1. EP house rules apply unless specifically contradicted in my house rules. Read them!
2. Predetermined alliances, playing more that one power, or communicating outside the judge mechanism in gunboat games will result in you getting summarily kicked out of the game. You will not be allowed to play in one of my games again. Your details and the details of the case will be passed on to the Judge Keepers and other GM's who will each take whatever action they deem appropriate.
3. If you need to leave a game then tell me as far in advance as possible. If you are not finding the game enjoyable then continue playing while I seek a replacement. No prejudice will attach as long as you give me as much notice as reasonably possible that you wish to leave the game. If you go abandoned then I will only accept you back into games with a dedication setting of -300 or less and you must complete a game before that rule will be relaxed (in those games you will rapidly realise how frustrating lates and abandons can be).
4. Rudeness. I have no objection to swearing in games but I will come down hard on personal (rather than national) insults. The procedure for this will be as follows:
(i) If I find something offensive I will contact the player individually and explain the cause of my objection and deliver warning not to repeat the offence. If the warning is heeded then no prejudice shall attach. If the warning is ignored you are out of the game and I will pass the details on to the JK. Regardless of the JK's decision on whether to ban you from the judge I shall ban you from all games I GM.
(ii) If a player finds something offensive (for whatever reason) then press must be sent to the player responsible and to me (in broadcast only games just to me and I shall pass it on to the other player) explaining what was found offensive and why. If the reason is silly ("I object to the word munich" for example) I shall throw out the complaint (you may appeal to the JK if you disagree with my decision but the JK should only be bothered if you feel I have failed quite seriously in my duty as GM). If the reason is non-trivial then I shall treat the complaint as in (i).
(iii) Please note that what is important is the offence caused NOT the language used. This means that all players may feel perfectly free to say anything they like unless they receive a warning to the contrary. If a player complains to another player but not to me as GM I shall assume that it is a diplomatic tactic. Please note that I do not consider broadcasts to be a message to me as GM - use press to M.
5. EP house rule 3(a) (Unacceptable Behaviour) which stipulates that no player can impersonate the GM is reinterpretted to:
3) Press:
a) The following people can submit press in a game: Players currently in the game plus players who were in the game but were eliminated, observers, the GM and the JK. (But if you resigned or were kicked out, you have no such privileges.) No player or observer can claim to be the judge keeper. Nor can the GM or judge keeper pretend to be one of the others, or a player, if in fact that is not the case. Players must not lie about their identity to the GM or JK.
6. EP house rule 15 (General Rules) which stipulates that all games (with a few exceptions) must be set different site is completely ignored. This is because outside the US and Canada an entire country counts as a site. To take an extreme example - it is unlikely that all 1+ billion people in china know each other.
7. EP house rule 5 (General Rules) which stipulates that observers must not offer opinions or analysis of the game is reinterpretted to:
5) Unless otherwise stated observers must not offer partisan support to any player or group of players.
Other sites you may find useful.
The Diplomatic Pouch.
Most PBEM Diplomacy resources and online strategy articles can be reached through the pouch.
Alain Tesio's highly useful online mapper.
All games I GM will be registered with the observer.
The DP openings list.
Find games that are forming or need replacement players.
The diplomacy players tactical guide.
Gives detailed advice on rules issues.
Christian Shelton's BOUNCED site.
Online, web based Dipping.
Manus Hands DP Judge
More online, web based Dipping but with an email interface.
As an aside for those who like trying new variants:
Sudden Dip This is a zip file containing RealPolitick variant files for a simple variant starting in winter 1913. The file Sudden.txt details the variant. Feel free to play test on condition that any opinions you may have get left in the guestbook so that I can make improvements. When the variant is satisfactory I may ask for it to be coded for the judges.
