Diplomacy A-Z: D Entries

In some variants, a unit built in excess of what a player is allowed. Usually, these are destroyed when attacked, and cannot actually affect an adjudication. The GM knows which units are decoys. See paper unit and Variant Jargon (KW).

DELEMOS RATING SYSTEM (1) [MN:Jan93]

Marc Delemos' rating system for standby players posted to dipl-l on 12th January 1993.

For each supply center above the number the player started with, award 1 point. For each center below the starting number, subtract 1 point. No points are deducted once the SC count has dipped below the country's starting number (3, 4 for Rus). A players standby rating would be the sum of all their scores from the games in which they appeared.

Players who are immediately wiped out or take hopeless positions are not penalized for being immediately attacked and decimated or helping out in a situation that no one else wanted. On the increase side, someone who takes over a strong country gains points not for the win, but for the increase in size over which he presided.

This system would favor frequent players (5 games with an increase of 3 SC's is worth more than 1 win). See also Rating Systems For Standby Players and Rating Systems (KW).

DELUGE (1) [TNP:87]

Diplomacy variant played on a progressively flooded board. Winner is the occupier of Switzerland at the end of the game. See Variant (KW).

DEMO GAME (1) [MB:Jun80]

An invitational game, normally with more experienced players, and with commentary (usually). The best known is the series in _Diplomacy World_.

DEPOSITS [PB/MB/TNP:1980/Jun80/1987]

Out of favour in the late 1970's and early 1980's in the UK but supported by Mick Bullock on the grounds that they do discourage drop-outs. Opposed by Pete Birks on the grounds that someone who isn't interested isn't much use as a player anyways. No resolution in sight. What are they? Money you pay at the beginning of a postal Diplomacy game and get back at the end (or on elimination) if you don't drop out (or resign, sometimes. This is usually spelled out in the HRs). They don't seem to make any difference to the dropout rate and can be an administrative headache.

DERRICK RATING SYSTEM (1) [MN:Jan93]

Shaun Derrick's rating system used for the 'Universities Diplomacy Tournament' in 1984 and 1985. There are 100 points. One point is awarded per supply center owned at the end of the game with the remaining 66 being given to the winner or split between the drawees. See also Wilam Rating System for another 100 points system and Rating Systems (KW).

DESERT RAT VARIATION (1) [MN:May93]

Richard Sharp's name for any opening using A(Smy)-Syr. See Turkish Openings (KW).

DEW (1) [AoS:88]

Distant Early Warning. Information about your neighbours from nations at the other end of the board.

DIAS (1) [AoS:88]

The rulebook specifies that a drawn game (any game without a single winner) must include all the remaining players. The rule is referred to as "Draws Include All Survivors", or DIAS. Most postal games, however, offer the opportunity for a voted draw without all the surviving players sharing in the draw, provided the vote is unanimous. These games are therefore non-DIAS. In practice, you can assume your game is non-DIAS unless otherwise stated in the Gamestart or the House Rules. Dick Martin may have been the first to coin the phrase DIAS in his zine Retaliation in the early 1980s.

DICK RULE

See Boob's Rule of Szine Publishing.

DIGEST (1) [MB:Mar82]

A zine format involving a split (folded) page and usually reduction, e.g. _Diplomacy Digest_. Also called "Centre Staple".

DIPCON (1) [MB/MN/PG:Jun80+Mar82/Jun93/Nov93]

Usually the largest annual Face-To-Face dippy tournament in the US, usually run in conjunction with a large wargaming convention and often featuring a hobby business meeting and/or a seminar/panel discussion as well. These began in 1966, and have been held annually since 1969. A good summary of I-VII is in DW 9.

