreon episode where they tested what happens when you have an unbreakable alliance and which are alliances that work. The guys are testing this by playing against the Bots at webDip (1 hr 12 mins)
• The discuss the random games they created and their thinking on why they chose to test the Juggernaut (1 hr 15 mins)
• They discuss Kaner wanting to do a slingshot, trying to trick the Bot players to thinking an RT is not happening (1 hr 18 mins)
• They discuss their potential moves (1 hr 21 mins 30 secs)

Spring 1901

 

• The guys discuss Spring 1901 (1 hr 25 mins)
• Next up they plan what to do in Fall 1901 (1 hr 28 mins)
• Kaner challenges Amby's thinking on a movement (1 hr 32 mins)

Fall 1901

• They finalise moves and discuss how the turn worked out - after Amby admits to a bit of a technical screw up (1 hr 36 mins 30 secs)
• The guys start planning their moves for Spring 1902 (1 hr 40 mins 40 secs)

Spring 1902

• They discuss the adjudication from Spring 1902 (1 hr 49 mins)
• Next up is their plans for Fall 1902 (1 hr 52 mins 20 secs)

Fall 1902

• They come back and discuss Fall (2 hrs 1 min)
• After talking builds, its time to discuss plans for Spring 1903 (2 hrs 4 mins)

Spring 1903

•  After some more beers they breakdown the moves for spring 1903... including an embarrassing misorder by Amby (2 hrs 11 mins)
• The guys then start planning for Fall 1903 moves. Kaner teaches Amby another lesson on move logistics (2 hrs 16 mins 30 secs)

Fall 1903

• Amby discovers Kaner is right again as they examine Fall moves (2 hrs 24 mins)
• After some bitching from Kaner about his phone provider, its time for discussion about spring 1904 (2 hrs 30 mins)

Spring 1904

• The guys discuss the latest set of moves (2 hrs 33 mins)
• Onto planning for Fall 1904 (2 hrs 35 mins)

Fall 1904

• Time to unpack Fall 1904 and Amby's cheeky move pays off (2 hrs 41 mins 15 secs)
• After builds, the guys plan for Spring 1905 (2 hrs 45 mins)

Spring 1905

• The guys analyse the moves for Spring 1905 (2 hrs 50 mins)
• And before the guys wrap it up for the night, they plan for Fall 1905 (2 hrs 52 mins)
• Amby discusses a Virtual Diplomacy League game that Kaner might be interested in. Then its a little haircut talk (2 hrs 55 mins)

Fall 1905

• And in the last wrap up of the night, Kaner & Amby dissect Fall 1905 before wrapping the podcast up (3 hrs 1 min)

Venue: Saccharomyces, Brisbane

Drinks of choice:

Kaner:  Black Hops Hornet IPA and Grifter Oatmeal Stout

Amby: Black Hops Hornet IPA

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, 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.

Trainspotting

Under the never-ending clickity-clack of the train line, the guys catch up in a brewery for a little Diplomacy chat... and the odd drink or two!

Intro

• The guys introduce the show, the venue and their drinks (0 mins 10 secs)
• They talk about surfing, waterskiing and serenity (2 mins 45 secs)

Around the grounds

• They flag there may be a bit of train noise in the background as they're near a rail line. Kaner asks Amby how his games are going. Amby talks about the Big Hitters game (5 mins 20 secs)
• Amby discusses his offer to GM a Winning game for players in the Winning thread (7 mins 15 secs)
• Amby goes onto discuss how badly he's doing in the Cloak and Dagger series, being played on a Modern Europe map (10 mins)
• He then discusses his (surprise surprise) elimination from the Media Wars game and how the other players are going (12 mins)

Kaner in Quarantine

• Amby thinks he stuffed up the recording (he didn't) before giving a drinks update (16 mins)
• Kaner discusses the impact of his workplace being shutdown due to Covid-19 (18 mins 15 secs)
• Amby explains why the podcast was delayed a week due to the changes Kaner needed to accommodate into at work (25 mins)
• They talk about the Patreon episode they recorded while he was in quarantine. They discuss their alliance game against the bots at webDip (25 mins 45 secs)

Around the grounds (part 2) and Diplomacy chat

• Kaner gives an update on his "Where's Kaner" Europa Renovation games and the troubles of internet loading issues when orders are due (30 mins 15 secs)
• Amby touches on his Atlantic Colonies game (32 mins 45 secs)
• He goes onto mention one of the games he's trying to get started: Italian Stallions using the Machiavelli map, the first Diplomacy map Amby ever played on (35 mins 15 secs)
• They talk about old military/political strategy books and whether that'd help gameplay eg Machiavelli's "The Prince", von Clausewitz's "On War", Sun Tzu's "The Art of War" and the Roman general Frontinus' "Strategemata" (37 mins 30 secs)
• Amby discusses Aristotle's "Modes of Persuasion" in the devices of rhetoric: ethos, pathos and logos (40 mins 15 secs)
• Kaner raises a Reddit post about strategy for multiple people playing together as a single country and how to approach things (44 mins 30 secs)
• Amby thinks a bonus WDC day of tournament players doing this group game would be awesome (55 mins)
• Kaner gives credit to the teacher/professor for creating such a game scenario. Amby touches on the playDip forum thread for teachers (56 mins 30 secs)
• They touch on their upcoming interview. The guys give an apology/clarification about their comments about the Conspiracy app and its recognition of variant creators (58 mins 45 secs)
• Amby brings up Kaner's United States of Panhandle t-shirt which was originally posted on Reddit. They go onto discuss the r/MapPorn thread including where in the United States you can own a kangaroo. They go onto more American/Australian crossovers with emus (1 hr 2 mins)
• They mention their next interviewee is David E. Cohen (1 hr 8 mins)
• The guys give another shout-out for their Patreon bonus episodes. Amby reflects on Kaner's value add to the podcast before they wrap up (1 hr 9 mins)

Venue: Stone & Wood Brewery, Brisbane

Drinks of choice:

Kaner:  Stone Rock porter and West Coast Extra IPA from Stone & Wood

Amby:  Cloud Catcher Pale Ale, West Coast Extra IPA and Stone Rock porter from Stone & Wood

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, 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.