THE ABYSSINIAN PRINCE #331

April 8, 2012


Jim Burgess, 664 Smith Street, Providence, RI 02908-4327 USA, (401)351-0287, jfburgess of gmail.com


E-MAIL/WEB ONLY ISSUE! PDF will be available on the website. Join the tidal wave of Dippers going to World DipCon in Chicago in August, we can overwhelm Shark Chum with 330 warm bodies!


Web Page Address: http://www.diplom.org/DipPouch/Postal/Zines/TAP/index.html


Some of you are still not on the E-Mail list for this szine, I keep trying to sign you up, please accept the offer! I am being a bit more systematic about that right now. I am going ahead and finishing all the games here, and then we'll see what happens.
This issue establishes the continuation of the szine/subszine inversion. As most of you know, this thing began as a ßubszine" to Terry Tallman's North Sealth, West George, then became its own szine with a host of subszines. The subszines remaining will appear as sub-subszines to our new flipflopped home in Doug Kent's Eternal Sunshine. Doug will keep us on schedule so we will charge forward and finish the remaining games that I have in here. After that, we'll see how it goes and what I do next. I'd like to keep writing and doing some game GMing. You all should see first what I actually do.
For production, in addition to the HTML's of each separate product on the web page, I will also have a PDF that you can print of the entire subszine (including my famous handdrawn maps!). You can just print the maps if you like, but remember maps are for pikers anyway, you don't need no steenkin' maps, keep them up in your head where they belong. I don't think there are very many people I owe money, but if you think I owe you money, just ask and I will pay. ONE GROUP that is definitely owed money is the players with NMR insurance. NMR insurance still continues, I will still call you for it, and when your game ends, I will refund the money.
I have now tried to sign up all the players, some multiple times, but please check. THIS IS A PROBLEM, sign up now if you're playing so you get proper notification!!! General information about the mailing list is at: http://www.diplom.org/mailman/listinfo/tap
You can sign up from there, or send E-Mails to: Tap-request of diplom.org; with the word `help' in the subject or body (don't include the quotes), and you will get back a message with instructions. You must know your password to change your options (including changing the password, itself) or to unsubscribe.


THE ABYSSINIAN PRINCE LETTERS SECTION
((Let's keep talking about FTF tournament diplomacy! Note below my write up for the recently held TempleCon 2012. The website for the Convention itself is http://www.templecon.org/12. Looking beyond that World DipCon is fast approaching in August, I'm about to put a real hard full-court press on getting every single one of you reading this to come. Why not? E-Mail me with your excuse and I'll shred it. The convention is in beautiful downtown Chicago and has five rounds beginning first thing Friday morning, August 10th and ending on August 12th. Find more information at: http://windycityweasels.org/wdc or contact Jim O'Kelley (aka Shark Chum) and come meet me and maybe you'll see my "Alice" T-Shirt coming out of the closet... let's especially get some of the old crowd to come join us, there remains a rumor that Pete Gaughan might show up.))
((For these and other upcoming cons around the world: http://diplom.org/Face/cons/index.php))