DIPCON   YEAR    #  Host Dip Winner  Site            Diplomacy Winner
     I   1966    9  John Koning      Youngstown, OH  ???
    II   1969   11  John Koning      Youngstown, OH  ???
   III   1970   35  Jeff Key         Oklahoma City   Betsy Childers
    IV   1971   25  Rod Walker       San Diego       ???
     V   1972   49  Len Lakofka      Chicago         Richard Ackerley
    VI   1973   49  Len Lakofka      Chicago     J. Smythe/Conrad von Metzke
   VII   1974   49  Len Lakofka      Chicago         ???
  VIII   1975   51  G. Anderson      Chicago         ???
    IX   1976  140  Avalon Hill*     Baltimore       Thomas Reape
     X   1977    ?  GenCon           Lake Geneva, WI Mike Rocamora
    XI   1978    ?  GlasCon          L.A.            ???
   XII   1979  110  Origins V        Chester, PA     Ben Zablocki
  XIII   1980   56  MichiCon*        Detroit         Carl Eichelberger
   XIV   1981    ?  Pacificon*       S.F.            Ron Brown
    XV   1982  161  Atlanticon*      Baltimore       Konrad Baumesiter
   XVI   1983  118  MichiCon*        Detroit         Joyce Singer
  XVII   1984   91  DalCon*          Dallas          Jeff Key
 XVIII   1985   60  Dragonflight     Seattle         J.R. Baker
   XIX   1986   76  Marycon          Fredericksburg, VA Malcolm Smith
    XX   1987   51  Madcon           Madison, WI.    David Hood
   XXI   1988   23  Greg Ellis       San Antonio, TX Dan Sellers
  XXII   1989   55  PeeriCon         San Diego       Hohn Cho
 XXIII   1990  100  DixieCon**       Chapel Hill, NC. Jason Bergmann
  XXIV   1991   58  CanCon           Toronto         Gary Behnen
   XXV   1992   31  Poolcon          Kansas City     Marc Peters
  XXVI   1993   56  Pacificon        S.F.            Hohn Cho
 XXVII   1994   ??  DixieCon         Chapel Hill, NC. Bruce Reiff
XXVIII   1995       AvalonCon V      Hunt Valley (MD)

(#)  Number of players in Diplomacy Tournament. May not
     include people who played in only 1 game.
(*)  also hosted Origins
(**) also hosted {World Dip Con}

DIPCON (2) [MN:Jun93]

A brief run-down on previous Dipcons:

DIPCON XXI (1) [MN:Dec92]

Ran by Greg Ellis, Stephen Wilcox and Pete Gaughan 1st-4th July 1988 in San Antonio, Texas. Prizes given to the top three finishers, best country performance, most dip games played, last place, quickest elimination and most demanding GM. Low turnout.

DIPCON XXVI (1) [MN:Sep93]

Held in conjunction with PACIFICON 4th-5th September 1993. DipCon organised by Pete Gaughan. Tournament ran by Don Del Grande had four rounds (a 9AM game and a 6PM game each day).

DIPCON (3) [MN:Dec92]

More generally a dipcon is any Diplomacy convention.

DIPCON (4) [EB:Dec07]

Go to: European Diplomacy Association for updated information on DipCon and other results. For a history of the early DipCon years go to: The Dipcon Story

DIPCON CHARTER (1) [MN:Nov92]

Originally written by Dave Kadlecek and Rod Walker, Fred C. Davis reviewed their draft copy. It was adopted at DipCon XII (Chester, PA, 23rd June 1979). It divided North America into four regions with DipCon rotating through these regions.

The 1979 DipCon was held in the East (Region I), the charter provided that the 1980 DipCon be held in either Region II or III. In 1981 it had to be held in either Region III or IV and in 1982 in either Region IV or I. (In the original draft only one region could bid for DipCon.)

Amendments to the charter have to pass at two consecutive DipCons. The charter was amended at DipCon XIII, 1980/81, when the region boundaries were redrawn, XVI, XVII and XVIII.

DIPCON SOCIETY (1) [MB/MN:Jun80/Nov93]

An informal group of those who attend a DipCon and the society's meeting. Its purpose is to select the site of next year's DipCon. Originally the committee was 1/2/3, the Charter now specifies 3 Committee members exactly, it also coordinates with the host Con and arranges for the selection of a scoring system.

DIPCON RATING SYSTEMS (1) [MN:Sep93]

A collection of the various systems used to rate players in the DipCon diplomacy tournaments is given in Appendix One.

DIPL-L (1) [MN:Feb93]

In Fall 1988 Danny Loeb created a listserv list, D20A-L, to help manage the email for a 20-player variant he was running. The Listserv manager asked him whether he would be needing any other lists, since it would be easier to make them all at the same time. Danny asked for a list DIPL-L to discuss Diplomacy.

DIPL-L was not pushed over Usenet as a place to go and the discussion rate remained low until it was rediscovered in 1991. By then Danny was no longer at MIT and was experiencing difficulty looking after the list, ownership of the list passed to Nick Fitzpatrick in March 1992. With the formation of the Usenet group rec.games.diplomacy interest in the list decreased and with the setting of a feed between rec.games.diplomacy and dipl-l the dipl-l list was only of interest to those who did not have access to Usenet.

