Kuuntele Diplomacy Games

After three episodes recorded online, the guys at last get the tech working offsite at the bar again. They discuss WDC 2025, their upcoming tournament plans and their latest online games. Intro and Diplomacy chat * The guys introduce the venue and their drinks (0 mins 10 secs) * They talk about the 2025 World Diplomacy Championship and congratulate Noam Brown (who we interviewed about Cicero) [https://diplomacygames.com/noam-brown/] (2 mins) * We talk about the upcoming WDC's planned for 2026 (Athens) and 2027 (Chicago) and whether there will be another Asia-Pacific WDC in 2028 (7 mins) * They get back to how their beers would be as Diplomacy openings (9 mins 30 secs) * A little admin update on the podcast (15 mins) * They talk about the challenge of getting 7 players for a local game (16 mins 30 secs) * Gavin discusses trying to *maybe* get a family game of Diplomacy happening in Christmas-New Years (19 mins) * Gavin gives an update on the Cane Toad Classic for 2025 - that said, since recording we have finalised details. The tournment will be run Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 August, with social activities starting Friday night. Check out the details at the Cane Toad Classic web page [https://diplomacygames.com/canetoad/]  (21 mins) * Ken talks about visiting webDiplomacy and saw they had a new forum. They talk about vDiplomacy being spam-bombed with Ken dropping the ball on his Mod responsibilities (32 mins) Around the grounds * Gavin is in just one game, with Ken joining some new games (36 mins) * Gavin goes on to talk about the Magic Hour at vDip and how he's smashing Ken in the Best vDip player rankings (38 mins) * He discussed drawing in a 6 way Imperial game as Holland [https://www.vdiplomacy.com/board.php?gameID=62487#gamePanel] (42 mins) * Ken is playing another Zeus game (43 mins) * The guys then wrap up the show (46 mins) Venue: Caxton Street Brewing Company, Brisbane Drinks for the interview: Gavin: Caxton Street Brewing IPA Ken: Caxton Street Brewing IPA Just a reminder you can support the show by giving it 5 stars on iTunes [https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/diplomacy-games/id1148827717?mt=2] or Stitcher [https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/diplomacy-games]. And don't forget if you want to help pay off the audio equipment... or buy the guys a drink, you can also donate at Patreon, plus you get extra podcast episodes! [https://www.patreon.com/DiplomacyGames] Lastly, don't forget to subscribe so you get the latest Diplomacy Games episodes straight to your phone. Thanks as always to Dr Dan aka "The General" for his rockin' intro tune.

The guys discuss one of them winning their first Diplomacy tournament and their latest games. Intro and Diplomacy chat * The guys start rolling the show early before introducing the episode (after Ken encourages keeping in some pre-show discussion) (0 mins 10 secs) * They talk about their drinks (4 mins) The Bangkok New Year's Tournament 2025 * Ken won his first tournament! And also scored two best country trophies (6 mins 45 secs) * He talks about his game that got him best Russia (12 mins) * Ken discusses his final game playing as France (14 mins 30 secs) * Ken talks about Kratom (17 mins 30 secs) * Gavin talks about catching up with Stuart Barton and Max Roe Banks around his DBNI game (20 mins 10 secs) * Gavin mentions he's going to the Melbourne Open {Post recording update - this didn't happen due to Tropical Cyclone Alfred closing Brisbane Airport and cancelling all flights}  (21 mins) * He also talks about planning for the Cane Toad Classic in August this year (21 mins 30 secs) * Ken asks Gavin around his favourite country preferences (26 mins) Around the grounds * Gavin discusses a Colonial 1885 game he's in as France before they move onto the challenges of variants where sea territories get stalemated (27 mins 35 secs) * Ken talks about taking advantage of a player's repeated orders (35 mins) * They move onto a Europa Renovatio game where there's now only four players left (38 mins 20 secs) * Ken discusses the Zeus variant he's playing (45 mins) * The tech starts giving out with Gavin not hearing Ken (48 mins) Part 2 * The guys are back about a week and a half later. We both went through a cyclone which cancelled Gavin's plans to get to the Melbourne Open - airport closed and flights all cancelled (50 mins) * Ken provides an update on game he was hoping to solo in (52 mins 30 secs) * Gavin points out in vDip a winner take all game results in vDip rankings all going backward except for being buying in (no change) with the winner getting all vDip points (58 mins) * Because of the recording delay, Gavin runs through the Top 3 placed winners at the Melbourne Open - big congrats to Tianyu Sun! (1 hr 1 min) * Gavin gives his next interstate tournament plans (1 hr 2 min 15 secs) * They start wrapping up the show and flag they're about to record a Patreon episode Venue: At home, Brisbane Drinks for the interview: Gavin: D'Arenberg The Stump Jump Grenache Shiraz Mourvèdre from the Barossa, South Australia Ken: Kaner's dark ale home brew Just a reminder you can support the show by giving it 5 stars on iTunes [https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/diplomacy-games/id1148827717?mt=2] or Stitcher [https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/diplomacy-games]. And don't forget if you want to help pay off the audio equipment... or buy the guys a drink, you can also donate at Patreon, plus you get extra podcast episodes! [https://www.patreon.com/DiplomacyGames] Lastly, don't forget to subscribe so you get the latest Diplomacy Games episodes straight to your phone. Thanks as always to Dr Dan aka "The General" for his rockin' intro tune.