THE ABYSSINIAN PRINCE ANNUAL BASEBALL COMMENTARY
Marc Ellinger (March 4)
NL (Real Baseball): East – Phillies; Central – Cardinals; West – Giants; WC – Brewers, Braves
WC Game – Brewers win
NLDS – Cardinals (over Giants), Phillies (over Brewers)
NLCS – Cardinals in 6
AL (Baseball Lite): East – Yankees; Central – Twins; West – Rangers; WC – Rays, Angels
WC Game – Angels win
ALDS – Angels (over Yankees); Rangers (over Twins)
ALCS – Angels in 7
World Series – Cardinals in 5 (Albert comes back to St. Louis and loses!!)
((Fascinating, Marc and I will have some interesting rooting interests if it develops this way... see below.))
Commentary:
We all know that Baseball is only played in the National League. No funny rules (DL) or teams that just purchase championships (Yankees), in the Senior Circuit baseball is still pure and very difficult.
NL East –- This is a two team division with the Phillies continuing to get better and the Braves sticking in second behind them. The Phillies are loaded, they have pitching and offense and no one in the East has the horsepower to stop them. The Braves just keep winning, people leave, people come, Braves still win. They just aren't as dominant as before. Figure the Phillies are the odds on favorite to go to the WS... but not so fast Phils.
NL Central -– Is becoming a 2 team division also. The Astros just don’t have any juice left and the Cubs are the Cubs. (See you next year!) Reds can be dangerous, but not in the league as the Cardinals and Brewers. The Cardinals have the starting pitching and good offense as do the Brewers. It'll be a dogfight just like last year, but chalk it up to El Birdo's... they know how to win Championships... the Brewers are still learning.
NL West –- The Dodgers are a mess (bankruptcy does that!) The Rockies and D-Backs are rebuilding and the Padres are in flux. Only the Giants are real... they win the division.
WC Game –- Brewers over the Braves in a great game.
NLDS –- The Cardinals host the Giants have win in a quick 4 game series. The Phillies and Brewers fight it out to the end. The Phils win on the last pitch of game 5.
NLCS -– Another classic. Back and forth games, but the Cardinals eke it out in Games 5 (home) and 6 (in Philly) to return to the WS. Phillies fans call for Charlie Manuel's head on a cheesesteak sandwich.
AL East –- Yankees pay for another $200M division championship. Ho hum. The Rays end up a distant second... the Red Sox continue their fall from grace.
AL Central –- Terrible division in a poor league. Flip a coin... Two heads come up... must be the Twins.
AL West –- Rangers and Angels will fight it out all season. Albert Pujols hits 42 homers but it's not enough and the Rangers win the division.
WC -– Angels pound the Rays.
ALDS -– Angels play long ball with the Yankees and out hit them. El Hombre shows that he still has a few good years left in him (but not 10 of them!) Rangers sweep the Twins, period.
ALCS -– What a great series the Rangers get up early and the Angels come storming back. In Game 7 a bunt scores Alberto, who was intentionally walked in the 9th, and the Angels go to the series.