List Owner.
Fall 1988 to March 1992 Danny Loeb
March 1992 to December 1993 Nick Fitzpatrick
December 1993 to Nick Fitzpatrick and David Kovar

DIPLOCCOCUS AWARD (1) [MB:Jun80]

Allan Calhamer's award given in four categories: Poetry, art, current strategy for any area and diplomatic history --- all for an audience of Diplomacy players. He awards a medal and $20. Currently inactive. See Hobby Awards (KW).

DIPLOMACY [PB:1980]

Invented by Alan Calhamer (seminal article Games & Puzzles 21, January 1974), student of international relations and 19th century history. Finally developed in 1954, 500 sets printed at the inventor's expense in 1959 (anyone know where one of these is?) then transferred to Games Research Inc in 1960. Sold to Avalon Hill in 1977. Philmar may always have had British rights, and have produced a different board and different pieces. Rules were revised in 1971 as a result of extensive postal play in USA. Changes include possibility of disbanding retreating units. Space precludes anything else. Wait for my all-encompassing encyclopedia.

DIPLOMACY (2) [SS:Jan95]

The patriotic art of lying for one's country. Ambrose Bierce
Take the diplomacy out of war and the thing would fall flat in a week. Will Rogers
Diplomacy is to do and say the nastiest thing in the nicest way. Isaac Goldberg
Diplomacy -- the art of saying "Nice doggy" until you can find a stick. Wynn Catlin

DIPLOMACY ADJUDICATOR (1) [DL:28th April 1992]

Any computer program designed to take Diplomacy moves as input and return a set of results. Virtually hundreds exist. One is marketed by Avalon Hill, most are free. Some, like Jon Monsarrat's, are designed to be an aid to the GM. Others like the Diplomacy Programming Project's Diplomat Interface are designed primarily for use by diplomats. The most advanced adjudicator is the Washington Diplomacy Adjudicator JUDGE written by Ken Lowe. See Diplomat, Judge.

DIPLOMACY ADJUDICATOR (2) [MN:Apr92]

The first diplomacy adjudicators were designed in the 1960's by various postal players and the program written by Tony Pandin led to the discovery of Pandin's Paradox, none of these programs were ever fully operational. Several postal GMs use adjudicators and it is still a popular hobby to write your own.

DIPLOMACY ALLIANCE AGAINST HEART DISEASE (1) [MN:Nov92)

A fund-raiser run in conjunction with the 1989 Runestone Poll.

DIPLOMACY AUTOMATA:

See DIPLOMAT

DIPLOMACY.AZ (1) [HR:Dec92]

See also Limerick.
Diplomacy AZ is phun,
Especially when it's all done!
Proof-reading's a chore,
And a terrible bore,
And printed, it must weigh a ton!
[Gets more and more pertinent with each issue!!]

DIPLOMACY BOARDGAME COMPENDIUM AND GALLERY, THE [SS:Dec02]

http://www.szykman.com/Diplomacy. More than you ever wanted to know about editions of the Diplomacy boardgame, as well as its variants, software, books on the topic, and various other items. The site includes over 150 images covering its contents.

DIPLOMACY CENSUS

See Hobby Census.

DIPLOMACY DEFINITIONS (1) [Mike Guest and Bill Michell, 1988]

Ally: Someone who has misheard you.
Close Ally: Someone who you are blackmailing.
Bad Player: Someone who can't lipread.
"Think Ahead" Player: Someone who diplomes before the countries have been picked.
Paranoid Player: Someone who insists on being there when his drink is being poured.
Good Player: Someone who seems to win every week, but does it so quietly that no-one seems to notice.
Demilitarized zone: The Black Sea
Confidence: An Austrian who bothers to draw up a seat, or an Italian who asks what 4+1 is.
Optimism: Russian F(GOB) - Swe in Fall 1901
Trust: A weapon to use only when all else fails.
See Humour.

DIPLOMACY DIGEST (1) [MN:Mar92]

Diplomacy zine produced by Mark Berch that only carried articles (no games). And only articles on Diplomacy/the hobby at that. Most of the issues were organized around some theme, such as Austria (#16), Personalities (#33), Aspects of GMing (#32), Son of Lexicon (#57). This was particularly useful since Mark kept all of his back issues in print so you could order the issues which covered the subjects that you were interested in. The zine started in the late 1970's and moved into the 1990's at an increasingly erratic pace; it's hey-day was from its inception to the mid 1980's. Issue 57 contained an index of topics covered to that point. Too dry for many people. See Zine Names (KW).