Following on from last episode we discuss with Peter McNamara and Bradley Grace the fastest Diplomacy solo possible, all the math and all the reality of how to make it possible! Intro * The guys introduce the episode and explain the latest comedy of errors plagueing the show. This includes recording at home again (another dumb reason why) and why Gavin is recording on his iPhone's speaker (0 mins 15 secs) Interview with Peter McNamara and Bradley Grace on soloing fast * We begin setting the scenes for this episode's discussion with Peter McNamara and Bradley Grace about how to theoretically solo the board as quickly as possible and how to best practically achieve this (2 mins 25 secs) * They discuss their drinks in the interview and the reason for the discussion (3 mins 30 secs) * Peter talks about the theory behind how to solo as quickly as possible on the board in 1903 (7 mins 30 secs) * Theoretically most players can get to 21 SCs in 1903 (9 mins 30 secs) * Brad talks about the theory of reaching 21 SC in 1903 as England (11 mins 15 secs) * Peter talks about a Backstabbr sandbox with Italy in 1903 with 21 SC [https://www.backstabbr.com/sandbox/W03-solo---Italy/4895639906156544] (12 mins 30 secs) * They discuss the mathematical equation to solo in 1903. Peter doesn't have it at hand, so Gavin finds it on ChatGPT with lots of other useful elements for this strategy (14 mins 30 secs) * They all move onto the practical dynamics of being able to solo as quickly as possible, with Brad discussing soloing in 1904 (22 mins) * Peter gives his perspective on why he could never solo that fast (26 mins) * Ken asks about being able to make 18 with your own units, without other countries convoying (30 mins 45 secs) * They talk about the practical aspects for how to convince players to allow you to solo so fast (37 mins 40 secs) * Peter blows away the myth of The Return of the Mack (42 mins) * Peter manages to find the sand box for the game at the 2020 Poppycon [https://www.backstabbr.com/sandbox/2020-PoppyCon-Round-1-Board-2/6018759221837824] (45 mins) * Ken and Gavin pay tribute to both Peter and Bradley as players and ask about their upcoming tournaments - apologies if they talk about tournaments that happened. Remember, things are pretty busy for the guys now so sometimes the podcast episodes come out much later then when they were recorded (50 mins 30 secs) * The interview wraps up (55 mins) * The guys give their perspectives on the interview and an update on the math sent post-interview by Peter - apologies for the bad audio from the breeze. They ask if anyone is aware of a solo by 1903 (56 mins) * Ken talks about heading over to the Southeast Asian New Years Tournament, with Gavin asking if he's going to try a fastest solo ever effort (1 hr 2 mins) * They also discuss busting (unfortunately) the Return of the Mack myth (1 hr 5 mins) Around the grounds * Gavin discusses buying into a game he didn't remember buying in to (1 hr 6 mins 30 sec) * The theory about dogs and their owners and picking up a great position that with some fast talk is doing very well [https://www.vdiplomacy.com/board.php?gameID=61800#gamePanel] (1 hr 8 mins) * Ken discusses his Imperial game (1 hr 10 mins 45 secs) * Despite talking about the vDip for podcast listeners, the game is no longer available - sorry folks with all the busy real life stuff tihs episode was recorded about a month before it came out (1 hr 15 mins 45 secs) * They touch on the last time they were in Thailand when they came up the idea of Big Stick Diplomacy. They talk about whether to add to the variant the ability to move from one theatre to another, but allowing for a delay getting there eg using David E Cohen's ocean stacking or similar for naval travel (1 hr 19 mins) * The guys start wrapping up the show (1 hr 25 mins) Venue: At home, Brisbane Drinks for the interview: Gavin:- Hempranillo Australian shiraz-tempranillo Ken: Kaner's dark ale home brew Bradley: Coors beer Peter: Penfolds shiraz Just a reminder you can support the show by giving it 5 stars on iTunes [https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/diplomacy-games/id1148827717?mt=2] or Stitcher [https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/diplomacy-games]. And don't forget if you want to help pay off the audio equipment... or buy the guys a drink, you can also donate at Patreon, plus you get extra podcast episodes! [https://www.patreon.com/DiplomacyGames] Lastly, don't forget to subscribe so you get the latest Diplomacy Games episodes straight to your phone. Thanks as always to Dr Dan aka "The General" for his rockin' intro tune.