WS –- Angels/Cardinals. Albert against his old team. Put up the 12th Pennant for the Cardinals... Albert strikes out to end the series as Wainwright throws a 1 hit game 5.
Marc, mellinger of bbdlc.com
((Now for a different view regarding the relative strengths of the two leagues.))


Warren Goesle (Wed, 4 Apr 2012 10:13:44 -0500)
Creeping up on us like an old pair of Jim-Bob's underwear: IT'S BASEBALL SEASON!!!!!!
There has been a sea change in the landscape since last year, and it's not just because of the new playoff format. While the AL has been better than the NL overall for several years now, I don't think it's ever been this pronounced. Anyone over .500 might get a playoff spot in the NL. Anyone under .500 in the AL may get relegated to AAA. On with the show...
NL West: Giants, Diamondbacks (WC1), Rockies, Dodgers, Padres. I had to toss a coin between the top 2, but I'm happy with the call. The Rockies look competitive, but that means 81-81. Dodgers not so much.
NL Central: Goz prediction: this division will set the record for most combined losses ever, including the years where there were 7 teams per division. While I will pick Milwaukee to win with 85 wins, that's pretty close to being under .500. Before anyone complains about someone being under .500 and making the playoffs, remember that there might only be 4 teams in the league *over* .500. Over/under on the number of games that Votto plays for the Reds this year: 96. Brewers, Cards, Cubs, Reds, Pirates, Astros. The bottom 2 lose a combined 210 games.
NL East: Slightly better overall than recently, but that's damning with faint praise. Philly is the class of the NL, but might not make a playoff spot if they were in the AL. That said, it looks like a dogfight behind them, and the last 4 win from 75 to 84 games. Phillies, Braves (WC2) Marlins, Mets, Nats.
AL West: Big shift here. Angels and Rangers both win 100+, and might be the best two in the league. I'll say Angels, Rangers (WC1), Mariners, A's.
AL Central: Detroit is the easy call. Mediocrity after that. Tigers, Twins, White Sox, Indians, Royals.
AL East: One of the stranger lineups for this division in recent memory. I think the Yankees start slow and pick up enough speed to win the division, with Tampa Bay & Toronto fighting for the last WC. The big difference between the Red Sox and the Cubs is that the Cubs are *loveable* losers. The Red Sox won't even put the "fun" in "dysfunctional". Yankees, Rays (WC2), Blue Jays, Red Sox, Orioles.
Playoffs:
NLWC: Wow. We get to guess a 1-game playoff 6 months' away. Arizona over Atlanta.
ALWC: Texas over Tampa Bay.
NLDS: Giants over Brewers 4-2. Phillies over Diamondbacks 4-3.
ALDS: Angels over Tigers 4-1. Rangers over Yankees 4-2.
NLCS: In an upset to make Jim-Bob happy, Giants over Phillies 4-3.
ALCS: Angels over Rangers 4-3.
WS: Angels sweep Giants 4-0.
All right gents, there's your jump-start for the year. Someone wake up Jim-Bob and get your own picks in.
Goz, Warren.Goesle of Navistar.com
((I got my actual PICKS in early, and they were published by Doug Kent already. I am writing this after Detroit sweeps the Red Sox in their first series and the Yankees seem to be having that slow start you predicted as well.))