DIPLOMACY EMOTIONS (1) [HR:Apr92]

Satisfaction: That your moves went off as planned.
Delight: That your backstab worked.
Glee: The opponent you stabbed was also stabbed by someone else.
Gloating: Seeing an opponent who critically stabbed you get crushed.
Exultation: When it's you who delivers the coup de grace.
Bliss: 18 supply centres.
Anxiety: Wondering how many of your neighbours are plotting against you.
Fear: Finding that it's all of them.
Desperation: Trying to get their neighbours to stab them.
Despair: When they insist on fighting each other.
Exasperation: Just when you've fought off 2 of your neighbours, the third comes barging in.
Frustration: Getting a build when all your home dots are occupied.
Vexation: Getting a build when someone else is occupying your home SCs!
Shock: Getting unexpected support from another player.
Loneliness: Exile in Iceland.
Sympathy: What's that?
See Humour.

DIPLOMACY FEDERATION [PB:1980]

Ill-fated British 'organization' put together by Clive Booth, Bob Howes and others forgotten in order to rival NGC. Mentioned only to remind some people of what silly things we used to fight over, and how grown up and self-deprecating we've all become.

DIPLOMACY GAMES AND VARIANTS (1) [MB:Jun80]

Written by Lew Pulsipher and published by Strategy Games Ltd, London (1978), it is a 20 page softbound booklet with oversized pages and pullout maps, devoted entirely to variants. Available in stores only in England (#2.45). See Variant Jargon (KW).

DIPLOMACY PLAYER POLL (1) [MN:Apr93]

There have been various attempts at running a Poll to find the best (most popular) postal diplomacy player in the UK. The first two Polls were run by John Piggott through his zine _Ethil The Frog_ and named by him "The Ethil The Frog Egoboo Poll". The NGC ran a number of polls in the 1970's. The idea was picked up by Peter Northcott in 1982 who ran a poll through his zine Last Stand.
Year First Second Third
1973 John Piggott Richard Sharp Andy Davidson (19 voters)
1974 Richard Sharp John Piggott Mick Bullock (20 voters)
???? Tony Ball
???? Roland Prevot
???? Nicky Palmer
1982 Mike Close Steve Jones John Norris (22 voters)
A digression. It's interesting to note that American player Conrad von Metzke came 5th in the 1973 Poll and 6th in the 1974 Poll. See also Hobby Awards (KW).

DIPLOMACY PROGRAMMING PROJECT:

See Diplomat.

DIPLOMACY QUOTATIONS (1) [HR:Apr92]

Diplomacy dichotomy: Getting stabbed is as much fun as sucking lemons when you have the mumps, but stabbing someone is as much fun as switching his chocolate bar with one of Ex-Lax.
Famous last words of a Diplomacy player: "But you promised...!"
Playing Diplomacy is like juggling knives on a greased floor. Make one slip and you'll get stabbed.
The Ultimate Compliment: "I'm glad I'm not your neighbour!"

See also Rating Systems (KW).

DIPLOMACY VARIANTS COMMISSION (1) [MB:Jun80]

A coordinating organization for variant activity founded by Robert Sacks, presently active. See Variant Jargon (KW).

DIPLOMACY WIDOWS ASSOCIATION (1) [MB:Jun80]

A humorous, non-existent organization led by Carol Buchanan.

DIPLOMACY WORLD (1) [MN:Sep93]

An American zine which first appeared in January 1974, it was the successor to _Hoosier Archives_. It contains articles on the play of the game, con reports and news of interest to Diplomacy players. Often publicized as carrying the best writing on the game of Diplomacy and being an essential read for any North American hobbyist (sometimes carrying the label 'the flagship of the Diplomacy hobby'), it has rarely lived up to this publicity and in particular until recently most editors felt that coverage of the Diplomacy world was synonymous with covering North America. It usually carrys a Demonstration Game to help teach novices the finer points of strategy and tactics. See Diplomacy World Anthologies, Index and Menu (Diplomacy World) and Zine Names(KW).

     A list of _Diplomacy World_ publishers and editors:
Issue   Publisher         Editor
 1-15   Walt Buchanan     Walt Buchanan
16-20   Walt Buchanan     Conrad von Metzke
21-27   Jerry Jones       Jerry Jones
28-38   Rod Walker        Rod Walker
39      Kathy Byrne       Rod Walker
40-59   Larry Peery       Larry Peery
60+     David Hood        David Hood
74+     Doug Kent         Doug Kent

DIPLOMACY WORLD ANTHOLOGIES (1) [MN:Aug95]

Each volume is a collection of the best articles on a given subject. Anthologies I-IV contain material that originally appeared in DW 1-39. They are a good way for the novice to learn more about diplomacy and the diplomacy hobby and are available from Larry Peery.

