Diplomacy World #103 - Fall 2008 Issue

What Does a 16-Year-Old Supple Chinese Gymnast Have
That You Need?
By Mark Zoffel
The answer? Flexibility and staying power!
All too often in a beginners game of Diplomacy, as well
as in high level games, whether it be FTF or E-Mail, I am
constantly astonished how many games end. For
beginners it is somewhat understandable, as many don't
know what they have gotten themselves into, and just
throw up their hands and walk away after 5 hours of
mental torture, or will vote for anything brought up. I
accept their response as adequate. For those
intermediate or advanced, I call it lack of flexibility and
staying power. This article will be the first of many that
discusses what makes a good Dip player, both
Strategically, Tactically, and Diplomatically, better.
Playing Diplomacy requires many skills other than
knowing how and where to move, persuading people to
go along with your ideas,etc.,etc.. Many players become
good players due to their understanding of the correct
moves to make, the best alliances to form, and the short
and long term implications of each move turn by
turn. Many play this way game after game, year after
year, and become good, sometimes great. My object in
this article is to try and add the word flexibility to one’s
arsenal as well as a never give up attitude when
playing. There are exceptions, but in general I find too
many good to great players lacking in these two very
important parts of the game of Diplomacy.
Example #1-Actual game
World Class Board filled with world champions and the
best minds in the game. Play begins with everyone
doing what they do best: discussion, observations, and
Diplomacy World #103 - Page 22
strategy. Fast forward 4 hours; 3 players have pulled
out in front from a unit count, but everyone is still playing
and having a chance to win. The player playing
Germany is down to 2 centers, but is still fighting tooth
and nail to achieve his goal. He played that way until the
end. He showed a flexibility to change his long term
goals of winning, to the short term goals of surviving,
then the possibility to go back to his long term goals. He
also showed true grit (John Wayne style) toward the
game, as it was going to be a long haul, and his chances
were low. Across the board in Turkey, another quality
and distinguished player down to three centers, has
mentally given up and begun to talk with another eastern
power, also down to three units, about everything but
Diplomacy and this game. This wasn't tactics by either
player, but simply throwing in the towel. What
happened? Their plans and goals at some point
became in their minds, unattainable. Their problem?
The flexibility to change their plans and the lack of
staying power to stick it out.
This scenario plays itself out over and over again
throughout the hobby, and if players would learn to come
into the game with an open mind and the flexibility to
change their play throughout the game, their overall
success rate would increase...especially when combined
with the fortitude to fight on to the end, even when the
outcome looks unchanging or hopeless. The best
gamblers in Vegas win a little over 50% of the time,
depending on their game. The temperature of water
becoming steam is 212 degrees. At 211 nothing. At 212
Steam. One degree more. In Diplomacy, giving yourself
that last percent will often change the outcome of the
game, so why not do it? That is what the best of the
best do and should be a road map for the rest of us, as
you never know what will happen unless you try.
Nothing ventured nothing gained. Preparing yourself for
this doesn't just happen at the point of decision, but can
be consciously thought about prior to beginning the
game, and even prior to showing up for the game. Make
it apart of your overall strategy, and that one time it
works and you turn a game around that you and others
thought un changeable in its outcome, you will feel more
accomplishment than any mere win, and the knowledge
that you have attained the highest level of play.
Next edition: Players who are overrated, and why.
Mark Zoffel is the Diplomacy World Strategy &
Tactics Editor.