Rick Desper (Wed, 4 Apr 2012 08:50:27)
(sigh)
So, after watching Papelbon walk out the door (a decision I agreed with) and converting Daniel Bard to a starter, the Sox went out and got a new closer, Andrew Bailey, who's already injured.  
((Yup, and the Red Sox bullpen already is a mess...))
Anywho...I haven't kept up with baseball and I have no idea who's on any team any more.  But why let that stop me?
NL West: Giants win the division.  Is anybody else good?  I don't know.  
NL Central: where is the fat man now?  Hmm...I guess I'll look this up.   Oh that's right, he went to Detroit.  Following in his father's very large footsteps.   So, Fielder has left the Brewers and Pujols has left the Cardinals.   The Cubs probably need a little time to get things in order.   I'll randomly go for the Reds, since they kept their best player.  
NL East: Phillies win the division easily.  
Wild Cards: Well now I have to pick wild cards?  I'll go with Brewers and D-Backs
AL West:  Rangers win the division.  Josh Hamilton falls off the wagon again, but the nation forgives him because it's ok to be a drug addict if you're white.  
AL Central:  Tigers win the central.  
AL East:  Yankees win the division with ease, because they have $1.50 to spend for $1.00 that their nearest competitor can spend.  
Wild Cards: Angels and Red Sox
Playoffs:
NL Wild Card: Brewers over D-Backs
ALWC: Red Sox over Angels
NLDS:  Giants over Brewers, Phillies over Reds.   I'm not going to pick the number of games.   Picking the teams is silly enough at this point.
ALDS:  Red Sox over Tigers.  Rangers over Yankees
NLCS:  Phillies over Giants
ALCS:  Rangers over Red Sox
WS:  Phillies over Rangers.
Other predictions: Prince Fielder puts on so much weight that he develops a gravitational field strong enough to have his personal moon. Derek Jeter hits .255 with an OPS of .635, and still makes the All-Star team because he's "a winner." Justin Verlander pitches two perfect games, but faces criticism because he doesn't have a World Series ring. WFAN listeners tell radio hosts that Pettite is better because he's "clutch." Stephen Strasburg goes 12-1 with a 1.34 ERA in the first half, driving Nats fans crazy as the team limps to a 25-56 first half.   Then his arm falls off.   Joe Morgan and Tim McCarver have an open feud about who has the most obscure stories to tell today's young listeners, who have no idea what they are talking about and do not recognize any of the players that they mention. McCarver wins when he brings up Warren Spahn.   The Rays eat chicken and drink beer in the clubhouse all season long and nobody cares.
Rick, rick_desper of yahoo.com
((Way cool, Rick, I agree with all your other predictions. I did get my actual picks published before, but here is some more detail.))
AL East: Boston Red Sox, Tampa Bay Rays, New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays, Baltimore Orioles. This is the year that Toronto and Baltimore stay in the race much longer. The Yankees pitching falls apart at the beginning and end of the season, and they COULD slip even further, especially as Jeter gets slower and slower and slower, and A-Rod gets less and less "clutch" in his hitting. The Red Sox have a horrible start to the season (I was predicting that even before they actually did...) but then Bobby Valentine eventually shows that he can do more than invent wraps, build sports bars, do New York media shows while managing in Boston, make more commercials than any other individual sports person in America, and wipe his brow as he scowls at his team. Andrew Bailey WILL come back before the end of the season, just in time. And the Red Sox will start winning as soon as everyone dismisses them.
AL Central: Detroit Tigers win going away, they likely will win the most games in baseball. They also may score the most runs, and challenge the magic 1000 mark. Prince will gain weight, but still hit. Cleveland Indians, Minnesota Twins, Chicago White Sox, and Kansas City Royals bring up the rear, but beat each other up enough so that no one challenges for the wild card. Wins the challenge cup for most boring division in baseball.
AL West: The Angels from whatever city they're from have the best rotation in baseball and will show it throughout the season and playoffs. They will battle with the Texas Rangers, though, for the division all year and stay sharp, sharper than Detroit. Since everyone's finally forgotten the Seattle Mariners exist, they will be in a three way dogfight all season, but don't have the horses. The Oakland A's will start to wonder if Billy Beane is a genius any more.
Two Wild Cards: Texas Rangers and Tampa Bay Rays
NL East: I know it is a sacrilege, but I really don't pay much attention to the NL, except for my favorite team, the Giants. The Phillies either are seen as juggernauts or fatally flawed, I fall in the middle, they win the division, then make a charge and fall short just as they convince everyone they have something. Atlanta Braves, Florida Marlins, Washington Nationals, and New York Mets bring up the rear.
NL Central: St. Louis Cardinals, with Milwaukee Brewers VERY close behind. No one else matters much, but Cincinnati Reds, Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh Pirates, and the truly horrid Houston Astros end up at the rear and go for 120 losses.
NL West: My San Francisco Giants have the best pitching and it will show over the season, the Colorado Rockies will surprise and finish second. Arizona Diamondbacks will fade at the end, the Los Angeles Dodgers will finish strong and no one will care what happens to the San Diego Padres.
Two WCs: Milwaukee, Colorado.
Playoffs: I go with Rick's new model, I might pick games when we get closer, but it is silly now. Rays win WC match. Boston Red Sox and Angels win the Division Series games, Angels go on to win AL. Milwaukee wins WC match in the NL. Then St. Louis and the Phillies win the Division Series games and the Phillies win the NL pennant. The Angels win the World Series with their brilliant pitching, but the World Series has stunning pitching and actually is worth watching.
THE ABYSSINIAN PRINCE GAMES SECTION
I am continuing to note cut or failed support orders with a small "s" instead of a capital "S". This will make it easier on the E-Mailed version of the szine to see what happened, since the italics don't show there. The italics DO show on the web page just fine.
Standby lists:
Mike Barno, Dick Martin, Brad Wilson, Jack McHugh, Glenn Petroski, Steve Emmert, Mark Kinney, Vince Lutterbie, Eric Brosius, Paul Rauterberg, Bob Osuch, Doug Kent, Sean O'Donnell, Heath Gardner, Paul Kenny, and Jeff O'Donnell stand by for regular Diplomacy. Let me know if you want on or off these lists, especially OFF given the new policies.