Volume I: The Best of Diplomacy World: A collection of all kinds of articles chosen by Walt Buchanan, Conrad von Metzke, Rod Walker and Kathy Byrne Caruso. Strategy and Tactics, diplomacy, hobby history, variant games (complete with rules and maps), and more.
Volume II: The Complete Mark Berch features a wide variety of articles by one of the hobby's best and most prolific writers, including the infamous Shep Rose stories.
Volume III: Diplomacy Variants with maps, rules, and variant game related materials. Over 50 complete variant games are included, along with a separate map folio of 'ready for play' maps separate from the book.
Volume IV: The DW Demo Games includes the moves, commentary, maps and press for Diplomacy's oldest on-going series of quality games. Eight complete games are included.
Volume V: Conventions and Tournaments (DW 1-69).
Volume VI: Diplomacy Strategy and Tactics (DW 1-69).
Volume VII: Best of David Hood's Diplomacy World (DW 60-69).
Volume VIII: Complete Issues of WD 60-69 (2 parts). See also Diplomacy World.

DIPLOMAT (1) [DL:Nov92]

Short for DIPLOMACY AUTOMATA or AUTOMATION. This name has been used for many different programs. In general, it refers to any program capable of playing diplomacy. However, a simple diplomacy adjudicator should not be considered a Diplomat, since it serves not as a player but as a referee. Avalon Hill's Diplomacy adjudicator contains a very simple diplomat which plays a simple strategic game and has no means of negotiation.

During the period 1986-89, several Israeli computer scientists (Sarit Kraus, Daniel Lehmann and Eithan Ephrati) wrote a Diplomat in Y-Lisp. (See for example "An Automated Diplomacy Player", in "Heuristic Programming in Artificial Intelligence" (Eds: D N L Levy and D F Beal; Ellis Horwood, 1989 pp 136-153). This program is capable of negotiating like a human, and on a strategic level could beat Avalon Hill's program regularly. Unfortunately, the hardware for which this Diplomat was designed no longer exists.

In 1990, the Diplomacy Programming Project was formed to promote the programming of diplomats. A simple language (DPP Protocol) was devised in order to standardize the communication among diplomats, and a standard Diplomat Interface was written in order to coordinate communication between (humans and) programs written in different programming languages by different programmers, and in order to serve as an Adjudicator. In 1991, Loeb and Hall published "Thoughts on Programming a Diplomat", and in 1992, Loeb published "Challenges in Playing Multiplayer Games" both in "Heuristic Programming in Artificial Intelligence", and beginning in 1992 work has begun in Bordeaux on the implementation of a Diplomat based on these ideas. In comparison to the Israeli diplomat, the Bordeaux diplomat is founded principally on the strategic level and it is compatible with the DPP Protocol.

DIPLOMAT (2) [SS:Jan95]

A diplomat is a man who can convince his wife she'd look stout in a fur coat. Anonymous.
A diplomat is a man who always remembers a woman's birthday but never remembers her age. Robert Frost
How is the world ruled and how do wars start? Diplomats tell lies to journalists and then believe what they read. Karl Kraus (1874-1936)
A diplomat is someone who can tell you to go to hell in such a way that you'll look forward to the trip. Anonymous

See Humour.

DIPLOMATIC POUCH, THE (1) [SS:Dec02]

The Diplomatic Pouch (http://www.diplom.org) is the most popular web site for players of the game of Diplomacy. The site includes sections for play-by-email players, face-to-face players, postal players, as well as a comprehensive section of online resources including maps, variants, reference materials, and much more.

DIPLOME (1) [MB/TNP:Jun80/87]

Verb intransitive, meaning obvious, derivation unclear and frowned upon by purists, but probably here to stay.

DIPLOWINN (1) [MB:Jun80]

Norman Nathan's variant to speed up face to face games. In W04, the units are adjusted to give one fewer than one is entitled to, in W05, 2 fewer, etc. Static battles and stalemate lines are less likely, as are unfinished games. See DD 13. See Variant (KW).

DIPSTRAMA.EXE (1) [MN:Nov93]

Program written by Keith Ammann. It doesn't play the game, doesn't resolve moves, doesn't print output. What it DOES do: It reads Judge list output and places units on the screen that can be moved around. You can also start with an empty board or the standard starting positions, dragging pieces onto the board from a "palette" containing one of each type of unit. It requires VBRUN100.DLL, not included.

DIPWIT (1) [AoS:88]

Person who becomes so obsessed with the hobby that he or she has difficulty conversing on any other subject.

