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The Board Game of the Alpha Nerds (2014)

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Re: The Board Game of the Alpha Nerds (2014)

#51

Post by raldi »

IggleSniggle wrote: post #19

I absolutely loved this game in high school. It’s very special, in that it’s primary mechanic is real world relationships placed into a tactical context. The downside is that it pulls real world relationships into a simulated zero-sum environment where the game ends but the relationships persist. I’ve never played any game quite like it. Unfortunately, I can’t think of a situation in which I would ever play it again,…

So let's play online with other HN'ers with experience. We can set it up to require one move a week, which gives plenty of time to communicate and plot even if life's distractions come up every now and then. (I agree with you that it's the worst when you start a game and then other players stop making moves.)

We need a bunch more people, though.

If you'd like to join, PM me on reddit.

Re: The Board Game of the Alpha Nerds (2014)

#52

Post by protomyth »

tonypace wrote: post #11
Rainymood wrote: post #9

How long does a game of diplomacy usually last? Does someone often win?

It's unusual for someone to win outright in my experience. But the presence of an outright victory condition affects player behavior.

It depends on the group attitude. There are a lot of people who keep alliances until the end then call draws. In a lot of ways this is a behavior that earns points for next time someone plays (e.g. That person will keep their word). On the other hand, there are groups that treat it as a winner-take-all game and play to win. It really depends on which group you get in with.

You'll probably know about a group victory in a short period of time (under four hours if you use a turn clock[edit]5 or ten minute turns[edit]), but it will be a long night with the must have a winner group. Most in a concede.

Colonial Diplomacy is faster and really, really brutal.

Re: The Board Game of the Alpha Nerds (2014)

#54

Post by protomyth »

cableshaft wrote: post #41
tormeh wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Diplomacy sounds unique, though, because it takes so long to play. In shorter games I might betray you and you me before the night is over. Also, maybe the length makes it eel like there's more at stake?

Both games lasted a long time (one was in person for 10 hours before we ended it, the other was an online game with one turn made per week). Both times I was completely crippled (if someone is going to betray you in Diplomacy they better cripple you or they're going to be fighting multiple fronts later, and that's really hard to do in Diplomacy), and had to basically observe what happened for the rest of it. I still…

Uno has damaged friendships. We humans tend to take games a bit too seriously. Frankly, I worry about my friends who won't take a shot at winning in the mid-game when its pretty obvious the other side is about to be done. Not being able to separate a game from feelings is a problem for some.

I should point out I separate games from gambling, because money does changes things quite a bit.

Re: The Board Game of the Alpha Nerds (2014)

#55

Post by mike_n »

raldi wrote: post #51
IggleSniggle wrote: post #19

I absolutely loved this game in high school. It’s very special, in that it’s primary mechanic is real world relationships placed into a tactical context. The downside is that it pulls real world relationships into a simulated zero-sum environment where the game ends but the relationships persist. I’ve never played any game quite like it. Unfortunately, I can’t think of a situation in which I would ever play it again,…

So let's play online with other HN'ers with experience. We can set it up to require one move a week, which gives plenty of time to communicate and plot even if life's distractions come up every now and then. (I agree with you that it's the worst when you start a game and then other players stop making moves.) We need a bunch more people, though. If you'd like to join, PM me on reddit.

https://www.playdiplomacy.com/

Re: The Board Game of the Alpha Nerds (2014)

#56

Post by pvarangot »

dave_sid wrote: post #53

What’s the difference between a nerd and a geek? Are they the same?

Usually a geek is someone that likes "nerd stuff" but doesn't completely engages in it.

I don't want to sound judging or oversimplify it, but for example you may like cellphones or photography as a geek, but you'd never think about reading about semiconductor physics to understand what the latest stuff in sensors mean or trying to build your own camera. A geek may try some light DIY project every once in a while but it's not what makes his heart beat, and a nerd will obsess over it for months.

Re: The Board Game of the Alpha Nerds (2014)

#57

Post by harimau777 »

dave_sid wrote: post #53

What’s the difference between a nerd and a geek? Are they the same?

My understanding is that a nerd is someone who is very intelligent or involved in pursuits associated with intelligence like academia, science, or programming. A geek is someone with an extreme interest in something like pop culture or science fiction.

Re: The Board Game of the Alpha Nerds (2014)

#58

Post by wcrichton »

Pxtl wrote: post #49
IggleSniggle wrote: post #19

I absolutely loved this game in high school. It’s very special, in that it’s primary mechanic is real world relationships placed into a tactical context. The downside is that it pulls real world relationships into a simulated zero-sum environment where the game ends but the relationships persist. I’ve never played any game quite like it. Unfortunately, I can’t think of a situation in which I would ever play it again,…

Yup. As much as the concept is neat, fundamentally it's the 7-player and runtime requirements that ruin it. Games are allowed to have hurt feelings and flaws and brutality if they make up for it with something cool... But the severity of those flaws is amplified by run-time. An 8-hour game that is ruined by betrayal is monstrous. Need a "diplomacy lite" that can be wrapped up in under 40 minutes

I would call that Resistance (or Avalon, Mafia, etc.). A social/trust/betrayal-oriented party game that's playable in less than an hour.

Re: The Board Game of the Alpha Nerds (2014)

#59

Post by dbmikus »

I play Diplomacy online with a group of friends, where we normally have a turn lasting 2 days. We need to do this sparingly, though, because invariably we all end up spending huge portions of our workdays messaging each other and plotting instead of actually getting anything done.
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