GAME OPENING INFORMATION
I'm going to start the game opening list over. Under the new regime, who wants to play?
DIPLOMACY: First off, another regular Diplomacy game is open. Doug Kent and Brad Wilson are in, anyone else?
BREAKING AWAY: Also, a new Breaking Away game is open. Currently Andy York is on board. This is the game I really like running and want to start another one. It's easy, very low maintenance.


THE PHIL REYNOLDS MEMORIAL: 2006B, Regular Diplomacy
THE DUE DATE FOR FALL 1906 IS APRIL 20TH, 2012
Summer 1906
AUSTRIA (Burgess): R f gol-TUS; has f NAP, a GAL, a PIE, a VIE,
a VEN, f TUS, a SER, a TYO, f TYH.
ENGLAND (James): has f NWG, f MID, f NWY, a BEL, f WES, f SWE.
FRANCE (Williams): has f NAF, a GAS, f GOL, a BUR.
GERMANY (Ellinger): has a SIL, a MUN, a BER, f DEN, a FIN.
ITALY (Crow): has f TUN, a MAR.
RUSSIA (Barno): has a WAR, a BOH, a STP, f BLA, a LVN, f ION, a RUM, f GOB.


Addresses of the Participants
AUSTRIA: David Burgess, 101 Laurel Lane, Queensbury, NY 12804
(518) 761-6687, burgesscd of roadrunner.com or dburgess of glensfallshosp.org
ENGLAND: Drew James, 3644 Whispering Woods Terrace, Baldwinsville, NY 13027
(315) 652-1956, kjames01 of twcny.rr.com or karelanddrew of gmail.com
FRANCE: Don Williams, 27505 Artine Drive, Saugus, CA 91350, (661) 297-3947,
wllmsfmly of earthlink.net or dwilliams of fontana.org ($5)
GERMANY: Marc Ellinger, 751 Turnberry Drive, Jefferson City, MO 65109
mellinger of blitzbardgett.com
ITALY: John Crow, 946 S. Medalist Circle Plano, TX 75023-2851,
(214) 532-1418, johnny.crow of hotmail.com
RUSSIA: Mike Barno, 1071 Warren Road Apt 8 Ithaca, NY 14850, (607) 481-4526
mpbarno of gmail.com
TURKEY: Fred Wiedemeyer, Box 92010-Meadowbrook RPO, Edmonton, ALBERTA
CANADA T6T 1N1, (780) 465-6432, wiedem of telus.net or wiedem of shaw.ca


Game Notes:
1) The IF RAGE draw is rejected.
2) There was lots of talk about draws and stalemate lines, and the like. But there were no new proposals, so we continue onward. Fall should be interesting, I'm going to try to go for the short deadline.


Press:
(BOOB LAMENTS): No follow up on all that great press from last time. Go back and look at it while getting Fall orders in, and send in lots more for fall!


SPIRALS OF PARANOIA: 2005A, Regular Diplomacy
THE NEW DUE DATE FOR FALL 1909 IS APRIl 20TH, 2012
Pre-Fall 1909
FRANCE (Jim Tretick for Buddy Tretick): has f ENG, a SPA, f WES, a BUR, f TYH, f NAF,
a MAR, f IRI.
GERMANY (Ozog for Tallman): has a MUN, f KIE, a TYO, a PIE, a BUD, a VIE, a TRI,
a ROM, f SKA, a VEN, a BEL, f NAO.
ITALY (Kent): has f ADR, a NAP, a BUL, a GRE.
RUSSIA (Sundstrom): has f SEV, a UKR, f BLA, a RUM, a ANK, a SYR, a ARM.
TURKEY (Lutterbie): has f SMY, f CON.


Addresses of the Participants
AUSTRIA: Paul Rauterberg, 3116 W. American Dr., Greenfield, WI 53221,
(414) 281-2339 (E-Mail) paul.rauterberg of att.net
ENGLAND: Fred Wiedemeyer, Box 92010-Meadowbrook RPO, Edmonton, ALBERTA CANADA T6T 1N1,
(780) 465-6432, wiedem of telus.net or wiedem of shaw.ca
FRANCE: Buddy Tretick, 5023 Sewell's Pointe Way, Fredericksburg, VA 22407
FRANCE: Temporary Standby is Jim Tretick, jtretick of gmail.com
GERMANY: Terry Tallman, PO Box 782, Clinton, WA 98236, (360) 331-5698 ($2)
terryt of whidbey.net
GERMANY: Temporary Standby is Eric Ozog, PO Box 1138, Granite Falls, WA 98252-1138,
(360) 691-4264, ElfEric of Juno.com
ITALY: Doug Kent, 911 Irene Drive, Mesquite, TX 75149
dougray30 of yahoo.com
RUSSIA: Matt Sundstrom, 1760 Robincrest Lane South, Glenview, IL 60025, (847) 729-1882,
Matt.Sundstrom of bbdoch.com or mattandzoe of earthlink.net
TURKEY: Vince Lutterbie, 1021 Stonehaven Ave Marshall, MO 65340-2837,
(660) 886-7354, melvin4852 of sbcglobal.net


