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

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

#51

Post by xpe »

jsilence wrote: post #8
regus wrote: post #6

I’ve always wanted to play this, however a few things hold me back. Experience has thought me that it is very difficult to wrangle a lot of people to play complicated games. Simple party games are easy, but the moment you try to explain anything complicated to a large group all their eyes glaze over. Then there is the issue of the extreme play length. The people in my play group will complain if something takes an ho…

I second this sentiment. Played it once a long time ago computer supported with longer turns. Couple of days. Could not bear the betrayals even though it is 'only' a game. There are a lot of negotiations, talking and discussing with your friends and little game mechanics. I quit the game early. Not worth losing friends over.

Many players feel this way.

You are well advised to watch your back in the game. Don't overextend yourself. However, you also cannot isolate yourself.

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

#53

Post by xpe »

myko wrote: post #24

I first heard about this game on This American Life - they had an actual ambassador from the US help a novice play. I found it super interesting and now have a copy of the game but haven't played it yet (hoping to post-COVID) The episode, which I found fascinating, is this one: https://www.thisamericanlife.org/531/got-your-back

I heard some seasoned folks at a Diplomacy group describe that media coverage... IIRC, they considered it to miss much of the spirit of the game. I think ongoing people who enjoy it have a special ability to value the game dynamics without taking it personally.

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

#54

Post by dmurray »

snarf21 wrote: post #17
regus wrote: post #6

I’ve always wanted to play this, however a few things hold me back. Experience has thought me that it is very difficult to wrangle a lot of people to play complicated games. Simple party games are easy, but the moment you try to explain anything complicated to a large group all their eyes glaze over. Then there is the issue of the extreme play length. The people in my play group will complain if something takes an ho…

Reach out to me, I've designed a card based version that plays 3-6 and about 15 minutes per player. It is super solid but I'd always love more feedback.

Interested in knowing more about this, but you don't have contact information in your profile.

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

#55

Post by xpe »

joe_the_user wrote: post #37
andrewzah wrote: post #3

I wish I had known about this game in college. Getting 7 adults together for 8+ hours is nearly impossible now. I got to play this with 7 people exactly once. It was amazing.

You really only need 5 people. I haven't played with seven very often and I didn't find it improved the play much, if at all. Just as much, if you set a hard 15 minute time limit, you get the play down to 4-5 hours (especially if you also say victory is preponderance on the board, not total elimination of all other players).

I have mostly played with seven. 7x6 interaction pairs = 42. That's twice as much as 5x4=20.

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

#56

Post by xpe »

patja wrote: post #43

My group of close friends tried playing online, where nobody knew who was which country. Some had trouble disassociating the back stabbing role play from our real life relationships. It nearly destroyed a few relationships.

Many people need an introduction -- what you can learn from the game. If you take it personally, you miss out on the learning.

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

#57

Post by xpe »

thom wrote: post #9

Pretty sure my parents damaged, if not ended, several friendships over the years due to this monstrosity. Always found it alluring.

The rules of the game encourage a winnowing over time. Honesty is a useful strategy much of the time. The fact that it is a strategy, not a life code, bothers people.

But this is a game of geopolitics and power. Many people aren't comfortable with the implications.

I think people are jolting by realizing, one way or the other, how easily they are manipulated.

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

#58

Post by elijaht »

victorbojica wrote: post #25

This seems very similar to the Game of Thrones Board Game. Seems like it is heavily inspired from Diplomacy.

I definitely get the sense that it is. Having played both- I prefer the Game of Thrones board game. Quicker and the game feels like it has a bit more meat on it, which feels like it softens the blow of any betrayal

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

#59

Post by xpe »

29athrowaway wrote: post #28

Is there a professional system for Diplo? Do people train by playing against AIs created by the top companies in the world? Has the game existed for thousands of years and has studied by endless generations of scholar, military generals and intellectuals of all walks of life? I doubt so. The game for alpha nerds is Go, in my opinion. It is an incredibly deep game that will always offer you life lessons at every stage…

"The"? This is a false choice.

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

#60

Post by dhosek »

I've played face to face games of this three times. Twice with seven players once with two. The two-player game is interesting but a very different experience. I came across a variant set of rules for two players some years ago that I ended up putting on my personal website sometime in the 90s.

http://don.dream-in-color.net/id.html

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