| Pouch Deposits
The Editor and the Readership
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Permit me to quote from my last installment of the Pouch Deposits column:
"...hoping that I can return to
the original idea of this column, as a forum for discussion on a specific topic
as well as the location for reader comments on published articles -- I'm going
to take another shot at asking you all to comment on something...."
After this quotation, I proceeded to give a way excellent topic
for discussion (when and why to waive builds).
Now, allow me to quote the text of the responses I received. Here they are:
""
Yes, that's right. There wasn't a blessed one. And so, knowing that it
will be a lot like tossing you into the briar patch, your punishment this issue
is that I'm not going to present a new topic for conversation.
Instead, I'm going to stay with the topic I presented last time until I get
at least one correspondent on it, which will prove to me that The Pouch
readers (I know from the Webserver statistics that there are thousands of you)
do actually read this column. So
go back and read
last issue's Deposits column
to see the full text of my solicitation for your input, and then cheer up
an unhappy man by sending me your comments on build waiving. Please.
If you'll notice, this current issue is banking on an active readership.
In his Master Class article this
time, Jamie Dreier asks for you to play a position against the average player.
To do so will involve you pushing a button or two on that keyboard of yours
and sending e-mail.
Sherlock Holmes returns this issue, and challenges you
to solve a mystery. His solution is not given, in the further hope that you
will be encouraged to use that e-mail capability you have but have
been neglecting to use vis-a-vis The Pouch. So don't let the magazine down.
If you're a Diplomacy hobbyist, prove it!
Okay, enough yelling and screaming at you. (Well, at least I
hope I've yelled and screamed enough to prompt you to
action.) Now let's take a brief look at some of the mail we
did get here at The Pouch.
Manus Hand
(manus@diplom.org)
Mail Received Concerning
Articles in the Previous Issue of The Magazine
Mail Concerning The Pouch's
Expansion and New Layout
[Editor's note: Praise for The Pouch was one department in which you
readers were not quiet. We received commendations and compliments too
numerous to mention, but I'll give you some excerpts from a couple of
the messages.]
I just finished looking at the Pouch and I must say I am very
impressed. I think you guys
have the exact right formula for a Webzine. The idea of keeping the pages
that need constant updating separate is a good one, as is the idea of not
going back to each issue once it's out. As a matter of personal taste, I
thought the article selection could have used a bit more variety or
"fannishness." Possibly a little bit about each of the members of the DP
Council. Most of what was there was nuts 'n' boltz Dip stuff. Not that I'd
eliminate any of that, mind you, as I'm sure that's what 95% of your
audience is looking for, but maybe a bit more about the people involved in
the hobby. Maybe some bio's of you and your associates or interviews with
some e-mail BNF's (Big Name Fans) would add a touch of personality.
Anyway, take care and keep up the good work!
[Editor's response: Good idea, Cal, and The Pouch will indeed
try to at least resurrect its "Interview" series. Also, the DP Council have
planned since the beginning to publish some autobiographical information.
We just haven't found time. Anyone wishing to volunteer to assist in
bolstering these aspects of the Zine is more than welcome!]
I love the new layout. It looks great and thanks to you and your entire
team! I also appreciated being listed with the postal diplomacy szines.
More generally, I think your decision to separate out the demo game
was an excellent one and your continuing wide ranging subject matter
is a strength. I'd be happy to assist you with anything you need
with the Dip Pouch, particularly (if no one else comes forward)
helping with the information in the postal diplomacy area.
[Editor's note: I haven't followed up with Jim yet on his offer
to become the leader of the Postal section. However, just the fact that
I chose to quote his letter here proves that I haven't forgotten it! Thanks,
Jim!]
Congrats on a very fine product. I think the organization changes made to
Dip Pouch were very much needed for the hobby and will highly endorse them.
I intend to use the URL for the Online Resources section as my referral for
those who ask me for assistance.
Let me know if there is anything else I could to help.
[Editor's note: The Pouch may soon move to free space offered by Dave,
where more functionality may be possible. Also, Dave has offered to begin
contributing to the Zine. Thanks, Dave!]
I took a look at the new DP. Fabulous! Being primarily a PBMer, I really
appreciate that you are also attempting to provide info to that audience.
The new page format looks great! I'll give it a nice fat plug in
the next DW, and make sure it is listed prominantly in the DW Web Page.
If you want to do a paragraph or two on the new page for DW yourself ,
feel more than welcome. If you don't get to it, I'll write it up myself.
[Editor's note: I didn't get to it.
Too busy resting.]
Mail Concerning Larry Peery's
Location, Location, Location Article
in the Fall Retreat Issue
The top ten spaces I would pick in my list of the top strategic property
on the board are as follows:
- Munich: adjacent to four empires and at the crux of most
stalemate lines, this space is a must for just about anyone to win except
maybe a strong Turkish naval power or British naval power.
- North Sea: Whoever controls this space, and can hold it,
controls the northern seas. If any of the four northern powers can hold it
and keep it, they have a good chance of winning. If britain loses it
permanently, there is no chance of winning for Britain.
- Livonia: I have found that in games where one power
reaches the main
stalemate line (NaF-Pie-Tyr-Boh-Sil-Liv-Fin) from the south, and before
a stalemate line can be erected by the northern powers, this is the
place where a breakthrough usually happens. If Turkey can get a unit
into Livonia as Russia collapses, then he can take StP in all
probability, and will be in an advantage when the stalemate lines form:
he might even achieve Sweden. It's happened three times in my
expierence.
- Burgundy: Probably everyone who responded listed
this one. It's
critical to controlling France, and and it's importance has usually come
for me in the beginning game, though.
- Serbia: I once, as Austria, was left with one army,
in Serbia. I later went on to be the second-finishing player, because the
triumphant
Russian enlisted me, and after I took a few SCs, I had armies in his
rear in the balkans. Serbia borders on more SCs than any other land
space.
- Mid-Atlantic: The person that controls this space has
a good chance of
not dying quickly. This space plays the same role for France as the
North Sea does for britain.
- Silesia: important for both [Editor's note:
Nate's message ended prematurely at this point. Darn. I was enjoying
reading it.]
Peter Rauch's entry was the prize winner, mostly for the "Dan Peery" faux pas.
Once Peter sends me his snail mail address and a list of any issues of
Diplomacy World which he already has, I will send him his prize.
Mail Concerning Simon Szykman's
No-Press article
I agree that you should be allowed to enter any
order as long as it follows the syntax so the
computer can interpret the order. The judge
should not reject a order based on any kind of
tests of the "logic" in orders that are syntactically correct.
But what it may do and I think it should do, to
help beginners in Diplomacy, is to send out a
warning message, when it discovers that an order
isn't possible to perform.
This way you can intentionally send messages to
other powers in a non-press game.
Mail Concerning Manus Hand's
Payola Diplomacy article
In your Payola article, you mention Payola Tic-Tac-Toe.
Using the theory of Richman games developed by Propp, Lazarus,
Ullman, and myself, I can tell you that this is a forced
win for the first player.
If you doubt me, let me play against you. I go first.
[Editor's note: Danny and I began to play, but never finished.
I think I would have beaten him. (smile)]
Well, there you
have it. Another Deposits column. Yep, it sure is.