Game Notes:
1) The FGR draw proposal was rejected again and is reproposed, please vote with your fall orders. Remember that if you aren't voting, you are vetoing the draw. I'm holding this game partly because I'm missing lots of orders, and partly because I want everyone to please vote on the draw, you can veto it, but most people have just not been voting.
2) We now have two medical replacements, as Buddy's son Jim (who some of us played with many years ago as James Alan) will be playing for Buddy as Eric is playing for Terry.
Press:
(BERLIN): Whoever is vetoing the F/G/R draw, please show yourself so we can eliminate you and end the game. The original surviving players (Iverson & Ozog) no longer wish to be subjected to this torture (well, I can't speak for Ken, but you get the idea).
(BOOB to ALL): Is Ken Iverson in this game? See how confused everyone is?? Anyway, I'm holding this and will more directly poll people on the FGR to see if we can get things clear. BUT, if someone is vetoing, I'm not telling who it is.


FLIP FLOP: 2003G, Regular Diplomacy
THE NEW DUE DATE FOR WINTER 1913 IS APRIL 20TH, 2012
Fall 1913
AUSTRIA (Wilson): a PRU S ENGLISH a den-lvn.
ENGLAND (Kent): a yor-DEN, f NAO S f mid, f MID S FRENCH f spa(sc), f nwy-STP(NC), a den-LVN,
a sil s a pru-war (nso; d r:ber,otb), f NTH C a yor-den, f GOB S f nwy-stp(nc), f BAL C a den-lvn.
FRANCE (McHugh): a par-PIC, f NAF-wes, f MAR S f spa(sc), a MUN s a sil,
a BUR S a mun, f SPA(SC) S f naf-wes, a GAS S f mar.
GERMANY (Sundstrom): a stp h (d r:fin,otb).
TURKEY (Levinson): a bul-RUM, a arm-SEV, a con-BUL, f TUN S f wes-naf, a MOS S a war,
a TUS h, f TYH-wes, a WAR S a gal-sil, f WES-naf, a TYO-mun, f ION-tyh, f GOL S f tyh-wes,
a BOH S a tyo-mun, f PIE S f gol, a gal-SIL, a VIE-tyo.


Supply Center Chart
AUSTRIA (Wilson): none (out)
ENGLAND (Kent): EDI,LVP,LON,por,den,kie, (has 8 or 9, bld 1(r:ber) or 2)
nwy,swe,ber,stp
FRANCE (McHugh): PAR,MAR,BRE,spa,bel,hol,mun (has 7, even)
GERMANY (Sundstrom): none (out)
TURKEY (Levinson): ANK,SMY,CON,bul,sev,ser,gre, (has 16, bld 1)
tun,rom,rum,nap,ven,tri,mos,bud,vie,war
Neutral: none (Total=34)


Addresses of the Participants
AUSTRIA: Brad Wilson, 713 Tasker St. #1, Philadelphia, PA 19148-1237
bwdolphin146 of yahoo.com
ENGLAND: Doug Kent, 911 Irene Drive, Mesquite, TX 75149
dougray30 of yahoo.com
FRANCE: Jack McHugh, 810 School Lane, Folcroft, PA 19032, (856) 456-5984,
jwmchughjr of gmail.com
GERMANY: Matt Sundstrom, 1760 Robincrest Lane South, Glenview, IL 60025, (847) 729-1882,
Matt.Sundstrom of bbdoch.com or mattandzoe of earthlink.net
ITALY: Don Williams, 27505 Artine Drive, Saugus, CA 91350, (661) 297-3947,
wllmsfmly of earthlink.net or dwilliams of fontana.org
RUSSIA: Sean O'Donnell, 1044 Wellfleet Drive, Grafton, OH 44044, (440) 926-0230,
sean_o_donnell of hotmail.com
TURKEY: Alexandre Levinson, Beeklaan 504, 2562BP Den Haag THE NETHERLANDS, don't need phone,
al of tolkin.nl ($5)


Game Notes:
1) The host of draw proposals: FET, FATE, and FAE; all were rejected. Just an EFT draw is proposed now, which happens to be DIAS.


