Diplomacy: Media Wars IV (Russia Post-Game Analysis)
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- Опубликовано: 11 сен 2024
- Ra-ra-Rasputin, Russia's greatest love machine, it was a shame how he carried on.
A livestream to cover my experience as part of Diplomacy: Media Wars IV. Spoilers: it did not go well, though maybe not for the reasons you're thinking.
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The game on Backstabbr: www.backstabbr...
BobZeBuilder: / @bobzebuilder
FloridaMan: / @floridamandiplomacy
The Diplomats: www.thediploma...
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The Moral Metacyst: / @cedricwilliams8535
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CaptainMeme's Media Wars IV content: • Media Wars IV - A Dipl...
Superstition's Media Wars IV content: • Ep. 287 - "Media Wars ...
BobZeBuilder's Media Wars IV content: • How to Fail Diplomatic...
Just listening back to this, apologies for how quiet my audio is. I swear I tested it and it was fine.
Anyways, regarding the survey I mentioned at the start, here it is: forms.gle/hbYaeRRtbL4e4VEN9
I love that the website for Diplomacy is called backstabber...
France here! Was super interesting to see your perspective on what went down, especially since we were close enough in one theatre for me to have a decent idea of what was going on, but I had no clue what was happening in the east for most of the game. The fleet heavy approach amazed everyone, but actually worked out surprisingly well!
Endgame spoilers follow so I'll put a spoiler break in:
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Feels weird to have so much of this comment dedicated to this, given it's a small part at the end of the video. But I do think it's the bit I want to talk about (that I didn't comment on in the live chat):
Thank you for making this video despite the circumstances around how it ended for you, and for talking through your thoughts on F05 in particular. Diplomacy is a unique game in the way it throws you into negotiations that often feel very intense and very real, without much restriction on the approaches players can take. That leads to an incredibly compelling game - perhaps the most immersive one out there - but it also leads to an ugly side that doesn't often get the spotlight, especially between players who aren't familiar with one another.
I think MWIV really showed that ugly side at points. Some styles of negotiation are either intentionally (Italy) or unintentionally (England) wearing, and dealing with that every day potentially for months can be extremely taxing - especially since you know that those players aren't doing anything wrong; it's kind of just on you to be able to deal with whatever approach people take. Technically you can just not reply, but saying that is like saying 'if you're getting frustrated in Survivor you can just stop talking to everyone for a day while you get back into the right mental state' - you *can*, but you'll probably lose if you do.
In any game like this, it's super important to put real life and mental state first and know when you need to back out. Thank you for sticking with it as long as you did, but also props for knowing your limit when it became too much. And doubly thank you for making the video anyway, despite the fact that can't have been particularly comfortable to talk about.
Last time I played Diplomacy, I played as Germany. Nobody except Italy would talk to me, so my first turn I made some basic defensive moves, and then someone said in the public chat something like "lol, Germany attacks everyone and is then surprised when people don't like him, what an idiot." I stuck around for a couple turns because starting a game comes with a commitment to seeing it through, but I couldn't continue playing a social strategy game where nobody would talk to me. I hope I someday get to play the game with people I actually know and trust to betray me in a fun way.
Face to face is best
Wow that's extremely shitty of them.
The Tunez attacking London had me so confused until you explained it was a joke xD, I literally spent 5 minutes thinking... "Omg I've spent the last hour and a half (I even rewatch your diplomacy video for the third time) and I still have no idea how this game works!!"
I was stoked to see this after Cap losing his mind over Italy's shenanigans
I saw France's POV on this game already, and the press seemed really rough all around the board. I'm glad you prioritized your well-being over the game and your content, and I hope you're feeling better now :)
This may have been a disappointing end to the game, but congrats on having the wisdom to make the right choice for your mental wellbeing. It's unfortunate that victories of those sort often feel unexciting or even hollow, but that's another reason why having the strength to make good choices for one's self care is important.
I agree with you that Diplomacy is best with people you know. I tend to slip into a persona when I play games like this, a different one each time. This is never really planned, it's just that it's easy (and fun) to lean into the emergent narrative of the game, and it's easier to "roleplay" when I can bounce off of people I know.
I'm starting to think this is the kind of game that needs a session zero, before assigning countries, where you lay out expectations and ground rules. Normal social conventions just don't cut it when you're playing an intense game of betrayal over the course of weeks with a bunch of people you might not even know.
For example, is it okay to try and make someone feel like an idiot so they'll do your bidding? In any normal situation, of course not; but we've already said it's fair game to lie to people and break your promises to gain an advantage over them, so this might be too. Still, I wouldn't like it, but I can see why some do, so it'd be great to have discussed that beforehand. It'd also be great to have a safety mechanism in place to flag and deal with things turning sour.
The D&D community generally does this really well, and although that's a very different game with different considerations, it'd be a good place to start.
This England fellow is a bit long-winded... Well, war it is!
The move in Romania is beyond special, I can understand 3 fleets in the north in some multiverse but giving up Rum??????????
Oh and the Austrian betrayal is on so many levels of stupid that it's probably chilling in nirvana or whatever. As Austria you do the backstab on Russia AFTER you've taken care of at least one of your neighbours.
I wonder if doing press on discord calls might make it more chill and better for mental health. Some of the intense emotions that appear in text, I feel, might be clearly less intense and might allow for more friendly communication. Just a thought though! It might be hard with the differing time zones
Russia peacing out in the middle of the war to deal wit their own problems is pretty accurate tbh.
As w person who has never really played diplomacy, I'm baffled by Austria. Repeatedly betrayed by Turkey and Italy, and yet constantly believing everything they say like an abused puppy.
I gotta say, I'm surprised at the negative vibes that affected mental health to the point u quit. Diplomacy players are thick-skinned because the game can be just brutal to our emotional stamina. That being said, I know not everyone can handle chaotic gaslighters & let it slide off their backs and know how to deal with it. AND not everyone should have to. I don't mind losing/getting trounced if it's in a fun/good natured way. But i've even been winning and felt bad vibes. Diplomacy isn't for everyone, but it does teach everyone about ourselves