DIRECT PASSAGE (1) [AP:1986]

Where a direct passage or legal move link exists, units may move, be convoyed, attack or support directly between the two spaces thus connected; These spaces are considered to be adjacent. All movement or support between two such linked spaces does *not* affect the operations of other units between other spaces or over any other direct passage links; all the spaces concerned should be regarded as if they come together at a point. Such a link between two land provinces (which are separated by sea) means armies may move directly from one province to the other, without the need to be convoyed, and do not affect fleets in the intervening sea area. See Variant Jargon(KW).

DISORGANIZATION (1) [MB:Jun80]

Players in this variant write orders for the next season before they see the last adjudication --- one season ahead. Must also give conditional retreats, or the GM will use a retreat rule. Thus, when S02 is published, that locks in F02, and B02 and/or S03 are due by next deadline. Also called Blitzkrieg.

DITTO (1) [MB:Jun80]

Spirit duplication -- the one using the purple ink. Advantages: Can do colour (though very few do), less complicated, low cost. Disadvantages: Hard to correct, less clear printing, print-through and fainter copies in the above 100 copies area. One types on the master, which transfers ink onto the carbon, which is used for the printing itself. Examples today include _Eggnog_, _The National_, _Passchendaele_ and _Runestone_.

DIVORCES [PB:1980]

Have been many. Wives and commitment to the hobby rarely mix. I wondered whether to put this bit in. Suffice to say that they will be occasionally referred to.

DM [PB:1980]

Dungeonmaster. See D&D.

DMZ [PB:1980]

(1) Demilitarized Zone. May be used in Diplomacy letter to you by someone who has watched too many American movies (pronounced DeeEmZee) about Vietnam.

DMZ [JF:Jul95]

(2) In every single game where a neighbor has proposed, at game-start, making a sea or province that borders us both a "DMZ" or a "demilitarized zone," said neighbor has moved into said territory immediately thereafter. I'm not commenting on the untrustworthiness of deals per se; what I'm commenting on is the strange phenomena of the use of the term "DMZ." Every time someone's proposed making the Black Sea (for example) a "DMZ," I know that's *exactly* where they're moving. It *never* fails.

DNP [PB:1980]

Do Not Publish. May be ignored by a nasty editor.

D.O. [PB:1980]

Or d.o. Drop out. One who fails to finish a game which he started.

DOLCHSTOSS (1) [MN:Mar92]

Zine started by Richard Sharp in October 1972 to run games organized by the NGC. In its first run, which lasted 69 issues (forty of them litho --- the first British Diplomacy zine to enter this field) until its fold in 1979, it was the most influential zine in the UK Hobby as almost all novices entering the Hobby passed through Richard Sharp's hands; for several years its circulation was the highest in the UK, peaking at 350ish. The zine attracted a loyal core of supporters (the Old Hard Core) who met regularly throughout the 1970's, almost all of whom entered zines at one time or another. During this period it won the Zine Poll in 1974 (2nd Poll), 1975 and 1978, came 3rd in 1974 (first Poll) and 4th in 1977. Folded terribly 1978/79, failed to refund subscriptions, announce fold, forward mail or anything else. Had catastrophic effect on the flow of newcomers to the hobby.

It was relaunched in December 1983 and since then it has become one of the top zines to play postal diplomacy in. The GMing is excellent and the standard of opposition top class. It has become a little isolated from the mainstream of the British hobby and contains many readers from the 1970s. It is one of the best written zines in the UK and is always an entertaining read. _Dolchstoss_ Mk II was the winner of the 1991 and 1992 Zine Polls. See Zine Names (KW).

DOLCHSTOSS GAMES (1) [MN:May94]

In _The Numbers Game_ 20 (Febuary 1994) Richard Sharp presented a summary of UK game finishes as rated by the Dolchstoss Rating System. This is *NOT* the same as a list of completed UK games (see Completed Games).

         W   D   E   S   D   CPS    Av     W = wins.
Austria 129 294 694 197 494 216.35 0.12    D = Draws.
England 129 328 471 331 549 227.92 0.13    E = Eliminations.
France  183 403 322 385 515 306.84 0.17    S = Survived but neither D or W.
Germany 187 326 490 315 490 285.70 0.16    D = dropouts.
Italy   117 334 475 378 504 218.80 0.12    CPS = {Calhamer Points}
Russia  193 322 462 303 528 287.37 0.16    Av = Average number of Calhamer
Turkey  161 339 455 369 484 265.00 0.17         Points.

DOLCHSTOSS RATING SYSTEM

See NGC Rating System and Rating Systems (KW).

DON MILLER HOBBY SERVICE AWARD, THE (1) [MN:Dec92]

See Hobby Awards (KW) and Miller Award, The.