The guys suffer from user error while catching up for our Christmas episode. Seasons greetings everyone! Intro and Diplomacy chat * The guys introduce the episode and why this is the second recording of it (0 mins 15 secs) * Ken describes his own homebrewed ale before it gets their creative juices going on the most incredible Russian opening ever (2 mins 30 secs) * The greatest Diplomacy solo challenge (8 mins 50  secs) * Ken talks about the "Return of the Mac" game (15 mins 15 secs) * He goes onto discuss the December 2024 God Save the Zine [https://www.godsavethezine.com/wp-content/uploads/GSTZ-Issue-22a-Dec-24.pdf] edition (apologies Ken accidentally says it was in Diplomacy World) on page 23 by Ian Bond - a Tetris like way of looking at the Classic board (16 mins 40 secs) * *   * Ken discusses how Ian's design reminds him of what's achieved in the variant Alacavre [https://www.vdiplomacy.com/variants.php?variantID=31], which looks like a fantasy map but has exactly the same connections as a Classic board. That said Ken then points out the stats for this variant are totally different to Classic statistics, which shows how habitual we are when we approach the Classic Diplomacy board (21 mins 20 secs) * * They go onto creating a new game of Alacavre for Diplomacy Games podcast listeners - just pop over to vDiplomacy, create an account if you haven't got one already and join the game at DiplomacyGames plays [https://www.vdiplomacy.com/board.php?gameID=61846] (password/invite code is just the word podcast) (33 mins 50 secs) * They discuss geographic linguistic differences across Australia and Gavin's old casual job he had at the Regatta Hotel. He goes onto mention this was around the time he played Diplomacy for the very first time - through the variant Machiavelli. [https://www.vdiplomacy.com/variants.php?variantID=115] You can find out all about this in our Patreon feed [https://www.patreon.com/DiplomacyGames] in a week or so from now (38 mins 50 secs) * The guys give a proper status update about the show and the likely release schedule/quality over the next 6-12 months (43 mins 30 secs) * They advertise many "development opportunities" available for listeners who'd like to help the show. If you're able to help let us know on the podcast contact form [https://diplomacygames.com/contact_us/] (47 mins 20 secs) * Ken also suggests if there are interview guests you'd like to hear on the show to let us know (50 mins 20 secs) * Ken reflects back on Diplomacy and 2024  (51 mins 45 secs) * He then discusses his upcoming attendence at the South East Asian New Years tournament [https://forms.gle/R9TN64LMpxBGDEJa9] being run by Sascha Heylmann on 24-26 January and their recording plans for early 2025 (53 mins 40 secs) * Ken presents the "Better vDiplomacy player" plaque to Gavin for getting a higher score and ranking than Ken this year (56 mins 20 secs) * The guys start wrapping up the show (1 hr 1 min) Venue: At home, Brisbane Drinks of choice: Ken - Kaner's own dark ale Gavin - Casillero del Diablo shiraz from Chile Just a reminder you can support the show by giving it 5 stars on iTunes [https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/diplomacy-games/id1148827717?mt=2] or Stitcher [https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/diplomacy-games]. And don't forget if you want to help pay off the audio equipment... or buy the guys a drink, you can also donate at Patreon, plus you get extra podcast episodes! [https://www.patreon.com/DiplomacyGames] Lastly, don't forget to subscribe so you get the latest Diplomacy Games episodes straight to your phone. Thanks as always to Dr Dan aka "The General" for his rockin' intro tune.