Press:


SECRETS: 1999D, Regular Diplomacy
TURKEY WON WITHOUT HOLDING ANY HOME CENTERS


Addresses of the Participants
ENGLAND: Doug Kent, 911 Irene Drive, Mesquite, TX 75149
dougray30 of yahoo.com
FRANCE: Roland Sasseville, Jr., 38 Bucklin Street, Pawtucket, RI 02861, (401) 481-4280 ($0)
rolands6 of verizon.net
GERMANY: Mike Barno, 1071 Warren Road Apt 8 Ithaca, NY 14850, (607) 481-4526
mpbarno of gmail.com
RUSSIA: Bob Osuch, 19137 Midland Avenue, Mokena, IL 60448, (708) 478-3885
ROsuch4082 of aol.com
TURKEY: Bruce Linsey, PO Box 234, Kinderhook, NY 12106
GonzoHQ of aol.com


Game Notes:
1) See Bruce's Endgame statement below. Remember, this game began in 1999, thirteen years ago!!! That will be it this issue for this game.


1999D (Secrets) Endgame Statement: Bruce Linsey (Turkey, standby)
I'm writing this mostly from memory, so considering the state thereof (and the fact that I was in the game for over a decade of real time!), it will be rather vague and hopefully fairly accurate in some places. I'm also copying the other surviving players, so that they can comment on this if they like. This was my final postal Diplomacy venture; I am now officially a retired old hobby fart. Here are a few miscellaneous recollections from this game.
I took over a strong Turkish position in 1906. The country had been allied with Russia, and I tried to continue that. I proceeded to finish off a helpless Italy and made an agreement with Mike Barno's one-center Germany that I'd let him survive till the end if he would cooperate with me. He kept the agreement beautifully and had lots of fun prancing around behind my front lines.
Unfortunately the Russian position seemed to be manned by a series of guys who kept corking off or otherwise vanishing, making lasting cooperation difficult.
The game came close to ending in, I think, the mid-1910s due to a stalemate line that never quite gelled. I recall that Jim-Bob kept emitting rumblings about there needing to be some sign of movement, which I kept trying desperately to provide without upsetting the precarious balance of power on the board. Someone kept proposing 4- and 5-way draws; I kept vetoing all game-ending proposals, including an eventual proposed concession to me, as I hungered for a board victory.
At the height of stalemania, I actually considered drawing back from the line and letting the other side break through, then trusting that my limited negotiational skills would succeed in breaking up the opposition while Turkey was still viable, all in the hope that I might get a second chance to weasel my way into an 18-center win. The obvious risk was that I wouldn't break them up, which would have led to my demise. Luckily, it never got to that point (my deliberately collapsing the line), but it was close.
Eventually I managed to persuade Russia to concentrate on England and leave me alone, in exchange for which I promised to make sure the game would end with him in second place. Then communication picked up with Roland's France, and I told him that as the game's only original player, he deserved to survive to the end, though I needed some of his supply centers for the win.
The going was slow, excruciatingly so at times, but I tried to play patiently, and negotiated hard and consistently. Bob Osuch took over Russia and was, I think, wary of me; but ultimately he and I did work well together. Once Russia finally finished off England, I was working with everyone on the board - sort of a 4-way alliance with no opposition. At that point, probably around 1920 or 21, I started to formulate a plan for how I'd like the game to finish.
My plan, which could have backfired in numerous ways, developed gradually. I marched painstakingly to 17 centers, as I gently requested just the right moves from the other players so that they'd be in position for the big moment. (A side note here: I was aware all along that if the three of them got together and cooperated against me, they could stop my win. But no one seemed to have enough enthusiasm for the game to pull off such a coup; and Mike and I had worked closely together for so long that I felt sure he'd stay loyal.) The biggest threat wasn't that they'd all turn on me, but that someone (possibly me!) would just carelessly screw up a move. I worked hard to ensure that didn't happen. I'm sure that Roland and Bob probably thought me a pest by game's end.
So with the help of three cooperative allies and a large dose of good fortune, I got the ending I wanted: an 18-center win on the same turn that three other powers each grabbed one of my home centers (France got SMY, Russia got ANK, and Germany got CON). Definitely a sweet way to wrap up my fun little stay in this hobby. I also have to add that not once did I stab or deceive anyone to get this result. Everyone in the game knew all along exactly what was going on, what I had promised to whom, and what I was building toward. With patient, steady negotiation, there's almost no limit to what one can accomplish.
It's fair to say that Turkey was the strongest power on the board when I took over, so most of the credit for the win has to go to the original player, whose name I don't recall ever knowing. Still, this was satisfying.
Thanks, Bob Mike and Roland. I enjoyed working with you all. And thank you, Jim-Bob, for running this game. Betcha didn't have any inkling what would happen when you let me in!
((Thanks, Bruce, for writing this detailed endgame statement. As you may or may not be aware, this outcome, conducted with negotiation rather than stabbing, is usually referred to as an "Edi Birsan solo", since Edi is one of the proponents of it as the ideal path to victory. It really takes "diplomacy" to pull it off. Since this game started in 1999, and ended in 2011, it was one of the longest games in time as well as game years in history. Thanks to all for participating!!!))


