This Week in North American Diplomacy -- Week of May 16
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It’s been beautiful the past few days in Chicago. Each night, I’ve enjoyed a cigar on my patio while doing Diplomacy work. Let’s hope it’s this pleasant in August, when you join us for World DipCon. In the meantime, here’s the latest news from the North American hobby.
Batter Up?
So, as I just mentioned, we—and by we, I mean the North American hobby, not just Chicago—have the honor of hosting this year’s World DipCon. Hopefully by now you’re aware that the event will be Aug. 10-12 at Chicago’s historic Congress Plaza Hotel. For those of you who appreciate history, the hotel sits on the very park where Obama gave his acceptance speech four years ago.
This Week in North American Diplomacy -- Week of May 9
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This summer’s World Diplomacy Championship is just three months out. August 10 will be here before we know it, so now’s the time to make your plans to attend. Negotiate with your loved ones, promise them the moon, do whatever it takes to punch your ticket to Chicago. It’s going to be a great event.
In the meantime, here’s the latest news from the North American hobby.
Episode 16 is Out
I’m an hour and 20 minutes into the 16th episode of the DiplomacyCast podcast, and while Nathan Barnes and Eric Mead can’t hold a candle to the twin Seans, episode 15’s guest hosts, they haven’t disappointed in their return to the airwaves. The focus of this episode’s Power Play is recovering from a bad start, and Eric and Nathan have lots of good advice to offer. Their special guest is the loquacious Dave Maletsky.
This Fortnight in North American Diplomacy -- Week of May 2
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I was traveling last week and also battling the mother of all colds, so for this issue at least, This Week covers a fortnight.
Sundstrom Wins His Second CODCon Open
They say the best baseball players fail two-thirds of the time. That same math applied at this year’ CODCon Open, played April 21-22 at the College of DuPage in the west Chicago suburb of Glen Ellyn.
The tourney field did a fair job of containing Matt Sundstrom, the 2009 champion and two-time Weasel of the Year. In Round 1 on Saturday morning, we held his Italy under 6 points in the Sum of Squares scoring system. And in Round 3 on Sunday, we sent his France to an early shower. But in Round 2 Saturday night, Sundstrom drew Turkey, got a pitch he could hit, and for the third time with the Weasels, knocked it out of the park. Sundstrom also soloed as Turkey at Weasel Moot III in 2009 and at a game at his home in 2010.
This Week in North American Diplomacy -- Week of April 18
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The Spring tournaments are almost upon us, but one more slow news week to get through.
Look Who’s Back!
After a hiatus of a year and a half, the Diplomatic Pouch is back with a new issue. Unfortunately, we may have to wait another 18 months for the next one, as the Pouch still needs a lead editor to replace Charles Roburn. Meanwhile, this long overdue issue contains an article by Chris Burke about last year’s World Diplomacy Championship in Sydney, Australia; a pretty good reprint from Diplomacy World No. 57 about the strategic importance of Greece; and a piece by David Norman about using drop-dead timing to keep tournament games moving. Check it out at diplom.org/Zine/S2012M/.
This Week in North American Diplomacy -- Week of April 11
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Slow news week.
Hearing Double: Episode 15 Redefines Stereo
Nathan Barnes and Eric Mead secured a couple of guest hosts for the latest edition of their DiplomacyCast podcast, and with all due respect to them, the result just might be their best episode yet. If you haven’t listened to episode 15 yet, do so now. You can download the episode at iTunes or online at diplomacycast.com.
This Week in North American Diplomacy -- Week of April 4
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We’re back with all the latest news from the North American hobby.
He Said, He Said: Diplomacy in the Bay Area
It started with a bounce in Piedmont, this game last Saturday at Mike Holy’s home in Menlo Park, California. Meanwhile, the Brits (Adam Silverman) stole into the Channel, while Germany (Edi Birsan) opened to Tyrolia, Russia (Brendan Hickey) moved Moscow to St. Petersburg, and Turkey (Peter McNamara) opened against Russia. It was your basic clusterf&#k.