The guys talk about the 2024 Asia Pacific Diplomacy Championship and the creation of the Asia Pacific Diplomacy Association. And of course have a few drinks! Intro * The guys introduce their drinks (0 mins 15 secs) The 2024 Asia Pacific Diplomacy Championship * They begin talking about their attendance at the Asia Pacific Diplomacy Championship and Ken winning the Shane Cubis Award (1 min 30 secs) * Gavin corrects the audio levels and talks about their venue (3 mins 45 secs) * They get back to talking about the tournament and their games (5 mins 30 secs) * Gavin shares some Diplomacy advice he got earlier (15 mins 30 secs) * They talk about the Australian scene currently and how it is growing in quality and quantity (17 mins 30 secs) Catch up with Max Row Banks, Asia Pacific Diplomacy Champion * The guys set the scene for the chat, recorded immediately after Max found out he was the 2024 Champion (18 mins 30 secs) * The interview begins with Max talking through his game (19 mins) * Max talks about playing as Russia, Germany and France (20 mins 15 secs) * They talk about Max winning the championship by one SC (22 mins) * Ken asks about Max's favourite moment in the event (22 mins 45 secs) * They talk about the competiting players (23 mins 30 secs) * Ken asks where to next (24 mins 20 secs) * Max also won Best Strategist in the tournament (25 mins 10 secs) * They begin wrapping up the chat (26 mins 30 secs) * Gavin hadn't relistened to the interview when he and Ken caught up and incorrectly says he hasn't played against Max, even though Max touched on it at the Cane Toad Classic when Gavin had to make numbers for a board (27 mins 45 secs) Round table discussion on the new Asia Pacific Diplomacy Association * They move onto a post-championship discussion around the earlier agreement to establish the Asia Pacific Diplomacy Association, a regional equivalent to what North America and Europe already has (28 mins 30 secs) * Andrew Goff gives a brief overview of what's happening (31 mins 15 secs) * Jamal Blakkarly provides his input into the discussion (33 mins 15 secs) * Dominick Stephens reflects on how the New Zealand hobby could build from the association's approach (35 mins 15 secs) * Shane Armstrong talks about where the hobby is at in Sydney and how the association can help (36 mins 50 secs) * Andrew gives a hat tip to Lei Saarlainin [https://diplomacygames.com/interview-wdc-bangkok/] in setting an original vision (38 mins) * Ken suggests moving to a quiter location (39 mins) Diplomacy chat * The guys have moved to Gather for a quieter atmosphere. Gavin reflects on regular feedback - positive and negative - from listeners about recording in a bar. And other related reflections (39 mins 30 secs) * They discuss some of his thoughts on the association and some of the benefits from it (43 mins 20 secs) * Ken talks about the new Renegade Studios variant, "Era of Empire [https://renegadegamestudios.com/diplomacy-era-of-empire/?srsltid=AfmBOoqBHcLRw7AhyJszl0NZM6xvZgTkeHgMc7eJLEhcwe3YYhpMI7iO]" (49 mins 30 secs) * Gavin reflects on his repeated efforts to reach out to Renegade's media team about an interview on how they're taking the game forward - but unfortunately with no response (56 min) * The guys ask if anyone has a connection into the people from Renegade Studios, please get in touch as we'd love to know the strategy they're taking the game (58 mins 45 secs) * FYI - don't message us on X, as we don't go there anymore (1 hr 1 mins) * Gavin is now on a Tscharke Shiraz from the Barossa and Ken is on a Balter XPA. Gavin gives his limited insights of the Russian language (1 hr 2mins) Around the grounds * Gavin's joined an unranked Divided States game and has actively encouraged the one guy who didn't stab him to walk into his SC's (1 hr 3 mins 30 secs) * Ken moves onto his Imperial Diplomacy game where he's doing pretty good as Prussia (1 hr 5mins) * They move onto Gavin's anonymous World War IV game where he's still doing well (1 hr 7 mins) * Gavin asks Ken on tactics when it comes to convoys and movements to keep it legal (1 hr 11 mins) * They start wrapping up (1 hr 16 mins) Venue: Little Miss Sunshine and Gather, Brisbane Drinks of choice: Ken - Young Henry's Cloudy Cider and Balter XPA Gavin - Little Miss Sunshine Breezy Pale Ale and Tscharke Shiraz Just a reminder you can support the show by giving it 5 stars on iTunes [https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/diplomacy-games/id1148827717?mt=2] or Stitcher [https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/diplomacy-games]. And don't forget if you want to help pay off the audio equipment... or buy the guys a drink, you can also donate at Patreon, plus you get extra podcast episodes! [https://www.patreon.com/DiplomacyGames] Lastly, don't forget to subscribe so you get the latest Diplomacy Games episodes straight to your phone. Thanks as always to Dr Dan aka "The General" for his rockin' intro tune.