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At the end of the Napoleonic Wars in 1815 the prevailing diplomatic attitude of the nineteenth century was established. The previously unbeatable Napoleon was defeated and the ascendant France was humbled. The four "Great Powers" of Prussia, Russia, Austria and Britain that had allied together to fight Napoleon now sought to create a balance of powers. This "Concert of Europe" would hold forever the state of the continent.
Europe would again be transformed however, by the year of revolutions. The 1848 revolutions would see the French Second Republic join the great powers. The Italian states would truly begin the process of unification in earnest. German nationalism became a force to be reckoned with. Even stoic Austria, land of arch-reactionary Metternich, was forced down the path to a Dual Monarchy.
It was the 1870's that saw the fruits of the international situation. The creation of Germany and Italy. The loss of Turkey's Balkan possessions. The entry of Britain into European affairs. The Concert of Europe was dead.
And in the latter days of the 1800's the states would dance a diplomatic jig of alliances and treaties. The powers attempted to assert their influence over Europe and reap what the others would allow.
As the 1800's inevitably became the 1900's Europe would begin to be rocked by crisis after crisis. Tensions mounted and alliances were formed. To survive and profit in the coming century would require...
[SIZE="3"]Diplomacy[/SIZE]
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So while we're waiting for the opening diplomacy to go up.. anybody have a big Diplomacy experience? Any views on the game in general they want to share?
I've played Diplomacy one and a half times.
The first time I played Turkey, allied fairly solidly with Russia but then got locked into an endless stalemate against Austria and Italy(Partly due to some botched rules understanding by my alliance), then eventually I was gobbled up after Russia fell to the Germans and British.
The second time I played Germany, subdivided France with England and was in a good position pushing into a fight with Russia, when the game started experiencing heavy delays and had to be abandoned. I didn't do particularly well in either game, so I'm really interested to see how people play here.
From a gameplay perspective, I agree with Amelia's assessment of Turkey as quite boring initially. Although they do have some really good security in their home centres to make up for that. I'd prefer to hang out in the precarious centre, just from an enjoyment perspective.
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Nothing on Diplomacy in general. I'm still learning myself. I do appreciate your establishing post - 19th century Europe is one of the weak spots in my education, but it sounds like it was every bit as interesting as 20th century Europe.
I've got to say, though - poor Lewwyn. First he got one of the general consensus weaker powers, then he chose a RP persona that seems to be really grating for the other powers in the game.
Amelia Wrote:Email from Austria
I'm still trying to understand this email.
Nakor Wrote:Okay, to annyoing.
Lewwyn just send 2 non-responsive emails with loads of crap.
Really annoying. Seems like he is role-playing a bit and I don't like it one ounce...
Unless he changes that, I'm predicting not only that Lewwyn doesn't kill scooter, but that he's the first to go.
EitB 25 - Perpentach
Occasional mapmaker
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I take any bet Lewwyn is out first :neenernee
Not sure anyone wants to form an alliance with a 1901 gangsta 
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I've absolutely no experience with Diplomacy at all beyond knowing it existed, so I'm just here hoping their threads make for a fun spectator sport 
Mardoc Wrote:I've got to say, though - poor Lewwyn. First he got one of the general consensus weaker powers, then he chose a RP persona that seems to be really grating for the other powers in the game.
I was thinking that too - but equally, you notice he's toned it down for the two people he wants to have real discussions with? Is he actually just baiting the people he thinks are going to be at war with him anyway? Don't know if that's sensible either, mind you
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Yes its annoying, yes it will probably get him killed very early - but it is pretty hilarious seeing his attempts at talking 'street'
Gaspar summed it up perfectly!
"You want to take my city of Troll%ng? Go ahead and try."
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Who's lurkering, I'm lurkering!!!!! 
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Me too. Not much to say yet, but one thing that sticks out is Lewwyn's crazy gangsta style, which I think is going to backfire horribly.
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Lurking here as well.
On average, everybody thinks they are above average.
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Austria needs to make nice with at least Germany early, or he runs the risk of being dismantled by a 3-power alliance of Italy, Russia, and Turkey. If Italy, Russia, Turkey all decide they want Austria dead, and Germany isn't willing to throw a spanner in it by standing off Russia in the North and using his Army in Munich to the south, then Austria will be dead by 1903
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