Silverman pins the craziness on the Italian, Conrad Minshall.
This Week in North American Diplomacy -- Week of March 28
Thursday, 29 March 2012 21:00 | |
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We’re back with all the latest news from the North American hobby.
The New York Marathon The New Yorkers played their second game of the month last Saturday, and it was a doozy. Robert Premus once again opened his apartment in Manhattan for the event. This time, he drew three new faces, including Evil Phil Weissert, who flew in from New Haven, Conn., on his fell beast. If my math is correct, 18 unique players have now played in the group’s five games.
This Week in North American Diplomacy -- Week of March 21
Thursday, 22 March 2012 20:43 | |
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We’re back with all the latest news from the North American hobby.
Black Jack and Ginger Following up on last week’s lead story, Alex Amann was in town last weekend to visit friends. On Friday night, he joined me at the Temple Bar in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood to see Baal Tinne, Weasel Matt Sundstrom’s Irish band. We had a great time catching up, chatting about a game we’re playing at webdiplomacy.net, listening to music, and knocking back Jack and Gingers.
Jack Daniels drinks were on special for $4, and we took full advantage. When we got our bill at the end of the night, I was surprised to see that our combined drink count was 21. The hangover even paid two to one.
This Week in North American Diplomacy -- Week of March 14
Wednesday, 14 March 2012 22:08 | |
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In honor of Pi Day, this issue keeps going and going. Enjoy.
Forging Friendships Conrad Woodring was in Chicago last weekend on business. He stayed at my place, and on Friday night, we went out to dinner with Weasels Jeremiah Peterson and Peter Lokken.
Jeremiah recently took a job with a group that’s opening a new restaurant called Balena near Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre. He was able to get us a reservation through the restaurant’s pre-opening friends and family promotion. We had a great three-course meal on the house (Conrad even ordered a fourth course) and talked about Diplomacy and all sorts of other things.
This Week in North American Diplomacy -- Week of March 7
Wednesday, 07 March 2012 20:38 | |
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Four games last week, and we have reports from two of them. Read on.
March Madness Tips off in Chicago The Windy City Weasels tipped off their fifth annual March Madness extravaganza with a Diplomacy game in West Suburban Downers Grove last Thursday. The game was originally scheduled for Emmett’s Alehouse, but our usual spot in the back room was occupied for a special event. So, after dinner and a couple of drinks, we crashed Prime Weasel Dan Burgess’ home instead.
Despite starting an hour late, we managed six game years. The final center counts were:
This Week in North American Diplomacy -- Week of Feb. 29
Thursday, 01 March 2012 15:42 | |
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Four games to cover this week, and many more on the horizon. Read on.
Pens, Men and Chicken-Shit: Diplomacy in Houston After a long silence, the Houston hobby came alive last Sunday with the scribble of pens and the shouts of men. Seven gathered at Roland Cooke’s home for a good old-fashioned game of Diplomacy, Texas-style, which apparently means no one messes with anyone.
“The Austrian was not hostile, but didn't want to attack the Turk,” says Brian Shelden, who drove down from Austin and played Russia. “The Turk was not hostile, but did not want to attack the Austrian. The German was offering me Sweden (and opened to Holland to back that up), and the English were friendly, but unwilling to pick a side against Germany and France.”
This Week in North American Diplomacy -- Week of Feb. 22
Wednesday, 22 February 2012 22:27 | |
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We’re back with all the news that’s fit to print.
Now, I’m a big believer that when it comes to organizing Diplomacy games, eight is better than six. I’d rather sit out a game because I overbooked than have to play one short. Premus agrees with that wisdom. He sat out his first and third game.
On Sunday, he spent his day drinking scotch; eating chili, chips and dip; and chronicling the game. His report on playdiplomacy.com includes photos of the board from just about every turn of the game, along with commentary.
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