Re: Diplomacy clumps: They don't exist

In article <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Geoff Cashman wrote:
> 
> 
> Tedrick has proposed that 'diplomacy clumps' exist that 
> go from game to game to game, winning as a group.
> 
> He hasn't provided any evidence to back up his claim.
> Such 'clumps' simply don't exist. 
> 
> This post is addressed specifically to the newcomer 
> player and players who are not yet experienced. Please
> do not believe what he is saying. It is flat out false.
> 
> In fact, quite to the contrary, I know many players 
> (including myself) who bend over backwards trying to 
> help new players out. 
> 
> 'diplomacy clumps' would be incredibly bad for the game.
> The fact is, they simply don't exist. 
> 


I don't know about other players, but I tend to be a bit less
diplomatic when playing HIDDEN games ("ALL THESE BLEEDING FODDER ARE
YOURS EXCEPT PHOENICIA.  ATTEMPT NO LANDING THERE.").  In my first
Hidden game (III?) I was at war with 15 countries (only 7 were
bordering), and had one ally (someone new).  I don't think I revealed
to anyone who I normally played.  In the LOTR games, my alliances were
made before I knew who any of my neighbors were.  And it was (I think)
a new player who stopped my war machine on update ~5 (still fighting
that one).

[grumble ..] fortified defensive units on the fifth update ...


Big-block wars are not necessarily a bad thing in Empire.  The problem
in LOTR II was that the second block never formed (no fault of the
first block), so it ended up a fairly large coallition trouncing the
rest.  Solo wins are highly prized *because* they're hard to achieve.
Allying with newbies, who assist in the crucial first kill, but do not
grow as far or take part in the victory announcement is part of a
common strategy aimed at the rare solo wins.  Some players (well, one
anyway..) have their first fleet committed to an invasion before
making contact, so no alliances or other diplomacy has really occured
yet.  And that early, a pre-planned alliance would have to have a land
border with the invader to do anything effective to defend one of their
members.  As long as deities don't intentionally place tradtional
allies in clusters, the layout of large games works against
pre-arranged alliances.

-harmless