DOOMIE (1) [MB:Mar82]

A name affectionately bestowed by Bruce Linsey upon readers, especially enthusiastic fans, of _The Voice of Doom_.

DOOMIE OF THE YEAR CONTEST (1) [MB:Mar82]

An annual, humourous, essay contest in VOD to determine who best exemplifies the qualities of a "True Doomie". DotY in 1980 was Bob Olsen; in 1981, Garry Hamlin. See Hobby Awards (KW).

DOUBLE BLUFF (1) [MB:Jun80]

The act of giving the impression that you are bluffing when you are for real. Thus, a player writes that he will do A, but in a manner that suggests to the reader that the letter is a lie. The player then actually does do A. A devious way of gaining credibility.

DOUBLE BRACKETS (1)

See Double Parenthesis.

DOUBLE DEADLINE (1) [Aos/MN:88/Apr92]

Situation where a Gamemaster decides not to print an adjudication and extends the deadline for orders to that of the following issue of the zine. Players may request a Double Deadline for any reason, but it is usually only granted in extreme cases, e.g. serious illness, postal strikes. Just what is, and what is not, grounds for a GM granting a double-deadline should be covered in the house rules. Most GMs automatically grant a double-deadline at the start of the game, recognizing that the first season is the most critical and the season with most diplomacy occurring. Almost all GMs will not grant a double deadline to a player who 'has exams' or who is 'going on holiday'.

DOUBLE PARENTHESIS (1) [MB:Jun80]

Material inserted by the editor into an original article written by another is traditionally placed in double parenthesis. Sometimes these are inserted into the body of the article, sometimes are bunched together at the end. See also Triple Parenthesis.

DOWNFALL (1) [MN:Apr92]

A Tolkien variant whose main aim is to try to recreate the flavour of the books rather than using the wargaming 'simple variant on new map' approach of most of the earlier Tolkien based variant games.

Downfall I was designed by Hartley Patterson (who had been active in UK Tolkien fandom for many years) and was first published in _War Bulletin_ 50 (circa 1973-4). It quickly attracted a following and several games were started, including a couple of games in the States.

After this initial burst of enthusiasm interest waned and the game was not played again until the end of the decade when Pete Lindsay (who had played in some of the earlier games) ran a game in his dipzine _Bron Yr Aur_. One of the players was Glover Rogerson who would be responsible for relaunching the variant in the early 1980s as the main game in his new dip zine Denver Glont.

Through publicity in Denver Glont the game rapidly attracted a cult following and it became almost de rigeur for every new zine to open a waiting list for the game.

Extensive play testing throughout the 1980's (over 50 games were started in the UK) led to a multitude of different versions being published. By the end of the 1980's there were about 16 different Downfall marks, many of which added chrome in an attempt to impart even more flavour to the game; often at the expense of playability.

With the fold of Denver Glont and Vienna (a zine responsible for much of the redesigns in the latter half of the decade) interest in the variant has once again waned, although there are several games being run in New Zealand at the time of writing.

Most Downfall games feature Gondor, Gandalf, Rohan, Saruman, Elves, Dwarves, Umbar and Mordor as player powers. There are personality units for Gandalf, Aragorn, the Fellowship, Saruman, Sauron, and Faramir. There is a ring piece which has a crucial role in the game, basically you either win by destroying the ring or by wearing it (becoming evil in the process, but gaining special powers) and conquering the board.

Downfall games usually contain extensive press releases, usually parodying the style of the book and press sagas are common. See Variant (KW).

DRAGON'S TEETH RATING SYSTEM (1) [MB/PG:Jun80/Nov93]

Created by Steve McLendon and Bob Sargeant, and run by Steve, the game is worth 34 points to the winner, or divided evenly between the drawers. Among survivors, 1 point is given for each center held, and penalties are levied for early elimination. Inactive players and standby players are not rated. Game and player rateability criteria are given in DW 22. System was maintained by Stephen Wilcox in service zine, _The Dragon's Lair_, until Wilcox left the hobby in the fall of 1987. See Rating Systems (KW).

DRANG NACH OSTEN [PB:1980]

Gigantic wargame of Eastern Front--the ultimate wargame. Never played beyond the second turn in my sight, and that took a weekend. The Real Thing was probably less complicated.

DRAW [PB:1980]

Since the rules state that all players surviving must share in a draw, a draw is where a game ends without one player reaching 18 centres.

DRAW PROPOSAL (1) [PB/TNP:1980/87]

In theory a game not won outright can continue forever. Usually, however, the players manage to agree to a result. Occasionally there is fierce controversy over who should share in the Calhamer point and the GM may have to intervene.