CAST NO SHADOWS: Breaking Away, Designer's Rules
Rules at: http://diplom.org/DipPouch/Postal/Zines/TAP/Tinamou/rules/BreakingAway.htm
RICK DESPER SQUEAKED OUT THE VICTORY OVER ALEX WOO!!!


Game Notes:
1) The rules are on the TAP website in the Tinamou section. Ask if you have any questions. Up above in parentheses is the card you played to get to where you are in the field. The replenishment card is the last card in your list. Be careful to note that the card you played (the one in parentheses) is not available for you, for next turn. Just for fun, I'm going to keep track of total replenishment, by turn, which is a rough measure of how the teams are doing. Of course, it is lining up to get across the sprint and final lines in the right places that really counts.
2) So far, Andy York is the only one interested in another game of this?? I'd like to get six again. I will note this for one more issue like this, before putting a call just at the front of the subszine.


LAST WORD: For the last word this time, I'm going to fill up pages with press from the game Iliad that was played in Europa Express near the end of EE's run. This game was distinctive since it had at least one player who at other times published and played under a pseudonym and another publisher who WAS playing under a pseudonym. If you think I'm going to tell you now which is which, you don't see the point of what I'm doing.
This first installment of my story appears in: http://www.whiningkentpigs.com/DW/oldzines/ee44.pdf, you can find other old EE's at Doug's oldzines site.
[THE BOOB LEAVES PROVIDENCE, BOUND FOR THE PROMISED LAND]-(Via Germany). The Boob visits his favorite crooked travel agent to seek the cheapest way to Memphis. The following exchange occurs.
"I'm sorry Mr. Boob, I can't get you to Memphis for less than $3,422.98 plus tax... round trip. " "But... but... but..., I can fly on Eastern night coach to Seattle for $98 out of Boston through Houston, how come it's so expensive to get to Memphis, the Boob pleads plaintively."
"Basically, because no one in the1r right mind wants to go anywhere near Memphis. People refuse to layover there for even five minutes," the agent sniggered.
"Elvis Presley's mansion is there," the Boob volunteered hesitantly.
"See? There, you go!" exclaimed the overage hipp1e exultantly.
"Hey, man, get serious. They've even got a real nice hotel to stay in with live ducks... real cute ones... that's where I want to stay!" asserted the Boob.
"Exactly! A hick town with a barnyard in the middle of the1r so-called luxury hotel. You think that's bad, don't even mention Little Rock, Arkansas. That would cost you a coup1e thou more!" the unflustered balding agent with his hair combed from the sideburn over the top of his head, flapped.
The Boob's intelligence really was insulted now! He stormed out of the agent's office screaming, "You are the worst travel agent in the universe. The longest trip you've ever booked is from ear to ear on Long Hairways!"
[Memphis to the Boob] Am y'all insultin' our glorious Peabody Hotel, where the ducks ride the elevator down to the lobby fountain to splash around, boah? How do you think we get our kicks here?! Now for the Virgin....
Jerry Lucas had this other continuing series in Iliad on "the Virgin", but I don't want to start quoting that here, since I'm almost out of room. Next time, I'll also pick up some of the Virgin press, probably my favorite installment by Jerry Lucas from Europa Express #38. You can go look if you like.


File translated from TEX by TTH, version 3.85.
On 08 Apr 2012, 21:27.