ALB & GSB logo

Why Lie?

Introduction

I've got a funny feeling that some of you are thinking, "surely lying & Diplomacy are just pack & parcel of the game so what's the problem"? Due to my experience of the game it doesn't really affect me but in others it does, so the article is, why lie? If you're still unsure then perhaps this will make you think twice.

Dealing with Opponents

I'm sure you have guessed that opponents are the other six in the game therefore dealing with them is quite important & actually very important.

Assuming that prior to the game you don't know any of them you might be thinking who they are & what should I say? I think this is greater on games played via the Internet therefore you're writing is through e-mails.

I know there is no hard set rule but hopefully this article will give you a hint or two.

Players' Comments to Me

Many players have said to me that certain other players' continue to miss quote, lie & cheat & that they dislike it. Some of you reading this might thing, "so what, it's Diplomacy & surely those comments are in the rule book". In a way you're right but from my experience the way in which players do it are slightly different to the interpretation mentioned.

If you're now thinking, "well, what interpretation"? Remember to win you should need allies. Would you lie to an ally?

Who Should Know Your Opening Moves?

I have & still do play in games where the obvious becomes the obvious. Take the opening moves when a player's country isn't beside yours. They tell you their opening move & on reading the adjudication their moves are miles from what they said. Would you trust them?

Needless to say, if you're beside the country you're writing to & you've decided to attack them, then comments written might be very different to your intentions.

Not all the time but very often I'm happy to mention my openings to other players. The reason behind it is to show that I'm honest & can be trustworthy. The other aspect is me trying to find out their attitude to me & other countries.

An Enemy

Does it mean you must lie & deceive to your enemy? Not really.

If your units are still in a good position to attack & their units can't block yours, what's the point of saying anything else? The only aspect is whether they can help another country to get to you but if not, no harm in saying you're after them. I've had it happen to me & other players have done one of three things:

Those that have told me their attacking me was fine & actually better, as it proves to me that they are good guys/girls. Not writing is OK but those who do the other show to me that their prats. For those who don't understand the slang word prat & equally my logic, it's that I wasn't born yesterday & as I can't stop the attack, why lie?

Thinking Ahead

Perhaps you might have considered it yourself but if not do you know who is going to be your ally during the game? If currently you're not against a country, is there any reason to deceive them? Again going back to what has been said, players often remember previous conservations. If you said the wrong stuff to a player & then all of a sudden you need their help, the player might choose not too.

Conclusion

I know many people start to play the game due to marketing words used to increase the number of players. As an example, these are written in one of my articles:

Some newbie's think it means lying all the time or perhaps the majority of time. Soon they find out that was a big mistake!

I'm not saying that the game shouldn't be played with some of them but the point is to choose the right time.

Consider before doing!

Diplomacy Links

Site Links

NB If you do e-mail, notice I've changed @ to AT to stop possible e-mail spammers so before you send, swap it back.