After any season a player may propose a 'draw', a 'joint win' (the same) or a 'concession' (where the other players agree that one country will win). If it is in the opinion of the GM a reasonable proposal, he will ask for votes on it. Failure to vote may well be counted as assent.

DRAWS INCLUDE ALL SURVIVORS

See DIAS

DR GOLDILOX METHOD (1) [AoS:88]

Any form of psychological warfare not involving physical action, e.g. flattery, intimidation, charisma.

DROP FEE (1) [MB:Mar82]

See Deposit.

DROPOUT (1) [MB/MN:Mar82/Jan96]

A player who is removed from a game by the GM for not submitting either orders or a formal resignation. An abomination. The first zine *not* to replace dropouts was Dan Brannan's _Wild 'N Wooly_. Novice Games often have a large number of dropouts: the email game Jem (1994PD) had 29 players, with at least 3 players controlling each power during the course of the game and Austria having a total of six players. This is a 'record' of sorts.

DROPOUT (2) [MN:Oct94]

_Dolchstoss_ 189 (September 1994) contained an all-time leader board for the most dropouts from UK games: John Piggott (23 games), Eric Willis (14), Barry McManus (13), Martin Hammon (12), Steve Docwra, Paul Segal and Mike Sherrad (10). Most of these date from the 1970s. Most prolific dropouts in the 1980s were Mike Sykes Gelder and Dave Rowbotham (8).

DROPOUT NUMBER (1) [MN:Jun95]

The average number of dropouts in a game of diplomacy. Interesting questions include: Does the dropout number depend upon the medium used to play the game and do orphan games have a higher dropout number. Concept introduced by Mark Nelson in _Everything_ 90 (October 1994). See also Length Number, Q Rating and Win Number.

DROPOUT NUMBER (2) [MN:Jun95]

Some stats!

GAME                          DROPOUT NUMBER
NAPG Non-orphaned games*      2.75 /pm 1.56
NAPG Orphaned games*          4.00 /pm 1.32
COMPU Non-orphaned games*     2.02 /pm 1.28
COMPU = Games played over Compuserve network.
NAPG = North American Postal Games
* Data from Everything 85 (May 1992) through Everything 1991 (March 1995).

DSI

See Diplomacy Skill Index.

DTRS

See Dragonsteeth Rating System.

DUMB MISTAKE (1) [MN:Jan95]

A mistake is said to be dumb if it falls into one of the following categories:
a) miswritten orders (less common yet possible in judge diplomacy, e.g. miswriting F Nth-Nwy as the also legal F Nth-Nwg)
b) incoherent orders (e.g. A Ser S A Bud, A Bud-Rum)
c) failing to defend an easily defendable SC (unless negotiated?), e.g. A Kie h, A Mun h instead of A Kie S A Mun if enemy units are in Ruh and Bur.
See also long term strategical mistake, short term strategical mistake and tactical mistake. This classification of mistakes is due to Robert Rehbold.

DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS (1) [MN:Apr92]

The first role-playing game, designed in the early 1970's, distributed by TSR, and attracting a cult following in the mid-to-late 1970's. As a result of extensive publicity it became a household name by 1986-87 (by which time its approach to role-playing had become outdated and better systems were available). Even now it is the most widely known RP game, probably the most widely played and certainly the best supported in terms of add-ons but serious rpgers look down on it as archaic.

Many of the people responsible for designing the game and producing the first set of modules/add-ons had been postal Diplomacy players in the 1960's and some of them had been zine editors/involved in hobby politics. Many of the first D&D players were Diplomacy fans.

At different times various people have run D&D games in dip zines. These games have normally taken one of two approaches: (1) Design a party and wander around the GM's dungeon; (2) A campaign style game. On the whole these have not lasted any length of time and with the advent of pro PBM games fewer of these games are being offered. In fact I haven't seen any for several years in the dip hobby (although role-playing fans may still run them.)

DW (1) [MN:Feb92]

A common abbreviation for _Diplomacy World_.

DYNAMIC STALEMATE LINE (1) [MB/MN:Jun80/May94]

One in which a unit must be ordered to move, rather than hold or support. Term devised by Robert Lipton and Douglas Reif in October 1973. First published dynamic stalemate line appeared in Eric Verheiden's 'Western Stalemate Positions' (_Graustark_ 313, 13th July 1974). Opposite to Static Stalemate Line. See _Diplomacy Digest_ 10/11 (p 9, 16-17) and 14/15 (p2-3).

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